Chapters The train into Ponyville took much longer than I thought it would. When Princess Twilight had offered the royal carriage, I had insisted that I’d rather take the train so as not to trouble her. To be perfectly honest, I had not wanted her to make a fuss over my arrival. It was to be a short visit, much like all my other visits around Equestria, just so I could study her new castle and it’s structure. I am the royal architect, you see, and was there on a royal duty.
Well, that and my own personal mission. But I shall elaborate on that soon enough.
The train was pulling into Ponyville Station with the usual mechanical whirrs and smokiness. As I stepped out, following my suitcases hovering feet in front of me, the smoke cleared to reveal a ridiculously bright day outside. On the surprisingly small platform stood three smiley ponies —and nopony else. That was when I remembered I was the only pony travelling that day. Nopony followed me out, and nopony climbed on as the train pulled away from the station, on it’s way to the Crystal Empire.
I stood still for a couple of minutes, surveying my surroundings. It wasn’t as though I was expecting anypony else —the Princess had already sent me word that there were going to be ponies meeting me —but I had a habit of studying every new environment I came across. Although I was well travelled, I had never been to Ponyville before. There was no other reason for this besides the fact that, well, there was really nothing in Ponyville that would attract an… architect. Especially a prominent one such as myself. My duties —my royal duties —had sent me far and wide, wherever royalty resided or called for me, and Ponyville had just never been that place.
Until now, of course.
I could see Princess Twilight’s castle looming over the sleepy looking town a distance from the tiny train station. Unlike all the other castles this one was different, a natural thing grown entirely of magic. While the Canterlot Castle and the Crystal Palace both had magical properties, anyone could tell that there was some form of logic applied to them. Not Twilight’s Castle, however. It was an impossible treehouse, for goodness sakes.
I stared at it in awe, completely disregarding the welcome team that was edging slowly towards me.
That was when the pink earth pony jumped at me. I think her name was… Pinkie Pie.
“HI THERE!” she screamed into my ear, crushing me with her remarkable weight. “I’M PINKIE PIE AND I AM HERE TO SAY WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME—“
“Pinkie! That is no way to welcome an esteemed royal guest! Get off her immediately!”
I glanced thankfully at the purple-maned unicorn standing behind the disembarking Pinkie. As fast as a bolt of lightning, a blue pegasus had me back on all four. I thanked her as I retrieved my suitcases, which had scattered upon collapse.
Again, we stood there in awkward silence as I cleaned myself up. I then approached them, trying to smile besides my growing agitation.
“Hello”, I said, with all the politeness of not only a Canterlot pony, but a royal official. “My name is Sundew Order, royal architect to the Equestria Princesses.”
“AND I AM—“
“She already knows who you are, Pinkie!” hissed the purple-maned pony, nudging Pinkie. She then smiled at me —such an elegant, sophisticated smile that I could have sworn she had been born and bred in Manehattan. “And my name is Rarity, friend of the Princess Twilight. And this”, she said, glancing at the obviously bored pegasus, “is Rainbow Dash.”
At that point, I couldn’t help it. I returned the smile, bigger than I probably thought it was, taking the three ponies by surprise. I should mention that I have a vile tendency to come off as a bit, ahem, stuck up to ponies who don’t quite know me yet. I hope you don’t think so.
The three ponies eyed me suspiciously as I quickly explained myself: “Excuse my excitement, but I should have known. When Twilight said she was sending her friends, she didn’t tell me she was sending the Elements of Harmony.”
The three ponies exchanged delighted looks as I hid my obvious excitement.
“We’re not the Elements of Harmony, silly!” cried the now over-inflated Pinkie, who’s silence had obviously taken too much to hold. “We’re just Pinkie, Rarity and Rainbow! You need all six of us to be the Elements —just wait ‘till we get into town! The others will be waiting for you by the town hall!”
“I know” I said, trying to calm myself down, “but three out of six is way more that a plain royal officer like myself deserves!” I grinned at Pinkie, “You, Ms. Pie, are known far and wide for your exceptional party planning and infectious laughter.”
Pinkie began bouncing in place, singing thank yous, as I turned to look up at the flying Rainbow.
“And you, Rainbow Dash, are famed for speed and actually worshiped by all the little foals and fillies with dreams of joining the Wonderbolts.”
“Oh shucks”, muttered Rainbow, turning away with a smile.
“And fair Rarity”, I said, bowing down to the graceful unicorn, “I, personally, follow you religiously on all things fashion and glamour. I don’t know any pony in Canterlot or Manehattan who doesn’t!”
“Oh, now!” exclaimed Rarity, obviously flattered. “I wouldn’t believe someone as already fashionable as you, Sundew, would follow me! Just look at that suit!”
I blushed, brushing the shoulder of the pale purple suit I had chosen just for that day. It was already off to a good start.
As I’d said before, the day was ridiculously sunny. Not just bright, but painfully so. Unlike the Crystal Empire, which was actually a city that was entirely made of crystal, this town had so much light and vibrance, it was like each individual colour was seeping out, like a beam, and and melting into your eyes to leave you dazed, confused and ever so amazed. It was absolutely beautiful.
