Chapters 1: Old Mare Tales and Promises
I sat on my plush bed; it was still a little wet from the previous night's rain. I looked at the book I held in between my wings. It was worn and tattered, a few scorch stains here and there, but it was still readable. I found it in an old pony village called Furxington that was long abandoned. My mommy let me go through the homes there, looking for food we could eat; branches and leaves were getting boring.
"Ember! It's time for bed!" My mommy called.
"Will you come and read to me, mommy?"
"Did you find another book?"
"Oh yes! And it looks like it's really old! Please read it to me!" I called from my room.
We lived in a cave on the side of a mountain. We shaped it into our home, and made it feel like one. Various others lived scattered across this mountain; we were all ponies who weren't liked. Draconequi, griffins, snake ponies, spirits, and other non-pony and pony-like creatures lived here. At the top of the mountain was our little 'town square'. We would sell and trade items and some others would go out hunting for food and linens and such.
My daddy wasn't able to come with us because we wanted him to have a normal life, but to be honest, we both wanted him here with us. He is a pegasus pony, and being with a dragon is a taboo among the ponies. We left him in Ponyville so he could live a normal life without having to break the taboo. We occasionally talk when we three meet in the Everfree, but our time is always too short and I fall asleep, even when I want to stay awake.
"Okay Ember, I'll read you a few pages."
"Half the book."
"A quarter."
"Deal!"
"Long long ago, in a land called Equestria, lived many many ponies. Among them lived draconeqi, griffins, snake ponies, spirits, earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and exclusively Alicorns. The species lived in an era of peace in harmony, in love and care. Many ponies and non-ponies-" Mother stopped. "had children together. They played with each other and lived with each other. But then... I think it's time for bed."
"B-But mommy, we were just getting to the good part!"
"Yes but it's almost past ten, sugar."
"Alright..." I sighed, laying my head on the pillow.
My window drapes blew in the wind. I could feel a few droplets of rain hit my floor, and part of my mane, but I just pulled the covers up further. I eventually fell asleep, the nice kind of sleep where you have no dreams; just a nice long nappy.
I awoke to the sounds of my mother cooing from my door. She gave me the look and smiled a toothy smile, beckoning me to the kitchen. I got out of my bed and looked around my tidy, black room. I saw no sign of the book, meaning mommy must of put it where I can't reach it. I stretched my wings and walked into the open kitchen, meeting my mom for food. She set out freshly cooked phoenix eggs, which I ate greedily. I burped a little and singed my mane, but that was okay- I like it that way anyways.
I then walked into the living room and played with the radio I found. Equestria's technology was getting so advanced so fast. I listened in and made out the sentences the reporter spoke.
"-nd folks it is official. Princess Twilight Sparkle has had a kirin! Her name is Amethyst and she is a kirin with a horn! What a day for Equestrian history! Will we finally reach peace after this long racism between our species? Will we-"
Mommy turned it off.
"Mommy I-"
"You don't need to hear any of those stories. You're still such a young filly, and those words should fall upon deaf ears."
"How can you say that?! We want nothing more then for daddy to be able to see us without breaking the taboo! I know there was a time when we all coexisted nicely! I could infer from the story!" I growled. "We need that so we can be free to live like mister Spike!"
Mommy sighed. "You're right, honey. I just wish we would've settled that before you were born. So you could live in a new era of peace."
"Thanks mommy. I'm gonna listen in some more."
"Yes, folks. Today is Amethyst's third birthday, as we are now told she's been kept a secret for only Celestia knows why. She is the new heir to Twilight's throne and truly a bridge between our species. Here with me is a kirin representative, Moon Glare. Miss Glare, if you would."
"Yes, Mr. Tally. My name is Moon Glare folks, and I am the ruler of a kingdom you know nothing of. We would like to make peace with the ponies, and kill off these social taboos. After all, Spike has lived here in Equestria for all his life, and I for one think that all dragons, kirin, draconeqi, snake ponies, spirits, and so on should be free to live here! Back where I come from, the small kirin are sad and lonely. They don't get to play. The get to learn how much the pain the wars have caused our species, and some think our species should run things. I, as rep for my nation of Multiplex, say we should make a treaty!"
