Rising from the Ashes

Chapters

Prologue: A New Friend
Chapter 1: More Introductions
Chapter 2: A Chilly Summer Night
Chapter 3: Pipes and Pancakes
Chapter 4: The Truth
Chapter 5: Why So Serious
Chapter 7: A Very Pony Christmas
Chapter 8: From the Ashes
Chapter 6: Passage of Time

Prologue: A New Friend

It was a dark night in a forest outside Fillydelphia, clouds covered up the moon and an earlier rain had left the ground soaking wet while it seemed like another was on the way. A black unicorn with gold colored hair and a jagged gold stripe down his back was plodding through at a slow pace, looking dejected and hungry.

As he reached the top of a hill in a small clearing, he looked back at the city briefly before looking at his thigh. No mark. A long heaving sigh and he felt his heart drop a bit more. He took a step forward but slipped on the wet grass and slid down the hill, hitting a tree on the way and landing in some mud. Without so much as a whimper, he gets up and starts limping away with the left leg seemingly hurt.

The unicorn limped along for what felt like hours in the dark forest with no sound but his hoofsteps when all of a sudden he heard a noise. He went towards it and as he got closer he realized that someone was singing. The siren song lured him in and he lost all sense of time until he reached a big clearing where a small village had been set up by a cliff wall. Looking around, he pinpointed the house where the singing and walked closer as he listened.

Don't fall apaaaart. Speak with your heaaaaart. And always take it with you back to the staaaaaart.

It began to rain again. The unicorn rushed to the porch of the voice as fast as he could. When he got there, his stomach growled louder than ever at the smell of something absolutely delicious. "Hello?" he said loudly. The singing stopped. "Hello?!" he said even louder.

The door opened and there stood a white pegasus with a brilliant blue mane and beautiful blue eyes. She took one look at the unicorn and gasped, "Oh my Goodness! Come in! Come in! No pony should be out in this rain."

The unicorn went in. The 2 story house seemed pretty snug with the kitchen next to the living room and the bathroom in a small section in the back. There were no stairs leading up to the 2nd floor, but it was designed like a balcony.

"Poor thing, you look like you've had it pretty rough." the pegasus said.

"Yeah." he said, laying on the couch. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"You're welcome!" the Pegasus responded with a smile, "My name's Melody Blair. Just call me Melody."

"Sparky."

"You want some veggie stew?" Melody asked.

"I'd love some. I'm starving" Sparky said as Melody brought a bowl over.

"What happened to you?"

"I got hurt on my way over here. I think my leg's broken." Sparky explained.

"Well we need to do something about that. Eat up, I'll be right back." Melody said as she flew up to the 2nd story.

Sparky took a taste of the stew was blown away by the flavor. He quickly managed to gobble it up before she returned.

"Wow, you must have been pretty hungry." Melody said

"I haven't eaten all day. It's really good though." Sparky replied.

"Actually it was made by a friend of mine. How did you wind up here?"

Sparky sighed and looked away with a heavy heart and said, "I'd rather not talk about it."

"Oh, okay. I'm having a friend come over to help with that leg." she said as she grabbed the bowl to get more stew.

Sparky noticed her cutie mark: a microphone surrounded by three musical notes.

"I heard you singing before it started raining." Sparky said. "That's how I found this place."

Melody placed the bowl in front of him. "Oh. Well, you're welcome I guess."

Sparky yawned. He was beginning to drift off, but he managed to eat the 2nd bowl of stew. Just before he fell asleep, Melody was at the door, talking to somepony...

Chapter 1: More Introductions

Sparky felt strange as he looked around in a field of colorful flowers, he tried walking but his right hoof wouldn't move.

"Whatever." He thought. "I have all I need right in front of me"

He bent his neck and started chewing on a couple tulips and a daisy. Things seemed calm when all of a sudden he heard a mighty roar in the distance. He swallowed his food and quicklt turned around and saw a terrifying dragon flapping it's obsidian black wings, flying toward him at top speed. He tried to run but his hoof was stuck. He stuggled as the dragon flew closer and closer. The field started disappearing, turning into nothing but emptiness as the dragon closed in on him with its glowing red eyes and razor sharp claws. He tried to scream but he couldn't make so much as a peep. All of a sudden, the dragon froze in place as if time had stopped. The red eyes blazing, sharp fangs ready to tear him to shreds just stood there frozen in time. A strange sound could be heard cutting through the darkness, bringing light to combat the shadow of this horrid sensation. It sounded like a violin or a cello. Whatever it was, it sounded absolutely beautiful. At his feet, a white and blue rose sprouted and grew... then he woke up.

