The Eyes of Sherastol (Title in Progress)

Chapters

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 2
The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 3
The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 4
The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 1
The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 5

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 2

Rainbow was shaken up at the sight of her brother. He had a navy blue coat with a pure white mane. His cutie mark was a pair of silver wings with a circle of stars behind them. “Twilight, this is... this is my brother Star Strider,” she said with a hint of fear in her voice.

“Rainbow he told me his name...”

“Oh...Well still...” Rainbow nervously hugged her brother. Pinkie Pie and Ditzy Doo were standing behind the other three, wondering what was going on.

“Hey, Ditzy?”

“Yeah?” Ditzy was leaning forward a little, to get a better view, when her eyes went wide.

“Do you know who that pony is?” Pinkie asked, when a gray streak went soaring past her. leaving her a little dazed. Pinkie fell backwards on her haunches. The gray streak crashed into the pegasus that Rainbow Dash was hugging. When the dust cleared, Ditzy Doo, Rainbow, and the blue pegasus were tangled on the ground.

“Star Strider! I can't believe you're in Ponyville! What are you doing here?” the gray pegasus asked as she stood up. Star Strider stood up and shook the dirt off of himself, and Rainbow did the same.

“Oh you know. Just came to visit my favorite little sister,” Star Strider said as he patted the top of Rainbow's head. Rainbow gave a nervous chuckle. “You know stay in Ponyville for a bit.”

“Well maybe 'your favorite little sister' would also like to know what you are doing here,” Rainbow said nervously. This was not something she wanted to happen; It just had to be a bad dream.

“Look, Rainbow I-”

“HEY! I've never seen you in Ponyville before!” Pinkie Pie had shaken herself out of her daze, and had decided to bounce over and join in the conversation. “Which means you've never experienced a party, Pinkie Pie style! Which means you get a party! But first you have to be shown around Ponyville! And it'll be so much fun!” Pinkie had that wide smile on her face again. Rainbow looked at Star Strider's confused face, and laughed.

“Star Strider, this my gal pal Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie this is Star Strider my-”

“Your coltfriend!?” the pink pony cut off Rainbow Dash. Rainbow and Star Strider looked at each other an both made a retching noise, then both laughed. Rainbow's was more of a nervous chuckle.

“No, Pinkie. Star Strider's my brother. He lives in Cloudsdale with my other brother and my mom.”

“Oooohhhhh. Well he still needs a good old fashioned tour of Ponyville.”

“Pinkie Pie, It's 4 o'clock. Luna's raising the moon in a few hours.”

“All the more reason to get started!” Pinkie smiled and turned her attention to Star Strider, eagerly awaiting his answer.

“Well, I could go for a tour of Ponyville. I wouldn't mind seeing where my sister lives.” He smiled at Dash, and she smiled back nervously.

Seeing her brother made her happy, but she still couldn't bear to tell him about their father. Star Strider then leaned over to Rainbow. “But I would like to talk to you alone, afterward, and I assume I can stay at your house?” he whispered. Rainbow couldn't leave her own brother out on the street, so she nodded nervously.

“So it's settled,” Pinkie said. “Dashie, Ditzy, Twilight and me will give you the whole tour of the town!”

“Actually Pinkie,” Twilight cut in. “I have to head back to the library. I had an awful night of studying last night, and the place is a mess. I don't think Spike can clean it up all on his own.”

“Aww you're no fun Twilight,” Pinkie said with a slight frown.

Twilight walked over to Star Strider and extended a hoof. “It was very nice meeting you, Star Strider.” The pegasus took Twilight's hoof and shook it.

“A pleasure meeting you, Miss Sparkle. Maybe I'll take you up on that lunch offer someday.” He winked at the purple unicorn, which made her face go a light red, but she smiled.

“That sounds...nice.” Twilight realized she was blushing, then nervously smiled and changed the subject. “I'll see you later. Bye everypony!” Twilight galloped off as the others began discussing the tour.

“First things first,” Ditzy said. “I have to do my mail run. I'm late already.” She started to get up but Rainbow Dash stopped her.

“Ditzy...Today is Sunday.”

The gray pegasus blushed. “Oops...” All the ponies shared a laugh. “Well, I still have to get some muffins. They're good for snacking on during trips.”

