The Legacy of Little Dipperby RoadBurnChaptersChapter 1: A Grave MistakeChapter 2: From A Grudge to RevengeChapter 3: A Legend DawnsChapter 4: A Special UnicornChapter 5: "Revenge Will Be Mine"Chapter 1: A Grave MistakeThe bright afternoon sun bares down on the citizens of Saddle Arabia. Bells echo in the streets. Crowds gather at food stands and on the roadsides. The crisp smell of fresh apples fill the nippy autumn air. Mares and stallions, fillies and colts, ponies of all races pour into the guarded walls of the town. Many with apple sweets of all kinds. What ponies can't use magic, improvise. The colts play games such as hopscotch or ring toss. The fillies get face paint, many wanted their side painted to look like a cutie mark. Are you wondering why all these ponies are so happy? Today is the day of the Apple Parade, where the fair, young maidens, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna ride all dressed up on a float next to their mother and father, the rulers of Saddle Arabia. Plus, today is the legendary "Devine Apple Day", where the town celebrates the sweets that apples make. Nothing but apple sweets are eaten on this day. Suddenly, trumpets start blasting, drums start beating, the crowd starts roaring from down the street. Many shove and pull to turn their heads. A golden carriage rolls slowly down the road. Smiles fall upon the faces of all the different types of ponies. Pegasi fly up high to get a sky view. Unicorns and earth ponies look down from balconies and shower the royals with happiness and smiles. Laughter and cheering rings through the town. As the rulers and princesses pass, many royal guards are smiling and waving, just like their superiors. Every kind of flower, whether its roses, tulips, lillies, etc., is being gently thrown to the ravishing family. The radiant younger princess, Luna, gets up from her post, and flies by the ponies, doing tricks in the air, catching flowers. Celestia even moves to join her in aerial acrobatics. Smiling, their father takes a bite out of a apple fritter, then lays it back down on the plate next to him. When the float comes to a halt, the mother gets up and walks onto a giant red stage with velvet curtains hanging behind her. The subjects circle around the stage, fighting to be the closest pony there. The mother raises her hoof, her golden armor shining in her glorious sun, silencing the crowd. Her husband stands to her left, and her children to her right. "Dearest ladies and gentlecolts," she booms. Her voice reflects off the tall buildings. "another wonderful year has dawned upon us. No war, no rivalry. Just pure happiness, love, and our undying dreams. I am proud to say that another year means more success. We have had our share of troubles and hardships, but we still pulled through. No thing, pony, or any being will ever take our joy from us. Not even death. Happiness will always live within our hearts, and our future family with always carry on our legacy. Dreaming is how the strong survive, dearest subjects, dreaming is how everypony is motivated." While the mother was giving her speech, nopony saw the white and gray griffon climbing the wall above the stage. Why was the griffon climbing, you may wonder. Bandages covered the soft, gray feathers of it's wings. In a fight for food, the griffon had fallen from atop a roof, smashing into the ground, shattering the bones within its wings. The griffon is also scaling the wall to simply listen. The griffon had no respect for the mother. She thought she favored the ponies more than the griffons, since more griffons were homeless than ponies. But she still loved listening to the sweet and inspiring speeches given by the ruler, or tyrant, as the griffon always heard. She grips the brick wall tightly with her claws, and digs her clawed feet into the roof. She turns, and looks down at the tiny specks that are the rulers. "Dreams are sweet. Dreaming makes you feel sweet, it makes you feel special. As does these wonderful Apple sweets. A couple generations ago, our ancestors brought these fruits over from the seas. They have been a delicious sensation to us ever since. So, why not celebrate this feeling? Today, we dine on apple sweets. Does everypony have something to bite?" she asks. Ponies hold up their foods, everything thing from pieces of pie to fritters to caramel apples. She smiles at them all, and looks at her husband. He takes over. Leaning in to whisper into Celestia and Luna's ears, he asks quietly, "Have something dearies?" They nod and use their magic to show him a couple fritters. She smiles at them, then turns his head to his subjects. His eyes, armor, and crown shine with grace as he counts down from five. "Five....four....three....two...." A silence falls over Saddle Arabia. The ponies hold their breath. "ONE!" The father, mother, Celestia, Luna, and the subjects bite into their foods. A loud crunch come from the crispy foods, and the sound of chewing is sent through the air. The griffon closes her eyes and smiles slowly. She listens to the sound of chewing and crunching. She plays it over and over in her mind. "What a wondrous life they must have," she whispers to herself. "They must be rich to afford the sweets and pastries." Suddenly the griffon's eyes shoot open. Her claws....they were....SLIPPING. She forced her feet into scratch the roof, her claws burying deep into the paint. Yet her claws on her hands were pulling away from the bricks. She was slipping. And she was going to fall if she didn't hurry. "I wish I had my wings," she told herself nervously. They ached every time she was about to get hurt. And they were aching extremely now. She lost her footing, and with a slip, she falls several feet to the small stage below, it growing as she came nearer. SMACK! SNAP! CRASH! The stage brakes as she smacks it. A striking pain is sent through her stomach and head. Everything she looks at has several twins. She can't even grip the stage to get up. Everyone is gasping and some screaming. Her vision finally clears. She very slowly gets up, her wings burning in pain. She wants to cry, but can't. She'd look like an even bigger fool than she did now, especially in front of the royals. But the royals weren't focusing on her. No, they all were surrounding the mother, who was lying on the stage, not moving a muscle. Everypony suddenly turns chaotic. "She killed our Queen!" one pony says. "No! She choked her!" another shouts. The once happy crowd turns into a mad mob. They walk toward the griffon, accusing her of murder and yelling and screaming. Still slightly dizzy and shocked from this unfortunate turn, the griffon falls backward and onto her hind end. She scurries off the stage, with mixed feelings. She was slightly happy she killed the tyrant. Yet angry, scared, sad. She ran all the way out of town, running, running, running, until she had to finally stop to breathe. She looked back at the once happy town that was now screaming with angry citizens, and collaspes on the tall grass. She won't be noticeable there. Maybe if she just laid there long enough, everypony would just slip away, and disappear. Then she'd never wake up. It would just be an endless dream. So there, hidden in the grass, the griffon slept. But not so well. She dreamed of shackles and rattling chains. She saw herself getting slain for treason. A horrible nightmare, that maybe would turn endless. A grave mistake is what the griffon made. And this time, she couldn't fix it. Chapter 2: From A Grudge to RevengeThe griffon's brown eyes fluttered open. Sunlight poured into her pupils. She closed them tightly. "Please, let what happened be a dream," she said over and over. She opened her eyes once more. Sadly, it wasn't a dream. She feels the grass beneath her with her claws, and sits up, rubbing her head. Her wings were aching, her back felt as if she were hit by a hammer, and her head throbbed in pain. She had also lost all feeling in her right leg. Somewhat rocking back and forth, she stands at her back legs, but tumbles frontward. There she lies in the grass. "What happened?" she asks herself. She looks out at the main town. It was more quiet than usual. It was darker and gloomier too. No pony was out and about, at least as far as the griffon could see. She decides to just use all fours to walk slowly and cautiously to the town. The walls were faded. The streets were full of popped balloons and leftover food. Everypony's shutters on each house were shut tightly. No pony was out. The markets were abandoned, the street lamps were out, and no animals were scurrying across the concrete