Chapters The town had all had quite a shock when the loud thud had echoed around the houses. Twilight and Applejack had been looking for a book titled Journey to the core of the Apple when it had happened, they exchanged confused looks,
“Discord?” Applejack asked,
“No,” Twilight replied, still confused, “he’s in Manehatten.”
“Then who…” before she could finish Rainbow Dash burst in, panting,
“N-New…pony.” Twilight exchanged another puzzled look with Applejack,
“Well,” Applejack shrugged, “better go meet them.”
The three of them headed out of Twilight’s home and were immediately taken back by the large group that had gathered,
“Hey!” Rainbow Dash flew above everyone, “Let him breath!” The crowed parted to show the pony. He had an orange mane and a raspberry red body, he looked up at Rainbow Dash,
“T-Thank you” He remarked with a soft voice before collapsing.
The crowd quickly gathered around again but Rainbow Dash managed to clear them fairly quickly, Twilight and Applejack approached the now unconscious pony,
“Um, hello? Are you okay?” Twilight circled around him, she looked up at Rainbow Dash, “How did he get here?” She shrugged,
“I’m not sure, I heard a thud so I presume he fell,” she looked up and then at the pony, “and he has wings so he could be from Cloudsdale.”
“But look,” Applejack crouched by his head, “he has a horn as well.” They exchanged worried looks,
“He’s a Alicorn?!” Twilight started pacing, “I-If he’s an Alicorn…no, what am I saying, he can’t be. I-I’ll write a letter to Princess Celestia.” And with that she rushed off back inside her house, Applejack and Rainbow Dash watched her go in,
“Well,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash, “Should we take him to Fluttershy? I’m sure she can help.” Applejack nodded,
“That’s probably the best idea.” They picked up the unconscious Alicorn and headed towards the cottage
Fluttershy was outside when they arrived, she was trying to get an injured squirrel from a tree,
“Now now Mr Squirrel, I can’t help you when you’re up a tree can I?”
“Hey Fluttershy!” She squealed and fell to the ground, covering her eyes, the squirrel jumping onto her head, “Oh, sorry.” Applejack took hold of the Alicorn while Rainbow Dash helped Fluttershy up,
“O-Oh hello, I was just trying to get this squirrel down, his tail is injured.” She petted the squirrel’s head softly,
“Well, that’s mighty good of you sugar cube, could you help us once you've finished?” Applejack indicated towards the pony she was holding,
“Oh my, an Alicorn, what happened to her?” she beckoned them inside,
“Him, and we’re not too sure.”
“Him? A male Alicorn?” She placed the squirrel in a small bed and looked at the Alicorn closer, “Hm, he seems to of had bad tumble, did he fall from Cloudsdale?” she looked at Rainbow Dash who shrugged,
“We can’t tell, it seems like the most likely explaination.”
“Well,” Fluttershy indicated towards a large bed, “could you just place him down here.” She went to her cupboard and started getting some food supplies out. Applejack placed him down gently on the bed, careful not to lay him on his wings,
“So, what do you think he’s here for?” Applejack asked,
“I’m not sure,” Rainbow Dash replied, “maybe he’s here to collect Twi?” Fluttershy sat by the Alicorn and started to try and feed him,
“I don’t know,” Applejack stated, “I've never seen a male Alicorn before, maybe he’s not known to Princess Celestia.”
“Not known? You think Princess Celestia doesn't know about him?”
“Well, it’s possible that she…”
“Princess Celestia knows everything that happens in the whole of Equestria. I’m sure something this big won’t slip by her.”
“Well, you never know Rainbow.” Applejack looked at the Alicorn, “Hey Fluuttershy, want us to wait outside?” Fluttershy nodded,
“I’m sure when he wakes up he won’t want a crowd.” They both nodded back and when outside, their voices could be heard arguing about the Alicorn outside.
While Fluttershy when about her cottage getting food and some water for when the Alicorn awoke, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were pacing around in the garden,
“I think he’s the only male Alicorn, how could Celestia not know about him.”
“I don’t know, but if she did then surely she would have sent someone to collect him.”
“Well, maybe she sent him herself, you know, to teach him about friendship.”
“Wait just a second, are you suggesting that this Alicorn, who is most likely a prince of some kind, needs to learn about friendship?”
