Forgotten Fire: Ember of Darkness

That... could have gone better. The entire conversation she had was a blur; all she remembered was that Trixie obviously didn't remember her somehow. Either she had also repressed the memories of that night like Ember had, or maybe she whammed her head on a rock or something, but she definitely had no idea who Ember was. Ember also remembered something about a few books and plates being thrown at her in Trixie's trailer, but that probably wasn't important.

"So is that it," she asked aloud, "because that certainly was a thrill. My own sister has no idea who I am, my mother abandoned me, and I have no idea what happened to my father..."

Then it hit her. What had happened to her dad? She hadn't really thought about it until now, but she didn't know if he got out of the fire or where he might have gone to. How could she have been so scatterbrained?! Had Faolan not been only the most important pony in her life? Ember kept banging her head on the wall of the building she was sitting next to out of anger at herself. Tears began flowing from her sore eye, and a quiet, squeaky cry came from her throat. She hit her head on the wall until she grew dizzy from the large bruise now forming just underneath her horn. She was glad there was nopony around to see her suffer; they were all gathering for the Great and Powerful Trixie's second show.

She sat outside that building for what felt like hours, just thinking about everything she had ever done wrong. When she felt her head was about to literally explode from thought, she felt a cold breeze blow past her and into a nearby alleyway, accompanied by a strange noise that was unlike anything she had ever heard. Ember rose to her weary hooves to go investigate.

She peaked around the corner, where she saw two ponies talking. There was a brown-coated earth colt with an hourglass cutie mark, and a grey-looking pegasus with blonde hair, crossed eyes, and her cutie mark was...bubbles? What a strange thing this was. She hadn't heard them back there, and she was sure there was nopony around when she was...sitting by the wall, so where did they come from? It took her a bit before she saw a large, blue box that the two ponies were standing by. She tried to lean a little closer, but she tripped on a rock by the corner of the wall. Ember fell on her face with a loud "ophhhh."

"Oh... helloooo." said the brown colt with a turn of his head towards Ember.

"Ughhh, oh, sorry to uh...interupt" Ember replied as she picked herself up and brushed herself off.

"Oh, no bother. Me and my friend were actually just about to get going. So much time, so little things to do. Oh, erm, reverse that, actually." said the colt with a smile. "Ah, manners. This is Derpy, and I'm the Doctor; who might you be?"

"It's...not really important."

"Well of course it is. You have to be somebody, or else your nobody at all, and where's the fun in that? Just some nameless pony with no past, present, or future. Totally insignificant. Might as well be dirt, or a rock, or..." Derpy shot a friendly but impatient glance at the Doctor. "Oh, yes, rambling again. I tend to do it a lot. Anyways, we must be going; adventures and such. Have a good day miss...unknown filly."

"Ember..." she said shyly. "My name's Ember Lulamoon."

"Well Miss Ember, I will be seeing you later, yeah?

"Sure," she said confusingly. "I guess so."

"Good." And with that, the Doctor and Derpy headed into the strange blue box labeled "Police Public Call Box". After a few seconds, the strange sound returned, and the box began to fade; fading until there was nothing there except the other side of the building. A million thoughts were racing through Ember's mind as she tried to comprehend what just happened, but nothing made any sense. Suddenly, she remembered something she had been told not long ago. She heard, "Many strange things will happen to you, things you may not understand, but do not be afraid. Whatever may happen, stay true to your path and your destiny. All else will come with time." She was still bewildered by this Doctor, but Ember figured he was speaking the truth when he said he'd see her again.

She could have spent more time at that spot where the blue box had disappeared, but Ember had the strange urge to return to Zecora's hut; to return to the kindly zebra and her peaceful hut, where everything made sense. It was becoming dark out, and Ember longed for a nice, peaceful rest after her weary and confusing day. So, she walked. She walked all the way through Ponyville, all the way through the Everfree Forest, and right into the tree in which Zecora lived. Finally in her bed, Ember let the sweet gift of sleep wash her away into unconsciousness.