Chapters It was a quiet evening as a white unicorn mare with a blue mane and tail was running through the Everfree forest trying to get out. She was carrying a small bundle while she was running. She reached the edge of the forest. The moon was more visible outside the forest than inside, therefore it was brighter outside of the forest, which revealed the wounds she had on her side. It was evident from the severity of said wounds that she didn't have much longer to live. She spotted a cottage at the edge of the forest, no more than 20 meters away. By now the moon had risen and many ponies would have fallen asleep. She ran to the front of the hut and set down the small bundle. The bundle was a small unicorn foal. He had a pale blue body with a purple mane and tail. A small bit of his mane was lying across the left side of his face, a way he would allow it to fall for the remainder of his life. The mare knocked on the door loudly, surely waking up the pony sleeping inside. The mare left a note that had only four words on it, or so it seemed. Then she ran off to a safe distance to where she wouldn't be noticed by whoever answered the door. The mare who answered the door was none other than Fluttershy.
"Oh My!" Fluttershy said in her soft voice. "Who would leave a little foal out here at night?" She asked herself. "No matter. I can't leave you out here though." Fluttershy said as she brought the sleeping foal inside. The note slipped out of the blanket he was wrapped in. "What's this?" Fluttershy said as she picked up and read the note.
His name is Chroma.
That was all that the note said. That is, until she read the other side. Her mouth opened in shock the more that she read. The mare watched silently as Fluttershy finished reading the note and took the mysterious mare's foal into her cottage.
"Goodbye Chroma." She whispered as she limped off, back into the Everfree forest.
It had been 18 long years since that night. Fluttershy had taken care of Chroma and raised him ever since that night.
When Chroma had turned six, he earned his cutie mark. Chroma's cutie mark was the image of a tree with leaves shaded with every imaginable color. He was able to manipulate the colors of items with his magic naturally. In fact, it was one of the first things he did with his magic, or so Fluttershy told him. Painting came naturally to him as well. The quirk about his ability was that he didn't even need the brush to create images of what he wanted. All he had to do was take the pigments naturally found in nature.
When he was eight, Chroma met the pony who would become his best friend. Thunder Dash. Thunder was the child of Rainbow Dash and Soarin'. He was a pegasus with a bright white coat and yellow mane. His cutie mark was similar to his mother's, except his was the image of a dark cloud with streaks of light showing through with three bolts of lightning coming off of it. Thunder even earned his cutie mark in a similar fashion to Rainbow Dash. He performed a move similar to Rainbow's Sonic Rainboom, but instead of a ring of rainbows, it was a ring of dark clouds with lightning that looked exactly like the Wonderbolts' tail-streaks. Thunder Dash and Chroma were the closest any two colts could become and were nearly inseparable ever since then.
Except for today.
Today was the last day Thunder and Chroma would see each other for a while. Thunder was going to Manehatten, where, according to his father, tryouts were being held for the Wonderbolts in a few days. Chroma was going to stay in Ponyville and open an art studio.
"Mom, I'm going over to see Thunder before he leaves for Manehatten!" Chroma called out to Fluttershy. He knew Fluttershy wasn't his real mother, she told him that when she felt like he was ready. He trotted out the door, knowing that Fluttershy would agree with what he was doing. Chroma also brought a blank canvas with him, so he could paint and give Thunder something to remember him by. He passed by the Sugarcube Corner on his way to the park. Chroma knew that Thunder was going to be at the park waiting, because Thunder had told Chroma where he was going to be.
"Hey Chroma! What's the canvas for?" A unicorn mare asked. This mare was one of the friends, other than Thunder, that Chroma had made. She was called Jewel and she was the daughter of Rarity and Prince Blueblood, who, oddly enough, changed into a kind and caring stallion. She was a year older than Chroma and Thunder and was adored by the latter. Her coat had the same color as her mother and a midnight-blue mane that was brushed in a similar fashion to her mother's. Her cutie mark was a piano with musical notes surrounding it. She was gifted with the ability to play multiple instruments, which she loved doing in her free time, and had even gained her the attention of the famous cellist, Octavia.
"I'm going to make a painting for Thunder to remember me by when he goes off for tryouts in Manehatten. He's going to be there for a week or so, and then he's moving off to who-knows-where." Chroma replied.
"Oh. I didn't know he was leaving." Jewel said as she looked a little crestfallen. "Do you mind if I accompany you to say goodbye?"
"Not at all Jewel. Come along." Chroma said in reply. The two unicorns trotted along the road until they reached the calm and serene park. Thunder was standing over by the bridge that crossed over the river.
"Hey guys! I didn't expect you to come along, Jewel." Thunder said with a slight blush as he addressed Jewel. This went unnoticed by Jewel, but was noticed by Chroma, who knew about Thunder's crush ever since the day the two met Jewel.
"Well, I saw Chroma heading this way, so I decided to tag along." She said, blushing slightly as well. Chroma realized that she felt something towards Thunder. 'This is going to be interesting. Maybe a slight push is in order?' Chroma thought to himself.