I have spent years travelling all over Equestria on my royal duties. From Fillydelphia to Saddle Arabia, to the most traumatising trip to Cloudsdale on weather factory inspection. From Las Pegasus, another cloud city, to Van Hoover beyond the Unicorn Range, to Baltimare on the far shore. I even visited Grifrins when I was a filly on apprenticeship. None, however, compare to the bare simplicity of Ponyville, my first town.
I guess I had missed out, having grown up and lived in the city. Never once had I bothered to glance outside during a train ride, travelling from one location to another, to look at the passing small towns on the sides of the tracks.
Trotting along the dirt road towards Ponyville, with Rainbow having flown ahead with my bags leaving Rarity and Pinkie Pie on the ground with me, I soon began to smell apples.
You see, living in the city makes you immune to simple scents in the air such as flowers, rain, ants and, at that very moment, apples . I raised my nose up in the air and took and long sniff, closing my eyes.
“Ah”, said Rarity, slowing down for me, “we must be nearing the Apple farm.”
That explains that delicious smell.
“Well, howdy do, girls.”
My eyes flew open.
“You want an apple?”
“If you don’t mind”, I muttered, eyeing the hat-wearing earth pony as she happily bucked and skilfully caught at apple. She handed the juicy, red fruit to me and as I bit into it, I remembered how long it had been since I’d had an apple. Like, an actually apple —not apple-cake, or apple-pie, or apple-juice, or apple-cider or even apple-flavoured liquor. An apple, in all it’s juicy redness.
It went down fast.
“Slow down there, sugar-cube”, said the earth pony, “there’s plenty more where that came from. Welcome to Apple Acres.”
You know how I said this place was not only bright, but painfully so? Well, I could actually feel tears collecting as I looked over the red fields, covering hill after hill, even going over the horizon. I could not hold in my awe, and completely missed it as the earth pony introduced herself.
“Sorry?”
“My name’s Applejack”, she said. “Twilight told us she was expecting a special visitor, but I couldn’t make it to the train station as I had to help my big brother with the apples.”
I gulped. “Applejack?” I muttered, staring at her. “Did I just eat an apple given to me by the one and only Applejack, Element of Honesty?”
The three ponies standing in front of me exchanged glances, but I couldn’t contain myself.
“What a pleasure to meet you!” I nearly screamed, extending a front hoof. “My name’s Sundew Order, royal architect!”
“Well now”, she said, her cheeks turning a pink brighter than the ever-cheerful Pinkie’s. “Pleasure’s all mine, Miss Sundew.”
The town was… quaint. Not what I was used to, at all.
As I walked into the town centre, flanked by three of the most adored ponies in all of Equestria, the small, happy town of Ponyville trotted about me as though this was a usual, everyday scene. At this thought, I quietly scolded myself _of course this is usual! These ponies live here, and go about their usual lives here. There is no need for the towns-ponies to make any big deal, it’s not like I’m special either.
“Hello there, Derpy!” sang Pinkie.
“Applebloom! Why aren’t you in Ms Cherilee’s class?” yelled Applejack.
“Hello, Spike dear. Have you seen Twilight?” asked Rarity.
A purple baby dragon —the purple baby dragon —ran towards us, stumbling over his short, stubby legs. As he approached, I began to bow only to be hastily pulled up by Rarity. I glanced at her and noticed that some of the towns-ponies were eyeing me curiously. Rarity quickly explained that the baby dragon, the Noble Spike, was not as big a deal in Ponyville as he was in the Crystal Empire. I nodded and smiled at him as he proceeded to bow before me, introducing himself humbly.
“Miss Sundew Order”, he said, looking at the ground.
It was my turn to blush now. I smiled at him as he got up.
“Twilight and Rainbow are waiting for you guys at the town hall”, said the young dragon, now looking extremely worn out. It looked as though he had run quite a distance, although I could see what looked like the town hall just about 200 feet in front of us. The Noble Spike must be rather unfit, I mused.
“Oh, you poor thing! Twilight sent you all the way here to tell us that? What a bother!” I watched as Rarity used her magic to hoist the baby dragon onto her back. He slumped forward, an odd look in his eye, and proceeded to show us the way. We continued trotting silently —it was probably my fault as I was busily studying the town around me, suddenly busy with activity. And as I kept observing _a boring skill of mine _I began to realise that the activity was centred around the two-floored, new-looking town hall right in the centre of town.
That was when Applejack pointed out Pinkie Pie’s disappearance.
“When —“ I began to ask before a cannon —a cannon ! —appeared from between the wooden doors of the town hall, followed with Pinkie with a half-blown balloon dangling in her mouth.
“Now where was I?” she asked, before jumping into song:
“WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME
A FINE WELCOME TO YOU
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME
I SAY HOW DO YOU DO?
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME
I SAY HIP HIP HURRAY
WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME
TO PONYVILLE TODAY!”
There was a short pause as all of Rarity’s, Applejack’s and my own mouth fell open. Then, without warning, Pinkie Pie let the cannon blow. Streamers and confetti and balloons and rubber chickens and sombreros and… other questionable party things… began shooting endlessly and impossibly out of that tiny cannon. They flew much higher than one would expect, landing on roofs and in trees, farther than you’d imagine. I watched, wide-eyed, as she proceeded to lead a couple of closer ponies into a semi-choreographed dance, adding verses and choruses. I backed away in fear as more spilled out of the town hall, all this seemingly in my honour.
