The Legend Of The Lonely Ladybug

Seeking For Clues

“That giant spider hits like hundred mules and a brick wall at once,” Rainbow uttered, wincing as her damaged nerves signaled her brain when she rubbed her sore looking eye at the table the three mares stood around.

Applejack gave Twilight a questioned look as the mare unicorn rejoined them. A glowing mug of tea floated up in her magical aura, the pot of hot water following to pour the mug full.

"He is resting now,” Twilight said and simultaneously poured milk into her cup, stirring it with a spoon as steam crept up from it's contents.

“Poor stallion. He must have been under a lot of stress,” Applejack spoke silently to break the momentary silence.

“Well, we can’t completely blame him for resisting like he did. We did take him here by force," Rainbow said while slurping the good tasting herbal tea from her own cup.

"Faith needs help, Rainbow, " Twilight told worriedly, "He has been living alone in Everfree for who knows how long with no one by his side. Being by yourself is one thing. Being mentally lonely is even worse."

“What can we do for him?” Rarity asked as her tired gaze followed the strands of vapor floating up towards the ceiling.

”He said that he does not recall anything from his past," Twilight replied thoughtfully as the other listened silently, still recalling what Faith had told her just a moment ago, "That means he must have lost his memory somehow. We should start by renting him a temporary apartment from Ponyville."

“What if he tries to run away while we are busy?”, Applejack asked.

”I’ll keep him under my watch," Twilight answered, still thinking, "Spike and Owlowiscious can help me with that,” the unicorn decided. Judging from how Faith had tried to escape them she deduced that he wouldn't stay around when awake.

“Then what do we do after he has settled down?" Rarity asked while pushing her now empty cup aside.

”We could try to search for his family," Twilight told the other unicorn, having finished up her plan at that point, "He certainly must have relatives. It might take time because we don’t know where he originates from. He could be from anywhere.”

“That’s not something that we can’t handle. Just show his picture everywhere in the pegasus state,” Rainbow said, by now also done with her tea and looking better.

“You got the job, Rainbow," the unicorn exclaimed in delight at the suggestion, "In any case Faith is going to spend a while here in Ponyville.”

“Hang on. Where’s Pinkie Pie?", Applejack said, looking around for their pink companion and taking note of her suddenly missing. The other earth pony had apparently slipped away while the others had been discussing.

"She's always full of surprises.......," Rainbow uttered, narrow lids concealing an eye roll.

***

Outside Celectia’s magic was bringing along a new day as the sun raised itself to view from behind the horizon. Beams of sunlight illuminated the space of the living room and the sofa where Faith slept quietly.

There was a sound of quick footsteps heading down the stairs. Along came Spike, Twilight's baby dragon assistant who had just woken up from his good night's sleep. At the bottom of the stairs he began stretching and yawning to get his fluids flowing before spotting Faith at the cough.

"Huh? Where did this fellow come from?" the surprised dragon googled at the stranger.

The sound of hooves clacking against the floor signaled his ears about Twilight's appearance to the living room. Proceeding to check on how Faith was managing, she approached her assistant, having gotten up way earlier than he had.

"Nothing to worry about, Spike. I invited him here while you were sleeping."

"’Invited?" Spike asked curiously, "You make it sound like he doesn't have a home."

"He soon will. I promised to try and help him," Twilight said, "He has been living without any company for a rather long time."

Spike was now observing Faith's facial features. "Funny, he looks like a mare," he said curiously before double checking, "Are you sure you got the gender right?"

The remark made Twilight deliver a slap over his head with her hoof. "Spike," she scolded, "Have you still learned any manners? You can't just speak of a pony like that because they look a certain way," she lectured in a sudden uptight mood which made a look of embarrassment appear to Spike while he rubbed the crown of his green head scales.

"Sorry, Twilight. I went a bit too far."

Next to them Faith had moved slightly, eyes already open and stealthily looking around the living room. Twilight and Spike had not noticed.

“I hope you don’t mind if I must ask but where exactly does he come from? He looks a bit skinny,” Spike asked the unicorn.

“You don’t want to know,” Twilight replied, a bit nervous about what she referred to.

In a swift move Faith jumped up from the sofa and flied towards the open window. The timing had not been good as Twilight's eyes caught the attempt.