I was so happy to hear her words. If we had a treaty, then I'd get to meet a princess! I could see daddy! I could see Equestria! And my Auntie Moon Glare would help build the bridge!
I listened to the radio for the rest of the day, but not much other than ads and commercials were on after the eruption of news. I wanted to meet this kirin. There weren't many kirin in our village, only maybe two or three more besides me that were foals. There were many more adult kirins, but many stayed indoors. Kirin were frowned upon even in our community. They didn't like the hybrids; no pony did. To them, we were nothing more than mashed DNA and weirdos. I wanted to meet Amethyst. She sounds really nice. They said she was just like a princess; eloquent, beautiful, kind, caring, and fun!
I sat at the dinner table and waited for dinner... which never came.
"Mommy, I'm hungry." I said.
"I know, but we've no more food. We'll have to ask Auntie Moon-"
"Mom! I can do it! Trust me! Please!"
"But you're such a young filly..."
"What if you fly above Canterlot while I shop?"
"I suppose so..."
After the talk we flew out of our home and into the skies, a heavy trench coat over my shoulders and a small, light bit bag 'round my waist. I landed on the outskirts of Canterlot and walked inwards, smelling the lovely assortments of food. I collected enough for tonight's dinner and tomorrows breakfast and lunch, and that was all I could carry. I got many strange looks, but I paid the regulars no mind; they weren't worth my attention.
I turned my gaze to the towers of the royal castle. It wasn't too terribly late, so I decided to visit Auntie Moon Glare. I walked through the guard's posts, avoiding their eyes. I flew up to the nearest window I could find, and heaved myself in. I wandered through the castle, looking for any signs of where a princess would be kept.
I lightly trotted through the castle and came to a heavily guarded area. I flew up above their heads, trying to be as quiet as I could, and flew through the open arch. I then entered the room and found what looked like a kirin on the floor, practicing magic.
"Oh, hi there! Who're you?" The filly asked me.
"My name is Ember. I'm like you! My Auntie Moon Glare is trying to make a Peace Treaty with the ponies. I wanted to meet you because... well, there aren't that many kirins where I live. And the one's that are there aren't around my age. I'm almost four now!"
"Really? I'm three and a quarter! My name's Amethyst! It's nice to meet some pony like me!" Amethyst exclaimed, attracting attention from the guards.
"My lady, what- intruder!"
Suddenly the room was filled with guards, as well as a grown dragon swiping up Amethyst from her very spot. Guards flooded the room, as well as a regal princess.
"P-Princess Twilight Sparkle! It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I can't believe I get to see you with my own eyes!" I exclaimed, happy as ever.
"Little one, why are you in this castle? Your parents must be worried sick."
"No... that's not true, princess. My mommy's right up there!" I pointed to the spot where my mother stood, invisible, but becoming see-able every second.
"I see. So, you're a kirin?"
"Yes ma'am!" I said, saluting and buffing out my chest.
"Where's your daddy, little one?"
"My princess, my daddy is a pegasus. He lives in Ponyville and sometimes comes to Canterlot. His name is Lightning Flash. I really miss him. But when I saw that you and Mister Spike had Amethyst, I was so excited to hear about another kirin besides the ones back home!"
"There are others like you?"
"Oh yes, princess! I-" I looked to my mother. She shook her head no, and beckoned me to the window... why she did still eludes me. "I'm sorry princess, but my Auntie Moon Glare would be more than happy to talk to you!"
Mommy and I flew home quietly. Her horn glowed a pale white, covering us with fog and clouds as we fled the castle. When we got home, she gave me a mean look. A scary look.
"Mommy-"
"You know better than to go to the castle."
"Y-Yes, but... but, I-I got the food!" I put the food on the table.
"Don't drag the subject away from its point! You went into the castle. You could've been killed had the princess not been there. Don't ever think of leaving this house again, unless you are with a responsible adult, missy." She spat, venom clearly laced into her words.
I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. They just did. "I'm sorry." I cried. "I'm so sorry!"