“Honestly, Ditzy. With all the muffins you eat, I’m surprised you're not a pudgy pony,” Rainbow said making everypony laugh again.

“And I would keep eating them. Be right back!” Ditzy took off and accidentally flew into her closed door. The other ponies all laughed. “Oops,” she muttered under her breath, feeling embarrassed. She forced a little laugh. She opened the door and trotted inside, letting the other ponies talk.

Ditzy just let out a sigh as she closed the door. She trotted over to the pantry and brought out a tray of freshly baked banana walnut muffins. It's not like I try to be clumsy on purpose. Ditzy didn't mind being clumsy, she knew it was just part of who she was. She loved all of her friends and would never do anything to hurt them, but it hurt when they laughed at her clumsiness. Especially seeing Rainbow and Star Strider laugh at her. She shook her head and put on a smile. At least it gives everypony some entertainment! she thought happily as she emptied the tray of muffins into her saddlebags. She picked up the saddlebags with her mouth (considering all they were full of was muffins, they weren't that heavy,) and happily trotted out the door. She walked over to the others and placed her saddlebags on the ground.

“We ready to go?”

“We're mapping out the route. Pinkie, Ditzy, any ideas on where we should start?” Rainbow asked.

“Why not in town square,” Ditzy suggested.

“How about Sugarcube Corner!” Pinkie bounced up and down at the possibility of getting more sweets.

“Pinkie, you always want to go to Sugarcube Corner,” Ditzy said.

“Well why not,” Dash said. “We could stop in, get some pastries for lunch, then head out, head off to Carousel Boutique, then Sweet Apple Acres, the library, Fluttershy's place, then end it at my house.”

“Sounds awesome!” Pinkie was jumping up and down again.

“Then it's settled, off to Sugarcube corner!” The four ponies stood up and made their way from Ditzy's house to the sweet shop, which wasn't that much of a distance. Ditzy lived relatively close to the shop, so that she could buy ingredients for her muffins, which she either sold from her house, or gave to Mr. and Mrs. Cake for them to sell. Pinkie burst through the door of the sweet shop, looking at all of the pastries, licking her lips.

“Well hello dearie,” said Mrs. Cake from her spot behind the counter.

“Hi Mrs. Cake! This is Rainbow Dash's brother, ummmm....” Pinkie Pie thought for a second, then turned to Star Strider. “What was your name again?” Rainbow and Ditzy stifled a laugh at the pink pony's forgetfulness.

“I'm Star Strider. It's nice to meet you Mrs. Cake. Pinkie Pie has been going on and on about how this is the best sweet shop in town.”

“Well I don't know if I’d say that,” said Mrs. Cake.

“Don't be silly, Mrs. Cake! Sugarcube corner is the bestest most super awesome sweet shop in Equestria!” Mrs. Cake laughed.

Mrs. Cake laughed. “Now, would any of you like to buy anything today?” The bakery owner smiled.

“Hmmmm I'll take, some apple cupcakes, and one of those blueberry pies please,” Star Strider said, pulling out some bits.

“Nothing for me, I have some muffins in my bags.” Ditzy smiled.

“I'll just take some cherry tarts, Mrs. Cake.” Rainbow went to get some bits out of her bags, but Strider stopped her.

“I gotcha covered sis.”

“Oh, Thanks.” Rainbow forced a smile. She didn't understand why her brother was being so nice to her.

“No problem.”

“Anything for you Pinkie?” Mrs. Cake asked. Pinkie took a big breath to say a whole bunch of things, but Rainbow shot her a look.

“I'll just take five cupcakes, Mrs. Cake!” Pinkie pulled the bits out of her bag also and placed them on the counter.

“Alrighty, dears. You go wait outside and I'll bring these to you real soon!”

“Sounds good, Mrs. Cake. Thank you.” Rainbow and her friends walked outside and waited at one of the tables.

“So, Star Strider, how long are you planning on staying here in Ponyville?” Ditzy asked.

“Oh I don't know, maybe a couple of days.” Star Strider suddenly whipped his head and turned his attention onto his little sister. “Oh Rainbow, I need to know where Dad is. I need to talk to him.” Rainbow's eyes went wide at this.