This went on for about five minutes.
And to top it all —above the cannon, above the whole town dancing on their hind legs, above Pinkie jumping higher than most of the pegasus ponies —she pulled out what looked like ten instruments in total and landed that final note. Almost too perfectly. I almost fainted.
“Pinkie!”
The Princess came flying out of one of the top windows of the town hall, her beautiful alicorn wings throwing a magnificent shadow over all of us on the ground. My mouth was dry from all the gaping, but I kept my eyes on her all the same as she gracefully landed in front of me, her gorgeous purple and pink mane catching the sunlight, and playfully berated Pinkie Pie for almost scaring off her special guest. For a second, I did not realise that Princess Twilight Sparkle was talking about me until she approached me. By then, out of sheer Canterlot habit, I had my nose to the ground, one front knee bent.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle”, I gasped.
Yes yes. I am a royal architect. But that does not mean I am frequently in the presence of princesses. As I said, I spend my days travelling, studying and reworking.
I heard a giggle, and then Rarity, in hushed tones, explained, “She does this all the time”, before the Princess herself addressed me:
“Sundew Order. Welcome to Ponyville.”
“Has anyone seen Fluttershy? ”
We were still in the town hall, drinking cider and eating some of the most delicious muffins I had ever tasted. I was standing besides the Princess and her friends, and they were doing their best to describe Ponyville in it’s entirety to me.
“Did anypony hear me? ”
“So!” Rarity was saying, “You’ve been everywhere, haven’t you? Tell me all about Filly Delphia!”
I grinned at her. “Very busy. Not as high class as Manehattan, of course, but it’s got it’s urban charm.”
“And Las Pegasus?” asked Rainbow excitedly. “You’ve been there too, right? Is it just like Cloudsdale?”
I shivered, not wanting to think about the cloud cities. “I mean, it’s not the worst city I’ve been to but it’s not my favourite. Not only is it a cloud city —I’m not a pegasus, you see, and so have to rely on magic to walk there —but also too modern for my taste. It’s like Baltimare, but in the sky.”
At this, the ponies stared at me in awe. I felt as though I was telling some adventure story, while appreciating the fact that it was my own personal story.
“Have you been to Appleloosa?” asked Applejack, sipping on her cider.
“Sadly not”, I replied. “I’m not much for small towns. Ponyville is actually the first town I’ve ever visited.”
“Hello! Are you listening? ”
“So, you say you study royal castles?” asked the Princess.
“Yes, Princess Twilight.”
Rainbow Dash chortled as Twilight hushed her with an extension of her wing. She then smiled at me and said, “Please, call me Twilight. Every pony does.”
I smiled back. “And you can call me Sundew.”
“Seriously, you guys! Have you seen Fluttershy? ”
“Sundew”, she said, her smile broadening. “I feel like we’ll become fast friends.”
“I hope so”, I said, glancing at Pinkie Pie, who’d been bouncing up and down in a corner for the past ten minutes. It was like she couldn’t stay still. Not even for a second.
“I was thinking”, Twilight continued, “perhaps the girls and I could take you to see the Ruins in the Everfree Forest. I guess you’ve never seen them before.”
I almost choked on my cider. However, before I could reply, with all the enthusiasm and excitement that had been leading up to that very moment, a pegasus pony burst into the town hall followed by what looked like… frogs ?
Frogs!
“FROGS!” screamed Rarity before pulling a disappearing act so fast, not even Rainbow Dash could beat her.
Ponies were scattering. Ponies were screaming. Frogs were bouncing, green and slimy, everywhere, into the cider, over the cakes and those absolutely delicious muffins.
“FROGS! FROGS!”
“Sssshhh… you’ll scare them… come on, every pony… don’t shout at them… oh…” murmured the pegasus that had proceeded the frogs. She had the smallest little voice I had ever heard -barely heard over the other screaming ponies.
“Fluttershy! There you are!” shouted Pinkie Pie, bouncing up and down along with the frogs.
Fluttershy?
Fluttershy…!
Of course! How could I have forgotten —the sixth Element! She hovered there, just a few inches off the floor, looking about worriedly as the frogs invaded the town hall and tormented all the other ponies. She had the longest pink mane —one of the most gorgeous I have ever seen. I was just about mesmerised by the tiny-voiced pegasus before, unexpectedly, Applejack appeared behind me.
It seemed that I had frozen in the middle of the swarm of frogs.
“Sundew! Get over here with the rest of us!”
And that was when she took the hem of my trousers with her teeth and pulled.
She probably didn’t mean to. She probably thought it was attached, somehow. Maybe, in the excitement of things, she hadn’t realise it would come down and reveal my flank. Maybe she was just trying to help me.
But, anyway, Applejack pulled. And my trousers slipped, and my flank was revealed. She let go as soon as she realised what she had done, but not before seeing what she saw. And what Rainbow saw. And what Pinkie saw. And what Rarity saw. And what Fluttershy saw.
And what Twilight saw.
My flank.
Blank.
My blank flank.
Before anypony could say anything, I tore out of the town hall with as much speed as I could gather. And as I ran I thought, this day was going so well .