"Okay. Well I'm glad that you decided to tag along." Thunder said, his face becoming even redder.
"If you guys don't mind, I'll start working on a painting." Chroma said. He used his magic, which enveloped the canvas in a pale blue aura, to lift the canvas in front of him as he started to use the pigments found in nature to paint the image he had been thinking of. What he had been planning on painting was Chroma's and Thunder's individual cutie marks, with the backgrounds behind each being the color of their respective flanks.
Chroma was nearing the finishing point of his painting when he decided to communicate with Thunder telepathically. 'You should tell her how you feel. I can tell she feels the same way about you.'
'I will! Please don't talk to me like that, you know it scares me!' Thunder replied mentally, not showing that the two are shaving a telepathic conversation.
"S-s-s-so…um…I-I was wondering…b-b-before I go…if w-w-we could…um…" Thunder kept stuttering.
Chroma decided, at that moment, to communicate with Jewel now, to see if he could do something about the currently akward situation. 'You can see he likes you, and I know you like him, so do something Jewel!'
The point Chroma made seemed to get across to Jewel and she leaned in and kissed Thunder. "Mmff!" Thunder exclaimed in muffled surprise.
Chroma grinned with satisfaction, knowing what he did was going to end well for both Thunder and Jewel. "If you two lovebirds could stop and let me hand off my gift, that would be nice." Chroma said sarcastically whilst adding the final details to the painting, the small streaks of light showing through the dark clouds that made up half of Thunder's cutie mark. He then floated the fully painted canvas over to Thunder so he could take the dry painting.
"It's amazing Chroma! You've really outdone yourself this time!" Thunder said, surprised and impressed by the detail captured in the painting by Chroma.
"Chroma, could I get you to paint something for me within the next few days? I would really love to have something beautiful to hang on my wall." Jewel asked while observing and admiring every detail incorporated into the painting.
"I'll do it." Chroma replied to Jewel, knowing that she was going to ask something along these lines.
"Thank you so much Chroma!" Jewel exclaimed when Chroma said he would do it.
"Guys, my train leaves at one, I've got thirty minutes to get there and get out of here. If you'd accompany me Jewel, I'd appreciate it." Thunder Dash said as he started to walk off.
"I shall accompany you to the train Thunder." Jewel said in her most elegant voice as she started trotting off with Thunder. As they were walking they seemed to be whispering to each other. What they were whispering about was a mystery to Chroma. Chroma proceeded to walk over to the plot of land that he had bought using the bits he had saved up while working odd jobs. This was where he was going to have an art studio built so he can make and sell some paintings as well as live. He didn't want to live with Fluttershy for the rest of his life, and he was pretty sure Fluttershy wanted him to move on as well. He then walked home so he could work on something for Jewel.
However, instead of heading straight back to Fluttershy's cottage, he went to Sweet Apple Acres. He wanted to visit Apple Blossom, daughter of Applejack and a slightly forgetful stallion by the name of Caramel. When he arrived at the Apple's home, he knocked on the door three times. Caramel, with his light orange coat and brown mane and tail, answered the door.
"Hello there Chroma. What brings you here?" Caramel asked in his country-accented voice.
"I came here to hang out with Apple Blossom. If you don't mind." Chroma answered the stallion.
"Ah don't mind at all Chroma. Come on in." Caramel replied. Chroma walked into the Apple's house and immediately went up the stairs to Apple Blossom's room.
Chroma had met Apple Blossom eight years ago when Thunder Dash had crashed into the Apple family's barn. Chroma had arrived on scene
to see what Thunder had crashed into, and that was when he met Apple Blossom. She was at the barn to check on what happened when she saw Thunder amongst the wreckage and Chroma there to help out Thunder.
Chroma knocked on the door of Apple Blossom's room to let her know somepony was at her door.
"Who is it?" Apple Blossom asked through the door before she opened it.
"It's me, Chroma." Chroma replied. Apple Blossom opened the door and came out of her room. Apple Blossom had a bright yellow coat with a mane that was the same color as Big Macintosh's coat. Her cutie mark was a small sapling, which showed that she loved tending plants and had a green hoof. "I want to hang out a bit before I go home." Chroma said in addition to his earlier statement.
"That's fine Chroma. Where do you want to go?" Apple Blossom asked curiously.
"How about we just walk around the apple orchard for a bit?" Chroma said.
"That would be nice." Apple Blossom said in response.
(POV SHIFT: Jewel)
"Bye Jewel! And remember what we talked about okay." Thunder said to Jewel as he was boarding the train to Manehatten.
"Don't worry, I'll try to find somepony for him." Jewel said with a mischevious grin forming. "And I know just the pony." She said to herself as she through of a certain mare.
(POV SHIFT: Chroma. Later That Night)
Chroma was in his room asleep, tossing and turning all the while.