It was the middle of the night, and the moon was full and shining through the windows. A dream... it was all a dream... and yet here he was in the house of that kind young pony, Melody. The one who took him in, a total stranger, when he had nowhere else to go. "Wait... that sound..." he thought to himself. He could still hear the instrument playing, and likely played by a sweet, soulful Melody. Sparky closed his eyes as he listened to the song and drifted to sleep, the image of the field returning but with no dragon in sight...

When Sparky next woke up he saw Melody at the stove heating up what was probably leftover stew from last night and humming. He yawned and her head turned in order for her gentle eyes to meet his gaze, her white coat shining like an angel's in the morning light.

"Good morning sleepyhead." she said.

"Hi, Melody." he replied.

"Sleep well?"

"I had this crazy dream last night." he said, rubbing his eyes.

"By chance, did it involve a big scary dragon?"

"How did you know?"

"You kept mumbling about a dragon in your sleep when we tried to bandage up your hoof."

Sparky looked at his right hoof it was covered in bandages as she had said. "Oh, that explains that. Well, anyway, then it just stopped like it was frozen or something and I heard an instrument playing... It was a pretty song."

Melody put some stew in a bowl and set it on the table in front of him. "Thank you." Sparky said. He sipped a bit of the stew when all of a sudden a pink earth pony with a green mane popped her head out of the bowl and said, "Hi!"

Sparky spit out the stew in his mouth and fell backwards, freaked out by the reality defying pony bathing in his stew. He pointed a shaky hoof and stammered "W-w-who- how did- but- what- what's going on?!"

Melody walked up to the bowl and said, "This is Flora. She's pretty... energetic. She's also the one who put your bandages on."

"You're welcome! And don't worry. That mean old dragon's gone now." Flora said wiht a giggle. "Seriously though, it's okay for you to walk around on that leg. The injury wasn't too bad.

"How... how are you sitting in that bowl?" Sparky asked.

"I dunno. It just kinda happens... Oh! Speaking of dragons..."

"Yes, I was just thinking about that myself." Melody replied.

"What?" Sparky asked.

"We need to introduce you to our village elder. He's a dragon, but he's nice and doesn't eat ponies." Flora explained.

"Okay, let's go then." Sparky said.

Melody and Flora led Sparky throught the village, the grass glowing with sunlight reflected of the dew, light filtering through the trees, the sky blue without a single cloud. The led him to the cliff in the back of the village and walked through an opening just big enough for a pony to go through. When he made it through Sparky couldn't believe his eyes: gems as far as the eye could see. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, to name a few.

"Wow! Look at all these! He must be a big eater." Sparky exclaimed.

"Actually he's pretty small compared to most dragons his age... I think." Melody replied. "I've never seen an actual dragon besides him but I've heard they're supposed to get pretty big."

"Don't take any gems though. He'll know. He has eyes all over the caves... watching..." Flora warned him.

Eventually they came across a set of stone steps leading to the top of the cliff. They climbed slowly and Sparky started getting nervous. He had never met a dragon before, and despite what these two had said, he still wasn't too sure. After reaching the top, Sparky looked around and noticed that he could see the city from where he was standing. More scanning and he saw a big black dragon with white skin looking out over the forest behind. He turned and started walking slowly towards the trio of ponies. When he got close enough that Sparky could see his eyes, he thought about running but something about the dragon's blue eyes was comforting.

"Hello Flora, Melody. I see we have a new friend."

"Yes, sir." Melody and Flora said simultaneously.

"My name is Percival. What is your name, little one?" he said, addressing Sparky.

"Uh, Sparky, sir."

"Sparky. Cute name." he said with a chuckle. He was an odd dragon to be sure. For starters, he couldn't have been more than nine feet tall, but he was still pretty big.
"Sir, may I ask you something? How old are you?" Sparky asked.

"It's been so long I must have lost count... Let's see... I'd say about some sixteen-thousand years. I grew up during the reign of an evil chimera named Discord. But that's a story for another time. Welcome to our village, Sparky. Please make yourself at home."

Chapter 2: A Chilly Summer Night

For the remainder of that day, Sparky and Melody helped out Flora with her garden. It was hard work and when night came, Sparky was happy to curl up on the couch while the window situated above the couch let in a nice cool breeze as he drifted off to gentle slumber.

He dreamt that he, Melody, and Flora were playing tag in the forest. He was chasing Flora when all of a sudden some branches snatched her and dragged her up, screaming. Turning around, he saw Melody backing away from the branches and rushed in to help her but got blown back by a blast of a blizzard. Then he woke up, feeling rather cold.