“Oh...Well...” Tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. “You see... Oh look foods here!” She was glad that Mrs. Cake came out with the treats; she didn't need everypony seeing her have a breakdown. Mrs. Cake placed the plate of cupcakes, tarts, and the single pie on the table.

“Have a good day dears!”

“Thanks Mrs. Cake,” Pinkie said. “I'll be back at work tomorrow!”

“That's okay Pinkie, you just have fun with your friends.”

“Will do Mrs. Cake!” The older pony walked back into the sweet shop smiling. The group of ponies outside quietly ate their “lunch”. After the group finished eating they talked about their tour plan.

“So it's off to visit Rarity then?” Pinkie asked.

“That was the plan,” Ditzy said.

“Then off to Carousel Boutique,” Rainbow said. The group stood up and began walking down the road to the boutique. “Hopefully she won't feel inclined to give us a makeover...”

“Aw come on Dash. Who knows a makeover might be fun. I know Star Strider here could clean up a bit.” Ditzy snickered a little, and nudged Star Strider's shoulder with her hoof.

“Well I'm not the one who smells like muffins.” The group, including Ditzy all laughed . Ditzy stuck her tongue out at Star Strider. Most of the group just walked and talked about average things. Ditzy and Star Strider talked about how life in Cloudsdale and Ponyville had been. Pinkie popped in asking random things. The only pony who wasn't enjoying the company was Rainbow Dash. She silently walked and kept her head down. Ever since Star Strider had arrived she dreaded the fact that she was going to have to tell him about their father. She managed to dodge the bullet once already, but she didn't know how many more times she would get lucky like that.

“Rainbow Dash, are you okay?” The sudden noise made her jump a little. She looked over at her brother, who had just asked her the question.

“Um... Yeah I'm fine. Just... thinking.”

“'Bout what?”

“Oh nothing. Just... thinking.”

“Alrighty then.” Star Strider didn't sound like he was buying it. He could already tell there was something wrong with his sister. He could tell there was something wrong from the moment he saw her. He knew it was odd he hadn't seen his father. All he really cared about was talking to his sister, but he figured maybe if he gave her some time she'd give up on her charade.

“Look, we're here,” Pinkie shouted. The group of ponies walked into the building. A little bell rang as the group stepped inside.

“Welcome to Carousel Boutique,” said a voice. “How may I help you today?” A white unicorn greeted them.

“Rarity, it's us,” Dash said, slightly annoyed.

“Well I know you three, but who is this stallion, I don't think I've ever seen him around Ponyville before.” Star Strider held out his hoof.

“My name's Star Strider. I'm Rainbow Dash's brother. It's nice to meet you Ms...”

“Rarity,” said the purple maned unicorn. “And the pleasure is all mine.” Rarity now turned to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash you never told me you had a brother. And you certainly failed to mention the he was so handsome.” Rarity turned her attention back to the now blushing Stallion. “Now, are you here to purchase something? I have a wonderful selection of stallions clothes.” Star Strider smiled nervously, he wasn't used to attention like this.

“He's fine, Rarity,” Rainbow cut in. “Actually I think we were just leaving.”

“Oh but you simply cannot leave without telling me something about yourself.”

“Well..” Star Star Strider paused. “Like what?”

“How is Cloudsdale this time of year? Are any of the ponies fashionable there? Do you...”

“Cloudsdale's fine. And know I don't think so. Just the Wonderbolt's costumes, but those aren't made there.” Star Strider answered quickly. He saw an expression of pain on Rainbow Dash's face when Rarity mentioned Cloudsdale. “But Rainbow is right. We were just about to get leaving. They have to finish the tour and all.”

“Well I hope you keep Rainbow out of trouble. That sister of yours is quite rambunctious.”

“Pardon me Miss Rarity, but keeping her out of trouble would take one of nature's miracles.”

“Hey!” Rainbow objected playfully.

“Just kidding around sis.” Star Strider smiled at her. She smiled back, only this time it wasn't forced.

“Well then I'll let you be on your way then. Have fun in Ponyville, Star Strider. I do hope to see you again.” Rarity blushed a little when she said this. I really hope to see you again, she thought.

“Goodbye, Ms. Rarity.” The group exited the Boutique.