sidewalks or roads. The only lights that were on were in the palace of the rulers. Guards in gold and blue armor stand still in front of the entrance. Many walks along the balconies, or stand in front of the palace's windows. Whatever they are doing, they seem....sad. The griffon walks up to one of them. "Excuse me sir, do you know where--" but before the griffon can speak, the guard points a spear at her beak and yells, "KILL HER!!" Many guards ready their spears, waiting for the right opportunity to pierce her body. She gives them all a startled look, and runs as fast as her weary legs, pounding wings, and throbbing head allow her. She runs to a nearby ally, trashed with garbage, and hides. Suddenly, she remembers everything, and frowns at the thought. "Fools!" she growls aloud. "They think that they can outlaw me?! ME?! The one who killed their Queen?! IDIOTS!" She jumps from her spot, accidentally spreading her wings, sending a bolt of pain through them. She puts them down. She grabs her shaking left wing with her right hand. She glares angrily at the white bandage, that had grew dirty from all the years of being outside, fighting for food, shelter, life. "My wings. Broken during a fight. Why was I in the fight? Of course! That pathetic swine they call their queen favors ponies over griffons. I was left homeless. But she paid." She smiles at the very thought of what she did. This griffon was left for dead one day after her mother died having her. She was raised by a pony family for only four years, until they let her go. She taught herself to fly, eat, hunt, scavenge, and make a shelter. It was only then on a rainy afternoon in summer did she fall off a slippery roof, trying to find food, and shattered all the bones in her wings, that why she fell from the building and ended up accidentally killing the Queen. If only she had her wings, she could fly away and dwell deep in the mountains or low in the trees, and no pony would know of her existence. "How dare those simpletons try to kill me," she says to herself, mildly concerned. Tears fill her eyes and she looks at the ground. "All I even wanted was to see the Queen...Oh well. It's time to try to make things right." She stands, but instead of walking back to the guards, she climbs the side of a building once again. She digs her claws in the soggy bricks and makes her way to the roof. Once on top, she runs along them all, racing to get to the palace. When she is on a rooftop behind the palace, she sees an open door in the lower right corner. It's the kitchen's window, and the smell of fresh salad is floating through the air. She jumps from her spot and runs to the window. She keeps close to the wall to avoid getting seen by any guards. She climbs through the window. Once inside, she runs past the chef and waiters, up the tall spiraling stairs, and in front of a door that leads to the Princesses' room. She inhales deeply then knocks. "Come in," she hears. She slowly opens the door. There before her stands the two Princesses of Equestria, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. The griffon shows herself. The Princesses gasp. Before the griffon can apologize, Luna screams at her, "Out! Out thou unholy beast! Thou killed thy mother, now thou is going to pay! GUARDS! SEIZE HER! SEE TO IT THAT SHE DOESN'T HURT THIS FAMILY ANYMORE!" Guards run and try to get her, but the griffon jumps out of the Princesses' window before they can reach her, and she runs away. "Griffons are now outlaws and apples are illegal. It would be wise for that griffon to find out," Luna tells her puffy-eyed sister. Panting, the griffon stops just a mile away from the palace, and looks at it. It towers above her, like the Queen once did before she fell. The griffon suddenly feels as if her heart twists and turns. She looks at the palace, at the sisters' window with a evil and devilish grin. "Silly mares," she yells. She looks at Celestia staring back at her, her crown shining in the sad moonlight. "I can do much more than take away your mother. For not forgiving me, I will have Luna and your hearts." She lets out an evil laugh. "And when I have you hearts, I will have my revenge." Chapter 3: A Legend Dawns"Dipper," a gray unicorn says. "help your mother. Don't be rude." Another unicorn walks to her side. She looks up at her mother, eyes widened. She trots to a soggy barrel with bubbles coming from the top and dips her hoof in it. The water was freezing, the bubbles were a dirty brown, and smelled awful, like a rotting carcass in the desert sun. Dipper sticks her tongue out at it. "Dipper!" her mother barks. "Get to work! Now!" Dipper looks at her in wonder, as if she was never taught how to talk. Her mother rubs her temple with a upset and irritated look, then looks at her sickly daughter. "Why don't you go out and pick some berries? We need more. Your brothers and sisters are already out there," she says. Dipper nods and runs out the door, grabbing a basket from the porch with her green red magic. She runs down the streets of her town, but it's not the main town of Saddle Arabia. It's the outskirts, where the poor ponies live, ponies that can't live in fancy houses with fancy food and uptight clothes. The only pony would didn't like getting labeled poor or wealthy was Little Dipper. She didn't care if she was poor, she didn't care about anything. She was the only pony in school that didn't have any friends, but she was okay with that. She rarely spoke too. She was also mischievous. Tell her not to do something, she'd turning around and do it in front of your eyes. She was very brave for somepony so sickly. She coughed and sneezed everyday, one of the many reasons she wears a red bandanna around her neck, another rested in her mane, holding it up. She was courageous, she was smart. But many made fun of her because of her ways. Finally making it down the road and into the market, Little Dipper looked around. She saw many different kinds of berries; blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc.. She also saw many pies, cakes, and sweets made of them. She walks by the baskets of fruits, but she is looking for something particular; Apples. But she didn't see any, nor any sweets made of them. How could it be? it was a mystery to her. She hadn't seen any in her mother's kitchen. She didn't smell any when she woke up. The minimized food courts didn't even serve any to them. Apples were gone. None were in sight. She walks ups to a greasy food waiter for a nearby bakery. "Excuse me,' she says. The old, scary stallion turns to her with a frown sitting on his face. "Where are the apples? I don't see any." At the question, the stallion laughs in her face, sending attention to them. Everypony is looking. "They're gone! The Queen died yesterday. No more apples! Silly thing if you ask me! The Kind should have known better! Ain't no pony gonna listen to 'em. Everypony loves apples, it's been that way for centuries. But under the orders of the King, I won't eat no apples. Now scat!! Before I sick those guards on you!" he says, pointing to guards in gold armor. Dipper, being herself, looks at him. "No pony will listen to a big, mean stallion like you," she says, and walks away. She puts the basket on her head, and walks past many other ponies, some glaring at her, others not even paying attention or at least trying to know of her existence. She walks up to a familiar face; Whirl Wave, a friend of her mother. She would always give her candy when she would visit, until her mother sent her to her room so she and Whirl Wave could talk in private. Whirl Wave, the only pony in Saddle Arabia who respected Dipper. She even thought her name fit her. "Reach for the Dipper, Little Dipper. It will carry you in it's ladle!" is she always told Dipper, or she'd come up with some other nickname for her. "Dipper!" Whirl Wave says happily. "I haven't seen you for a long time! how have you been? Your mother? Your brothers and sisters?" Dipper shrugs. "Nothing new," she replies. "they always pick on me or make fun of me. I'm not known in that house." She looks at her hooves, then back up at her favorite and only friend. "How have you been?" "Alright. Working is what I do mostly. You've come here for some berries haven't you? Your mother. So lazy she is. She sends her children out to do her work. But oh well!" She pulls a barrel of strawberries from behind the counter, handing a scoop to Dipper. "Well Dippy, scoop away! These are about to go bad in a few weeks, so have at it." The small unicorn dips the scooper in, pulling out sweet strawberries. She does this a few times. Suddenly