Chroma was standing in the Princesses' throne room. His hearing and vision were slightly impaired. It seemed as if he were outside of his own body, observing the whole scene. In the room with him was Apple Blossom, Thunder Dash, Jewel, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and two other ponies he couldn't recognize. In fact, all seven of them were chained to the throne room wall by what appeared to be multi-hued chains.
"C-c-c-chroma! Don't do this. We need you. We can... from happening again" Thunder Dash pleaded with Chroma, all while sobbing.
"I have to do this Thunder. If I don't... then all of Equestria is in danger." Chroma said, his worry showing in his voice.
"I am afraid that he is right Thunder Dash." Princess Celestia said in agreement with Chroma. "If... comes back then... to stop..." Celestia added on, distortion occuring in certain places at certain times.
"Goodbye everyone. Celestia, remember our agreement." Chroma said as he walked towards the open window. The window was fiifty feet up, a death drop if anyone jumped out. And that was what Chroma did. He jumped.
Then the scene changed suddenly. He was in a grassy field, the field stretching on for as far as the eye can see.
"Thou hast had such dreams before, haven't thee?" A British male voice asked.
"Brother, I don't think that ponies use that kind of language any longer." A male Australian voice said.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Chroma shouted at the wind.
"Ah. So you have started using a more advanced form of English I see. Humf. I should have known, because I predicted it." The British voice said again. This time seemingly behind Chroma. Chroma turned around and was shocked to see an alicorn standing before him. The alicorn stood at about the same height as Princess Celestia, had a silver coat with matching mane, and had a clock seemingly made of stars representing his cutie mark. "As for who I am and what I want, I am Prince Tempora, ruler of all that has been, being, and is to come, commander of time itself..."
"And I am his twin brother, but we don't look or sound like each other, now do we?" The Australian voice cut in. Chroma turned around again and saw an alicorn with a golden coat and black mane, his cutie mark being the image of a solar system and black hole in harmony. "The name is Prince Caelia, which, according to dear brother here, is an older term you ponies used for space. I am the master of the expanding wilderness that surrounds yours and other worlds.
"As I was saying, I... we... want to be sure that you stay alive and well until a certain fixed moment in time and space." Tempora said.
"But why me?" Chroma asked curiously.
"Because of the power you hold inside." Caelia said to Chroma. "It appears Spectra forgot about what happens when we interfere. I mean, look at his mark. It's nearly identical to Spectra's." Caelia then said to Tempora.
"You are right brother. And I don't think Spectra will ever forget what happens when we interfere. Remember what happened to the mare he loved?" Tempora said, ignoring the fact that Chroma was still there.
"What do you mean?" Chroma shouted, tired of being ignored by the two. "Who is Spectra?"
"In good time, Chroma. In good time." Tempora said as the scene began to fade away.
"Don't tell our sisters in Equestria, Celestia and Luna, that we visited, they would become very upset if they knew we still existed." Caelia said as parting words. Then the entire scene faded to black.
It had been two days since Thunder had left and the two Princes had visited his nightmare. Two questions still remained in his mind from that night. Who is this Spectra they were speaking of? And why don't they want the Princesses to know about them? During those two days, he hired some ponies to help him start building his art studio.
"Hey guys, that's it for today." Chroma said to the two stallions who were helping him. He payed them both fifty bits for the day of work that they did.
"Thank you very much kind sir." One of the stallions said to Chroma.
"See ya tomorrow Chroma. Maybe we'll be done by then." The other stallion said. Then the two walked off towards their respective homes.
Chroma walked off towards the Carousel Boutique, where he knew Jewel would be waiting for him. She had asked him earlier in the day to meet up for lunch together. She had also invited Apple Blossom to lunch with them as well. He arrived at the Carousel Boutique and knocked at the door quite loudly.
Prince Blueblood answered the door with a slightly annoyed look on his face. "Hello there Chroma. What are you here for?" He asked, his look of annoyed-ness disappearing when he saw who it was.
"I'm here to see Jewel." Chroma replied.
"Didn't she tell you?" Blueblood asked.
"Tell me what?" Chroma replied with a question.
"She was noticed by Octavia and is in a meeting of sorts with her today." Blueblood said.
"Oh okay. Well I'll be off then." Chroma said, slightly embarassed by the situation.
"Goodbye Chroma." Blueblood said as he shut the door.
Chroma went off towards the Sugarcube Corner where the three were going to have lunch together. Apple Blossom was already there, waiting for both Chroma and Jewel.
"Hey there Chroma. Where's Jewel at?" Apple Blossom asked.
"Jewel couldn't make it. She's with Octavia." Chroma said to Apple Blossom. "Are you ready to get lunch?" He asked.
"Sure, let's go." Apple Blossom said. The two ponies walked inside Sugarcube Corner and were immediately assaulted by one Pinkie Pie.
"HitherewhatcanIgetyoutoday? Areyougoingtobeeatinginorouttoday?" Pinkie Pie said, mouth going at 100 miles-per-hour.