“Alright, when did you become such a gentlecolt?” Rainbow jokingly asked her brother.

“I've always been one. You've always had your head up in the clouds, so you just never noticed it,” Star Strider teased. The siblings shared a laugh. Star Strider was happy to see his sister in a good mood. All the ponies resumed joking and talking.

“Rainbow, I like this tour of Ponyville and all,” Star Strider said after some time had passed. The group was probably a few 100 feet away from the farm. The trees could be seen on the horizon. “But I really need to talk to dad. Where is he?”

“He's at home. Drop it,” Rainbow had a definite tone change. She sounded angry and bitter when she said this. She instantly realized what happened. “Strider I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... Dad's at home. You can wait for a little bit can't you?” She hated lying, but as before, she didn't need to have her best friends watch while she turned into an emotional wreck.

“Yeah I can wait,” Strider said skeptically.

Rainbow sighed. At least she bought herself a little time to actually think about what she was going to say. The group walked over a hill, and a big apple orchard awaited them. There was a big red barn amongst all of the trees. A large, red-coated earth pony was working in the fields. He was pulling a plow along the ground, while a little yellow earth pony trailed behind him, putting seeds in the ground. An orange earth pony wearing a cowboy hat walked up to the group.

“Well howdy Rainbow. Ditzy. Pinkie. Though ah can't reckon I've seen you before.” She looked at Star Strider, who was standing next to Rainbow Dash. “Well Rainbow, ah never pegged yah for one to have a coltfriend.”

“Ugh! For the last time he's not my-” Rainbow paused, realizing what Applejack had said. “And just what is that supposed to mean?”

“What's what supposed to mean sugarcube?” Applejack smiled slyly. Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Never mind. Anyways, Applejack, this is Star Strider, my brother.”

“Well, it's nice to meet yah Star Strider. Any friend, or sibling, of Rainbow Dash's is a friend o' mine. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres.” Applejack led the group of ponies through the orchards. Pinkie was munching on some apples she found on the ground. Ditzy was eating one of her muffins. Rainbow and Star Strider were walking on either side of Applejack. “We here at Sweet Apple Acres provide apples for the whole town of Ponyville. We sell the apples in the marketplace, or make sweets for Mr. and Mrs. Cake down at Sugarcube Corner.”

“Yeah they do!” Pinkie chimed in. “Applejack is one of the best bakers in town! She can make apple fritters, apple pies, apple cobblers, apple cupcakes..” Pinkie kept going on with the list of baked goods, but the others tuned her out.

“Anywho... It's been a pleasure, Star Strider, but ah'm afraid I hafta go help Big Macintosh out in the fields. It was nice meetin' yah!” Applejack shook Star Strider's hoof and galloped of over toward the red pony who was pulling the plow.

“Well sis, where to now?”

“To the library to see Twilight!” Pinkie shouted. “You know, your marefriend.” Star Strider blushed. Heavily. They all kept walking in the direction of the library as the mares began to tease the stallion.

“Pinkie Pie, quit teasing him,” Ditzy said. “We all know he wants to date Rarity.”

“You're both crazy,” Rainbow cut in. “He likes Flu.. urk!”

Star Strider jerked his sister back by the tail. “Enough out of you three.”

“We're just joking, Mr. Serious McSerious pants.” Pinkie smiled.

“Yeah, Strider. Calm down,” Rainbow said. “We're just poking fun.” Star Strider was a little angry at the group, but was relieved to finally see his sister having fun. They kept walking and joking through town, poking fun at each other. Strider brought up Rainbow's crush on one of the male Wonderbolts. The other ponies laughed as Rainbow defended herself. After ten or so minutes passed they arrived at the library. The ponies knocked on the door and twilight answered it.

“Welcome to... oh! Hey girls. And colt.” Twilight blushed when she saw Star Strider. “Can I do something for you.”

“Yep!” Pinkie said. “Star Strider here wanted to ask you on a date!” Twilight and Star Strider's jaws dropped, while the other ponies fell over laughing.

Twilight was blushing heavily, and managed to gather her thoughts together enough to speak.“P-Pinkie… are you… plea-please tell me you’re joking right now.”

“Yep!” Pinkie said, laughing. Twilight let out a sigh of relief and disappointment. “Nah. We're just visiting the library

“Well, like I told you before, I work and live at the library. Would you like to come inside?”