Author's Note
I am totally ready for any criticism on pacing, grammar, spelling, punctuation... you name it :) However, honest compliments also appreciated. Thanks for reading, every pony!
“Frogs !”
“Oh… umm… quiet, every pony… you’ll scare the little ones…”
“Sundew! Sundew! Where are you going?”
“Sundew !”
Into the day, down the steps, through the square, down a tight alley where I gathered a humiliating amount of stares, towards the outskirts of the town. I knew my general direction —back towards the station —which meant that it did not matter how I got there. I twisted and turned to avoid the towns-ponies, but they found me anyway. They eyed me curiously as I galloped through the town and onto the dirt road, finally clear of the town.
I was coming up towards Sweet Apple Acres.
By then, the tears had began falling. Sheer embarrassment is what it was. Embarrassment and shock and frustration. These three violent emotions kept me galloping as far as my hooves could take me, and just a little bit further. I passed by the wooden gates of Sweet Apple Acres and resolved to stop —my insides were hurting —but kept galloping once I spotted a bright red stallion by a bright red barn.
He glanced at me and I panicked. This gave me a couple more feet before I could go no further. I collapsed in the dirt, soiling my proud purple suit.
It took no time for the red earth pony to rush to my aid. He slowed upon arrival and I could feel his presence above me, but I kept my head down, the embarrassment burning in my cheeks.
“Umm…” he began. Before he could form a thought, however, I was up again and racing.
I once again ran out of energy at the station. This time, however, the red stallion caught me before I could collapse onto the wooden floor. He lowered me down slowly before taking a step back, cautious of the spontaneity I’d obviously grown notorious for. He did not say anything this time, just stood there and watched as I caught my breath.
It probably should have been appropriate for me to thank him at that very moment. However, my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about the train —praying for the train. Where the hell was the train?
“Are… you okay?”
I looked up at the stallion, and as thought I hadn’t really noticed him before, I saw what he really looked like. He was red, yes, but more of a striking, cherry red. He had a short, copper coloured mane that fell just inches above his dark eyes. He had freckles, but in no way did these make him seem younger, just slightly foal-ish. But his deep voice when he had spoken —that was a verification of his more mature, probably older age. However, it was his size that shocked me the most. He was like a large mountain: strong, tall and seemingly immovable. The yoke around his neck just made him seem even more formidable. I swallowed before I replied.
“I’m fine.”
I continued looking down the tracks.
“What… are you looking for?”
His speech was slow. In a thought out, cautious way.
“The train. I need to catch the train and get the hell out of here.”
I heard him swallow again. This made me look up, and I caught his suddenly worried expression. I stared at him questioningly before, finally, he intoned, “The last train was… half an hour ago.”
“What?”
“Eyup”, he said with finality.
Such finality that I couldn’t help digging my face into my hooves again, hiding the tears that were now streaming down my face. The last train? Really? I knew that it meant that I had to stay in Ponyville at least one more day, knowing that the Princess and her friends —the famed Elements of Harmony —all knew my well-kept, extremely humiliating secret.
A mare, not even a filly. A mare of my skill, of my station, of my royal office —a full grown mare without a cutie mark.
What will they think?
=======
I believe that it is finally time to elaborate, as I had promised earlier.
I grew up in Canterlot —you probably would have guessed by now —which means I was lucky enough to have been exposed to everything and anything. In the Equestrian capital, being a filly or foal without a cutie mark is just about the best thing you could be. There are so many options, so much adventures, so many skills to hone it on that it might just get overwhelming. From magic to duelling, to teaching and party-planning, jewellery-making, portraiture, music, poetry, fashion, cuisine, racing… so overwhelming, in fact, each and ever other filly and foal I knew had already found their unique talent by the age of fourteen.
Well, each and every filly and foal but me.
By then I was attending Princess Celestia’s Special Magic School, the fourth specialised school I had attended since I was three years old. There was never any doubt that I was skilled in just about anything I tried my hoof on; Music, Sport and Poetry had been my first three specialisations, but after more than three years dedicated to each, I had decided to move on.
Then, on one humiliating day spent sitting outside the office of the headmistress of the Philharmonica Academy for Music, I had walked into the presence of Princess Celestia herself. Complete and utter shock does not even begin to describe the feelings that were roaring in my tummy right then.
I had mumbled something, and then politely pointed towards a seat between my mother and father. Three hours worth of ‘discussing my situation' later, I had been hand-picked to attend Celestia’s Magic School to see whether or not Magic was my final calling. I mean, I’d tried just about everything else, hadn’t I?
========
I asked the bright red stallion to show me the way back into town and, more specifically, to Twilight’s Castle. I also asked him to walk me through the emptiest streets, if possible, and to completely avoid the town hall. Much to my astonishment, he did not ask questions and proceeded to do just that. He walked with his eyes pointed forward at all times, and I imagined that he did this so as not to make me uncomfortable. He’d realised that he’d stumbled upon me in one of my lowest points, and he didn’t need a hint to step back the inquisition.
He did make me comfortable. This earth pony I didn’t even know the name of. He escorted me through town like some kind of guard, nodding at passing towns-ponies and actually trying to divert their attention off me.