“It’s a possibility isn't it?” Rainbow Dash smirked,
“W-Well, I guess it is.” Applejack scratched her head, “I still don’t understand though.” At that moment Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rarity came through the gate,
“Hey guys!” Twilight smiled, she seemed to have calmed down a lot since the first time she saw the Alicorn,
“Where is he? I need to welcome him!” Pinkie Pie was bouncing up and down,
“He’s inside, Fluttershy is trying to wake him up.” Applejack point to the cottage,
“Wake him up?” Pinkie Pie giggled, “Was he tired from his fall?”
“Now now Pinkie Pie,” Rarity remarked “we don’t joke about other ponies misfortune,” she smiled a little “especially a prince!”
“Now, we don’t know for sure if he is a prince Rarity.” Applejack laughed a little,
“But he’s an Alicorn, he must be a Prince.”
“It is strange I admit,” said Twilight, “I've never heard of a male Alicorn before, I've sent my letter to Celestia but she’s away at the moment so I won’t get a reply yet.” They all sat down, as they did however, Fluttershy burst out,
“Q-Quick…I've found something.” She rushed back in, the others following close behind,
“What is it sugar cube?” Applejack asked,
“W-Well, I was just getting some water for when he woke up,” she pointed to the glass that was now on the floor, “a-and then I wrapped up Mr Squirrel’s tail, once I’d done that I came over to him to check his wing, I lifted it up like this…” as she lifted his wing, they all gasped,
“He hasn't got a cutie mark!”
Author's Note
If anyone wants to suggest an event that happens that would be a great help, or maybe if you want to suggest a cutie mark the Alicorn could have that would be great to.
“Where is it? He must have one!” Twilight started to try and move the Alicorn to try and find it, but as she started to move him a groan was heard,
“U-Uh Twi…I hope that was your belly” Applejack remarked,
“N-No…” The Alicorn moved his front hoof and scratched his head, slowly he sat up,
“Oh no,” Fluttershy carefully lowered him back down, “you mustn’t move yet Mr Alicorn…” He coughed a little,
“M-My name’s Flaring Ember.” His soft voice still sounded weak from his ordeal,
“Well, Mr Ember, you should stay laying down for a while, I've got you a glass of water…oh wait a second.” She quickly picked up the toppled glass and filled it up again, “Here you go.”
“Thank you.” he takes a small sip and then looks around at the others, still staring at him, he wipes his mouth, “D-Do I have something on my face?” he quickly hid his face,
“N-No…it’s just…” Rarity started,
“It’s just that we've never seen a male Alicorn before,” Rainbow Dash cut in, “we've only seen female ones.” Rarity gave Rainbow Dash a puzzled look,
“Look he might not realize that he doesn't have a cutie mark.” Rainbow whispered, Ember finished his water and placed it on the side, looking around slowly,
“So, where am I?” Twilight looked at him with her mouth ajar,
“You’ve never heard of Ponyville?” Ember shook his head, “Princess Celestia?” Another shake of his head, “Equestria?!” One more shake of his head, “Oh come on, have you lived in a cave your whole life?!”
“Actually, yes, I have.” He replied seriously, they all stared at him once again,
“Y-You lived in a cave your whole life?” Pinkie Pie asked,
“Well, yes, I was left there when I was young,” he looked at their expression of shock, “were you not?” They shook their heads,
“Well,” Rarity said, “that explains the lack of a cutie mark.” They all turned to her,
“Rarity!”
“Wait, what’s that?” Ember looked at them with an eager to learn expression,
“W-Well…” Twilight looked at Applejack,
“I think I know just the three little fillies that can show you.” Applejack smiled brightly.
“Welcome to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!” Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell beamed happily at Ember,
“Um, thank you?” He smiled, a little unsure, “So, um, what exactly is a cutie mark?”
“Well,” Apple Bloom point to the top of her back leg, “when a pony finds out his or her talent, a mark representin’ that talent appears here.”
“So, I haven’t found my talent yet?” Ember tilted his head,
“Not yet,” Scootaloo chimed in, “but after a few days with us I’m sure you’ll find it!”
“Great!” Ember smiled, genuinely happy for possibly the first time since he woke up, “When do we start?”