As he leaned up to shut the window, he noticed someone walking out of one of the houses in a cloak. Not giving Melody a thought, he walked outside to talk to him or her. The cloaked figure was halfway towards the forest when Sparky spoke up. "Hello?"

The figure looked in his direction and responded. "Oh. Hello. I figured everypony was asleep." The figure had an odd accent.

"I was having a bad dream. What are you doing up so late?"

"I was heading to the city. Care to join me?"

The city, the place where he had run away from... Was it wise to go back?

"If so, I'll get you a cloak and something warmer to wear. You'll need it." The cloaked figure responded.

At least he'd be covered. "Okay." Sparky answered.

"Great. Wait right there." the cloaked figure said, walking back to the house it just came from. Sparky noticed the ice patches it left when it walked.

The figure shortly came back with a coat and a cloak. As it drew nearer to Sparky he began to shiver.

"Sorry about the cold, i've been trying to fix it for a long time. You're Sparky, right? Percy told me all about you."

"Well, if you know my name it's only fair I should know yours." Sparky said as he finished securing the cloak and coat.

"Right you are" the figure said as it started walking. It pulled back the hood to reveal an icy blue unicorn with a dark red mane. "My name is Chilly Temper."

"Well, nice to meet you, Chilly... Brrrr. Why is it so cold? It's the middle of summer."

"Actually that's me." Chilly said. Her horn glowed and a corner of her cloak lifted up to reveal her mark: a thermometer with a flame by the top and a snowflake by the bottom. "My skills lie in spells having to do with temperatures. I tried making my own spell to help ponies through the summer heat but it backfired and now the air around me is always cold. And my frozen hoofprints are a side effect."

As they continued to walk through the forest, the very trees seemed to be shivering. "You have an accent. By chance, are you from Trottingham?"

"Born there. Parents moved to the city shortly after having me."

"Speaking of, why are we headed to the city anyway?"

"I need to pick up some supplies."

As Sparky and Chilly walked through the forest, Sparky noticed he started shivering less when he managed to get talking so they began making small talk... as much as they could. Chilly never got out during the day so she doesn't even know much about the other ponies in the village aside from what Percy had told her. So Sparky asked a big question.

"Chilly, how did you get your mark?"

Chilly stepped to the side to avoid a tree and ducked a branch.

"Well, that's an interesting story, but I'll tell you some other time." She said looking out towards the city of Fillydelphia. "Come on."

Chilly led Sparky through the city down busy, fully lit streets and across congested crosswalks, leaving frozen steps behind until they reached a dark alley. Chilly knocked on a metal door which opened and produced a paper bag.

"Multi-colored chalk this time?" Chilly asked.

"Yes." the voice behind the door spoke.

"Thank you." Chilly responded as she started walking back levitating the bag.

"Uh, Chilly. What was that?"

"I'm studying a strange kind of magic that's not very widely accepted. As such I can't get my supplies normally, but I've tried every other thing I can think of and I can't reverse the spell so this is my only option."

As they got back to the village, Chilly said, "It's been a while since I've had any experiences like this. It meant a lot to me. Thank you." As she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and returned home taking back the cloak and coat she gave Sparky. Sparky went back into Melody's house and lied down on the couch as if nothing had happened, still blushing over what had just happened.

Chapter 3: Pipes and Pancakes

A few days pass and Sparky meets some of the other ponies who live in the village as well as once again escorting Chilly to and from the city.

Everything was going fine until one morning as Sparky and Melody were sleeping, when all of a sudden a great boom was heard and the sink started spewing water like crazy. The shock woke up both of them and they ran outside and saw that almost all the other ponies had evacuated their houses as well.

"What's going on?" asked Aeron, a grey pegasus with a pale-blue mane and a cloud for his mark.

Water was spilling from all the open doors.

"Who did this?" asked Sandy, a yellow earth pony with a green mane and a hammer and chisel as her mark.

Amidst all the commotion, Brook, a deep-blue unicorn with artificial black wings, and a hammer crossing a saw with wire wrapped around it and dripping water for a mark, came out and said "Looks like something's clogging a pipe. I'll go handle it." and went off, tools at her side, to check on whatever was causing the problem.

Meanwhile, Phyre, a red unicorn with a red mane and a chef's hat for a mark stepped outside and said, "Oh my. I'm sorry everyone. This is my fault. I haven't been cleaning up my kitchen properly and so I kinda dumped all my garbage down the disposal and it jammed." All the other ponies groaned. "Normally, I'd make you all breakfast to make up for it, but my kitchen's a real mess now. But I know someone in the city who's good at making breakfast, she's a brown earth pony who runs a cafe on Canterlot Road. Just tell her what happened and I'll pay the bill." The remaining ponies started groggily trotting through the forest towards the city and Sparky started gretting the others such as the twin actresses Dawn and Luna black and white earth ponies with white and black manes respectively and the masks of comedy and tragedy as their respective marks.