"Ummm. I'll have a cherry pie. And we'll be eating in today." Chroma said.
"And what about you?" Pinkie Pie said, her words becoming more understandable.
"I'll have a blueberry muffin. If you don't mind." Apple Blossom said.
"Okie dokie lokie! That will be six bits" Pinkie Pie said. Chroma set the six bits for the pie and muffin on the counter seperating She then led Chroma and Apple Blossom to a table by one of the windows. "I'll have your food to you soon."
"Thank you." Chroma said to Pinkie Pie as she walked towards the kitchen.
"So how is the art studio coming along Chroma?" Apple Blossom asked, trying to start a conversation.
"It's coming along real well, we shoud have it done by tomorrow, furnishings and all." Chroma said, excitement at having an art studio and home for himself showing in his voice. "How is planting season coming along?" He asked in return, knowing that planting and gardening were Apple Blossoms forte.
"It's been great. We have half of the saplings for this year planted. And we have all of the fields plowed and ready for crop planting." Apple Blossom said, somewhat bragging about her talent.
"That's cool." Chroma said. Almost immediately after saying that, Pinkie Pie came out of the kitchen with a cherry pie and a blueberry muffin.
"Here you go!" Pinkie Pie said with delight as she handed off the cherry pie and muffin.
"Thank you very much." Apple Blossom said as she picked up her muffin and took a small bite. "It's delicious." She stated while slowly enjoying the sweet flavour of the blueberry muffin.
Chroma then took a bite out of the cherry pie in front of him, the sweet yet tangy flavor of the cherry mixing with the sugar used in baking the crust. He couldn't help but take another bite, this one much larger than the last. "Wow Pinkie Pie, this is the best pie I have ever tasted!"
"Thanks for the compliment! I love knowing that my customers love my cooking!" Pinkie said, overjoyed at the fact that she was getting compliments about her cooking. "I've got to get ready for a party later..."
"What's the party for?" Chroma asked inquisitively.
"The Princesses are visiting Ponyville later for some reason." Pinkie Pie stated, matter-of-factly.
"What!" Apple Blossom said with shock. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Pinkie went over and opened the door, revealing none other than Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
"Hey there Princesses. What can I do for you?" Pinkie Pie said.
"I'm here for a stallion by the name of Chroma. Is he here?" Princess Luna said, getting straight to the reason why they were there.
"He's here alright. He's right over there." Pinkie said, pointing her hoof in the direction that Chroma and Apple Blossom were sitting.
"Thank you very much Pinkamena Pie." Princess Celestia said in thanks. Pinkie had a worried look on her face now because nopony ever called her by her full name unless the matter was extremely serious or severe. The two Princesses walked over to where Chroma and Apple Blossom were currently sitting. "Hello there young Chroma, may we have a word with you?" Celestia demanded in a way that sounded like she was asking.
"Sure Princess Celestia." Chroma as aid as he walked off with the two princesses. They continued walking until they were out of earshot of anypony who wished to eavesdrop. "What is it you want to talk to me about?" Chroma asked, knowing full well what she was going to say.
"Princess Luna here is in charge of ruling over the night, she also is in charge of watching over ponies dreams to make sure they are safe there. A few nights ago, she happened to be watching over you as one of your nightmares took hold. She stayed in your dreams after the nightmare should have ended, as she was confused why the nightmare did not end. In the dream after the nightmare, you were visited by two ponies. Interestingly enough, you were visited by two out of several alicorns that we have believed to be gone for many millennium. She was forced out of the dream as soon as the both of them showed up. WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU?" Celestia said, using her Royal Canterlot Voice at the end in order to stress the importance of the question she was asking. The last part scared the wits out of Chroma, because nopony had ever heard Celestia use her Royal Canterlot Voice before. It was several seconds before Chroma had regained his composure and started to speak.
"The two alicorns, Tempora and Caelia, claimed they were rulers of time and space respectively. They told me that they were watching over me, similar to what Luna was doing, in order to make sure I was safe. They said that they were doing this because I needed to be kept alive for a certain fixed point in time and space. When I asked them why, they responded with, and I quote: 'Because of the power you hold inside.' Then they went on saying something about some pony named Spectra and how my cutie mark looked like his. And then, before the dream ended, they told me not to tell you two because you would become upset. Why does this even matter?" Chroma said frightfully, recounting every detail from the dream that he could remember.
"I have to tell you about this because those two showing themselves. This is a story and legend that only Luna and I know. It begins like this:
"It started with nothing. There was nothing anywhere and everywhere. Out of the nothing came the first pony, the first alicorn. Spectra, bringer of light and dark, bringer of color. He gave the nothingness a color, and he then proceeded to create light to brighten up the darkness that symbolized the emptiness around him. But his powers extended far beyond that of just bringing color and light and dark.