“Oh, no you won’t,” she exclaimed. The horn on her head lit up.

Faith found himself once again pulled back by a magical aura that enveloped around him, preventing him from moving on his own. Instead of struggling futilely he simply crossed hooves, already used to being constrained by such a way from the previous night. This unicorn was skilled enough to keep him well contained with her magic.

“Just put me down already," Faith spoke out in annoyance.

Twilight brought him over to where her and Spike stood, gently placing him down on the long cough.

“Why are you imprisoning me like this," the pegasus asked, slightly depressed.

Spike listened in dismay. “Did I miss something?”

“It’s for your own good," Twilight told the pegasus, "If you run away in cowardice we will never be able to find a solution to your problem.”

Faith remained indifferent. “I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, miss Sparkle,” he replied in frustration.

Twilight smiled at him kindly, glancing at Spike who was studying Faith aside her before speaking up again. “This is Spike. He’s my personal assistant. Say hi, Spike,” she said cheeringly.

Spike rubbed his chin with a hand until communicating. “Uh…….hi. You are?”

"Just call me Faith,” the pegasus introduced with a fake smile. “Nice to meet you, Spike," he added politely.

”Hope you enjoy your stay in Ponyville,” the baby dragon eventually smirked and headed through the living room, ”I’ll be in the library. Those plant books need sorting out," he said to Twilight.

“Just make sure you brush your teeth and eat your breakfast first," Twilight called after him in an almost motherly fashion.

“Yeah, yeah! Always giving me the same lessons," Spike was heard uttering in annoyance.

Twilight and Faith were now alone. Deciding to walk over to the cough and sit next to the pegasus who himself remained silent with both hooves and hind limbs crossed, Twilight received no eye contact from her house guest who was looking more tense by the moment.

“You do realize that this is considered a kidnapping?" the pegasus mumbled at her, clearly bothered by her close presence.

“Only if we took you away from your actual home," Twilight said jokingly.

“Why can’t you believe what I said last night?," Faith argued with clear annoyance, "Everfree forest is my only real home. I can’t find true solitude from elsewhere.”

“You know that isn’t true, Faith,” Twilight replied.

A momentary silence lingered.

”Listen, Faith. You can’t just run away from your own problems. Please speak out. Trust me," Twilight said, a sign of worry tangible in the tone of her voice.

There was yet another long pause until Faith eventually communicated again. “I can’t. It’s too complicated for all of you to understand," he answered with a sad, almost indifferent way of speaking.

“I have learned many things since moving to Ponyville that you yourself might find way more complicated," Twiligh told Faith, "I believe that your problem isn’t too difficult for me and my friends to help solve.”

She looked down on Faith’s flank at the ladybug cutie mark. It's vibrant reds and blacks stood out clearly from his greenish coat.

“Let’s start from your cutie mark. Do you remember how you got it?" she asked him.

Again Faith remained silent, doubtful and looking away.

“Please, Faith. Speak to me," she pleaded him calmly.

After a third long pause Faith sighed, chest sagging. “When it first appeared I had………," he started slowly.

“Keep going," Twilight egged him on, intent on listening.

“I had gone through a difficult ordeal," Faith finally added, still reluctant.

“What happened?," Twilight enquired.

Faith kept himself quiet. The conversation had progressed rather slowly.

“I don’t want to speak about it," the pegasus mumbled.

”The only way I can help is with information. Please trust me, Faith," Twilight tried to assure him. Her effort had carried them only half-way towards results but the unicorn remained patient with her case.

Faith got up from the sofa and walked through the living room as Twilight tracked him, confident that Faith now understood the futility in trying a retreat. Even if he would she'd be ready to stop him during such an instance. As she watched the pegasus sat down to the middle of the floor and crossed his back legs to a meditative pose of sorts.

“When I was a young colt I could not find my own place among others because of my physical features," he said, "I was deemed strange by other youth, especially the stallions. A physically feminine male horse is indeed hard to come by."

A short silence lingered.

"All that abuse and loneliness.…..I’m a freak," Faith uttered under deep breath, face sinking.

"That isn't true either," Twilight soothed her guest, "There are plenty of physically unique individuals all around Equestria."

In her own mind she wondered whether she was being completely honest to him. Faith was truly the first feminine stallion she had ever met.