“Well,” Sweetie Bell said, “we need to think of some new ideas first.” She giggles and sat down, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom sitting next to her,
“Oh, right, okay.” Ember sat down as well, watching them think. After a few moments Scootaloo jumped up,
“I’ve got it! Let’s try farming!”
“But I do that anyway.” Apple Bloom complained,
“You do apple picking, I mean like what Fluttershy does, you know, looking after animals.”
“You mean animal care then.” Ember smiled happily,
“Yeah, that to. Come on, let’s see if Fluttershy’s in.” with that they rushed out of the clubhouse. Ember walked out and watched them for a moment before flying after them.
When Ember arrived, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had already arrived,
“Please let us help Fluttershy.” They begged, she sighed a little then looked up and smiled,
“Hello Ember, feeling better?”
“A little, thank you.” Ember smiled warmly,
“That’s just great to hear,” she looked back down at the girls, “okay, but promise me you’ll be careful.”
“We promise!” They dashed inside and started rummaging around for medical supplies, Ember laughed a little and sat down, holding his head,
“Are you okay Ember?” Fluttershy knelt down,
“Hm? Oh yeah, just a slight headache.”
“That doesn’t sound very good, come on, I’ll get you some medicine for it.” She headed to the door, Ember slowly got up and followed her. When they entered they saw that most of her supplies had been scattered around,
“Now girls, I hope you’re going to clean this up when you’ve finished.” Fluttershy smiled,
“Of course Fluttershy.”
“Now, let’s get you some medicine Ember.” She went to a cupboard and started to look around in it. Ember sat and watched as Scootaloo chased after a kitten, Sweetie Bell tried to get a plaster off her hoof and Apple Bloom mixed some medicine,
“Oh Apple Bloom,” Ember laughed a little, “I wouldn't do that if I were you.”
“Why not?” She tilted her head,
“That’s two different medicines for different things, they’re meant to be separate.” Fluttershy looked at Ember with a puzzled expression,
“Oh…sorry Fluttershy.”
“I-It’s quite alright,” she walked over to Ember, “here you go, this should help you.” He took a sip of it and recoiled,
“Ick, that tastes horrible.”
“Well, you’ll feel better once you’ve taken it.”
“Oh, I guess so.” He hesitantly finished it off,
“So,” Fluttershy whispered, “You seem to know a lot about medicine.”
“Lucky I guess.” He laughed a little awkwardly, Fluttershy looked at him for a moment before turning her attention to the Cutie Mark Crusaders,
“Okay girls, I think that’s enough for today, maybe you could try some fun animal spotting and get a cutie mark for that?”
“Awwww, okay Fluttershy.” They started tidying up and then went back to their homes, Fluttershy smiled and then looked back to Ember with a raised eyebrow,
“Lucky?” He shrugged,
“I guess so,” he helped put a few other things away, “why?”
“You just seemed to know a lot about my medicines.”
“As I said, just lucky.” He smiled at her, placing a box back,
“It’s okay, I was just wondering if maybe that’s your talent.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I just don’t feel like it is,” He smiled again, “but thank you for helping me.” He nodded his head and took his leave.
Ember left Fluttershy’s cottage and smiled to himself for a moment before walking on quickly, looking for the cutie mark crusaders who had dashed back to the club house to plan more cutie mark crusades, he laughed a little and picked up his trot. The shadow watched from a tree in the distance, seeing Ember vanish over behind the hill, it jumped down and laughed quietly to itself,
“Soon Ember…soon you will be mine once more.” It said with a hushed tone that only it could only just hear what it had just murmured. Turning on its hoof quickly it headed back into the Everfree Forest.
The shadow darted through the forest with great skill and agility, quickly making it to the other side, just in time to see Ember climb into the small club house of the cutie mark crusaders, for a while it sat there and listened to the conversations within the club house,
“Maybe we should try reading some of Twilight’s books again?” it heard Sweetie Bell say,
“You looked through her books?” Ember remarked,
“She let us when she was teaching us.” Scootaloo chimed,
“I see, and what did you learn from it?”
“Oh, not too much,” Apple Bloom said, “just boring information about waiting.”