"Those actions done, he proceeded to make it so that everything around him progressed and expanded. He created the flowing time, all that ever was, is, and is to be, and the expanding space, containing and shaping all that would be subject to time. Spectra then createted two beings like himself to rule if the flowing time and the expanding space. The first Princes, Tempora and Caelia. The two worked together with Spectra and created the realm that would contain all worlds to come.
"However, the void in that realm was devoid of light, just as the realm of nothingness was. So Caelia defied the laws that prevented anypony other than Spectra to create living beings. He created Princess Astra to make specks of light, dotted throughout the nothingness that existed in this new realm.
"Prince Tempora saw injustice in this and so he created a being of his own, one Princess of his own to measure the time and give it strict movement that varied in far away realms. And so Princess Motis was created to allow for the movement and measurement of time.
"Spectra decreed to create a new world for his creations to dwell in and on and above. In order to create these worlds, he needed new beings to help shape the worlds.
"He created Aeria, Princess of the sky containing the life giving air that all creatures of any domain needed to survive. The Princess of the sky created a sphere of air in the nothingness that still existed, thus making a bubble that would contain the world to come. She filled the sky with different typeoff air for the different creatures that would live in the air and on the land and in the water.
"He created Terra, Princess of the land holding up the sky and providing land for plants and animals alike to grow and thrive. The Princess created a sphere of similar shape to the sky to hold all in place. The world was a flat place, devoid of any variation in the surface. Terra then created mountains to connect the land with the sky, valleys and depressions and great holes in the land to collect water, vast labyrinths within the floor of the land to hold minerals that would become the most precious of anything, and fields of fertile land for the plants to grow more abundantly.
"He created Laticis, Princess of the water filling up the holes and depressions and valleys in the land that would carry new life. Water filled up some of the vast labyrinths that were under the skin of the earth and made it so that the fields where even more fertile than before. Then Laticis moved water into the sky in order to bridge the gap between the water and the sky. And so rain first entered the new world.
"Then Spectra created Prince Mortem and Princess Aevum to give the new, world living beings a limited time span and a way for more beings to be formed. Prince Mortem made it so that there were many ways for the righteous and the unrighteous to leave the world, with fitting exit of the world for both groups. Princess Aevum made sure that, before they left, the beings had a way to produce future generations and a way for them to adapt beyond measure.
"Spectra decreed that there should be a greater light during the times of activity for most creatures, and a lesser light to watch over the creatures as they sleep. Decreeing that having light for activity more important, he created the ruler of the day and sun, as Tempora and Caelia called it, first. And thus Princess Celestia was born to raise and lower the sun. Then Spectra created the younger sister, Princess Luna, to raise and lower the moon and to watch over the dreams of the creatures as they slept.
"Spectra, along with the other alicorns, created three tribes of creatures that looked similar to the alicorns.
"He created the unicorns, with the magical ability of the alicorns, to control factors in nature to help maintain balance on a finer level.
"He created the pegasi, with the wing strength of the alicorns, to maintain the weather that was sure to occur on the new world.
"He created the earth-ponies, with the will and hoof strength of the alicorns, to work the fields and grow the food that would be necessary to support the three tribes.
"And so the world was in harmony.
"Spectra decreed that there should be balance, so he created a spirit out of the stone of the world to counteract the harmony in the world. Discord. But Discord had too much power in the world, and he threw the three tribes into disarray.
"Spectra created six elements that represented the harmony created through friendship, the Elements of Harmony. He gave the elements to the sisters of day and night so they could assume dominion on the world and banish Discord into the stone from which he was created.
"All was well in the world now known as Equestria. But it was not to last. Tempora had predicted that the youngest of them all would grow jealous and rise up against the solar sister. And happen it did. Luna allowed her jealousy to take control of her actions. Nightmare Moon took control of Luna's body and rose up against Celestia.
"Spectra, in fear of the power that Nightmare Moon had gained through evil emotions, granted Celestia the power to banish Nightmare Moon to the moon. But Prince Caelia had grown affectionate towards Princess Luna. So he created a way for the stars to help aid in her release from the moon. He imbued some of his infinite supply of magic into the stars. This ordeal caused Spectra to become wary of his creations, so he, along with the other alicorns, save Princess Celestia and the trapped Nightmare Moon, had decided that they were to vanish from the world they had worked together to create and wipe any memory of the themselves from the mind of Celestia and Luna.
"...So as you can see, Luna and I thought this was all legend and we were the last and only two alicorns until what you told us proved us to have other siblings and even our father. It is good to know we aren't the last ones anymore." Celestia finished, tears at the edge of bursting forth.
"I am sorry you had to deal with that my children. My fear of this world was too strong for me to cope with. I'm sorry I took your memory of us you two. Forgive me please." A strong mental male voice spoke inside the three ponies minds. Then there was a bright light as an alicorn appeared in front of the three. The alicorn was the same height as Celestia with his multihued translucent mane glittering and waving in the nonexistent wind and his royal blue body showing high regality. "You do forgive me, don't you Tia? Don't you Lulu?" The alicorn said in a fatherly tone, using the nicknames the Princesses used for each other. He turned to the side slightly, revealing his cutie mark, a golden trunked tree with multihued leaves and branches yielding fruits that seemed to be made of stars.
