It was a great day in Ponyville; The sun shone brightly in the cloudless warm blue-grey sky, as a purple unicorn, with a red mane, leapt out of the Ponyville school as the classes ended, with a spring in her step, and a neigh of glee. She had just graduated, and couldn't wait for her first day of testing out what she knew.... with independence. Firestripe opened a book with her magic to study much more. Always the bookworm, she simply couldn't get enough knowledge, and she had so much on her mind at the moment to think about. She could just imagine all the sorts of magic she would attempt to cast.... and if she could really do so. Dark magic... Crystal magic.... Chaos magic... even the magic of Friendship... it was all so confusing. Could one day I'd be a princess, like Twilight, or Celestia... or like Luna? A hero like The Mysterious Mare Do well? A villain like Nightmare Moon, or Chrysalis, with her Changeling army? Or even a Royal guard, like father?
But the thought of her seemingly always absent father always brought a deep sorrowful ache in her soul. He had gone on a mysterious but urgent important mission for Celestia, and it had been 3 months now since he left. She could sorrowfully remember his grey strong earth pony build at the door as he put on his armor... The dark blue mane ruffling ever so gently on the faint breeze, the deep soft tone he had said before he left... the soft heart-melting silver eyes that were windows to his gentle soul. "Daisy, take care of Firestripe... I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. I love you both........" "Don't leave daddy" she had pleaded him, but he had chuckled softly. "Do not worry my dear, I'll be back, and we'll play that tower game you love so much." He had given her a kiss on the forehead. With a word of, "stay safe", and a kiss to his wife Daisy, he was gone.... Like a puff of the wind.
The memory brought tears to her eyes, an she blinked them back. This isn't time to be sad... I just graduated school. Tears would solve absolutely nothing. She put the book back in her bag with a bit of her red magic. I must focus on the task at hand. Mother will be so happy.... I hope. I haven't seen her happy since Father left.... She began as a brisk walk through the warm town, looking for the tall amber colored oak tree that sat near princess Twilight's house that her mother had made their home, the one with the pink periwinkles growing in the lower branches. A bluebird sailed overhead, and landed in the tree. A blue Pegasus who was her friend saw her and came over to say hello. He had an orange mane, and dark blue eyes. But the wings were a tad small, and his back legs were sported by a wooden wheelchair, due to a defect in the legs when he was born. His cutie mark was two racing flags. "Hi Relay!" greeted Firestripe.
"Hi Firestripe! Congrats on the graduation. I knew you could do it, you little bookworm." He gave her mane a teasing ruffle.
"Aww Relay.." She said with a small chuckle. "Now I have to brush my mane again."
"Why brush it? It's already soft enough." Teased Relay. "If I brushed my mane all the time like you did, I still wouldn't have my mane that soft."
Firestripe gave a chuckle. "I'm going to tell mother the great news. I bet she'll be so happy.... I hope." She flattened her ears. "I haven't seen her in good spirits since my father left..." She brushed her mane back with a brush from her bag.
"Hey! Positive thoughts Ms. Bookworm. A smile goes for miles!" Encouraged Relay. "I'm sure you'll be an excellent magic user... maybe even like Star Swirl."
"I'll try." Said Firestripe, as she continued on her way home. "And you keep up with your racing." I'll try hard. Star Swirl was her admired hero. She wished she could be like him one day... known for magic no other pony could master, and a reverend legend.
"I shall!" Replied Relay with a dramatic pose and a determined expression. "Maybe I'll break the speed limit!"
------```-----
Firestripe pushed open the wooden door that led into her house in the great oak. In the living room sat a white mare with a black mane. She was sitting in a red chair knitting with her knitting needles. Oddly, she wore a collar with her name embroidered on it, and it read, 'Willow Leaf' in red letters on the black leather.
"Hi Honey." Greeted Willow. "You're home a bit early today."
"I graduated mom."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" the mare put down her knitting, and got up to envelop Firestripe in a warm hug. "Your father would be so proud...." Her ears flattened. Father would be so proud.
"Yeah...." said Firestripe sadly as she flattened her ears.
"But we must celebrate. You go get the cake. I'll get the decorations. We'll throw a great big party for you." Said Willow in a suddenly cheerful tone, as she handed a small bag of bits to Firestripe. "I won't be gone long, okay honey? We'll meet here."
Firestripe nodded as she put away the bag of bits, and soon was on her way to Sugarcube corner. Not sure how a party will solve everything...
She was torn from her thoughts of a black hooded figure galloping right past her, right into the dark and forbooding Everfree. Apart from her curiosity, she decided to spy on this figure, and silently followed.