I ran to my room and shut the door. I looked around for the book, needing it now more than ever. I saw out of the corner of my eye a rectangle. I flew up to the tall closet. The old, tattered, brown, mossy, moldy book sat perched on the edge. I picked it up and flew back to my bed. I saw some clouds creeping in, blanketing me in darkness. I flew out of the open window and kicked the clouds with all my might, leaving the sky clear. I flew back into my room, light filling the space.
"Long long ago, yadda yadda yadda... here it is!" I found my place in the book. "But then, the ponies started getting angry. The rulers that lead them had too many rules. And some species weren't allowed to even vote! The four basic species of pony shunned the others, some even resorting to violence. Many were killed, especially kirin. Kirin were viewed as sinners and monsters, even from the draconeqi and snake ponies. In result, many went into hiding, but our fearless ally Discord stood up to them. To this day, controversy over what is right still exists, as well as the deep embedded hate and racism towards ponies who are different."
I shuddered and threw the book across the room. It slid under the closet, and I left it there to rot and mold. It was then that I took it upon myself to bring harmony and peace back to Equestria. That is my mission, and goal for life.
I laid my head on my pillow, but no matter what I tried, my eyes wouldn't allow me to drift off to sleep. I looked at my window and the moon's sweet light shown on my wardrobe. It seemed to sparkle in a tantalizing way. I wanted to read more, but I didn't want to look at something that was so upsetting. Princess Luna's moon beckoned me to read more. I laid there for what now seemed like hours when I finally got up and reached for the book.
"Aw-oo!" A Timber Wolf called from somewhere in the mountains. There were a few Timber Wolves living here in Multiplex, but not that many.
I ignored their calls and howls and looked under the wardrobe, my head smashing against the floor of the cave. I reached my tail under it, sliding the book out of its hard to reach spot. I put it underneath my wing and sat on my bed, opening up to the first page to start fresh.
"Long long ago, in a land called Equestria, lived many many ponies. Among them lived draconeqi, griffins, snake ponies, spirits, earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and exclusively Alicorns. The species lived in an era of peace in harmony, in love and care. Many ponies and non-ponies procreated. They played with each other and lived with each other.
"But then, the ponies started getting angry. The rulers that lead them had too many rules. And some species weren't allowed to even vote! The four basic species of pony shunned the others, some even resorting to violence. Many were killed, especially kirin. Kirin were viewed as sinners and monsters, even from the draconeqi and snake ponies. In result, many went into hiding, but our fearless ally Discord stood up to them. To this day, controversy over what is right still exists, as well as the deep embedded hate and racism towards ponies who are different.
"Many of the three major types of pony, pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies alike, disliked the non-pony and pony-like. They viewed them as inferior, and wanted them gone. Draconeqi, griffins, snake ponies, dragons, and spirits fled after these ponies started to hurt and kill them. Racism was embedded deep in their hearts.
"The species were thrust into a new era of racism and hate, leaving the peace and harmony behind. Some say that once a certain hybrid is born, it shall be the bridge between the species, others say that the time for peace is gone forever. We may never know, but always know that peace can be restored and harmony can be united!"
I sighed. It seemed so sad and depressing. Maybe Amethyst was the bridge they talked about... maybe I needed to tell Princess Twilight Sparkle! I put the book next to my bed on the floor, and closed my eyes. I laid my head down and fell gently into that good night sleep.
I awoke early in the morning and trotted out of my room. I walked into the kitchen where my mother sat at the table, kneading her claws. I sat on the chair opposite of her, and held her claws in my hooves. I smiled up and her and jumped up on the table, and gave her a kiss on her beak-like lips.
"Heh, my little Ember never fails to restart the fire in my heart," She smiled.
"That rhymed mommy! I love you!" I said happily, then picked up an apple from the basket I brought home.
I ate the apple and picked out the seeds, then put them in our seed jar; we kept a jar full of our seeds so everyday we could plant some food in the forest at the base of the mountain or at the town square.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, Ember?"
"I read the rest of the book."
"And you don't like the ending, do you?"
"No, I don't. I wanna change it!" I raised my voice. "I wanna talk to Princess Twilight Sparkle about it and I'm sure that Auntie Moon Glare would let me!"