"How are you two today?" Sparky asked as cheerfully as he could.

"Tired." They answered in unison. Clearly they were chatty today.

Sparky caught up with Melody. "Hey there. Sleep well?"

"Yeah, until the whole pipe thing." Melody answered. "How about you?"

"Pretty good I guess."

"Something wrong?" Melody asked.

"No... Have I ever told you you have an amazing singing voice?"

"Thanks." Melody answered with a giggle. "I can also play a few instruments."

"Really? Which ones?"

"Flute, Violin, and Cello. Though I'm not the best."

Sparky and Meloy made small talk as the group headed down into the city along the winding streets to Canterlot Road where Phyre had said the cafe was. They looked inside and saw the brown pony. She had short hair and her mark was a stack of pancakes.

The bell rang as they all walked in and the golden brown pony looked over and said to herself "Oh my, looks like I'm going to have a busy morning." She then walked up to the counter and stated loudly, "Welcome, may I help you... all?"

Sparky stepped forward and said, "Yeah, a friend of ours named Phyre made... a recommendation so we thought we'd come here and check it out."

"Goodness, so I can just make the bill out to her?"

"Eeyup." He said with everyone joining in agreement.

Everyone put a few tables together which was enough to seat them all, Sparky taking a seat next to Melody and Flora. "What would you all like to drink?" she asked the group. Some said water, some said juice and Sandy asked for coffee. The drinks were brought in posthaste. After about a half an hour, Pancakes, the golden brown pony, brought out plate after plate of pancakes until the group was served then proceeded to bring out some powdered sugar as well as other toppings.

The group then began to chat to each other about things they had done before or their plans for the morning before it became vocal chaos with each pony trying to talk to another. At one point, Sandy mentioned that she had once gotten invited to the Grand Galloping Gala and it caught Melody's ears. "The Gala? Oh how I wish I could go someday..."

Chapter 4: The Truth

Later when they got back, the ponies each spent the rest of the day cleaning up their houses.

That night, Sparky had a very vivid nightmare of the event that drove him out of the city...

He never knew his father and had no idea what had happened to him. A few years ago, his mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness so she remained at home with Sparky taking care of her (of his own choosing). Because of this he never got out much, which is why he still doesn't have his mark. The incident in question happened on the day he met Melody...

It was a day like any other. Sparky had just gotten back from grocery shopping and had went in to check on his mother, a grey pegasus who had turned very pale, and whose golden mane had been slowly turning grey. She coughed a bit as Sparky walked into he room. "Hi mom." he said sweetly, walking up to her. "I'm back."

"Hi pumpkin." she said in reply.

"I got you that special garlic soup stuff you like."

"Thank you. You're so sweet."

He went up to her and nuzzled her. "I love you, mom."

"I love you too, sweetie."

"Now you just rest and i'll get the soup made." he said, going out to the kitchen. After Sparky made the soup using the stove he figured he'd keep the flame on and that he'd have a bowl too. After doing so, he took a nap, forgetting to turn off the flame.

When he woke up, he found that the house was on fire. Smoke was filling the rooms and the flames were burning out of control. He quickly galloped into his mother's room shouting, "Mom! Wake up! The house is on fire! We have to leave!"

After taking a second to grasp the situation she said, "Okay. Get outside. I'll be there in a minute."

"But..."

"Go."

"I love you, mom." he said turning towards the door.

"I love you too. Now go." she ordered.

Sparky quickly galloped outside and started yelling for help. Within minutes he heard the sirens of the fire department. However, in those minutes, a flaming piece of rubble had blocked the doorway which made Sparky's heart sink to his hooves.

Tears began to well up at the realization that she wasn't going to make it. He stood on the sidewalk for what felt like hours as the rain began to fall on the charred remains of the house where he grew up. The firefighters pulled what looked like a body out of the wreckage and Sparky stared at it in horror as darkness began to surround him and voices began calling his name. "Sparky. Sparky. Sparky..."

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, he was back in Melody's house, on her couch, with her standing next to him. "Sparky? Sparky, what's going on?" the memory of that night came rushing back to him and he lept into Melody's embrace, weeping.

"Sparky, what's wrong?" she asked.

After a couple minutes, he managed to calm down enough to say to her, "I think it's about time I told you what happened..."

Chapter 5: Why So Serious

Melody sat near Sparky as he recounted the horrific tale of his past. She couldn't help but feel sorry fo him. When he finished, she went up and hugged him, saying "Oh you poor thing! I'm so sorry to hear all this."