“Sure. That sounds nice.” Star Strider was still blushing from Pinkie's statement. The group of ponies walked inside the big hollowed out tree that served for the library. The walls were filled with shelves of books. “So you live here?”

“Yes. It's actually quite nice. I have all the books I can read here...even though I read most of them back in Canterlot. The library there had a lot of the same books”

“She doesn't get out much.” Pinkie whispered to Star Strider.

“Oh! I should have offered you something to eat..or to drink. I'm terribly sorry.” Twilight started to frantically rush around the room looking for anything that her guests could snack on.

“Don't worry about it. It's fine.”

“No no no. The book I read about hosting said I have to offer my guests something to eat or drink.”

“Twilight Sparkle. It's fine.”

She stopped running around and looked into Star Strider's eyes. They both blushed, and the other ponies snickered. Twilight broke her gaze and stammered out a response. “I... uhm... okay..” A small smile took over the purple unicorn's face. “So, is there anything I can do for you today.”

“Nope, not really.” Rainbow said, cutting her brother off from speaking. “Like we said before, we're just going around town.”

“And how are you liking Ponyville so far?”

“It's... different. Not as busy as Cloudsdale is.”

“Oh.” Twilight said with a disheartened sigh. Star Strider heard this, and quickly realized what he said.

“Oh I didn't mean that like a bad thing! It's just so quiet and peaceful. I do like it here, don't get me wrong.” Twilight smiled. She found it cute that he became so flustered around her. Of course she did the same with him. She knew it wasn't right that she hadn't even known him for a day and she was falling for him, but who was she to stop love? The other ponies could see the way Twilight felt.

“Pinkie, Ditzy.” Dash whispered to the other two.

“Yeah?” they said simultaneously.

“Why don't we go outside. I think we could all use some air.”

“Whaddya mean Dashie?” Pinkie asked

Dash sighed. “I mean we should leave the two lovebirds alone.” Pinkie and Ditzy giggled, but went out the door with Dash. Neither Twilight nor Star Strider noticed the others left. They were only focused on each other.

“So where all in Ponyville have you visited?” Twilight asked.

“Well, we went to..uhm....” Star Strider had to think to remember the names. “Carousel Boutique, Sweet Apple Acres, Sugarcube Corner, and here.” The two continued to talk about mundane things, but enjoyed each others company. Star Strider was particularly impressed when she said she was Celestia's protege.

“Well it sounds like you had an exciting day.” Twilight smiled. Then looked at the clock. “Oh goodness! It's getting late! Star Strider I am so sorry, but I have to get on some studying for a project I've been working on We can talk again sometime, right?”

“Yeah, in fact, how about I visit you for lunch tomorrow.”

Twilight smiled and blushed. “That sounds perfect.” '

“See you tomorrow Twilight Sparkle,” Star Strider said as he walked out the door.

“Bye!”

The sun was setting when Star Strider walked outside. Dash was laying on a cloud, resting. Pinkie and Ditzy were nowhere to be found. Dash jumped off her cloud and landed next to her brother. “You all done, lovercolt?”

Star Strider blushed, but smiled.“Oh, hush. I don't need any sass from you.”

“Hey I'm not saying anything. If anything at all, I'm happy for you. Twilight's a great gal,” she teased. “But anyways it's getting late. Pinkie and Ditzy already headed back home, and we should do the same.” Rainbow really didn't want her brother to stay, because as soon as they arrived at her house, she knew she would have to explain everything to him. He just nodded and the two took flight and headed towards Rainbow's house.

The siblings landed and stepped inside Rainbow's cloud home. Her house was, contrary to popular belief, quite neat and organized. Star Strider took a look around. “Nice place Rainbow.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Thanks.” Rainbow and Star Strider walked into Rainbow's living room.

It was a simply decorated room. Populated by only a couple of couches, a few pictures, and the tables they sat on. All of the furniture was made of clouds. Rainbow had flown up to her room, and grabbed Stormy Skies. Holding the doll comforted her, even if it was only by a little. She flew back downstairs and got onto her couch that had a small lightning bolt etched in the clouds. Star Strider got onto the other and the two began to talk. “Anyways, I must thank you for the tour of Ponyville. It was nice to see where you live. But I need to talk to dad. You said he was here. Where is he?” This time Star Strider noticed the tears forming in his sister's eyes.