she hears screaming. A gray body slips past her, with spears and guards following it. "By order of the King, stop that griffon!" a guard yells to the muscle stallions ahead. They block the griffon's path, and more or less, have a stare down. With one movement of the half eagle, half lion's foot, she turns and runs. Jumping over the guards with the spears, she tries landing on her feet, but lands on her side instead. But she gets up and runs the other way as quickly as possible. The guards turn to all the ponies looking at them questioningly. "Back to your whereabouts now. Go on. Go," the tallest one says. "What......" Dipper whispers to herself. "What was that?" Whirl Wave snaps out of her dazed state, but still wondering what a griffon was doing here. They were illegal, or outlaws, right? "You...." she says, pausing for a moment. "better be on your way. Wouldn't want your mom to worry, now would we?" Dipper looks at the exit. Darkness is starting to fall over Saddle Arabia, you could even here the howls and screeches of the creatures that go bump in the night. "Alright. I'll see you soon," she tells Whirl Wave, and runs out the door. Back at home, her mother is standing on the porch, with a furious look on her face. Her older sister and brother are giggling, already knowing how much trouble she'll get in. "Dipper!" her mother yells. "Where have you been?! I've been worried sick! I would ground you, but I need you to do your chores, which you forgot to do before you went. You're lucky if you even get fifteen minutes of sleep after all the chores you chose not to do! Your father would be disappointed in you! Never would he forgive you for this. You also have school in the morning. Now, go do your work! And try not to mess anything up this time." Her mother, brother, and sister turn and walk into the house, slamming the door, and shutting off the lights, leaving only the porch one on. There, Dipper, Little Dipper, the sickly and abnormal unicorn stands, staring at the dark house. "This isn't the destiny I was born to have," she tells herself. "I have to try harder. Maybe some light will come and vanquish the bad in my days." Dipper sits on her bottom and closes her eyes tightly. Tears slip down her cheeks and her ears go down. There in the darkness of night, she cries directly beneath the constellation she was named after because of her size, the Little Dipper. "They can't hurt my pride, something I have so little of. My size, my nature. I can't help it. It's just natural. Of course my father would be embarrassed to have me. Who isn't embarrassed of me? I've given life all I've got. I turn my face for the sake of the family, yet they still shun me.....I just want to be appreciated for once. Just one time, I want to do something admirable. Something that would get people to recognize me...." Suddenly, Dipper remembers her older sister coming back from the Queen speech, the one that she was giving when she choked and died. Her sister talked about it, telling it to the other brothers and sisters living in the house. Dipper had once again gotten in trouble and was sent to her room. She remembers peeping from over the upstairs' rails, listening to her sister repeat the Queen's words; dreaming is how the strong survive. Dipper had big dreams, yes she did. Dreams no pony knew she had. She kept them all to herself, so no pony could have the same dream. She wanted a family where she would be loved, noticed, and remembered. She wasn't remembered though, no indeed. It was a big family. Sometimes she could scream and no pony would hear. "I've come a long way," she says. "All the way from being born to where I am now. I've suffered too. And I'm not letting that suffering be in vain." She gets up, and walks to the water faucet that is waiting for her in the moonlight. She turns it on, filling several barrels with ice cold water, and begins her chores. Chapter 4: A Special UnicornLittle Dipper wakes up on the porch swing, her coat, tail, and mane matted, and the sun shining in her face. Her older brother pokes her in her side. Dipper's eyes flutter open. "Dipper!" her brother yells until he sees she's awake. "Go clean yourself up! Mother picked you to take my notes, since I'm being forced to go shopping!" Dipper begins to say something, but her brother shoves his hoof in her face, not allowing her to get her words out. "I know, a stupid decision on our mother's behalf, but she said you. I can't, so she chose--" her brother gives her a shocked yet disgusted look. "You." "No need to be so hasty, brother," Dipper says, yawning. "I don't know why she chose me, but you don't need to make a fuss about it." She pushes her brother out of the way and walks into the house, only to find her oldest sister and mother waiting for her. Her sister forces her to take a plate of pancakes, syrup and cakes cold from waiting for Dipper to wake. Her sister smiles the entire time and pushes her upstairs. At the top, her sister leaves her to help their mother get her white maid coat on. Dipper gives a strange look at the pancakes, and throws them in a nearby plant, hiding them in the leaves. She doesn't trust her sister, so why would she eat something from her, let alone her smiling the entire time Dipper was holding the plate. All Dipper knew was that her sister probably poisoned them. She opens her door to her room. The smell of clean sheets fills her nostril as she walks nearer and nearer to her warm bed. She wants to just jump on it and bury herself in the covers, but she can't. She uses her magic to levitate a brush to the small closet she uses as a dumpster, or so her mother thinks. Standing on top of a pile of clothes, Dipper looks in a broken piece of glass she uses as a mirror and adjusts her bandanna and brushes her mane, coat, and tail. She grabs a small thread needle and pushes it through her bandanna, mainly for use if it rips. Dipper slams open the door and runs down the stairs, meeting her mother and sister on the porch. Her mother and sister sat there in white maid dresses. They were maids at the palace, but still weren't paid a lot. They mainly cleaned the palace and served food to the royals when it was ready. Her brother usually came with them, because he was, what Whirl Wave called him, a "Servant-In-Training". But since his studies were sidetracked today since he was forced to go shopping by their stubborn and pushy mother, he wanted someone to go take notes for him, and their mother chose Dipper. When standing next to her, Dipper's mother handed her a scroll and ink-filled quill. "When we reach the palace, I want you to write down everything I say," she tells Dipper. "Don't want your brother to loose his place, now do you?" Dipper shakes her head and follows her mother and sister, staying far behind. She doesn't like being close to her mother, and of course doesn't even like being within feet of her sister. Dipper looks at the blank scroll and ink-dripping quill the entire time they walk to the palace. Once inside the palace after a long walk, Dipper is ready to write. When their mother walks away, her sister lowers her head and says to her younger sister, "Don't mess this up, Dippy. I'd hate to see brother AND mom angry with you." Flashing Dipper a evil smile, she runs to catch up to their mother. Dipper frowns at both her mother and sister. She didn't like either. More like, she hated her whole family. They pushed her down, stepped on her dreams, and never let her be free. She always bossed her around and never let her be a kid. "We'll see who's a mess-up today, won't we sis?" Dipper angrily whispers to herself. Dusting off a table and her sister mopping the floor, her mother starts to speak. "Dusting is a key in being a servant or maid. You can't fluff everything and make other ponies sneeze, no. You have to brush it, like you're painting." But Dipper wasn't listening, let alone writing down what her mother had to say. She was admiring the beautiful gold vases her mother was cleaning, and the shining white marble floors her sister was mopping. She loved them all. The grace and beauty is what she loved. The shining reflection they gave off when the sun's beams shot them. She loved the happy, dancing Pegasi on them, and the wise and regal Unicorn paintings that hung quietly on the hallway walls. Nothing truly took Dipper's breath away like this. She stared happily at stained glass windows and towering staircases. "Time to explore," she whispers to herself. It was time to have a quest for adventure. She wonders from her mother and sister, down the stairs, and across the huge room. She