Sparky remained silent for a minute before saying, "Thank you."

"Here. I'll whip us up some breakfast." Melody said.

She ended up making some pancakes and orange juice and they ate together Sparky remaining silent the whole time. He still felt a little sick in the pit of his stomach but he was glad that she knew.

In the midst of all this, a shrill scream came from outside and the two rushed out to see what was going on and what they saw astounded them: Phyre was standing outside, her hair having grown so long that you couldn't actually see her. Shortly afterwards, Brook stepped out covered almost completely in purple spots (the only exception being her artificial wings). "What's happening to us?" She asked.

"Did something happen yesterday while we were out?" Melody asked as the other ponies left their house to see the commotion.

"Well," Phyre began, "After you guys left I went back inside to start cleaning up when all of a sudden I hear an explosion or something. So I ran outside and these blue specks were falling from the sky."

"I ran into those specks when I got back." Brook added. "That must be the problem, but what were they?"

Just then a strangely familiar voice shouted out, "It's called Poison Joke." The ponies turned towards the voice. A strange, small, black and white creature, walking on two legs, walked to the center of the group and said, "It's a strange plant that has unpredictable effects on any creature infected by it."

"Percy?" Luna asked, trying to hold back a laugh.

"Yes, it's me." the creature stated. "It seems the plant has caused me to revert back to a baby dragon." He looked around and noticed that all the ponies were trying really hard not to laugh. Percy sighed and said, "Go ahead." and all the ponies busted out laughing at their elder's unusual predicament. Even Sparky, who's morning so far had been a rather depressing one, couldn't help but laugh.

After everypony had settled down, Percy continued. "Fortunately, the cure is a simple one, but it'll be a few weeks before it's applicable. We must go on with out lives until then. Snow is coming so we'd all better start preparing." and with that, eveypony went about making preperations for the upcoming season change.

Later that night, Sparky started worrying about Chilly and so he went over to her house and knocked on her door. It was unusually warm at the door, he noticed. No answer. He knocked again and said, "Chilly, you in there?"

The door opened slightly and a blue hoof beckoned him in.

"Everything okay?..."

Chapter 7: A Very Pony Christmas

Summer had gone, the snow had come and Christmas was just around the corner. However, there was one pony who just couldn't get into the spirit...

This pony resided in a village in a forest just outside Fillydelphia.

In a small two story house, a black unicorn with a golden mane and a golden stripe down his back named Sparky was lying on a couch, blanket over him, sighing and hoping to sleep the holiday away as he remembers a certain incident he had caused just a few months ago.

All of a sudden, from upstaris, comes Sparky's best friend, Melody: a white pegasus with blue eyes, a blue mane, and a microphone with three musical notes trailing behind it for her cutie mark, humming to herself songs that would normally be sung this time of year. "Good morning, Sparky!"

Sparky just grunts.

"... How are you today?" she asked, trying to get a response out of him. No luck. Just another grunt. "You know... you've been cooped up in the house for a week. Everypony's starting to get worried."

"Whatever." Sparky replied.

Melody growled a bit and tossed a coat over to him as she puts on her own and says, "Get up. You're coming with me."

"Fine." Sparky said, getting up, bones audibly cracking as if it'd been years since he even moved. He put on his coat and walked outside with Melody, looking around at the snow covering the trees, the ground, and the houses. As they started walking, the snow crunched under their hooves.

"Let's see. Phyre wants us to taste test some of her recipes, Sandy needs some help with her ice sculptures, and Dawn and Luna want us to help them practice for a show." Melody said to her inattentive friend.

As they're walking along, they meet up with their friend Chilly Temper, an icy blue unicorn with a dark red mane and a thermometer for a cutie mark with a Trottingham accent. "'Allo Melody, 'Allo Sparky. How are you two this mornin'?"

"Hello, Chilly. I'm doing good, but Sparky's... in a bad mood." Melody said.

"What's wrong?"

"It's... a touchy subject."

"Ah. Well, hope you fell better soon, Sparky."

"What are you doing, Chilly?" Melody asked.

"I'm keeping the temperature balanced around the village. See ya!" Chilly said as she trotted off, snow crunching beneath her hooves.

As the two entered into Dawn and Luna's fully decorated theater, the two near monochromatic actresses were up on a stage in costume. Dawn, the white earth pony with a black mane and blue eyes with the mask of comedy as her cutie mark, was dressed up sort of like an angel. Luna, a black earth pony with a white mane, blue eyes, and the mask of tragedy as her mark was dressed up in pajamas of some bygone era.

The two turned their attention to the two ponies who had just walked in. "Hello Melody. Hello Sparky. Haven't seen you around in a while." The two said in perfect unison.

