The Black Flames

So Hungry...

It has been a week since David had become my pupil, and he has progressed well. He has obviously learned many study skills from his time as Twilight's student, allowing him to learn many of my lessons far quicker than I had anticipated. He was a quick learner, understanding many advanced theories after one study session. Only one other pony learned as fast as he was doing, and that would be my prior student Twilight. However, his skills in using magic arent as developed. He struggles in using the more advanced spells that I have been trying to teach him. It would seem he has problems focusing on the spells when casting them. I had written to Twilight about this, and she said that she had never had problems with this before. Maybe Canterlot's atmosphere was getting to him. In fact he had first began struggiling with spells when he had left the palace to, at least this was what he had told me, explore. Maybe something had happened that has left his mind pre-occupied. I should go talk to him and see what had happened.

I had thought that maybe, just maybe, I could live without meat while in Canterlot. Boy was I wrong. I have gone insane after just one week without the stuff, and eggs in all of its forms aren't enough. Every day, all that occupies my poor head is my lust for roasted flesh. It had become all I cared about. I would find myself contemplating how tender Celestia looked, and almost slap myself for such thoughts. I had even gone looking inside the Royal Garden's for an animal nobody would miss. Sadly, all the creatures were indeed rare and someone would notice if one went missing. I can't just ask Celestia's cooks to cook me up a hamburger. That would result in lots of questions. Asking them to kill another sentient being, grind it up and fry the mash into a patty would probably label me ask a serial killer. I had to find a solution.

Before, a fish from the lake was all I needed. I would sneak away at night and catch a couple with a pole I made out of thread and a broken broom. I can't do that anymore.

"Tweet, Tweet."

I turn towards the window. Standing on the open windowsill was a small black-bird. I stared at the plump-looking bird, imagining the taste of a roasted pheasent. All of my sense's were fixated on the animal. I crouched and slowly moved toward the window. I didn't hear the door open, or Celestia's voice. All that I cared about was the meat the small creature would provide me.

Against all common sense I had, I leapt at the bird.

"David!!!!!!!" I screamed as the idiot jumped like a cat through the window.

He grabbed a small black-bird just as it began to take flight. Then he fell out the window and down towards the ground. I ran to the sill and watched as he plummeted towards the streets of Canterlot, thousands of feet below. I quickly cast a transportation spell on him. He dissappeared in a flash of golden light. I breathed a sigh of relief, then a horrifying realization hit me. I hadn't thought of where I would send him. He could be anywhere! How could I have let this happen! I cast a scrying spell on him, hoping he was somewhere safe. When the spell had finally been performed, it showed me a grave image. David had blood all over his brand new shirt, one of many given to him by Rarity. He also had a crazed look in his eye, he seemed desperate. Worst of all, He was in the worst place possible.

Everfree Forest.

I had to save him!

"Celestia!" I heard Luna yell from behind me, "Your late for the conference! Quickly! Come with me!"

My sister grabbed me in her vice like magic grasp, ignoring my protests, and teleported us away. Now I was stuck in a two hour conference. I couldn't just leave either. The conference was about deciding whether or not to inject more bits into the economy so as to allow more money for the growing population. Without my supervision this could go very wrong very quickly. Politics was a pain.

"If we allow more bits into the economy it will lead to nothing more than inflation!!!" Yelled one represenative.

"Equestria's population is constantly growing! We need to allow more bits for the people!" Yelled another.

"Uhhhhhh.......... guys?" I try to but in.

"Idiot! Clearly you no experience in these matters! I knew you were too young to be a represenative!"

Uh oh.

"Ohhh, so I'm the idiot, huh?Your just a senile old stallion! Things aren't the same as back then, you old mule!"

"How dare you speak to your elder like that!"

This was gonna be a long day.

Throughout the meeting I consantly had to break up the same two foalish represenatives. It was getting nowhere. David had been out for nearly half an hour in that deadly forest. I could send a letter to Twilight, but they would have no idea where he is. Then they could end up lost in the Everfree. I needed to get out of here soon.

"Sister, is there something wrong?" Luna asked from beside me.

"I...uh accidentally sent our human guest deep into the Everfree." I whispered back, "I think he may be hurt as well! I was gonna save him when you dragged me here. It's beewn close to half an hour since I sent him there!"

"Why didn't you say so!" She whispered back. "Go, I'll handle these ruffians, David needs your help."