I expected her to say no right away. "I know you want to sweetie, and I know I can't stop you. We'll go to Canterlot later today to talk to your aunt, okay?"
"Oh thank you thank you thank you thank you, mommy!"
Later we flew out of the cave and to Canterlot. My brown cloak flapped around in the wind, making it harder to fly. Mommy then carried me the rest of the way while I held the book in my hooves. We landed next to Auntie Moon Glare's room in the castle and knocked on the window.
"Hello, Sister, tell me: what do you need?" She asked politely.
"I wanna talk to Princess Twilight Sparkle about my story book! I'm sure Princess Celestia and Princess Luna remember all the things in this book and I wanna change the world!" I yelled.
Auntie Moon looked at mommy, and it seemed like they exchanged a talk without moving their lips. She flared her wings out and picked my up in her magic, carrying me inside and shooing mommy off back into the cloud cover.
"Follow me and don't talk to any pony, okay, my lil' flame?"
I nodded quickly in response. We walked through the halls of the castle, eventually coming to a tall golden and violet door. Auntie knocked on it, waiting for a response. The large door opened and we trotted in and bowed before the thrones. Princess Twilight Sparkle and Mister Spike sat on two thrones, both violet, and the dragon's with flecks of green.
"Hello, Miss Moon Glare. Who is this with you?"
"This is my niece Ember. She would love to talk to you and your daughter, as well as your husband." Auntie Moon said strongly.
The adults on the throne exchanged strange glances, but allowed me to talk anyway.
"I read my story book and it said that a special kirin would be born, and it would be the key to bringing the species together to usher a new era of peace and harmony!" I said.
"My, my, you were much like me when I was younger. I understand your concern, but I believe with your help, we can bring the species together again. In fact, Celestia and Luna and I were counting on you coming to us. Follow me, I want you to meet my daughter formally." Twilight ushered me to follow her, which I did, and Amethyst was reading a big book; one bigger than her head.
"Hi there, Princess Amethyst." I said, bowing my head.
"Hi again, Ember!" She replied, smiling up from her big book.
"Amethyst, Ember would like to be friends with you and play with you. Would you like that?"
"Oh yes, mommy! Come on, Ember! I'll show you the gardens and the library and we can play with dolls and we'll have so much fun!" She smiled, holding my hoof in hers.
"That sounds like a lot of fun! I've heard about the rare flowers and special scrolls and toys you have here! All I have at home is books and a few daisies and posies." I replied a bit coldly.
Amethyst tilted my head up after I looked to the ground and smiled. "Don't worry, we can have plenty of fun here!"
Amethyst pulled me along and we ran to the royal gardens. She showed me every flower there was there, and she even remembered their scientific names! We played Hide and Seek in the garden for about a couple hours, and then we heard Princess Twilight calling us.
"Amethyst! Ember! Time for dinner!" She yelled.
"Coming!" We replied, and looked to Celestia's now setting sun.
The way it was painted on the horizon made it look so beautiful. Amethyst pulled me along and I picked my eyes off of the sight and onto her, and we giggled and ran inside.
"Auntie Celestia always makes a pretty sunset, doesn't she?"
"Oh, yes! Gorgeous!"
We walked into the royal dining hall. Mister Spike was there, and Princess Twilight, mommy, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Auntie Moon Glare were there. We all sat down and ordered our food. After eating, Amethyst and I walked with full bellies to the royal library to look at old scrolls.
"Hey Ember, can you fly up and get that scroll for me?"
"Yes, but why don't you use magic to get it?" I asked as I flew up to the top of the book case.
"My mommy and daddy say that you shouldn't always rely on magic, and only use it when absolutely necessary." Amethyst replied.
"I see. Here you go," I said, handing the scroll to her.
She opened it and read it quickly, then an aura the prettiest shade of blue violet surrounded her horn, and she levitated another scroll. She read the other scroll and focused her body towards a decrepit book case nearby that looked like it'd fall apart any minute. In a flash of blue violet magic the book case was restored and looked like the other book cases, a dark violet color.
"How'd you do that?" I asked.