runs into the giant Dining Room, watching the servants and cooks set the large table in front of her. Next she goes past the entertainment room. She sees only a lit fireplace and shining vases on a mantle. A couple white couches sit in the middle of the room, and in between them is a some, marble table. Dipper runs past the entertainment room and rushes up a flight of stairs. There she hears music, happy cheerful music. It's much better than the darkness that has shrouded Saddle Arabia since the death of the Queen, yet it seems her mother or family hasn't been that effected by it. She walks a little closer to the harmonious sound. Then SMACK! She is laying on her back at the hooves of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Dipper's mother is also near her, angered by her youngest daughter's disappearance. Celestia and Luna smile at the small unicorn at their hooves. But Dipper's mother is furious, but still, she bows to the royals. "I'm so sorry your majesties," her mother says. "My daughter is rude, and doesn't listen to me." Dipper looks angrily at her mother, who is telling lies. "Stand aside," Luna orders the lying mother, helping Dipper to up. She stares into Dipper's brown eyes, more or less, Dipper feels like she's staring into her soul. "Thou is a special unicorn," she quietly tells Dipper. "Not sickly, if that is what thou is thinking, no. Thou is special in a different way. Thou will do big things in the future, yes." There Celestia uses her yellow magic and pulls a silver broach on Dipper's bandanna, right next to the needle. "The world needs more kindness," Celestia tells her. "I don't need to talk to you to know that you'll do great things someday. Great things that won't go unrecognized." Dipper looks at the broach. It's a silver unicorn, it's tail and mane made of small rubies. "I doubt I'll do big things. No one seems to know of my existence. I'm also easily forgotten at home," Dipper replies, right in front of her own mother. Celestia and Luna look at each other. "Little Dipper," Luna says to Dipper's surprise. "We know everyponies' names, and not to forget their destinies. I know what thou will turn out to be. Thou might not see thou self as a prodigy now, but don't worry, thou will soon." "You might not have such a wonderful beginning, but that doesn't make you who or what you are. It's the end of the story, that makes you out. So, Dipper who are you? I don't want an answer now, I want an answer when I see you again." There was that question again. Who are you? Dipper had been asked many times this very question. No matter what, she could never find the answer, her name wasn't the answer, at least that is what she thought. Never had she known that destiny did not give her an answer, that she would have to go and find it out for herself. Many years of suffering will soon lead Dipper to her destiny. Many questions, mainly the one just asked; Who are you? Chapter 5: "Revenge Will Be Mine""What do you think you were doing?!" Dipper's mother yells when they get home. "Your brother's notes are blank and I might get the boot! What do you have to say for yourself?!" Dipper just stares at her angry mother. She is still playing the conversation with the princesses over and over in her mind. It always comes back to that one question; who are you? The question was so tough to answer. The only one in Saddle Arabia that could not answer it was Little Dipper. She couldn't even say it aloud without tripping on the words, stumbling to find the right answer, so she could tell the princesses of her findings. Who was she? She was the daughter of King Sombra. No. To Dipper, that wasn't a good answer. She would come across as selfish and hasty, like her father. She was a poor, sickly unicorn. Not as good either. That would lead her off as weak and pathetic, like all the years she suffered through. "Dipper!" Her mother's agitated voice rang in her ears, letting reality come to her mind. "I'm not sorry, mother," Dipper said, finally standing up for herself. "I would have never been asked who I was if I hadn't done that. I would have never had the princesses say I was special, and that I would do big things one day. They would have never informed me that those deeds would go unrecognized if I didn't run from your and sister's backs. I am who I am, I'm still searching for the answer, but I will remain me as the days pass, until I answer the question. From a mother of several, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Her mother looks at her in disgust, anger, and frustration. She uses her magic to grab Dippers bandanna and pull her upstairs to her room. "You will remain here until you apologize. And you will go unfed tonight. You will think about what you've done," she says, slamming the door on Dipper. In the cold darkness, with only the moon's soft light shining in through a cracked window, Dipper lies on her bed, but not questioning what she did. She did not feel sympathy for her mother. She was a mean, rude, and cold beast to her own daughter. She favored her brothers and sisters over her sickliest child. All her mother did was shun and ignore her. Dipper always felt like a disappointment to her own mother. Her father was the only one who truly loved her, but he never returned from his quest to the Crystal Empire in Equestria. Dipper hadn't even seen any of her griffon friends. They were gone, they vanished into thin air. How could one griffon that killed the Queen on accident outlaw all the rest? it was a friendly species, but also overshadowed. The royals tried their best to help the half lion half eagle kind, but it was no use. They slept in allies and atop trashcans. They fought for food with each other. Ponies helped them frequently though. Sea Foam was an old griffon who had lived in the outskirts for many years. He had been friends with some of the older stallions who hung out a the small saloons, playing chest and checkers with them most of the time. The saloon owner had been very generous, and had let Sea Foam sleep in the pantry below. Griffons were a species no pony could hate. The children of many griffons would play with fillies and colts like they were born together. Whirl Wave also have a few griffon friends herself. Dipper gets up from her bed and over to the window. She pushes it open quietly. "No griffons, no apples. No pony to talk to. Darkness has fallen too. The towns are in chaos. The King and princesses are mourning over the loss of the Queen. The days grow harsher. Winter is also coming. There is going to be no food. We're all going to starve," Dipper stares at the stars, finding all the constellations on spot. The Little Dipper was her favorite of course. It was small, yet a huge legend was built around it. It was about a small bear that did big things to get it's image in the stars. Dipper's father had always told her that if she did big things, she would be rewarded soon enough. Afterwards, the small unicorn had done multiple things to get where she is now. She had big dreams too, and she wasn't going to let somepony else tell her different, not even her own flesh and blood. Reader, do you remember the griffon the fell and accidentally killed the Queen? Did you think we forgot about her? Of course not! The story would be useless without her! The griffon sits firmly in the rain next to a gargoyle atop a tall building, trying to not be seen by royal guards. Her wings' bandages are soaked, and her wings are matted. But revenge is this way. After the princesses refused to listen to the griffon's apology, what they didn't know was that her heart became cold and hate-filled, which led to her undying grudge against the royals. But not only did the princesses create a grudge against them, but their father and the citizens too. The griffon looks down at the saddened people. The land has grown dark and cold, no food has grown yet either. The griffon smiles at the sight. "Aw, my little pedestrians, so cold, so barren." She looks over the guards, who are rolling the broken and shattered float where the Queen last spoke. "And what do these fools believe? They think the griffons are awful. 'All apples are illegal! All griffons are outlaws and need to be killed on sight!' Pathetic! Do they actually think that banning both my kind and apples is going to stop me from having my revenge?" She moves from her spot. Walking in an dark ally, she looks quietly out at the people, watching them silently through squinted eyes. "The dreams of the many," the griffons whispers to herself. "So many ponies have dreams. I have a dream. Soon, my dream will be fulfilled. Revenge is my dream, having their hearts is my dream. Like before. Soon, revenge will be mine."