"Yeah, he's in a bad mood right now." Melody explained, "Best not to press the issue." The two actresses turned to each other and whispered. "So what is this show your doing?"

"Well," Dawn began, "every year, our group performs A Christmas Carol for the ponies at the hospital."

"Well, that's awfully nice of you... Right, Sparky?" Melody said, nudging him.

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Sparky responded unenthusiastically.

"Yeah... Well, we know our parts by heart but it's always good to practice. Sparky, would you like to play Scrooge?" Luna asked as she took off the outfit she was wearing.

"Whatever." he moaned as he slowly walked up onto the stage.

"Put on that outfit while I go change." Luna said, going backstage.

Once Sparky put on the outfit, Dawn whispered to Melody, "If I didn't know better, I'd say scrooge himself was here. What's wrong with Sparky?"

"I'll tell you later." Melody whispered back.

"Okay, Sparky here's the script." she said bringing over a stack of paper, opened to a particular page. "We're going to take it from the top..."

Well," Melody said, trying to strike up a conversation as she and Sparky leave the theater, "I think that went pretty good."

"Sure, whatever." Sparky replied.

"... You feeling hungry?"

"Maybe a little."

"Let's go over to Phyre's. It's about lunchtime anyway." Melody said.

As they walked into Phyre's house, their nostrils were greeted with the scent of many delicious foods laid out on a table while their eyes were greeted by the sight of a red unicorn with a yellow mane and a chef's hat for a cutie mark.

"Hi Melody." the unicorn said, "Hey Sparky, haven't seen you around in a while. You feeling okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." Sparky said, obviously lying through his teeth.

"He's just kind of in a bad mood right now." Melody explained.

"I see... Well, I hope you're both hungry." Phyre said, holding a quill and notebook with her magic.

For the next couple hours, Melody and Sparky sampled Appetizers, Snacks, Sauces, Sides, Dips, Chips, etc that Phyre had prepared. Melody made remarks like "less mint in this cookies, but more cinnammon in this pie."

Sparky also ate a few things but all he'd say is "whatever."

The duo said nothing to each other as they walked over to Sandy's house. They just listened to the snow crunching beneath their hooves.

As they walked in they noticed bits, pieces, and attempts of almost every usable sculpting substance. In the back, Sandy, a lime green unicorn with a yellow mane and a hammer and chisel for her cutie mark, was standing next to two big ice blocks. Chilly was there too, presumably keeping the ice blocks from melting.

A few hours later Sparky was standing on a platform while Sandy had chiseled the ice block into a rough shape and was now working on the details.

"Remind me why i'm here again." Sparky said.

"Becuase you needed to get out of the house." Melody replied, her sculpture already finished.

"Forget this. I'm going home." Sparky said, as he walks out the door.

"I'm sorry about that, Sandy." Melody said.

"Don't be. I can take it from here." Sandy reassured her as Melody went off to go get Sparky.

When Melody got home, she found him exactly where he was this morning: on the couch under a blanket. She walked over to him and nudged him, saying, "Please get up."

"No."

Melody sighed and said, "Fine. But I'm not letting you miss the party."

"Whatever."

"Just so you know..." she said before going back outside, "I understand how feel."

About an hour later and the party had started. Everypony in the village, as well as Percy, had gathered in the theater. Flora brought in and decorated the tree, Phyre had set up food along the wall opposite the fireplace, Dawn and Luna's show had gone well, and Sparky was just lying down next to the fireplace. He was a sad sight. Melody went over and laid down next to him. "How ya doin'?"

"A little better... I guess."

"I know you feel responsible for what happened to your mom."

"You mean the fact that I ended up burning down the house? Yeah."

"This is going to be your first christmas without her isn't it?"

"Uh-huh." Sparky replied.

"Well, I have some news for you."

"What?"

"You have us, your friends. We're here for you. Did I ever tell you what happened to my parents?"

"They up and disappeared." Sparky answered.

"And I do miss them, but I have everyone here to help me through the day. They're here for you too, and so am I."

"Yeah... Listen, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting."

"It's okay." Melody replied.

"And uh..." Sparky began to blush, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you too."

"And what's that?"

"I uh.." he trailed off as a branch of mistletoe suddenly appeared over the two.

"Does it have anything to do with that?" Melody asked.

"Something like that." he said as the two leaned in to kiss.

Chapter 8: From the Ashes

Note: * signals a flashback

It was summer and the night of the Grand Galloping Gala had arrived. Important ponies from all over had been invited to Equestria's most exclusive event. The night sky was free of clouds thanks to the Wonderbolts. What could possibly go wrong on a night like this?