He too behaved doubtfully towards her claim. “Oh really? Well, I was the only weirdo around my neighborhood," he said back with visible sarcasm.

Twilight prepared to speak again before something else crossed her mind which made her confused. ”Hold on a second there," she exclaimed, "If you can remember those details how come you can’t-----“

“Remember my own name and family?," Faith cut her off before she finished, "I just can’t. It’s all a blur.”

Twilight's stare started wandering as her mind reached an obstacle. “That can’t be right," she uttered.

“Well, that is nevertheless the case," Faith spoke from the middle of the floor, having closed his eyes while relaxing in his position, "I have no memory of my own identity."

Twilight had again gotten up from the sofa and approached him. “What happened before you got your cutie mark?” she asked professionally.

Faith took several deep exhales, again visibly nervous. The mare unicorn was really keen on getting near him and he didn't seem to like it one bit.

“Take your time," he heard her say calmly.

“To best explain it I must describe the emotional state that I was going through back then,"Faith began, uncertain about how to accordingly narrate it to her, "It was a tug-of-war. Me against my own bitterness.”

Twilight listened silently, once again with an expression that reflected concern.

“I was in a serious pickle," Faith continued, "The bitterness was gaining a life of it’s own and tried to overpower me. It almost corrupted my essence.” He looked up from the floor and at Twilight standing next to him. “I had to do something. I care about what is happening to me,” he sobbed as tears started to roll down his cheeks. Immediately Twilight’s horn glowed and a handkerchief floated over to which Faith blew his nose.

“Thanks."

Twilight smiled. “So let me get this straight," she said, "You faced your own bitterness and pushed it away?"

“You certainly know how to make conclusions, Twilight," Faith uttered in surprise.

“After you pushed it away. What happened then?", Twilight asked his guest.

Faith rubbed the back of his neck with a hoof while recalling details. “I believe that is the exact moment when I lost my identity and got the mark.”

Twilight looked at him, eventually turning and heading down the same direction Spike had gone earlier. “Come this way, Faith. We have to check my library," she told him.

“Regarding my cutie mark?", she heard the pegasus speaking. An impressed smile widened. “Seems like I’m not the only pony here capable of making good conclusions," she said joyfully.

Behind her Faith had gotten up from the floor and was following her out of the living room. Moments after they entered the library, finding Spike standing on a ladder, busy in organizing books against the high shelf.

“Just make sure that you don’t mix the Poison Knowledge with Potion Awareness,” Twilight spoke to him.

Spike shrugged his shoulders as he worked. “It’s the hundredth time that you tell me that, Twilight!" came a frustrated reply.

Twilight chuckled. “Just making sure that you keep up with the routine, Spike. You’ve been slacking lately.”

“Alright! Alright! Thanks for the advice. Again," Spike growled at her.

Faith observed their conversation shyly. Twilight turned her attention back to the pegasus. “I need to ask you something very important. Just try to remember," she told him.

Faith sighed, his head taking a steep downward incline. “Bring it.”

“Was your flank empty before the ladybug appeared," Twilight asked.

For a moment Faith tightly focused on recalling his past. “No," his answer came, "I believe I did have one even before that."

”Then that must naturally mean that the ladybug is your original mark," Twilight concluded.

“I personally doubt it," her guest uttered skeptically, “It’s strange but it almost feels different. I can sense it somehow. This is not the cutie mark I used to have," Faith concluded.

Twilight's brows literally bent as she glanced aside thoughtfully, eyelids narrowing. “That seriously can’t be right. Every pony remembers when and how they have gained their marks and also what it means to them," she said, not making sense from what he had told her. Going to a book shelf, the unicorn let her eyes sweep it.

“Should be right around………there!"

Twilight used her magic to pull a singular book out from the shelf and set it down to the reading desk. Instantly the book opened up, the pages turning in a magenta glow as Twilight observed the pages.

“This book contains knowledge about the purpose of cutie marks. If I’m right it should explain things.”

Faith remained at the back, watching the shelves curiously as Twilight flipped through the book.

“As you may already know, a cutie mark appears to a pony after they do something that they strongly enjoy," she said, "It defines our abilities and roles in society. Your own cutie mark holds a clue towards a solution.”