Chapter 1: A Grave MistakeThe bright afternoon sun bares down on the citizens of Saddle Arabia. Bells echo in the streets. Crowds gather at food stands and on the roadsides. The crisp smell of fresh apples fill the nippy autumn air. Mares and stallions, fillies and colts, ponies of all races pour into the guarded walls of the town. Many with apple sweets of all kinds. What ponies can't use magic, improvise. The colts play games such as hopscotch or ring toss. The fillies get face paint, many wanted their side painted to look like a cutie mark. Are you wondering why all these ponies are so happy? Today is the day of the Apple Parade, where the fair, young maidens, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna ride all dressed up on a float next to their mother and father, the rulers of Saddle Arabia. Plus, today is the legendary "Devine Apple Day", where the town celebrates the sweets that apples make. Nothing but apple sweets are eaten on this day. Suddenly, trumpets start blasting, drums start beating, the crowd starts roaring from down the street. Many shove and pull to turn their heads. A golden carriage rolls slowly down the road. Smiles fall upon the faces of all the different types of ponies. Pegasi fly up high to get a sky view. Unicorns and earth ponies look down from balconies and shower the royals with happiness and smiles. Laughter and cheering rings through the town. As the rulers and princesses pass, many royal guards are smiling and waving, just like their superiors. Every kind of flower, whether its roses, tulips, lillies, etc., is being gently thrown to the ravishing family. The radiant younger princess, Luna, gets up from her post, and flies by the ponies, doing tricks in the air, catching flowers. Celestia even moves to join her in aerial acrobatics. Smiling, their father takes a bite out of a apple fritter, then lays it back down on the plate next to him. When the float comes to a halt, the mother gets up and walks onto a giant red stage with velvet curtains hanging behind her. The subjects circle around the stage, fighting to be the closest pony there. The mother raises her hoof, her golden armor shining in her glorious sun, silencing the crowd. Her husband stands to her left, and her children to her right. "Dearest ladies and gentlecolts," she booms. Her voice reflects off the tall buildings. "another wonderful year has dawned upon us. No war, no rivalry. Just pure happiness, love, and our undying dreams. I am proud to say that another year means more success. We have had our share of troubles and hardships, but we still pulled through. No thing, pony, or any being will ever take our joy from us. Not even death. Happiness will always live within our hearts, and our future family with always carry on our legacy. Dreaming is how the strong survive, dearest subjects, dreaming is how everypony is motivated." While the mother was giving her speech, nopony saw the white and gray griffon climbing the wall above the stage. Why was the griffon climbing, you may wonder. Bandages covered the soft, gray feathers of it's wings. In a fight for food, the griffon had fallen from atop a roof, smashing into the ground, shattering the bones within its wings. The griffon is also scaling the wall to simply listen. The griffon had no respect for the mother. She thought she favored the ponies more than the griffons, since more griffons were homeless than ponies. But she still loved listening to the sweet and inspiring speeches given by the ruler, or tyrant, as the griffon always heard. She grips the brick wall tightly with her claws, and digs her clawed feet into the roof. She turns, and looks down at the tiny specks that are the rulers. "Dreams are sweet. Dreaming makes you feel sweet, it makes you feel special. As does these wonderful Apple sweets. A couple generations ago, our ancestors brought these fruits over from the seas. They have been a delicious sensation to us ever since. So, why not celebrate this feeling? Today, we dine on apple sweets. Does everypony have something to bite?" she asks. Ponies hold up their foods, everything thing from pieces of pie to fritters to caramel apples. She smiles at them all, and looks at her husband. He takes over. Leaning in to whisper into Celestia and Luna's ears, he asks quietly, "Have something dearies?" They nod and use their magic to show him a couple fritters. She smiles at them, then turns his head to his subjects. His eyes, armor, and crown shine with grace as he counts down from five. "Five....four....three....two...." A silence falls over Saddle Arabia. The ponies hold their breath. "ONE!" The father, mother, Celestia, Luna, and the subjects bite into their foods. A loud crunch come from the crispy foods, and the sound of chewing is sent through the air. The griffon closes her eyes and smiles slowly. She listens to the sound of chewing and crunching. She plays it over and over in her mind. "What a wondrous life they must have," she whispers to herself. "They must be rich to afford the sweets and pastries." Suddenly the griffon's eyes shoot open. Her claws....they were....SLIPPING. She forced her feet into scratch the roof, her claws burying deep into the paint. Yet her claws on her hands were pulling away from the bricks. She was slipping. And she was going to fall if she didn't hurry. "I wish I had my wings," she told herself nervously. They ached every time she was about to get hurt. And they were aching extremely now. She lost her footing, and with a slip, she falls several feet to the small stage below, it growing as she came nearer. SMACK! SNAP! CRASH! The stage brakes as she smacks it. A striking pain is sent through her stomach and head. Everything she looks at has several twins. She can't even grip the stage to get up. Everyone is gasping and some screaming. Her vision finally clears. She very slowly gets up, her wings burning in pain. She wants to cry, but can't. She'd look like an even bigger fool than she did now, especially in front of the royals. But the royals weren't focusing on her. No, they all were surrounding the mother, who was lying on the stage, not moving a muscle. Everypony suddenly turns chaotic. "She killed our Queen!" one pony says. "No! She choked her!" another shouts. The once happy crowd turns into a mad mob. They walk toward the griffon, accusing her of murder and yelling and screaming. Still slightly dizzy and shocked from this unfortunate turn, the griffon falls backward and onto her hind end. She scurries off the stage, with mixed feelings. She was slightly happy she killed the tyrant. Yet angry, scared, sad. She ran all the way out of town, running, running, running, until she had to finally stop to breathe. She looked back at the once happy town that was now screaming with angry citizens, and collaspes on the tall grass. She won't be noticeable there. Maybe if she just laid there long enough, everypony would just slip away, and disappear. Then she'd never wake up. It would just be an endless dream. So there, hidden in the grass, the griffon slept. But not so well. She dreamed of shackles and rattling chains. She saw herself getting slain for treason. A horrible nightmare, that maybe would turn endless. A grave mistake is what the griffon made. And this time, she couldn't fix it.