Well, there was one pony in attendence who wasn't feeling so happy. Melody was out in the garden, on her own. She had her mane put into curls and was wearing a white dress with a black musical score pattern sown onto it. To perform at the Gala had been her dream and it was all coming true, but here she was, head hung low, crying like the world was about to end. That's because she felt like hers already had...

In the distance, two very similar voices could be heard calling out for her. Dawn and Luna, the twin actresses looked all around the garden until they found her.

"Here you are!" they said in unison.

She looked up at the twins, tears streaming down her cheeks, not saying a word.

"It's almost time for you to go on." Dawn said. Melody put her head down again.

"Look," Luna said, "I know you're heartbroken about the whole thing but just sing your song and we can go home."

Not saying a word, Melody got up and started walking towards the castle. Within a few minutes, she was on stage as the orchestra had prepared for her to start. Melody, still reminded of what happened, began singing her heart out.

You say my love is all you need, to see you through.
But I know these words are not quite true.

Here is the path you're looking for, an open door
Leading to worlds you long to explore...

*Earlier in the spring of that year, Dawn and Luna were finishing up one of their performances and were racing back to get some news to Melody. They knocked on the door and eagerly awaited the face of their good friend who quickly answered the door.

"Hey, what's up?" Melody asked.

"We've got some good news for you." the twins said in unison.

"What?"

"Well," Luna started.

"We had just finished up our performance for the day." Dawn continued."

"Which had gone very well of course, Dawn here did an excellent job."

"You didn't do too bad yourself."

"Anyway," Luna said, getting back to the point.

"After the show, we were approached by the stallion organizing the entertainment for the Gala and he asked us to perform!"

"Wow, congratulations. You two are so lucky." Melody replied.

"We haven't gotten to the best part yet." Luna said.

"Before he left, we got to talking and he's agreed to let you sing there!" Dawn said, finishing the story.

Melody, now face to face with her dream coming true, started jumping around and screaming with joy. When she had finished, Sparky, who was sitting on the couch, walked over to happy pegasus who was his girlfriend and hugged her, saying "Congratulations." and giving her a quick peck.*

Go, if you must move on alone.
I am gonna make it on my own.

Kiss me goodbye, love's memory.
Follow your heart and find your destiny.
Won't shed a tear for love's mortality
for you put the dream in my reality

*For the next couple months, Melody had been preparing herself for the Gala, but always finding time for her love of course. Sparky, however, began feeling troubled. He had began having nightmares more often than ever, and after a while it was like he'd been trying to avoid Melody as often as he could...*

As time goes by I know you'll see this of me:
I loved you enough to let you go free

Go, I will give you wings to fly
Cast all your fears into the sky

*One day, everything fell apart. The other ponies were going about their lives as normal when hey started hearing shouting from outside. As thtey looked out their windows, Sparky and Melody had appeared to be arguing over something as Sparky was walking towards the forest with Melody close behind him.

"Please, just talk to me." Melody pleaded.

"I'm sorry, but I have to do this on my own." Sparky replied.

"What do you have to do?"

"Something."

"Then let me go with you."

"No. I have to do this myself."

"Why?"

"Because."

"That's not a good answer", Melody replied, getting increasingly frustrated.

"Look, I just have to do this on my own. Okay?"

"This is about your mother isn't it?" Melody asked. Sparky paused, back turned to her. "Look, I understand how you must feel-"

"KNOCK IT OFF!" Sparky shouted, raising his voice for the first time since any of them had known him. He turned around glaring at Melody with tears streaming down his face."YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND! Your parents might still be alive, but not mine. Mine are gone! My mother's dead and it's my fault. You can't possibly understand the pain I went through! The pain I felt when I looked into her eyes for the last time! The pain of watching my home burn down with her in it, waiting for the firefighters to come. The unbearable pain I felt watching them drag her charred remains out of the rubble. You can't even imagine the guilt I still feel, knowing it's all my fault. So, just knock it off! I'm doing this on my own!"

He turned and ran into the forest. Melody, beginning to cry herself shouted back, "FINE!" and turned back, slowly walking back into the house. Percy, having witnessed all this took off into the forest.

After that, nopony had heard so much as a peep from Melody for almost a week, and neither Percy nor Sparky had returned. A gloom had settled over the village that wasn't likely to lift anytime soon. Melody continued to prepare for the Gala which was a few months away.*

Kiss me good-bye, love's mystery
All of my life I'll hold you close to me

Won't she'd a tear for love's mortality
For you put the dream in my reality

Kiss me good-bye, love's memory
You put the dream in my reality

As the song ended, the whole room burst out in applause as Melody slowly trotted off the stage where Dawn and Luna were waiting.