But, obviously, that did not work. I was the pony who’d taken off quite melodramatically in the middle of her own welcome party. Granted there were, ahem, frogs involved —I just hope they all thought I had some crazy phobia for frogs. I could handle that —
“Is that her?”
“Sundew?”
I shut my eyes for a second, preparing for the onslaught. When I opened them, two pegasi had landed in front of my companion and I. I knew straight away who they were, and this made their presence even more frightening.
“Where have you been? ” asked Rainbow Dash, staring at me worriedly.
Fluttershy stood smaller beside her, and I could actually feel all the guilt that must have been raging through her at that very moment. It was horrible to bear. So I said what any decent pony would say:
“It was not your fault, sweet Fluttershy.”
She looked up at me, surprised. Her large blue eyes seemed to get larger and I watched as her bottom lip trembled, signalling something I really wasn’t equipped to deal with. It was Rainbow who was prepared, it seemed, as she hastily said, “You see, Fluttershy. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
I watched Fluttershy fight off the impending tears and, in her ever so soft voice, ask, “Then why… why did you run away?”
I didn’t know how to reply. I eyed her carefully, trying hard to make her understand the difficulty she had just put me in by asking that question. She stared back, her blues sharp against her pale yellow flank.
In response, I just shook my head.
Fortunately, that was enough.
Rainbow glanced at the red stallion with a smile. “Thank you so much, Big Mac, for finding our friend. She’s a royal guest you know.”
“Eyup.”
Big Mac?
“Yeah”, I muttered, turning towards him. “Thank you for… bringing me all this way.”
He looked down at me and for a moment, I thought he was trying to communicate something through those big brown eyes of his. For a long second, he just stared at me. Then, when it was getting ever so slightly unbearable, he smiled. He then turned away and walked off, without saying anything else. I watched him as he trotted off, wondering about his mysterious silence.
“So”, Rainbow began.
I held my breath.
“You ran to Sweet Apple Acres?”
“Huh?” I asked, confused by the question.
“Since, you know, Big Mac brought you back.”
“Oh —yeah.” I wasn’t sure if I should’ve told her about the train station. I didn’t know what she would think of me trying to escape Ponyville, her home, having been there for just one day.
“What were you looking for?” Fluttershy asked timidly, finally having recovered from her guilt.
Again, with the hard questions!
“Apples!” I replied hastily. “I just felt like having some more… apples…”
They didn’t ask any further questions. But I could tell that Rainbow Dash could see right through me.
=======
I spent six year’s at Princess Celestia’s school, with special tutoring and everything . It wasn’t that I was hard at learning —I was exceptional —it was just that, well, Magic was not my destiny. I was politely ejected from the system only to be picked up by another. However, by the age of twenty, it was finally time to begin settling down. I chose one last school —Canterlot College of the Arts —and stuck with it until I completed my architectural programme. It wasn’t a last resort; I am passionate about ancient Equestrian architecture. It was just that, deep down, I knew that it wasn’t my destiny.
========
Author's Note
Again, feel free to comment, criticise or ask questions. x
There was a large set of double doors set into the base of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s treehouse Castle. They were made out of the same wood as the tree they had been built into —oak, I gathered, as I rested my hoof on the heavy doors. From the corner of my eye, I saw Rainbow and Fluttershy exchange confused faces. I ignored them; after all the embarrassment I had felt earlier, exposing my nerdish obsession with ancient and novel architecture was not an issue.
So I sniffed at the oak, took in the gorgeous smell of nature that came with it. The wood was untreated, yet seemed strong enough to last. It was probably bound by magic, to stay in it’s natural state —to grow even! —for the rest of the Castle’s existence. I could imagine how, years from now, the Castle would reach the heights of Canterlot. Perhaps, and this made me extremely giddy, I could start drawing up designs for a bridge that would connect the treehouse to the Canterlot Castle! Since I’m sure I won’t be alive when the treehouse reaches that height, I could always give the sketches to Princess Celestia for the future. Then… then I would be remembered… forever … leaving a real, solid mark …
“Umm, Sundew?”
And that was when I realised I was inches away from licking the ancient oak. I pushed myself away from the door with all the final dignity I had left and turned towards Rainbow, my face burning.
“Yes?”
“Twilight and the others are waiting for us in the Council Hall.”
“Oh”, I muttered, brushing down my suit jacket. “Yes. Of course. Lead the way.”
Fluttershy and Rainbow exchanged one last confused look before turning and trotting down the corridor. It had a high ceiling and all our hoof-falls echoed endlessly amongst the timber vaulting. It was marvellous. There was an impression of high gothic architecture throughout the bright corridor, with large windows that peaked several metres off the ground. In these windows were stained glass tales —different from those in Canterlot, I gathered. Upon closer inspection, I realised these were all the adventures of the Elements of Harmony. From the defeat of Nightmare Moon to the banishment of Tirek, the filtered light danced in celebration.
I mindfully noted to take time on these masterpieces, sketch them up for personal appreciation.
As I took my eyes off the captivating stained glass windows, I realised how awfully silent I had been. A few paces ahead of me, Fluttershy and Rainbow were whispering in hushed voices. I could not hear them, but I could tell that whatever they were discussing so avidly did not involve me. I bowed my head, ashamed of being so anti-social and uninviting.