Chapter 2: From A Grudge to RevengeThe griffon's brown eyes fluttered open. Sunlight poured into her pupils. She closed them tightly. "Please, let what happened be a dream," she said over and over. She opened her eyes once more. Sadly, it wasn't a dream. She feels the grass beneath her with her claws, and sits up, rubbing her head. Her wings were aching, her back felt as if she were hit by a hammer, and her head throbbed in pain. She had also lost all feeling in her right leg. Somewhat rocking back and forth, she stands at her back legs, but tumbles frontward. There she lies in the grass. "What happened?" she asks herself. She looks out at the main town. It was more quiet than usual. It was darker and gloomier too. No pony was out and about, at least as far as the griffon could see. She decides to just use all fours to walk slowly and cautiously to the town. The walls were faded. The streets were full of popped balloons and leftover food. Everypony's shutters on each house were shut tightly. No pony was out. The markets were abandoned, the street lamps were out, and no animals were scurrying across the concrete sidewalks or roads. The only lights that were on were in the palace of the rulers. Guards in gold and blue armor stand still in front of the entrance. Many walks along the balconies, or stand in front of the palace's windows. Whatever they are doing, they seem....sad. The griffon walks up to one of them. "Excuse me sir, do you know where--" but before the griffon can speak, the guard points a spear at her beak and yells, "KILL HER!!" Many guards ready their spears, waiting for the right opportunity to pierce her body. She gives them all a startled look, and runs as fast as her weary legs, pounding wings, and throbbing head allow her. She runs to a nearby ally, trashed with garbage, and hides. Suddenly, she remembers everything, and frowns at the thought. "Fools!" she growls aloud. "They think that they can outlaw me?! ME?! The one who killed their Queen?! IDIOTS!" She jumps from her spot, accidentally spreading her wings, sending a bolt of pain through them. She puts them down. She grabs her shaking left wing with her right hand. She glares angrily at the white bandage, that had grew dirty from all the years of being outside, fighting for food, shelter, life. "My wings. Broken during a fight. Why was I in the fight? Of course! That pathetic swine they call their queen favors ponies over griffons. I was left homeless. But she paid." She smiles at the very thought of what she did. This griffon was left for dead one day after her mother died having her. She was raised by a pony family for only four years, until they let her go. She taught herself to fly, eat, hunt, scavenge, and make a shelter. It was only then on a rainy afternoon in summer did she fall off a slippery roof, trying to find food, and shattered all the bones in her wings, that why she fell from the building and ended up accidentally killing the Queen. If only she had her wings, she could fly away and dwell deep in the mountains or low in the trees, and no pony would know of her existence. "How dare those simpletons try to kill me," she says to herself, mildly concerned. Tears fill her eyes and she looks at the ground. "All I even wanted was to see the Queen...Oh well. It's time to try to make things right." She stands, but instead of walking back to the guards, she climbs the side of a building once again. She digs her claws in the soggy bricks and makes her way to the roof. Once on top, she runs along them all, racing to get to the palace. When she is on a rooftop behind the palace, she sees an open door in the lower right corner. It's the kitchen's window, and the smell of fresh salad is floating through the air. She jumps from her spot and runs to the window. She keeps close to the wall to avoid getting seen by any guards. She climbs through the window. Once inside, she runs past the chef and waiters, up the tall spiraling stairs, and in front of a door that leads to the Princesses' room. She inhales deeply then knocks. "Come in," she hears. She slowly opens the door. There before her stands the two Princesses of Equestria, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia. The griffon shows herself. The Princesses gasp. Before the griffon can apologize, Luna screams at her, "Out! Out thou unholy beast! Thou killed thy mother, now thou is going to pay! GUARDS! SEIZE HER! SEE TO IT THAT SHE DOESN'T HURT THIS FAMILY ANYMORE!" Guards run and try to get her, but the griffon jumps out of the Princesses' window before they can reach her, and she runs away. "Griffons are now outlaws and apples are illegal. It would be wise for that griffon to find out," Luna tells her puffy-eyed sister. Panting, the griffon stops just a mile away from the palace, and looks at it. It towers above her, like the Queen once did before she fell. The griffon suddenly feels as if her heart twists and turns. She looks at the palace, at the sisters' window with a evil and devilish grin. "Silly mares," she yells. She looks at Celestia staring back at her, her crown shining in the sad moonlight. "I can do much more than take away your mother. For not forgiving me, I will have Luna and your hearts." She lets out an evil laugh. "And when I have you hearts, I will have my revenge."
Chapter 3: A Legend Dawns"Dipper," a gray unicorn says. "help your mother. Don't be rude." Another unicorn walks to her side. She looks up at her mother, eyes widened. She trots to a soggy barrel with bubbles coming from the top and dips her hoof in it. The water was freezing, the bubbles were a dirty brown, and smelled awful, like a rotting carcass in the desert sun. Dipper sticks her tongue out at it. "Dipper!" her mother barks. "Get to work! Now!" Dipper looks at her in wonder, as if she was never taught how to talk. Her mother rubs her temple with a upset and irritated look, then looks at her sickly daughter. "Why don't you go out and pick some berries? We need more. Your brothers and sisters are already out there," she says. Dipper nods and runs out the door, grabbing a basket from the porch with her green red magic. She runs down the streets of her town, but it's not the main town of Saddle Arabia. It's the outskirts, where the poor ponies live, ponies that can't live in fancy houses with fancy food and uptight clothes. The only pony would didn't like getting labeled poor or wealthy was Little Dipper. She didn't care if she was poor, she didn't care about anything. She was the only pony in school that didn't have any friends, but she was okay with that. She rarely spoke too. She was also mischievous. Tell her not to do something, she'd turning around and do it in front of your eyes. She was very brave for somepony so sickly. She coughed and sneezed everyday, one of the many reasons she wears a red bandanna around her neck, another rested in her mane, holding it up. She was courageous, she was smart. But many made fun of her because of her ways. Finally making it down the road and into the market, Little Dipper looked around. She saw many different kinds of berries; blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc.. She also saw many pies, cakes, and sweets made of them. She walks by the baskets of fruits, but she is looking for something particular; Apples. But she didn't see any, nor any sweets made of them. How could it be? it was a mystery to her. She hadn't seen any in her mother's kitchen. She didn't smell any when she woke up. The minimized food courts didn't even serve any to them. Apples were gone. None were in sight. She walks ups to a greasy food waiter for a nearby bakery. "Excuse me,' she says. The old, scary stallion turns to her with a frown sitting on his face. "Where are the apples? I don't see any." At the question, the stallion laughs in her face, sending attention to them. Everypony is looking. "They're gone! The Queen died yesterday. No more apples! Silly thing if you ask me! The Kind should have known better! Ain't no pony gonna listen to 'em. Everypony loves apples, it's been that way for centuries. But under the orders of the King, I won't eat no apples. Now scat!! Before I sick those guards on you!" he says, pointing to guards in gold armor. Dipper, being herself, looks at him. "No pony will listen to a big, mean stallion like you," she says, and walks away. She puts the basket on her head, and walks past many other ponies, some glaring at her, others not even paying attention or at least trying to know of her existence. She walks up to a familiar face; Whirl Wave, a friend of her mother. She would always give her candy when she would visit, until her mother sent her to her room so she and Whirl Wave could talk in private. Whirl Wave, the only pony in Saddle Arabia who respected Dipper. She even thought her name fit her. "Reach for the Dipper, Little Dipper. It will carry you in it's ladle!" is she always told Dipper, or she'd come up with some other nickname for her. "Dipper!" Whirl Wave says happily. "I haven't seen you for a long time! how have you been? Your mother? Your brothers and sisters?" Dipper shrugs. "Nothing new," she replies. "they always pick on me or make fun of me. I'm not known in that house." She looks at her hooves, then back up at her favorite and only friend. "How have you been?" "Alright. Working is what I do mostly. You've come here for some berries haven't you? Your mother. So lazy she is. She sends her children out to do her work. But oh well!" She pulls a barrel of strawberries from behind the counter, handing a scoop to Dipper. "Well Dippy, scoop away! These are about to go bad in a few weeks, so have at it." The small unicorn dips the scooper in, pulling out sweet strawberries. She does this a few times. Suddenly she hears screaming. A gray body slips past her, with spears and guards following