Flames of Sorrow

  Startled and frantic, Soul Flare got up quickly and panted, breathing heavily. He looked at the clock, which to his disappointment only read 2:00. He groaned and went to the bath room. Turning the lights on he looked at the mirror and saw that he had a bruised eye. This must have been from the restless sleeps he was having, maybe he hit himself in his sleep. He took the glass cup in the bathroom and filled it with water and moaned. He couldn't stop thinking about the dream that he kept having over and over again. Yes, he would have flash backs but one dream stood out the most to him. The sky would grow red as fire rained down from the heavens. He would just watch as a shadow would fly over head, one that resembled a dragon, but was far to big to be one, at least that was the thought. Most dragons only grew to be about 25 meters high, judging by the shadow in his dream, this one stood around 30 to 40. This was all a dream though, so he put less thought into it as he yawned and finished his glass of water. After that he went over to the window that looked upon the academy and the down town district. Then turning to the clock, he only saw that is was 2:05. He grew increasingly annoyed at this because time always seemed to flow differently for him as opposed to other ponies. This may have been the reason that school bored him. Maybe it was the fact that he felt that he was to smart for school. Either one was plausible. He then decided to go on a walk to try and ease his nerves. He locked the door behind him and went his was down the hall way to the elevator.

  When he was finally outside, the cool air was the only thing to fill his ears. The streets were dead in silence. Most ponies were asleep at this time anyway, so this was of no worry to him. He then thought of the possibility of him being mugged, though the crime rates last time he checked were very low for Canterlot. Of course, that wont stop anyone from at least attempting it. His eyes were then caught by the water fountain in the middle of the plaza that depicted Celestia and Luna rising their respective celestial objects. Water pouring from the sun and moon. This reminded him that a festival was soon to take place, not that he cared. The festival was called the Celestial Eclipse if he was correct. This seemed to be the only time that Luna would raise the moon during the day. This thought led him to the fact that he liked the night better than the day. No people to trifle with, no noise to break your thought pattern, only silence. Then he heard a sound, something familiar to his ears. The sound of a singular drum that kept a steady beat. His father used to play the same instrument around campfires when they went camping. He went to investigate what the music was. Though this reminded him of his father, he did not like to think about him often. His mother always told him that his father left them for someone else and that he never truly loved them. Soul Flare refused to believe this, but all evidence pointed to that conclusion. To be honest he actually does not remember what his father looks like it has been so long. Soul Flare finally found the source of the music. A lone pony sat, striking the leather of the drum with the his hooves.

  "Do you expect to get any money for your performance at this time of the night?" Soul Flare asked the stallion as he approached him.

  "I don't actually, I come to play to the trees and plant that surround the area, they say that they are more healthy when they are given affection and are talked to" The stallion responded with a crack in his voice. He continued to hit the drums and kept the steady pace and beat. Soul Flare looked at him, knowing what he was talking about but never saw anyone do that type of thing.

  "I heard that yes, so what brings you out here then?" Soul Flare asked.

  "I was going to ask you the same thing, I do not usually run into other ponies at this time of night" He responded.

  "That's a good question, I am out because I can't sleep at night it seems, at least without medication. I don't like taking it though, it screws with my thought pattern. I like the night anyway. More peaceful and quiet" Soul Flare said.

  "We share the same opinion on the time of day it seems. Say you have an appointment with Twilight Sparkle tomorrow don't you?"  he asked Soul Flare.

  "Yes, how did you kno-" Soul Flare stopped as he turned around to face the stallion only to discover that he vanished. This was odd yet intriguing. This led him to think that the possibility of him being crazy may be possible, but then again he heard tales of a being that appeared to people at the night. The oddest thing was that the "thing" left the drum behind. He then recollected a fairy tale that his mother told him when he was seven years old. A lone stallion that died long ago, used to be the jester of the queen of the forest. A day came where the forest was almost destroyed due to the faults of her kingdom. She then killed herself in sorrow because she could not protect the forest she ruled over. Her knight who was very close to her used to play music for her and comforted her when she was in need, found her dead body and grieved for many years until he himself died, which is how the Everfree forest was abandoned and left to grow. His spirit mends the forest whenever it is damaged. Could this have possibly been the spirit of that knight who died hundreds of years ago? Soul Flare sat and pondered the question before yawning. Now that he thought about it he had been out for a while now, maybe he should head back to the hotel and try and get some sleep before he had to visit the castle in the afternoon.

  When he got back he locked the door behind him and snuggled himself into the bed and turned the lights off. In the distant background, he could still hear the beat of the drum. Before he could over think what he heard, he drifted off into sleep.

  Oddly enough he did not have the dream that time, he actually did not have any dreams after he went for his walk. This only  happened once in a blue moon. He felt rested and ready to go meet up with the princess for whatever reason she wanted to see him for. She did mention his cutie mark which he had  been trying to figure out for the last 5 years himself, doing extensive research on the topic and the history of cutie marks, though nothing seemed to be related to it except for the cutie marks of an ancient tribe who were known for their skills in the arcane arts. The cutie mark he had looked like a mosaic water drop or flame, he was not sure. It was broke up into four pieces, which were all white. When he was near a source of magical power, say Twilight, One of the four pieces would light up usually the biggest one. He read that only one of these cutie marks have ever been seen in the modern age. As to how he got it, well he practically blew up the science lab at school with a sudden burst of uncontrollable magic power. The school was closed for the rest of the month after that. That is also when the crack appeared on his horn. Though the whole ordeal puzzled him, he never put much thought into it.

  He went and got himself into the shower knowing that it was going to be a long day. Soul Flare also thought about getting some scones and tea for breakfast, like his mother used to make for him every morning.