"My mom taught me. I know age spells are for highly advanced unicorns or alicorns like her, but this was a wood replacing spell. I changed the mahogany to cedar." She replied like it was no big deal.
"It's amazing!" I said, inspecting the book case.
I started looking for a good book or scroll in the book case she replaced, and I found one that looked good. It was old and tattered, and looked like it was history; my favorite. I pulled it and the book case moved, revealing a dark room. I looked at Amethyst who just stared back at me.
I motioned for her to come over, which she did, and she lit her horn up, providing light. I followed her in and we came to an old stone podium, which held a large black book with spikes on its spine. I felt something... I sensed something bad, and from the looks of it, Amethyst did too. She started backing up from the podium, green and violet hazes flowing from her eyes.
"No... mommy... daddy... No!" She screamed and the entrance closed on its own.
"Amethyst! Snap out of it! What do you see?" I asked her and shook her.
She shook her head and her eyes were back to normal. "My mommy and daddy were dead... a tall black unicorn was standing before me... I-I'm scared... I want to leave."
"The entrance closed off... I believe that was once King Sombra. He uses dark magic, and he's dead... so the Nightmare Forces that were controlling him must still be around... like Princess Luna turning into Nightmare Moon, but he was worse. We shouldn't touch the podium or book, especially since all of this was behind a book case. We need to find a way out of here." I said, worry clear in my voice.
"But how? The entrance is closed off..." Amethyst trailed off.
"Can you teleport us out of here?" I asked.
"I... I can only do one pony at a time."
"You go ahead and teleport, and try pulling the books again. If that doesn't work tell me and you can either get somepony or-"
"No! We'll be in so much trouble!"
"Or, or I can burn down the fake book case, and I can extinguish it with a spell.*"
"Okay... I'll try." Amethyst said, unsure.
Amethyst's horn lit up and she was gone in a flash. I waited, hearing her frantically pulling book after book off the shelf in a fury of anxiety. She gasped.
"There are no more books to pull! I pulled everything off and it won't work!"
"Okay. You go get some pony, I don't want to endanger these scrolls. Just do it!" I sighed.
I heard her scamper off, and I turned around to look at the podium.
"Why don't you come here?" It asked me.
"Because you're not real." I replied, keeping my face straight.
"But your dad is here... and your mom... and so is peace."
"I am not a naive filly! You are just a Nightmare Force still residing in the material plane, alone and still trying Sombra's old tricks!" I shouted at the podium, anger clear in my voice.
I felt my eyes getting heavy with his spell. I calmed myself down; I read that when Mister Spike was falling to Sombra's control, his eyes felt heavy and your emotions with the forces played a key roll. I calmed down and sat with a blank expression, staring at the black, spiked tome. I waited. And waited. And waited some more.
"Amethyst? Any pony?!" I called.
No answer. I couldn't wait any longer and walked up to the entrance. I breathed in deeply, keeping a straight face the entire way. I then blew out fire, burning the cedar wood. The smell wafted, and I liked it, and I knew some pony would come to save me, and stop and put out the fire I started. Cedar was a hard wood and didn't burn easily. And since it was brand new, it'd take even longer.
After hearing a guard talking, I was hopeful again. But, that hope died down when they simply put out the water and didn't seem to hear me calling from the other side. I rammed into the book case, it creaking horribly for a brand new item. I hit it more and more and it fell over, slamming on the ground. I ran then ran out of the library and to the dining hall where I confronted Amethyst about everything.
"You left me there, Amethyst!" I yelled, feeling heat and tears rise into my face.
"I-I just didn't want to get into trouble..." She sighed, looking down at the tiles.
"What is going on?" Princess Celestia asked.
"We were in the library, and she replaced a book case with a brand new one with magic and then I looked for a good book and pulled one that's now disappeared and we went in and there's dark magic and Sombra's remnants in there, and she teleported out and left me there when she couldn't get me out, so I started a fire and the guards couldn't hear my calls so I rammed the book case and came here!" I yelled, tears forming in my eyes.
"Amethyst! You should know better!" Spike scolded his daughter, who then gave me a sad and disappointed look.