it. "By order of the King, stop that griffon!" a guard yells to the muscle stallions ahead. They block the griffon's path, and more or less, have a stare down. With one movement of the half eagle, half lion's foot, she turns and runs. Jumping over the guards with the spears, she tries landing on her feet, but lands on her side instead. But she gets up and runs the other way as quickly as possible. The guards turn to all the ponies looking at them questioningly. "Back to your whereabouts now. Go on. Go," the tallest one says. "What......" Dipper whispers to herself. "What was that?" Whirl Wave snaps out of her dazed state, but still wondering what a griffon was doing here. They were illegal, or outlaws, right? "You...." she says, pausing for a moment. "better be on your way. Wouldn't want your mom to worry, now would we?" Dipper looks at the exit. Darkness is starting to fall over Saddle Arabia, you could even here the howls and screeches of the creatures that go bump in the night. "Alright. I'll see you soon," she tells Whirl Wave, and runs out the door. Back at home, her mother is standing on the porch, with a furious look on her face. Her older sister and brother are giggling, already knowing how much trouble she'll get in. "Dipper!" her mother yells. "Where have you been?! I've been worried sick! I would ground you, but I need you to do your chores, which you forgot to do before you went. You're lucky if you even get fifteen minutes of sleep after all the chores you chose not to do! Your father would be disappointed in you! Never would he forgive you for this. You also have school in the morning. Now, go do your work! And try not to mess anything up this time." Her mother, brother, and sister turn and walk into the house, slamming the door, and shutting off the lights, leaving only the porch one on. There, Dipper, Little Dipper, the sickly and abnormal unicorn stands, staring at the dark house. "This isn't the destiny I was born to have," she tells herself. "I have to try harder. Maybe some light will come and vanquish the bad in my days." Dipper sits on her bottom and closes her eyes tightly. Tears slip down her cheeks and her ears go down. There in the darkness of night, she cries directly beneath the constellation she was named after because of her size, the Little Dipper. "They can't hurt my pride, something I have so little of. My size, my nature. I can't help it. It's just natural. Of course my father would be embarrassed to have me. Who isn't embarrassed of me? I've given life all I've got. I turn my face for the sake of the family, yet they still shun me.....I just want to be appreciated for once. Just one time, I want to do something admirable. Something that would get people to recognize me...." Suddenly, Dipper remembers her older sister coming back from the Queen speech, the one that she was giving when she choked and died. Her sister talked about it, telling it to the other brothers and sisters living in the house. Dipper had once again gotten in trouble and was sent to her room. She remembers peeping from over the upstairs' rails, listening to her sister repeat the Queen's words; dreaming is how the strong survive. Dipper had big dreams, yes she did. Dreams no pony knew she had. She kept them all to herself, so no pony could have the same dream. She wanted a family where she would be loved, noticed, and remembered. She wasn't remembered though, no indeed. It was a big family. Sometimes she could scream and no pony would hear. "I've come a long way," she says. "All the way from being born to where I am now. I've suffered too. And I'm not letting that suffering be in vain." She gets up, and walks to the water faucet that is waiting for her in the moonlight. She turns it on, filling several barrels with ice cold water, and begins her chores.
Chapter 4: A Special UnicornLittle Dipper wakes up on the porch swing, her coat, tail, and mane matted, and the sun shining in her face. Her older brother pokes her in her side. Dipper's eyes flutter open. "Dipper!" her brother yells until he sees she's awake. "Go clean yourself up! Mother picked you to take my notes, since I'm being forced to go shopping!" Dipper begins to say something, but her brother shoves his hoof in her face, not allowing her to get her words out. "I know, a stupid decision on our mother's behalf, but she said you. I can't, so she chose--" her brother gives her a shocked yet disgusted look. "You." "No need to be so hasty, brother," Dipper says, yawning. "I don't know why she chose me, but you don't need to make a fuss about it." She pushes her brother out of the way and walks into the house, only to find her oldest sister and mother waiting for her. Her sister forces her to take a plate of pancakes, syrup and cakes cold from waiting for Dipper to wake. Her sister smiles the entire time and pushes her upstairs. At the top, her sister leaves her to help their mother get her white maid coat on. Dipper gives a strange look at the pancakes, and throws them in a nearby plant, hiding them in the leaves. She doesn't trust her sister, so why would she eat something from her, let alone her smiling the entire time Dipper was holding the plate. All Dipper knew was that her sister probably poisoned them. She opens her door to her room. The smell of clean sheets fills her nostril as she walks nearer and nearer to her warm bed. She wants to just jump on it and bury herself in the covers, but she can't. She uses her magic to levitate a brush to the small closet she uses as a dumpster, or so her mother thinks. Standing on top of a pile of clothes, Dipper looks in a broken piece of glass she uses as a mirror and adjusts her bandanna and brushes her mane, coat, and tail. She grabs a small thread needle and pushes it through her bandanna, mainly for use if it rips. Dipper slams open the door and runs down the stairs, meeting her mother and sister on the porch. Her mother and sister sat there in white maid dresses. They were maids at the palace, but still weren't paid a lot. They mainly cleaned the palace and served food to the royals when it was ready. Her brother usually came with them, because he was, what Whirl Wave called him, a "Servant-In-Training". But since his studies were sidetracked today since he was forced to go shopping by their stubborn and pushy mother, he wanted someone to go take notes for him, and their mother chose Dipper. When standing next to her, Dipper's mother handed her a scroll and ink-filled quill. "When we reach the palace, I want you to write down everything I say," she tells Dipper. "Don't want your brother to loose his place, now do you?" Dipper shakes her head and follows her mother and sister, staying far behind. She doesn't like being close to her mother, and of course doesn't even like being within feet of her sister. Dipper looks at the blank scroll and ink-dripping quill the entire time they walk to the palace. Once inside the palace after a long walk, Dipper is ready to write. When their mother walks away, her sister lowers her head and says to her younger sister, "Don't mess this up, Dippy. I'd hate to see brother AND mom angry with you." Flashing Dipper a evil smile, she runs to catch up to their mother. Dipper frowns at both her mother and sister. She didn't like either. More like, she hated her whole family. They pushed her down, stepped on her dreams, and never let her be free. She always bossed her around and never let her be a kid. "We'll see who's a mess-up today, won't we sis?" Dipper angrily whispers to herself. Dusting off a table and her sister mopping the floor, her mother starts to speak. "Dusting is a key in being a servant or maid. You can't fluff everything and make other ponies sneeze, no. You have to brush it, like you're painting." But Dipper wasn't listening, let alone writing down what her mother had to say. She was admiring the beautiful gold vases her mother was cleaning, and the shining white marble floors her sister was mopping. She loved them all. The grace and beauty is what she loved. The shining reflection they gave off when the sun's beams shot them. She loved the happy, dancing Pegasi on them, and the wise and regal Unicorn paintings that hung quietly on the hallway walls. Nothing truly took Dipper's breath away like this. She stared happily at stained glass windows and towering staircases. "Time to explore," she whispers to herself. It was time to have a quest for adventure. She wonders from her mother and sister, down the stairs, and across the huge room. She runs into the giant Dining Room, watching the servants and cooks set the large table in