“Well, maybe we should just wait?” Ember suggested, the figure smiled to itself,
“Oh Ember,” it muttered, “if only you knew what you are…” it waited for a few hours, eating some berries while waiting, after a long time the sound of hooves on wood could be heard. The shadow peered out of the bushes and trees to see Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom walking off to their homes, the shadow chuckled,
“Oh how perfect, left alone in the tree house,” looking left and right to check if it was clear, “they don’t seem to be here so…” Just as the figure was about to leave the safety of the forest, Ember climbed down swiftly and looked around again before heading off towards the town,
“Darn it. I was so close to getting him before the others…” the shadow slipped back into the darkness of the forest.
Before the shady figure had gone far from the bushes, it heard a sound from above, it looked up and gasped,
“Oh no.” Another larger figure leapt down from the trees, the first figure quickly jumped out of the way, standing guard against the large figure who had just tried to stop her work,
“Oh dear,” it muttered, “it seems that you were expecting me, what a shame that you refused to come and work with us, this whole mess could have been easily avoided.” The small figure snarled,
“I wouldn’t have joined you even if Ember’s life depended on it.”
“Oh, so you do know him.”
“Of course I do, why did you think I was trying to get to him before you could?”
“I believed you wanted to hide him away again.” The small figure stared at him with shock,
“You think I hid him away? You think I had a choice?”
“Well, you did, didn’t you? You could have handed him to…”
“No,” it interrupted, “I would never have given him to you…you monsters.”
“We,” the larger figure looked down, “are not monsters, we have a job to do and we plan to do it. No matter what.”
The large figure stepped forwards as the small figure jumped up into a tree, its hood catching on a branch and pulling it back, it moved so quickly that the larger figure could only get a glimpse of a mare, it smiled to itself,
“I know you’re still there Miss, why not come down and face me.”
“I’d rather stay up here, nice and safe.”
“Safe eh?” It turned around and kicked the truck of the tree, the mare clung onto a branch tightly. It continued to kick for some time before, eventually, giving up and calling,
“Fine Miss, you win this time but let me tell you, we’ll get him before you. His demise will be all down to you.” And with that it vanished into the dense forest. She waited for a moment before jumping down and breathing a sigh of relief, she looked around just to make sure before she started walking in the direction she thought she remembered, she had to hand it to the group, they were very determined to get to Ember, but that wasn't a good thing, not for her anyway,
“I have to stop them…before they get Ember.”
The female headed into the depths of the forest, whenever she passed by a shadow cast by a tree she would jump, thinking the figure had returned for her, she quickened her pace while still looked around her surroundings. She soon came to a clearing that she recognized and turned right through more trees, a hidden shadow following her through the trees. She sighed, allowing herself to relax a little as she near a large tree. This tree, she recalled, belonged to a Zebra named Zecora who was presently out of town for a while, she entered as the shadow that had been following her smiled and vanished. She walked around the tree, getting herself a drink and some food, before getting out a book that had a dark cover, she sat down on a chair she had brought in when she arrived she picked up a quill with her magic and started to write,
Dear Sister,
I’ve almost got him, today I was close to being able to bring him back to Canterlot but they stopped me again, this time it was one of their more elite stallions, I know you warned me about their persistence but I didn’t think they would be this bad. I do so wish that I did not have to hide myself from the residence of PonyVille but, as you rightly said, I am to noticeable to just walk through the town and get him. Tomorrow I shall try again to collect him, maybe I’ll try and lead him away from the group and into the forest, once I do I shall bring him back to you straight away. As always, I send my love and best wishes.
Your sister,
Luna.
Author's Note
Sorry for the delay, I had writers block, but there should be a chapter out every couple of days now,
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“Maybe we should try reading some of Twilight’s books again?” it heard Sweetie Bell say,
“You looked through her books?” Ember remarked,
“She let us when she was teaching us.” Scootaloo chimed,
“I see, and what did you learn from it?”
“Oh, not too much,” Apple Bloom said, “just boring information about waiting.”
“Well, maybe we should just wait?” Ember suggested, the cutie mark crusaders looked at him for a moment then started to laugh, they looked back and realized he was serious,
"We don't wait for our cutie marks silly," Sweetie Bell smiled, "we try and find out talents quickly!",
"Oh." Ember nodded a little, still puzzled but not wanting to offend them,
"So," Scootaloo exclaimed, "to Twilight's house!" and with that they dashed from the club house and down the ladder, first Scootaloo, then Sweetie Bell and finally Apple Bloom. Ember sighed and little and shook his head,
"Why do I even need a cutie mark?" he muttered to himself while climbing down the ladder.