"And Ember, you should know better as well." My mother scolded.
"Well we didn't! I'm... I'm sorry, Princesses... mom..." I cried, and started to run away.
From the corner of my eye I saw them reaching out their hooves and claws, but none of them came after me. I ran to the window and jumped, flying as far away as I could from the castle.
--At the Castle--
"Amethyst, you know we could never hate you, right? You made a simple mistake that you didn't know it was wrong to go in. I'm proud of you for trying to be a good filly, though." Spike said, nuzzling his daughter.
"You can't let her get away with something like that. She should know better. How could you be proud of some pony who's done something that could've killed my child?!" Sun Flare roared, anger and venom lacing into her words.
"She is but a foal! You can't expect her to-"
"No! What if it were the other way around? What if my Ember had abandoned little Amethyst because she was scared to get into trouble? I sure as hell wouldn't be 'proud' of her!" Sun screamed, then flew off after her daughter.
"She has a point, Twilight." Spike murmured.
"Yes, she does. You should know better, Amethyst. I'm very disappointed in you. I love you, but I am disappointed." Princess Twilight Sparkle said, anger in her voice.
She and the Solar and Lunar Goddesses walked back to their rooms, leaving Spike and Moon Glare alone with Amethyst.
"Daddy... I'm so sorry."
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." Spike said, then walked out of the room, after Twilight.
Amethyst looked to Moon Glare, tears in her eyes.
"Wh-Who am I su-supposed to apologize to?" Amethyst said, sniffling in between words.
"Well one, you should stop being a spoiled brat. Two, you should apologize to Ember. She could've died in there, or been influenced by Sombra's magic. I'm afraid I am as well disappointed in you, Amethyst Sparkle." Moon Glare said straight faced, then left to go to her chambers.
--In the Forest--
I sniffled and cried as I landed on a rock. I was angry and upset... and I felt Sombra's magic still lingering in my eyes. I needed to tell mommy. But... I didn't know where I was or where she was. I was lost.
"Mommy!" I called. "Mommy! Mommy!"
"Hey, foal..." I heard a voice say. "You wanna find your mommy?"
"Leave me alone, I know you're probably some foal molester or pervert. Creep off, weirdo." I spat coldly, flying up and away from the strange old stallion.
"Mom!" I called as I flew. "Mom!"
No reply. I headed back towards where I came from; Mommy always said if I got lost try to fly home, or somewhere where you know you will be safe. I found a small village, one that seemed to have no name. I landed and walked around. There was no pony here. I then realized it was Furxington, and I walked through the village quicker, trying to remember where we had been previously.
After walking around for a couple minutes, I found a point I remembered and flew home as quick as I could. I flew into the open kitchen and started our fireplace; Mommy told me that if I started a fire with my breath, she could sense it and follow it. I started the fire and then wondered something; why had I not used it back in the forest when I was lost? And I realized something else... I wanted to be brave and bold and daring... And I was! I breathed fire out the windows, calling all of mom's attention to me. She was soon flying home in a rage of fury.
"Ember! You know better than to fly off like that! You're grounded, you little snot!" Mommy yelled at me.
"I'm sorry, Mommy. I think Sombra's magic is still in my eyes... will you stop it?" I asked, tears streaming down my face.
"Sweetie, of course I will... just never fly off again, I was so worried." White light surrounded her horn and she touched her horn to my forehead, bringing a sense of safety over my body. I looked around and saw the dark magic burning in the white light; I liked it. Not the violence or destruction, but the justice.
I hugged her tightly and scampered off to my room. It was then that I remembered I left my book at Amethyst's home. I sighed and opened my wardrobe, looking for something to play with, something to do. I picked up a Fire Ruby and remembered daddy. I wanted to see him so bad.
"Mom?" I called from my room.
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Can we see daddy?" I asked, more tears forming in my eyes as I showed her the Fire Ruby.
She smiled softly and let a bright white light surround herself. When the light faded, she looked like herself, only as a bat pony. She had dark red fur and ruby eyes, with a dark magenta mane. She beckoned me over to her, and I came to her side. We walked out into the living room and looked out the open window. We flew off into the night, following the North Star Princess Luna had so wonderfully made.