front of her. Next she goes past the entertainment room. She sees only a lit fireplace and shining vases on a mantle. A couple white couches sit in the middle of the room, and in between them is a some, marble table. Dipper runs past the entertainment room and rushes up a flight of stairs. There she hears music, happy cheerful music. It's much better than the darkness that has shrouded Saddle Arabia since the death of the Queen, yet it seems her mother or family hasn't been that effected by it. She walks a little closer to the harmonious sound. Then SMACK! She is laying on her back at the hooves of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Dipper's mother is also near her, angered by her youngest daughter's disappearance. Celestia and Luna smile at the small unicorn at their hooves. But Dipper's mother is furious, but still, she bows to the royals. "I'm so sorry your majesties," her mother says. "My daughter is rude, and doesn't listen to me." Dipper looks angrily at her mother, who is telling lies. "Stand aside," Luna orders the lying mother, helping Dipper to up. She stares into Dipper's brown eyes, more or less, Dipper feels like she's staring into her soul. "Thou is a special unicorn," she quietly tells Dipper. "Not sickly, if that is what thou is thinking, no. Thou is special in a different way. Thou will do big things in the future, yes." There Celestia uses her yellow magic and pulls a silver broach on Dipper's bandanna, right next to the needle. "The world needs more kindness," Celestia tells her. "I don't need to talk to you to know that you'll do great things someday. Great things that won't go unrecognized." Dipper looks at the broach. It's a silver unicorn, it's tail and mane made of small rubies. "I doubt I'll do big things. No one seems to know of my existence. I'm also easily forgotten at home," Dipper replies, right in front of her own mother. Celestia and Luna look at each other. "Little Dipper," Luna says to Dipper's surprise. "We know everyponies' names, and not to forget their destinies. I know what thou will turn out to be. Thou might not see thou self as a prodigy now, but don't worry, thou will soon." "You might not have such a wonderful beginning, but that doesn't make you who or what you are. It's the end of the story, that makes you out. So, Dipper who are you? I don't want an answer now, I want an answer when I see you again." There was that question again. Who are you? Dipper had been asked many times this very question. No matter what, she could never find the answer, her name wasn't the answer, at least that is what she thought. Never had she known that destiny did not give her an answer, that she would have to go and find it out for herself. Many years of suffering will soon lead Dipper to her destiny. Many questions, mainly the one just asked; Who are you?
Chapter 5: "Revenge Will Be Mine""What do you think you were doing?!" Dipper's mother yells when they get home. "Your brother's notes are blank and I might get the boot! What do you have to say for yourself?!" Dipper just stares at her angry mother. She is still playing the conversation with the princesses over and over in her mind. It always comes back to that one question; who are you? The question was so tough to answer. The only one in Saddle Arabia that could not answer it was Little Dipper. She couldn't even say it aloud without tripping on the words, stumbling to find the right answer, so she could tell the princesses of her findings. Who was she? She was the daughter of King Sombra. No. To Dipper, that wasn't a good answer. She would come across as selfish and hasty, like her father. She was a poor, sickly unicorn. Not as good either. That would lead her off as weak and pathetic, like all the years she suffered through. "Dipper!" Her mother's agitated voice rang in her ears, letting reality come to her mind. "I'm not sorry, mother," Dipper said, finally standing up for herself. "I would have never been asked who I was if I hadn't done that. I would have never had the princesses say I was special, and that I would do big things one day. They would have never informed me that those deeds would go unrecognized if I didn't run from your and sister's backs. I am who I am, I'm still searching for the answer, but I will remain me as the days pass, until I answer the question. From a mother of several, I wouldn't expect you to understand." Her mother looks at her in disgust, anger, and frustration. She uses her magic to grab Dippers bandanna and pull her upstairs to her room. "You will remain here until you apologize. And you will go unfed tonight. You will think about what you've done," she says, slamming the door on Dipper. In the cold darkness, with only the moon's soft light shining in through a cracked window, Dipper lies on her bed, but not questioning what she did. She did not feel sympathy for her mother. She was a mean, rude, and cold beast to her own daughter. She favored her brothers and sisters over her sickliest child. All her mother did was shun and ignore her. Dipper always felt like a disappointment to her own mother. Her father was the only one who truly loved her, but he never returned from his quest to the Crystal Empire in Equestria. Dipper hadn't even seen any of her griffon friends. They were gone, they vanished into thin air. How could one griffon that killed the Queen on accident outlaw all the rest? it was a friendly species, but also overshadowed. The royals tried their best to help the half lion half eagle kind, but it was no use. They slept in allies and atop trashcans. They fought for food with each other. Ponies helped them frequently though. Sea Foam was an old griffon who had lived in the outskirts for many years. He had been friends with some of the older stallions who hung out a the small saloons, playing chest and checkers with them most of the time. The saloon owner had been very generous, and had let Sea Foam sleep in the pantry below. Griffons were a species no pony could hate. The children of many griffons would play with fillies and colts like they were born together. Whirl Wave also have a few griffon friends herself. Dipper gets up from her bed and over to the window. She pushes it open quietly. "No griffons, no apples. No pony to talk to. Darkness has fallen too. The towns are in chaos. The King and princesses are mourning over the loss of the Queen. The days grow harsher. Winter is also coming. There is going to be no food. We're all going to starve," Dipper stares at the stars, finding all the constellations on spot. The Little Dipper was her favorite of course. It was small, yet a huge legend was built around it. It was about a small bear that did big things to get it's image in the stars. Dipper's father had always told her that if she did big things, she would be rewarded soon enough. Afterwards, the small unicorn had done multiple things to get where she is now. She had big dreams too, and she wasn't going to let somepony else tell her different, not even her own flesh and blood. Reader, do you remember the griffon the fell and accidentally killed the Queen? Did you think we forgot about her? Of course not! The story would be useless without her! The griffon sits firmly in the rain next to a gargoyle atop a tall building, trying to not be seen by royal guards. Her wings' bandages are soaked, and her wings are matted. But revenge is this way. After the princesses refused to listen to the griffon's apology, what they didn't know was that her heart became cold and hate-filled, which led to her undying grudge against the royals. But not only did the princesses create a grudge against them, but their father and the citizens too. The griffon looks down at the saddened people. The land has grown dark and cold, no food has grown yet either. The griffon smiles at the sight. "Aw, my little pedestrians, so cold, so barren." She looks over the guards, who are rolling the broken and shattered float where the Queen last spoke. "And what do these fools believe? They think the griffons are awful. 'All apples are illegal! All griffons are outlaws and need to be killed on sight!' Pathetic! Do they actually think that banning both my kind and apples is going to stop me from having my revenge?" She moves from her spot. Walking in an dark ally, she looks quietly out at the people, watching them silently through squinted eyes. "The dreams of the many," the griffons whispers to herself. "So many ponies have dreams. I have a dream. Soon, my dream will be fulfilled. Revenge is my dream, having their hearts is my dream. Like before. Soon, revenge will be mine."