Seriously? my conscious countered, berating me. Go up there! Talk to them! When else will you have a chance to talk to the Rainbow Dash and the Fluttershy?
So I did. I galloped the gap and cautiously trotted up beside Fluttershy. I watched as she suddenly started at my appearance, then smiled delightfully as though she’d been waiting for me. Her gorgeous smile melted my heart and all my previous fears flew right out of the window.
Without warning, Rainbow galloped ahead and took off into the high ceiling. She circled above us, and Fluttershy laughed. I watched as Rainbow flew into the vaulting and disappeared, reappearing farther ahead.
That was when my curiosity got the better of me.
“I think I’m going to join you”, I called up.
Upon hearing my voice, Rainbow slowed down and soared above us.
“What did you say, Sundew?”
“I think”, I called, preparing myself for the gallop, “I’m going to join you. Up there .”
Before I took off, I caught a glance of Fluttershy’s shocked expression, and even heard Rainbow worriedly calling, “But… but you’re a unicorn! ” I laughed as I gained momentum. Then I closed my eyes and felt the warmth cover me as my horn became suddenly alight. Magic —like a warm coat of velvet —fell over my entire body as I hit optimum speed.
Soon, I was soaring up into the timber vaulting.
“TWILIGHT! TWILIGHT! YOU BETTER COME SEE THIS!”
I laughed as Rainbow dashed past me and down the hall. I continued flying where she had left me, admiring the intricate folds of the untreated timber vaulting —it was exceptional. I backtracked down the hall, following Rainbow’s path, and soon came to the hidden tunnel in which she had previously flown into. This is what I had flown up to see.
It was a large tunnel, hidden behind the folds yet not to hard to find if you were looking for it. Without hesitation, I flew into it and, moments later, tumbled out of the exit. Fluttershy was still standing below me, staring.
“Umm… miss Sundew?”
Fluttershy’s small voice floated up to me from the ground. I smiled down at her and began descending, landing nimbly on the wooden floor. I watched as she slowed her approach, her eyes fixed on my large, transparent, magical wings.
“Please, Fluttershy. Call me Sundew.”
A smile formed on her lips. “Sundew… how did you do that?”
“Magic”, I smiled, letting my wings stretch. “It’s useful for when you’re inspecting places out of reach —and when the Princess sends you to Pegasus cities.”
Having already seen what I had flown up for, I allowed the transparent wings to slowly fade away. I stretched them out once more —Fluttershy’s already massive blue eyes seemed to get larger as the magical feathers caught the filtered sunlight —and closed my eyes. The warmth enveloped me once again, and I felt the now familiar wings melt away. I opened my eyes just in time to see Rainbow Dash followed by (gulp) Princess Twilight Sparkle flying towards Fluttershy and I.
“No! No! You missed it, Twilight!” cried Rainbow as she landed just inches away from me.
I stumbled back.
“Oh my goodness! Magical wings!” said Twilight, staring at me in awe.
I stared back, trying not to blush again.
“Where… how…” she muttered.
Rainbow’s enthusiasm was peaking. “They were just like those you gave Rarity that one time, weren’t they? Just, like —“ at this point, she proceeded to almost jump me, “— 20% cooler, yeah?”
But Twilight wasn’t listening. She was still murmuring to herself, staring at me incredulously. “But very few ponies know that magic. How… where…”
“Do it again! Do it again!” Rainbow yelled into my ear. “Come on, Sundew! Please!”
I eyed Twilight, who was still fixating on my now non-existent wings, but was soon pulled into attention by Rainbow. I smiled at her, carefully pushing her off, and said, “Soon, Rainbow. That kind of magic takes a lot out of you.”
“Oh”, sighed Rainbow, obviously disappointed.
I drew my attention back to Twilight, but before I could answer the question that I knew was dancing about in her mind, three other ponies and a baby dragon were galloping towards us down the hall.
Flying had distracted me for a second there —as it always did —but soon I was feeling the heat of my humiliation climbing up my cheeks.
“And this is the Council of Friendship table!”
Pinkie Pie bounded ahead of the rest of us, jumping onto her wooden seat on the other side of the table. I noticed her cutie mark —balloons to signify her talent in throwing parties and generally inducing giggles —inscribed into the back of the chair before she jumped on it.
As if on cue, the other ponies took their assigned seats around the table. For a second, it was just Spike and I left. I glanced down at him worriedly.
“You don’t get a seat?” I asked quietly.
“Of course I do!” he said, grinning. “It’s right there, by Twilight!”
Upon hearing her name, Twilight’s horn began glowing bright pink and, with a pop, Spike disappeared from my side and reappeared by hers. He waved at me from his seat and I nodded in appreciation.
“This room is…”
“I know, right?” said Rarity. “I chose the drapery all on my own.”
“Hey!”
“Well, Twilight helped. But come on. We all know who has the best taste in this room.”
The ponies and dragon around the table all laughed, even Twilight who’d been the target of the joke. However, I soon realised that the group of friends were not laughing at her, but with her. It was harmonious, from the way they looked at each other to the way they interacted. I guess this was why this room —this table, those special seats —were collectively called the Council of Friendship.