Behind her Faith rolled his eyes, bothered to listen. “What I pulled off was hardly enjoyable. How does my cutie mark relate to that?”

“It does relate quite much, Faith," Twilight smirked while still reading, "You said it appeared during your memory loss. As strange as it sounds everything that happens in this world has some sort of purpose. Everything affects everything either by magic or by simple natural law.”

“Karma," she heard Faith state from behind.

“A decent figure of speech," Twilight replied. The piece of literature closed up and floated back into the shelf.

“The book didn’t mention anything about a switch between cutie marks and your condition definitely isn’t cutie pox," the unicorn said behind narrow eyes, adding an additional shrug, "That means this is going to be a whole lot more difficult to crack.”

After taking a quick look at Faith’s flank she came to another shelf and scanned it the same systematic way. Another book was pulled out and placed on the desk.

“What do you know about ladybugs?", the unicorn asked him.

“From what I have heard while listening insects I know that they have a role in the natural balance," Faith answered, not fully sure about the intention of the given question.

”There’s more than just that," his mentor explained. The book opened up to a page depicting a rather stylistically illustrated drawing of a ladybug casting a blessing on a sad pony, the blessing changing it's mood to that of happiness.

“A ladybug is also known as a bringer of good luck to those who treat it kindly. That cutie mark must have some relation to it," Twilight theorized and closed the book to send it back to the shelf before again observing the feminine stallion.

"What ever happened to you years ago has been a rather bizarre form of good luck," she said.

Faith seemed doubtful. "Twilight, I respect your opinion but I can't treat it as good luck," the pegasus chuckled half-heartedly and glanced at the ladybug on his flank. Looking back, he found Twilight's hoof placed on his shoulder, much to his annoyance.

"My dear Faith. If it had not been good luck you probably wouldn't be the way you are," she comforted him.

Faith's other eyebrow lifted in confusion. "Could you please speak the common language?", the pegasus mumbled, now being the pony not making sense of things.

"What I mean is that if you had not gained this cutie mark your bitterness would have probably won you over," Twilight added.

Faith was silent for a moment, eyes standing open upon a realization. "You have a point, Twilight," he admitted concernedly, "But it still does not explain why I can not remember certain things."

"I'm confident that there is a reason for why you lost your memory, Faith. We'll figure it out together," Twilight again assured before a grumbling sound interrupted her.

Faith's stomach had just expressed itself loudly with visible signs of hunger.

"Poor Faith. We need to get you something to eat," Twilight chuckled, holding a hoof against her mouth as she exited the library.

"Back in Everfree I survived with berries, roots, and fruits," Faith explained as he followed her with the same reluctance he had displayed during the entire time he had spent in the house.

Hearing the reveal, Twilight gasped in shock upon hearing and spun around. "It's extremely good luck that you are still breathing, Faith! Don't you know anything about Everfree?" she lectured the stallion in anxiety.

Faith took her reaction calmly, recalling things that only he had experienced somewhere in the depths of his mind. "Yes, most of the plants in there are either cursed or poisonous," he admitted, aware of the gamble that he had once taken, "It is very useful when you can speak with insects. They know everything about what is edible to a pony like me."

The ponies arrived back in the living room.

"Why don't you start with the biscuits I left for you last night. They've been sitting unattended," Twilight told her guest. Wrapped to a glowing magenta aura, the plate came flying and set down to the nearby coffee desk. As soon as it stopped moving Faith grabbed one of the cookies and started chewing.

"Once Applejack returns from the town she'll be able to offer you something better food wise," Twilight told him when Faith swallowed the small bakery product.

"Thanks. I still don't understand why you have all been so helpful towards me. All I did was convince the spider to leave you alone," the stallion said, grabbing another biscuit.

"You did much more than that, Faith," Twilight added, "If you stick around patiently you will learn about what I mean."

She looked over, having detected a knocking from the front door. "It's Applejack," Twilight exclaimed in delight, jumping up and down as her horn glowed to let her friend in.

A grin widened at the instant Applejack saw Faith standing. "Look who's all up and shining," the work horse cheered and walked over, "How ya doing, handsome?", she snickered.

Faith blushed, starting to choke on the biscuit he was chewing, prompting Twilight give him a slap to the shoulder to try and help him breathe.