When he reached the ground his ears pricked up, he turned around towards a bush,
"Hm," he thought, "did I hear something?" he shrugged and trotted after the crusaders. He found them at Twilight's house, already rummaging through her books, when he entered she smiled brightly,
"Ember, there you are, I was worried you might have gotten lost." she beckoned him over the a pile of books, he slowly walked over,
"It's okay," he sat down, "I just followed their giggling." He laughed a little and, to his surprise, Twilight laughed as well,
"I'm sure you did, I heard them coming before I saw them." She handed him a book titled Equestria, The History , he looked at it for a moment before opening it and scanning the first page,
"So," he looked up a little, "this is where we are?" Twilight nodded happily and pointed to picture of two Alicorns', one of a brilliant white with a shimmering mane and one of the deepest black with a flowing, dark blue mane,
"This," she said with pride, "is Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, Celestia is the white one here, and Luna is her sister next to her." He nodded with a look of great interest,
"And they rule Equestria?"
"Well, yes, except at one point it was just Celestia as her sister, Luna, had turned into Nightmare Moon," He looked up at her, confused, "don't worry, we managed to change her back." she smiled, but he still looked confused,
"So, Luna changed into Nightmare Moon?" she nodded, "Who you turned back into Luna?" she nodded again, "How?"
"Well," she stood up and walked to a glass case which was now empty, "we used the elements of harmony, details are in the book on page 31, but we had to give them to Tree of Harmony, so now we just have to be together to use the power." She came back over and sat back down, he nodded and turned to the page Twilight had said. He read for a while, the crusaders started to get bored so Twilight took them back to their homes as it was getting late, once Ember had finished reading the page he stood up and looked around,
"So, Alicorns are royalty?" He said to himself, "Alicorns have wings," he opened up his wings, "and a horn," he looked up at his horn, "so am I royalty?" At that point Twilight came back in and smiled,
"Well, did you find it helpful?"
"Yes, it was very interesting."
"That's great! If you need more books you know where to come." She smiled and held the door open for him, he goes to leave then stops and blushes, "Are you okay?" Twilight looked at him,
"Oh, erm, yes...it's just, I don't..."
"Have anywhere to stay?" Twilight cut in, he nodded and she closed the door, "It's okay, you can stay here if you want to." she smiled warmly,
"Thank you Twilight." He smiled back and then tilted his head, he hadn't noticed before that Twilight had wings and a horn, "You're an Alicorn also?" she laughed a little,
"Yes, I am, I don't feel like a princess though."
"So you're royalty?"
"Well, I guess you could say that." She blushed a little, he spread his wings,
"Am I a prince then?"
"I-I don't know, Celestia hasn't written back to me yet and Spike's gone away for a holiday. It took me ages to convince him." He sat down and sighed, folding his wings back to his body, he sat down and looked at the cover of a book, Twilight sat down next to him and patted his back,
"It's okay Ember, I'm sure you'll find out something soon." At that point a puff of green smoke drifted through the window and into Twilight's hand, turning into a rolled up piece of parchment at contact,
"What's this?" She held it and went to the window, "Spike? Are you here?"
"Down here Twilight!" She looked down and smiled,
"What are you doing here?"
"Well,two reasons, I heard about the Alicorn..."
"Ember you mean."
"Yes," he came into the house, "and I got a letter which was unnamed and not addressed to anyone so I brought it to you."
"Well, thank you my number one assistant." Spike giggled and sat down, looking at Ember with a happy look,
"I'm Spike!" He exclaimed,
"Ember." He replied, nodding his head a little.
Twilight had gone to get the others, presuming the letter was from Celestia about Ember, after a while Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity came back into the house. Twilight waited until they had all settled down before she picked up the letter and start to read,
"Dear Sister, I’ve almost got him..." she looked at the letter for a moment in silence before gasping and dropping the letter, Ember picked it up before anyone could stop him, he looked through it while the others watched in silence, after a time he looked up with wide eyes,
"L-Luna?..." He looked at Twilight,
"Yes. That's me." They looked at the door and saw the regal figure of Luna standing in the doorway.