The high ceiling motif continued into this room, the vaulting elegantly flowing into the deep space above. Just as Rarity had pointed out, the multi-coloured drapery was exquisite. According to the colouring of their flanks, the drapery hanged above each seat connecting to the individual mares. This was when I realised that, although it was technically the Princess’ castle, it also belonged to the Elements of Harmony as a collective.
And maybe, and I was pushing it here, to Ponyville as a town. I couldn’t imagine this unique piece of architecture belonging anywhere else.
I couldn’t breathe.
“And that”, said Pinkie, suddenly appearing beside me, “was the whole castle! Do you want another tour? I can show you around again! And this time we’ll only go into my most favourite rooms! And this one, of course, because it’s my most favourite of all favourites since it’s for ALL OF US and —“
“That’s enough, Pinkie Pie”, said Twilight, climbing off her chair with a smile. She trotted up and stood beside me. “It’s getting late. I think Sundew here”, she turned and flashed a regal smile at me, “needs her rest. She’s had a very busy day today.”
“Agreed”, said Applejack, followed by the rest of the ponies. Spike jumped off his own seat next to Twilight’s and stretched, yawning. In the process, a puff of green fire exploded from his mouth, followed by a tightly bound scroll.
As the rest of the party laughed, Twilight hastily pointed her horn at the letter and it disappeared just as Spike had disappeared. It seemed that no one but myself had noticed, and she just kept going as though the letter had never existed. I eyed her carefully, then decided that it was nothing to pay too much attention to.
The goodbyes were quick yet warm, and for a second I forgot about the events from earlier that day. However, as soon as Twilight questioned Fluttershy about the frogs that were apparently still at large around Ponyville, it all came back with a painful blow. I suddenly couldn’t wait to get into my bed and, perhaps, if I was lucky enough, out of Ponyville by midday the next day.
“This way, Sundew.”
Twilight proceeded to open the wooden door into my room, allowing me to follow her in. As she had promised, my bags had already been delivered into the Castle and were sitting patiently besides a large, comfortable looking bed. The same interior language was expressed in this room, with the fine drapery, this time in pale orange, hung from the large windows to to the bed posts.
It was luscious, bathed in soft, yellow candle-light.
“Oh, thank you so much, Princess!”
I was overwhelmed. While simultaneously dismayed by the prospect of leaving the next day.
Twilight chuckled behind me. “I told you, Sundew”, she said, smiling brightly at me, “it’s Twilight. We’re friends now.”
I turned to face her, suddenly confused.
“Friends?” Already? Oh no.
“Of course”, Twilight said, beaming.
She then winked at me, and I shivered.
Then, much to my dismay, she said, “Especially now that I know your secret!”
And that was when she pulled out that scroll.
Author's Note
Yeah... maybe you can tell? I struggled with this one. It was like too many ideas jumping into my head at once... If you can bear with me, thank you ever so. But if you can't, feel free to express your (hopefully not too angry) concerns and solutions. Thanks. Ooh.. and check out my other story! It's Big Mac, lighter, SHORTER.
I gulped.
“My secret ?”
Twilight was grinning now. I watched as her horn illuminated the the large door into my room closed behind her. She trotted casually up to the large bed, settled herself and proceeded to eye me thoughtfully. I was frozen in place, staring at her, becoming uncomfortably aware of the lack of a mark on my flank.
Not that she could somehow see through my suit, of course. No way. She was probably talking about something else. Unless she was taunting me. She wouldn’t taunt me. Unless she would.
“My.. my secret, Princess?” I said in a small voice. She raised her eyebrow and I hastily corrected myself, aware of my suddenly inelegant demeanour, “I mean, Twilight.”
“Of course!” she said enthusiastically. She then shook her head, sprang off my bed and approached me, beaming. “How could I not remember ?”
Remember?
“Sundew! Sundew Order!” she exclaimed. “We were both in Princess Celestia’s special class!”
“Huh?”
In the face of my disorientation, Twilight bounded around the room as though the floor was on fire. In an unbelievable pace, she began to explain, “That’s right! I knew as soon as I saw those wings in the hall! I have never seen anypony who wasn’t in that class perform that kind of high level magic before! I thought I recognised your name, your colours when we first met —even Celestia hinted at your specialness in her letters… but I didn’t realise until then, when I caught a glimpse of your wings…”
I stared at her, unable to speak. It wasn’t that I was I was shocked, it was just that I was shocked. I hadn’t been expecting… that.
“Granted you were much more experienced than me —I was only a filly when I joined —but I remember you very clearly now…”
And I knew that that was the part where I was supposed to exclaim, “I remember you too!”
But I couldn’t. I mean, I didn’t. Remember her, that is.
=======
The worst thing about moving between several schools, and in such a short period of time, was that I never made or remembered any true friends. I mean, I had friends… in my first, second, maybe even third school. However, I soon gave up. While my friends were graduating from their fields — Literature, Magic, Music —I was still starting over, probably for the third time in two years, unable to celebrate the freedom found in knowing exactly what your future held.
And by the time that had happened, I had given up on getting to know the ponies I attended classes with. There were two mares and a stallion, I think, in the Arts College. But that was it. I lost touch with the mares, and the stallion… well. That didn’t last too long either. He was nice and all, but I still had a lot to catch up on.
======
“You don’t remember me, do you?”