"Thanks sister, I can't believe I didn't think of that." I say.

"Even you, with all your wisdom, make mistakes Celestia"

I stand from my chair. "If you will excuse me, I have more pressing matters to deal with and must leave immediately." I announced.

"But your Highness! Your input in this debate is highly warranted. We ask that you stay until the matter has been settled!"

"Funny," Luna said "One would believe that if you had actually asked for her input this whole meeting."

Both of the stallions looked down in embarrassment.

"You may leave sister, my wisdom will surely be enough to guide these foalish ponies."

"Thank you"

I teleported to David's last known location.He was nowhere to be seen. He did however leave behind some tracks for me to follow. The recent storms over the Everfree had left the ground soft, allowing for David to leave clear footprints for me to follow. I followed his tracks for several minutes till they started to look more erratic. It looked a little like he had been constantly moving and, guessing by the depth of some of the prints, probably running as well. Then I noticed other tracks as well. They were made by some Kind of cloven hooved creature. He had been attacked by a wild boar! I hurriedly followed the tracks they had made deeper into the forest. I entered a clearing to a horrifying sight.

David was roasting a wild boar over a large fire on a spicket.

The boar itself was massive, easily one hundred pounds. It had several charred holes across its body. The poor creature had been mutilated. It may have been in self defense, but for David to continue to char the body was unecessary. Why would he do such a thing?

"D-David? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" He grunted, turning his head in my direction.

He stared at me for a second, that strange almost hungry look in his eyes, before he turned back to the the roasting boar. He then took a hold of the large beast and pushed over beside the fire. After throwing dirt over the fire he took a big bite out of the boar.

I emptied my stomach rather quickly after that.

He just continued to gorge himself on the boar's body. He finally stopped after putting quite a dent in it's flesh. He simply rolled off the boar and layed on the ground. He let out a large belch before falling asleep on the forest floor. I walked over to his unconscious body and gave his greasy form a prod. He continued snoring like a bear. I couldn't bring him back to the castle in this state. I cast a quick cleaning spell that removed the grime and blood from him and his clothing. After he was cleaned up I transported us back to the castle. Once he woke up he would have a lot of explaining to do.

I woke up groggily, holding my pounding head in my hands. I can't remember what had happened or where I was. Then I remembered that I needed to open my eyes to know where I was. I looked around to find that I was in my room in the palace. The curtains on my four-poster bed were drawn closed. I got up from the large bed and was glad to see my pristine, forest green shirt and black kakhis were still on me. Rarity had somehow managed to make me a weeks worth of clothes that all fit perfectly. I had been impressed at first, believing she had made the clothes without any measurments of my frame, then she admitted that Twilight had given her the measurements from the day I had arrived. That creeped me out.

I opened my door and headed out into the hallway. I saw the usual patrolling guard and rushing servant as I headed to the Royal Throne Room. I eventually came upon the large, elegantly carved doors. The same two guards (at least I think they're the same guys, they all look the same!) stood tall at either side of the closed doors. Everyone knows that guards meant that Celestia was inside. However, the doors aren't usually closed.

"Is her Highness taking visitors?" I asked the stoic guards.

"She is having a private discussion with Princess Luna" Responded the guard on the left in clipped a tone.

"You will be informed when she is available." Said the one on the right.

"Thanks, seeya later."

I decided finding out what happened would have to wait. I headed to the Royal Library to continue my studies in transfiguration spells. Twilight had made the spells look so easy in the Gala episode. It was a very delicate part of magic that had slightly higher consequences when they were screwed up. Most likely the subject would be stuck in between transformations, not exactly pleasing for the eyes. Sometimes the effect would be permanent. The fail-safe for that was to build a time limit into the spell. It would cause the spell to lose effect at a set time. I found out how useful that was when I screwed up turning Luna into a duck. It turned her into a manticore instead. A grumpy manticore at that. I only had to hide in the dungeons for two hours before the spell wore off.

After about an hour of studying I realised I hadn't had lunch yet. Yet I wasn't very hungry. When I checked the time, the clock showed it to be close to five o'clock. I hadn't eaten anything as far as I could remember, and usually I couldn't get enough food. Maybe I had eaten something and couldn't remember it. I headed to the kitchens to grab a snack. As usual the cooks were busy preparing dinner for the royal court. I just asked a passing cook for a peach, and I found the fruit in question flying towards me. I gently caught the delicate fruit and continued on my way. I lazily walked the halls of Canterlot Castle till a messenger arrived to inform me that Celestia would like to see me in her study. I had expected her at her throne, but I would still probably get some answers.