We landed in Ponyville about 45 minutes later, and walked through the village, most ponies already asleep, and those awake to busy to be asked. We walked to daddy's cottage and knocked loud enough to wake him up, but quiet enough so no pony else would.
"Sun Flare! Ember! What a pleasant surprise!" Daddy said, rubbing his eyes.
After spending the night with my daddy and mommy, we left and returned to Multiplex. I felt bad for tattling on Amethyst... but I think she needed to learn her lesson, and I think she did. I decided to go for a walk through Multiplex's Town Square, looking around at the ponies and their day. I loved pony watching them, and guessing what they did and what their talent was; some of the kirin or other mixed could get cutie marks, I might, but I don't know for sure. All I know is that the few kirin who do live here only one of them has a cutie mark.
I saw Potion walking through the town, a saddlebag across her back. She stopped when she saw me and trotted over.
"Hey'a kid! How's it going?" She asked nicely, the rumbling of thunder heard in the distance.
"You're in a great mood today, Potion! I'm fine, how're you?"
"I'm okay, just shopping before heading home to watch the rain. Wanna come with?"
"Potion, stop being such a creeper. You always molest the poor kirin." Flame growled as she trotted up behind us.
"I am not being a creeper, I am being neighborly. Of course you wouldn't know a thing about that, now would you?"
"Oh don't even get me started, you creep! You always harass poor Ember and I bet you always get on her nerves! She's just too sweet to say anything mean to some pony like you !"
"Take that back, you freak!"
"Oh, now I'm the freak?! Have you looked in the mirror lately?!"
"Stop it you two!" I yelled, anger and sadness clear on my face by what I could tell. "You both are ponies who've been cast out by the regulars, and we have to stick together and be a family. If we don't... then who will? It doesn't matter what species you are, it matters that you get along. I always thought you two could become best friends if you put your hearts to anything for more than five seconds!"
"Jeez, kid... when you put it like that..." Flame said, scratching her face with her hoof.
"Y-Yeah... and to be told something we should already know by a kid. Heh, makes us seem kinda silly, huh?" Potion commented.
A few drops of rain started to fall, and before I knew it I was running across the street and back to my house, shielding myself from the rain. After a couple of days, those two seemed inseparable, like they were best friends. I think I've hit a major milestone in my journey to unite the species of our world.
-A Few Days Before-
Ember ran off, leaving the two ponies by themselves as others scattered and closed their windows and doors. Flame pulled out her umbrella and began to walk away, when she noticed Potion just sitting there.
"Hey... come on, let's go back to my place..." Flame said, holding the umbrella over the snake pony.
"I...I'd like that, Flame, ol' friend." Potion replied, smiling softly.
-At Flame's Home-
Potion sat on Flame's sofa, curling her long tail around her body, getting nice and comfy. Flame came into the living room levitating two cups of cocoa, one for the both of them.
"I'm sorry I've been so mean to you lately."
"Yeah... me as well. Why did you all of the sudden become so..." Potion trailed off.
"Mean? After we were such good friends since we were fillies? I dunno. I guess I-" Flame stopped and started blushing.
"You... you what?"
"I-It's nothing, really. The point is, I'm sorry."
"Thanks... We were acting like little colts with a crush on a cute school filly." Potion laughed, not noticing the blush overcoming Flame's cheeks and face.
After she stopped laughing, she looked to Flame who had turned away from her friend. Potion came to the realization that was inevitable, and put a hoof on her friend's hoof.
"It's okay if you have a crush on some pony. Maybe you should just tell them how you feel."
"How would you want to get asked out if you're so smart with the subject?" Flame spouted, immediately regretting it.
"I would like my crush to just give me a hug and say 'I love you and I want us to be together.' Nice and simple."
"Okay then..." Flame leaned over to Potion and pulled her into a hug, the both of them blushing hard. "I love you and I want us to be together!"
Potion stared blankly at Flame, before laughing. "Nice and simple."
"What?" Flame said, brushing her mane out of her face.
"Just the way I like it." Potion replied, hugging her long time crush back.