You’d think I’d remember having studied alongside Celestia’s most loyal student and future Princess of Equestria, but I didn’t. I vaguely remembered a tiny, enthusiastic purple unicorn joining us in my final year at Magic School, but by then I’d become so fed up with my lack of direction that I’d stopped paying attention.
I stared at Twilight’s slowly fading smile and tried, hard, to remember her. But my memory of the princess seemed to go back only a couple of years, since she exploded onto the map with the return of Luna. Even that was vague, as I hadn’t actually ‘met’ her until this very trip. Only words, rumours, the gossip columns in Canterlot and Manehattan.
I shook my head, looking down.
When I looked back up, there was a painful disappointment colouring her friendly face. She tried to hide it, shaking her head vigorously and trying to smile again, all the previous excitement having slipped out of her.
“Of course you wouldn’t”, she said quickly. “I was so young and inexperienced, a talented unicorn like yourself wouldn’t have noticed me.”
“Princess…”
“I’m keeping you up”, she said, smiling tensely at me. “I should probably let you rest as, I imagine, you have a long day tomorrow.”
“Actually…”
“I just remembered! Spike and I haven’t finished working on your itinerary. I’ll hand that to you at breakfast, along with the maps and plans of the castle.”
“Twilight.”
“Alright, good night, Sundew! Sleep tight!”
She basically galloped out of my room, magically shutting the huge doors behind her. It echoed around my large, empty room, sending a soft breeze into the fine drapery. The yellow lighting danced, the curtains creating gorgeous shadows along the walls and high ceiling.
Usually, these tiny observations would have enthralled me, prompting me to pull out a paintbrush and sketchbook. That night, however, I found myself having lost all the desire I had had to observed and fall in love with my surroundings. The decline in interest had come so quickly, having started high that morning and dropped dramatically.
How had this happened?
Head hung low, I trotted to my bed and began magically removing my suit. First the coat, then the pants. As soon as they were folded neatly into my suitcase, I noticed a mirror at the other end of the room. It was a tall mirror, to be used in inspecting one’s self after dressing. I trotted slowly towards this mirror, stopped a couple of feet before it, and stared at my image. Observed my image, carefully, and sighed.
I haven’t actually told you what I look like, have I? Well, let me paint you a picture of my ridiculously unremarkable self.
My flank is orange in colour. A dark orange, almost russet in edges and deep brown in corners. Pale amber colours my hoofs and horn, and a very deep brown shines in my large eyes. In youth, my eyes were smiley —large, enthusiastic, dancing like those of Twilight and Pinkie Pie —but now they were tired, squinted despite the lack of bright lighting in the room. Actually, in that pale lighting, my eyes shone, revealing a surprising hint of crimson.
My mane used to be a bright yellow mop, grown long during my teenage years and falling in front of my eyes. However, once’s I’d settled in Art College and attempted to settle on an identity, I had picked a mane-style that seemed to fit with the general ‘artsy’ vibe of the college. In an unusual fit of spontaneity, I had a mare-friend dread my mane and tail. Then, quite soon afterwords, I had died corresponding locks black. Upon graduating, I cut the then long mane short and made it a bit more presentable, ready to prove my place in Equestria.
But I kept the dreadlocks. Probably because I still hadn’t —haven’t —grasped a strong sense of identity yet.
Sundew. Sunset had been my mother’s initial pick, and my father had wanted to call me Dawn. Both, I guess, were reaching along the same lines. I have no idea how they had landed on Sundew, but I’m glad that’s my name. I’ve always felt unique with it. Connected, yet not too obviously, to the morning. It’s my favourite time of the day.
I turned away from the mirror, catching a glimpse of my bare plot. I could say that I’d gotten over the sight of my bare flank by then, but that was no excuse for my hesitating. I stared at it, not quite registering the emotion that was slowly boiling at the pit of my stomach.
Anger? Embarrassment? The disorientation that had bubbled up in me during my filly years? The jealousy that had followed me from schools to colleges to academies?
There was no expression on my face. Just as blank as my bright orange flank.
Several minutes later, I turned and trotted towards the large bed that had been provided for me. I slipped between the warm colours and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep almost immediately.
======
Some ponies get their cutie marks for things that seem completely unrelated to talent, profession or anything legible at all. For example, a friend of mine during my filly years —I think his name was
Bumblebee or something —got a cloud for a cutie mark. I mean, this would have been completely understandable if he’d been a pegasus, since weather was their default profession. Bumble, however, was a conventional earth pony with no dreams that seemed to involved clouds. I’m not too sure what he went on to do, but all I know is that that pony gave me so much hope that it fuelled me for the next five years.
I developed this idea that, perhaps, my cutie mark wouldn’t be connected to any physical talent that I so yearned to acquire. Instead, it might come to reflect a personality trait, an overbearing feature, an item that means something to me, a puzzle to be solved in the future… etc.
I even drew up symbols and forms that my cutie mark might take. The majority of them involved the sun, and some trinkets of my filly-hood. From treasured toys to my favourite foods to obscure natural elements that I worshiped. I think that was my first ever sketchbook.
Five years passed. Nothing came. My sketchbook somehow disappeared in the mess of rebellion and shame that came afterwards, and it was soon time to change schools.
Author's Note
Sorry it was so late...