The tears that had been forming in both alicorns' eyes suddenly burst forth. "Of course we forgive you. You didn't have to leave us like that father." Both Celestia and Luna said at the same time. They both hugged the mysterious alicorn at the same time.
"You must be the Chroma that Tempora and Caelia told me about. I have something I must tell you. But now is not the time. In fact, I must remove all memory of this encounter from your memory. It will come back when it is unlocked by me. Goodbye." The alicorn said before touching Chroma's head with his horn. Then Chroma's mind went blank and next thing he knew, he was in the hospital with a worried pony looking over him.
(Unknown POV)
A young stallion was laying down in a comfortable bed, sleeping heavily. In fact, this light blue coated, purple maned and tailed stallion had been sleeping like this for the past three days. The two Princesses had brought the stallion in unconscious, saying he had fainted and needed medical attention. Sitting beside his bed side in the hospital was a mare with a bright yellow coat and a mane as red as a freshly picked apple. Her cutie mark was the image of a flowering sapling. She was leaning over him, stroking her hoof through his mane when his eyelids started fluttering. Then the lids lifted up revealing silver eyes looking up at the mare, directly into her soft green eyes. At first, the stallion didn't know what was going on. In fact, he didn't know much. His brain then processed the unfamiliar sight of the mare and he bolted upright.
"Who are you? Where are we? And more importantly, who am I?" The stallion asked furiously with a hint of fright.
"You don't remember? Chroma. It's me, Apple Blossom." Apple Blossom said, unable to believe that he could have forgotten.
"I don't remember you 'Apple Blossom'." Chroma said, adding air quotes around her name. "How do I know you're even telling me the truth?" He asked incredulously.
"You don't. I can't prove it." Apple Blossom said, tears forming in her eyes, coming to the terms that Chroma had forgotten everything.
"Ah. He's awake now. You're lucky the Princesses brought you here immediately, otherwise, you would be in much worse condition." A stallion who appeared to be a doctor said while walking in the door to his room.
"Lucky! How is this lucky? He can't remember anything at all! And how could this have gotten worse?" Apple Blossom shouted while crying.
"It could have gotten worse if he didn't wake up. His memories will come back to him eventually. Until then, it is going to be a bit of a struggle for him, not knowing what to do, who he knows. The diagnostics show that he has retained some memories, especially those pertaining to his family, ability, and cutie mark. Come here for a second and let me tell you something." The doctor said, motioning with his hooves for Apple Blossom to follow him. Once they were out into the hallway, he started to speak to her. "It is clear you have feelings for Chroma. I knew Chroma since he was a foal, he has a strong will, he'll remember. I want you to watch over him while he's recovering. Please make sure he stays out of trouble. Could you do that for me?" The doctor asked Apple Blossom.
"I could do that." Apple Blossom said, agreeing to the terms the doctor set. Then the two walked back into the room that Chroma was in.
"Well Chroma, and yes it is your name, it appears you can leave. I'll have Apple Blossom here escort you out of here and back to your home." The doctor said, officially releasing Chroma from the care of the hospital. Apple Blossom led Chroma out of the hospital and down the street to where a new building in Ponyville stood. The sign outside the building and the materials resting inside suggested that this was an art studio. Something inside Chroma's mind clicked. His art studio he thought to himself.
"I'm starting to remember things." Chroma said calmly, hiding the fright he was truly feeling. He was scared of remembering. What if I did something horrible. I don't think I want to remember things like that. I couldn't handle remembering that I had done something horrible.
"What kind of things?" Apple Blossom asked. But before he had a chance to respond, a white and yellow blur sped towards him and picked him up, heading higher and higher.
(POV SHIFT: CHROMA)
"I heard about what happened to you. Apple Blossom told me all about what happened yesterday in a letter. You had me worried you big idiot." The white coated and yellow maned pegasus said to Chroma. Then there was another click inside Chroma's head. My friends. Thunder Dash. Apple Blossom. Jewel. I remember them Chroma thought to himself. Then Thunder Dash flew back onto the ground and set Chroma back down. Then a second pegasus flew up beside Thunder Dash. The pegasus had a jet-black mane and tail that seemed to have a bit of volume to it in the center, but seemed to become more narrow near the edge. His buckskin colored coat contrasted with the color in an interesting way, not making him ugly, just making him more interesting. The two factors about this stallion that grabbed the most attention for Chroma, however, were his steel-grey eyes and his cutie mark. His cutie mark was what appeared to be a winged shield with a thunderbolt running down the center of said shield.
"Who is this guy Thunder?" Chroma asked curiously, wondering who this mysterious stallion was.