"Doing all fine," Faith garbled, still coughing. After managing to loosen the biscuit in his throat he then proceeded to smile weakly, a slight improvement to his earlier fake grins. Applejack brought her hoof forward to nudge his other cheek.

"Look at ya poor thing! All skin and bones," she uttered with worry while Twilight chuckled next to them."

"Our guest needs something to eat. He is starving," the mare unicorn explained.

"I've got just what you need, Faith! Follow me," Applejack told the green pegasus and turned to trot back towards the front door with him not too far behind, Twilight also accompanying them.

Outside rested a wagon full of different apple based foods from which Applejack produced a beautiful pie and threw it right below Faith's hooves. "Dig in handsome. All free for you and there's more where that came from," she told him kindly.

Faith looked down at the pie. "What?", he gasped. "Oh, no, no, no I can't……," the pegasus babbled.

"Please do, Faith. You have to eat," Applejack spoke as assuringly as an experienced apple farm keeper could, stepping forward to push the pie closer in order for him to take it.

Faith stared down at the apple pie placed right underneath him, hooves suddenly wobbling. The girls watched him, confused to see him react the way he had. Faith's state worsened as he began to gasp repeatedly, tears streaming down both cheeks.

"Did Ah do something?", Applejack asked nervously.

Still aware of his feedback, Faith toughened up just enough to speak with a tremble. "I have never been given this kind of hospitality since I became-----------“

A new emotional surge cut off his exhale and made him freeze momentarily. The the mares it seemed clear what would happen next.

Eventually the dam broke. Faith burst out crying and sunk town to his knees to weep loudly, the lawn below him getting a soak.

"S-hhh! It's okay," Applejack attempted to soothe him, the trio already getting looks from a few passer-by ponies who had taken notice.

One of the windows in Twilight's house opened by itself. A flying handkerchief appeared outside and floated down at them, settling in front of Faith who once again blew his nose. A glow disappeared from Twilight's horn.

"Thanks," Faith's broken voice told her.

"Now be a good boy and eat your pie before it walks," Applejack told him. After a short pause Faith finally took a bite out of the pie while the farm mare looked on proudly with a loud deep breath.

Faith continued to feast, getting more accustomed to eating as Applejack returned to her wagon. After doing some digging she returned with more pies in tow, piling them next to Faith, slipping another pie under his radar as soon as he completed the first one. Faith's eyes watered as he looked up, licking his lips.

"Thank you, miss," came the polite thanking.

"Call me Applejack," she said, wincing at the sight of his skinny frame, "How did ya ever end up to such bad shape?"

"We got plenty of time to go through those details," Twilight bumped in thoughtfully, "Faith and I have been talking about it."

Sounds of munching accompanied her voice. Faith had reached a fifth bite on his second pie.

"I think everyone would like to hear it from him personally," Applejack replied while looking at the stallion.

As she too observed Faith's dining Twilight remembered their tea conversation from the preceding night, quick to bring it up. "To change the subject, did you find an apartment?," the unicorn enquired her friend.

Applejack seemed amused by something regarding the mention, lifting the edge of her hat with a hoof.

"Would ya know it, Pinkie Pie has already arranged it," she revealed while laughing.

"Really?", Twilight blurped in dismay. "Well..........she’s awfully fast."

Applejack's eyes rolled. "Unsurprisingly," she added. By now Pinkie's peculiarities were all too familiar to her friends.

Faith finished the other pie and carefully cleaned himself, finishing it all with a satisfied burp, slapping a hoof on his mouth in shame. "Pardon me. I haven't eaten like this for a long time."

“Don't worry, Faith. Eat as much as your stomach can muster," Applejack cooed, liking his manners.

Faith rested on the grass, rubbing his full belly. "I think that was about it for now," he sighed, closing his eyes. Before he fell asleep Twilight approached and nudged the pegasus. "

So, how'd you say if we go check your apartment?"

Faith jumped to all fours with a gaping mouth, the eyes of the pegasus standing wide. "My.......apartment??", he uttered, not believing what he had heard as his head tilted sideways, "First I get a night rest, then apple pies and now an apartment? Who are you ponies?!"

Twilight and Applejack erupted to a simultaneous giggle from witnessing his reaction.

***