Her study was in a tower that lead from her room. I opened the door to find Celestia lounging on one of her silk pillows on the floor a book floating in front of her face. She quickly closed the book as I came in and stowed it away before I could read the title.

"You asked for me Princess?" I lazily question.

"I was also informed by my guards that you were looking for me earlier today. I had wanted to speak witk you as well, but only in a more private atmosphere. We have a lot to discuss that I would prefer not to be heard by the unwary ear." She told me.

"What would that be?"

"David, do you remember what happened earlier today? Your little 'bite' to eat?" She asked.

"The peach? I don't see why you would be concerned abou-"

"What? No! You don't remember killing and feasting on a wild boar in the Everfree Forest!" She cut me off.

"Wait! I, I-I ate a wild boar? In the Everfree Forest?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes! Earlier today you did 'that' in the forest." She replied.

"I don't remember doing any of that!"

"How could you forget that!"

"I don't know! Wait, how did I get to the forest in the first place?"

"Un-important, but I need to know one thing before we continue. David, are your species carnivores?"

Uh-oh. I know for a fact that this would not end well. Not At All.

"Ummm... Yes and No. My species are omnivores." I answer. I tried my best to keep the nervousness out of my voice. I think I failed.

She gave me a criticizing stare before answering me, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

The piercing look she gave me broke me similiar to how a sledge hammer breaks a twig, "I didn't want to scare anyone. I don't imagine your kind would approve of a meat-eater in their midst. I swear I wouldn't hurt anyone!"

Her gaze softened, a small, motherly smile graced her lips, "David... You had nothing to fear. Many species are omnivores, griffons are a great example of this. You should have told me. While a little repulsive, it is far from uncommon."

"Oh... Thanks, I was kinda worr-"

I was cut off once again. This time by the door being suddenly opened by a very (very) brightly colored unicorn. No, wait, a very brightly colored Alicorn! I stared in awe, unable to believe that there was another one!. It struck me as strange that I had never seen her before. Alicorns weren't exactly common. She wore an ecstatic expression, almost hopping right past me towards a shocked Celestia.

"He finally proposed! I almost can't believe it! Can you, Celly? I'm getting married!!!," The vivid alicorn let out a high-pitched squeal of joy. Celestia's expression turned from shocked to happy as well. I was still at a lost of what was going on. The alicorn continued in her excited tones, "I can't wait! Shining was thinking of having the wedding right here in Canterlot Castle! Next month! He's even going to get Twilight's friends to help with the planning! I can't wait to see her! It's been so long since we last talked!"

"You know Twilight?" I interjected. For the first time since her arrival, the alicorn noticed my presence. She gave me a bewildered look, probably wondering how long I had been there, before her expression changed to an enlightened one.

"I'm sorry did I interrupt something?" She asked sheepishly, her gaze moving between me and Celestia.

"Oh, silly me! You two haven't met! Candence this is David Martinez, David this is Mi Amore Cadenza." Celestia answered.

"Just call me Candence." Cadence added, as she grasped my hand for a gentle hoof-shake.

I was still a little shaken by the series of events that had transpired before me, and it showed in my reply. "Nice t-to meet you" I respond.

"Likewise." She said sweetly. "So your the one Celly was talking about in her letters. The 'unique' case she had adopted as her new apprentice, am I right?"

"That sounds about right." I reply, my confidence coming back into my words. I hadn't known that Celestia talked about me in her letters.

She turned towards Celestia and asked in a genuinely curious  voice, "Hold on. Isn't he the one you said you needed my help with?"

Her cheeks lit up like traffic lights. "Wha? I-I mean w-we will d-discuss this later!" She said hastily.

"Okay?" Both me and Candence replied.

"Well I didn't mean to intrude on your conversation so I will be leaving now." Candence gave me a small smile before turning back to Celestia. "We still have much to discuss so I will return later today, is that okay?"

"Perfect." Celestia replied, having recovered from her fit.

Candence made a quick goodbye before leaving the room.

"Now where were we?" Celestia asked.

"You were about to tell me why you need Candence's help?" I attempted.

She gave me a dirty look before a bright flash of light returned me to my room.

"Was it something I said?"