"Allow me to introduce mahself." The stallion said with a country accent similar to the Apple family's. "The name is Skybreaker Steele, but Ah prefer to be called Jet. If yah don't mind." Jet said enthusiastically. "Yah must be Chroma. Ah saw that painting yah made for him. Ah asked him about it and he just went on and on about how yah were his best friend and all. It is some spectacular work, if Ah must say so mahself. We shared an apartment together before the tryouts." Jet continued on.
"Speaking of tryouts, how did you do?" Chroma asked both Thunder and Jet.
"We both made it. We were the fastest fliers there. I mean, other than mom. Nopony is faster than her. She gave me a hard time just because I'm her son." Thunder said triumphantly, both him and Jet beaming with pride at their accomplishment. Then Jet's face seemed as if he had just thought of something, as if something Thunder said triggered something inside of him.
"Wait a minute. Yah never said yer mom was the Rainbow Dash. Ah mean, how could yah not brag about it?" Jet asked inquisitively.
"I never talked that much about her because you never asked. Besides, one day, I'm going to be the fastest flier in Equestria." Thunder said braggingly.
"Oh yeah? Prove it!" Jet said, challenging Thunder Dash. Chroma knew this was either going to end very well or very badly. Just then, Thunder flew up into the air.
"I WILL!" Thunder shouted, climbing higher and higher until he was no more than a dot in the sky.
"If I know Thunder, he's going to push himself to do something nopony has ever done before." Apple Blossom said to Jet and Chroma.
"Like what?" Jet said nervously, not wanting Thunder to hurt himself.
"Probably a 1-up of the old fashion sonic rainboom, well in his case, the sonic thunderhead. He's going to attempt a double-rainboom style technique.
"BEHOLD THE AWESOME SPECTACULARNESS THAT IS THUNDER DASH. I AM GOING TO PULL A DOUBLE THUNDERHEAD." Thunder yelled, sounding like a faint echo to the ponies standing below. His shouted had gained the attention of several ponies nearby, even his father, who looked on with pride in his son. Thunder then climbed even higher, higher than many of the clouds currently in the sky. He then began flying in circles, picking up speed for what he was trying to accomplish. The only way they knew he was even flying was the trail of dark clouds behind Thunder Dash.
(POV SHIFT: THUNDER DASH)
Thunder was flying around in circles getting faster and faster until he had reached max horizontal speed. He then curved downward, immediately feeling the tug of the sound barrier trying to push him back. He steepened his descent even further, feeling the sound barrier crack underneath him. He knew he had broken through the sound barrier without turning around, the gasps from the crowd proved that he had accomplished part one of the trick. The next part was the hardest. It involved slowing down slightly, so as to fall behind the sound barrier and then pushing forward from a standstill while falling. He managed the first part of the tricky part with ease. He then pushed and flapped his wings with all they had. He could feel the push of the sound barrier trying to overcome him
(POV SHIFT: Chroma)
Chroma had seen Thunder already break the sound barrier for the first part of the technique, now Thunder was attempting to break the barrier again. Chroma could see Thunder struggle slightly until...
*BOOM*
He managed to do it again as the second ring of thunderheads was chasing right behind the first. It was a spectacular sight to behold. It was a trick that not even Rainbow Dash had managed to accomplish.
But then it all ended as Thunder crashed into the ground while trying to slow himself down. He had managed to slow himself down to a speed that he didn't kill himself on impact, so Chroma wasn't as worried as he normally would be. Jewel was one of the many ponies that had gathered around to watch Thunder perform the double thunderhead, as Thunder Dash liked to call it. She immediately rushed towards where he had crashed, accompanied by Soarin', who wanted to check on his son.
"Is he alright? Ah didn't mean fer it to get this bad. It's all mah fault." Jet said in his accent as he got closer to Thunder Dash. He was mere feet away from Thunder when he said something loud enough for all to hear.
"Proved it!" He said with the last bit of his energy before passing out.
(Later that afternoon)
Chroma, Jewel, Apple Blossom, Jet, Soarin', and the recently arrived Rainbow Dash all sat around the hospital bed that contained Thunder Dash.
"This proves he inherited his pride and need to prove himself from you." Soarin' said to Rainbow Dash.
"I guess you are right. I mean, he was able to pull off a double rainboom without killing himself, that is a feat within itself. It reminds me of when he first pulled off a sonic rainboom. The look on your face was priceless." Rainbow Dash said to Soarin'.
"Jewel. Is it really necessary to..." Apple Blossom started to say.
"Of course it's necessary. He must have someone close to him at all times, and I plan on it being me. I...I...love...him." She finally said.
"Well it's good to hear that. 'Cause I love you too." A recently woken Thunder Dash said weakly. This did it for Jewel as she leaned in and gave Thunder a passionate kiss on the lips. The kiss lasted for a few seconds before they separated. "No matter how many times you do that, it still makes me feel warm inside." He said, unaware of his parents being in the same room.
"Eh-hem." Rainbow Dash coughed out, getting Thunder's attention. He blushed with embarrassment when he realized that both his mother and father witnessed him kissing Jewel. Then everyone, including Jewel, began laughing at the look on Thunder's face.