"Come on, the train will be a the station in a little bit." Luna said as the twins escorted their hurting friend out of the castle.

The train ride back to Phillydelphia was long enough on its own but to the trio it felt like an eternity. The dark cabin lit only by the stars and the lamps from distant towns. The only sounds being made were that of the train running on the tracks and Melody's occasional sobs.

The walk from the station felt even longer and clouds were beginning to come in. There was going to be a storm that night.

The rain began to fall as the three entered the village and parted ways. Melody stopped at her door and gave a sigh as she pushed the door open, head hung.

As the door swung open, a familiar voice said, "Welcome back." Hearing that voice, Melody's head shot up as she saw Sparky, sitting there on the couch, smiling at her. "You look beautiful."

Melody, overjoyed at his return, practically jumped on him as she put her hooves around his neck, happy for his return. She briefly opened her eyes and noticed that since he left he had gained something. "Your cutie mark..."

"Eeyup", Sparky replied. Now plastered on Sparky's flank was what looked like a lightbulb attatched to a bottle rocket. "I guess you could say that was a bonus... Look, I'm sorry for what happened. I should have just come right out and said what was going on."

"It's okay." Melody said, crying tears of joy. "I'm just glad you're back."

"Still, I should tell you what happened..."

After Melody calmed down, Sparky began telling her about the nightmares he had been having prior to the fight, how after he left Percy came to find him. Despite protests, Percy stayed to help him. Sparky eventually managed to let go of what happened, after which Percy helped train Sparky to control his magic. "That's our elder for ya." he said.

Melody giggled as she took off her dress and placed it in her closet. "Well, i'm pretty tired. Good night" she said flying up to her room to prepare for the night.

"Oh! I also learned one other trick." Sparky called up from the floor. As Melody turned around, Sparky, glowing yellow, levitated up to her floor and landed.

"Wow." Melody said.

"Yeah, it's kinda neat." he said jokingly.

The storm raged on, lightning flashed and thunder roared, but they didn't care. That night they slept in the comfort of each others' hooves...

A few years later...

Another storm was brewing over the little village. Inside Sparky and Melody's house, two figures, one bigger than the other got themselves up to the floor where the two lovers where sleeping and walked over to them, one on each side. The one on Sparky's side poked him and said, "Daddy?" no response. It poked him again, a bit harder, and said, "Daddy?"

Sparky rolled over, mostly asleep. He conjured up a small light to see a light grey pegasus colt with a green mane and yellow eyes. "Zippy, where's your sister?"

"Mommy?" the other, smaller pony said, poking at Melody. Sparky turned in that direction and Melody was woken up by the light. The other pony was a white unicorn filly with a blue mane and green eyes who poked Melody again.

"Yes, Harmony?" Melody said to the young filly. "We had a nightmare. Can we sleep in your bed tonight."

"Yeah, please?" Zippy asked.

Sparky laughed and said, "Sure."

As the two hopped into their parents' bed, nestling between them, Harmony said, "What's so funny, Dad?

"Let's just say your father knows all about nightmares..." he continued as the four settled in for the night. The storm died down and the clouds drifted away, revealing a star covered sky accentuated by a full moon...

Chapter 6: Passage of Time

Sparky stepped into the dark hut as the door closed behind him. Having spent as much time as he had with Chilly, it was surprisingly warm. He soon found out why.

"It's kind of dark in here. Hold on a second." He concentrated and at the end of his horn, he generated a small light and it died down from the breach of concentration as soon as he opened his eyes. He got the light back up again and looked around. Chalk circles littering the floor, books lining the walls, garbage everywhere, and in the back, was Chilly who had gone from a mare to a stallion.

"Whoa... what happened?" he asked.

"The poison joke." Chilly replied. "I was doing an experiment which required the poison joke, but all of a sudden, the plant started multiplying and then just exploded in a blue powder. Percy said he and I weren't the only ones affected."

"Well, it seems to have fixed your cold problem." Sparky said with a chuckle.

"The effects might wear off between now and when the ingredients make it in, but that's not likely. Can you go get it for me when the time comes?" Chilly asked.

"No problem, Chilly." he responded.

Weeks went by as Phyre and the other afflicted by the Poison Joke learned to adapt to their situations. By the time the ingredients came, Brook's spots had faded away, but Phyre was still having persistent bad mane days and Percy had still taken a trip back to his youth.

Sparky went into the city and came back with the ingredients. The next day, the baths were made and they all went back to normal. Chilly, now freed of her spell, properly introduced herself to the others and was quickly welcomed into the group.

With the holidays just around the corner, Sparky just wasn't quite feeling like himself...