"Guys, it isn't funny." Thunder said.
"Ah'm sorry about what happened. Ah didn't know yah would try to do that." Jet said, apologizing for egging Thunder into doing that maneuver.
"It's alright. I forgive you." Thunder said.
"It's good to see you up Thunder, but not in the hospital. That is the fifth time this past month alone. You are lucky that you don't have any broken bones. You are free to go. Just try not to fall to the earth at near terminal velocity." The doctor said while walking in and looking over Thunder.
"Thanks doc. I'll try not to get in an accident again." Thunder said, rushing out of bed and out the door. Chroma and Jet followed close behind Thunder along with Apple Blossom and Jewel. Thunder was heading in the direction of the park, but soon he turned in the direction of the art studio.
"Jet, do you have any family here you can stay with?" Chroma asked kindly. Jet shook his head.
"Nah. Mah dad left mah mom when we were young, mah mom is living out in Fillydelphia, Ah have no clue where Caramelcake is, and Clay is out in Canterlot." Jet replied, listing off his family members one by one.
"You can stay on the couch in my art studio for now. Sound good?" Chroma asked Jet.
"That's might kind of yah." Jet replied, nodding while saying it. The five arrived at Chroma's two-story art studio and walked inside. The front of the lobby was divided in half by the counter. In the front at the windows were three empty stands in the windows. There was a door behind the counter that led into a room with blank canvases along the base of three out of the four walls. There was a couch lying against the wall without any canvases against it. In the next room over was a small bed and a flight of stairs leading up. Chroma walked upstairs to the glass-walled room that he had designed so he could more easily capture images. In the middle of the room was an empty stand for when he set up a blank canvas. Chroma walked back downstairs to where the other four ponies were waiting for him.
"This place is ahmazing Chroma. Ah am grateful that yah are allowin' mah to stay here." Jet said gratefully.
"It's nothing really. Anything to help a friend." Chroma said.
"Me and Apple Blossom are going to go Chroma. See you tomorrow." Jewel said, having Apple Blossom follow closely behind.
(POV SHIFT: Jewel)
"You like him don't you?" Jewel said to Apple Blossom. Apple Blossom blushed a bit before answering.
"Is it that obvious?" Apple Blossom asked.
(POV SHIFT: Chroma)
"It's obvious you like her. Why don't you do something?" Thunder asked Chroma.
"I don't know if she likes me. I mean, how embarrassing would it be if I got rejected." Chroma said.
"That didn't stop you from pushing me and Jewel together." Thunder protested.
"It was a lucky guess!" Chroma exclaimed. He was blushing badly now.
"I'm going to leave you to think about that Chroma. See ya tomorrow. I have a feeling it is going to be interesting tomorrow." Thunder Dash chuckled before he left. Chroma walked into his room and grabbed a blanket and pillow for Jet to use. Chroma handed off the spare blanket and pillow to Jet, who promptly set them on the couch and dozed off. He sure fell asleep fast. Chroma thought to himself. He climbed into his bed and started to think back on what Thunder was saying. He might be right. I mean, what if she really does like me like that. I mean, I really hope she does. I'm normally able to sense other pony's emotions, but I can't sense Apple Blossom's emotions though. Could she really feel that way about me? Even if she did feel that way, she deserves somepony better than me. I mean, who wants a pathetic unicorn. A weakling who's only talent is bucking painting. There are many other stallions with better talents than me. Take Jet for example, he would be a much better colt-friend for Apple Blossom. I mean, he is nearly as fast as Thunder, and he is going to be a Wonderbolt. How am I supposed to compare. Chroma kept thinking along those lines as he started drifting off to sleep.
(POV SHIFT: Apple Blossom)
Apple Blossom was laying down in her bed, thinking about the intense discussion she and Jewel had about Chroma. I don't know if he would accept me. What if he doesn't like ponies like me. NO! I can't think like that. I have to have some confidence in myself. I may not be prim and proper, but I can still be the best I can be. If he can't accept me as I am, then he doesn't deserve me. Apple Blossom thought confidently. She started to drift off to sleep, welcoming the peace that sleep provided.
(POV SHIFT: Chroma)
Chroma was having a nightmare that night, evident from his tossing and turning.
The room was filled with ponies. There were two ponies standing up on a stage, one was clearly Vinyl Scratch, DJ Pon-3, operating the turntables holding the DJ's records. Apparently the two were up on stage finishing up a song. Chroma turned his head slightly and saw Apple Blossom resting her head on his shoulder. She turned her head and kissed his cheek. Then the music ended and something dark swooped in front of Chroma. Then he could feel the strange sensation that came when under the influence of a teleportation spell. Then everything turned black.
That was when Chroma woke up panting and sweating. He was unsettled by what happened in the dream. He put the whole thing thing off to imagination. There is no possible way that she would do that. Chroma thought before trying to go to sleep once again.