She started sobbing. Trying to choke out words. She could barely speak. Tears were streaming down her face. Nopony had ever seen Rainbow Dash ever shed a tear, let alone sob. Including her brother. When he saw her starting to cry, he trotted over to her, and nuzzled her mane.

“Dash... what's wrong?”

She turned into an emotional train-wreck. She had begun to weep. All the pent up rage and frustration shed held for the last eleven years was letting itself flow out now. It was flowing in one big motion. Tears were streaming down her face. She was sobbing, saying “I'm sorry” repeatedly.

“Rainbow... What's going on? Are you-” Star Strider was cut off by a knock at the door. Star Strider turned to Rainbow Dash. She had lied herself down on the floor. She was still sobbing, but she shrugged her shoulders. She didn't know who it was either.

“Rainbow, do you want me to get that?”

“Yes...” Tears were still flowing from the young mare's eyes as the events of that day flashed through her mind. She watched her brother stand up to answer the door. She shut her eyes tight hoping that everything would just go away. That she'd wake up to Pinkie Pie yelling at her again. She felt helpless. Like the scared little filly she was over ten years ago. She heard her brother coming back into the room. Except he was with somepony else. Upon seeing him, her heart sank even more. She couldn't do this. Not now. She just wanted to fly away, but she was rooted to the ground by fear. This had to be a bad dream. There was no way it could really be happening. No matter how many times she went through this in her head, she wasn't prepared. She just stared at the pony standing next to her brother. “Thundercloud....” she whispered to herself.

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 3

Rainbow had to keep herself from just flying off at the sight of the gray pegasus that was standing next to her eldest brother. She shrunk herself into the couch. A billion thoughts were going through her mind. She might have been able to handle admitting what happened to Star Strider. He was always level headed. Never got angry. Thundercloud, on the other hand. He would let his anger and emotions get the better of him.

“Thun... Thundercloud... What... What are you doing here?” she managed to squeak out. She managed to recompose herself, if only by a little bit. The gray pegasus looked confused. He had never seen his sister like this. Back when she was still home, she was always full of energy. But now, now she didn't even seem like herself.

“Looking for you and dad. Same thing as Strider.”

Rainbow shot her head towards Star Strider when Thundercloud said this. “What...What's he talking about.”

Star Strider shut his eyes solemnly and walked over to his crying sister. He nuzzled her mane again to comfort her. Then backed away, layed down, and looked his sister in the eyes. “ Rainbow Dash...” Star Strider heaved out a sigh as Thundercloud plopped onto one of the couches. “Rainbow, I... I might have lied to you.”

“What... What do you mean.” Tears were running down the young pegasi’s face. “What do you mean you lied to me?!” Rainbow yelled through the sobbing.

The words stung Star Strider. “Rainbow you know I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally.” Star Strider kept his tone calm. He didn't want to upset his sister anymore than she was. She nodded in agreement, sniffing. She was still crying, but not as hard. “I... I didn't come to Ponyville to visit you. I didn't even know you were here.”

“Then... Then how did you find me?”

“Wild guess. Luck. Pick one or the other.” Thundercloud chimed in, with a rather aggressive tone. He was getting annoyed with Star Strider. Thundercloud didn't fly all the way from Trottingham to sit here for hours while he listened to his sister bawl like a filly. Strider shot his brother a look. A look that said 'What the hay was that?' Strider turned back to his sister.

“We've actually been looking for you for quite some while.”

“But... but why? Strider! Thundercloud! What's going on?!”

Star Strider sighed. He'd been dreading this moment. Thoughts went through his mind a million miles a second as to how he could break the news to Dash. “Rainbow Dash...” Star Strider heaved out another sigh. “I need you to sit there okay?”

“O... Okay.” Rainbow's ears went back. She saw a tear run down Star Strider's face. She looked over at Thundercloud, who was listening, but his eyes were shut, as if holding back tears.

“Rainbow... Dash... Mom... Mom passed away.”

Rainbow's eyes went wide. She let out a loud gasp. “No...” She said under her breath. She looked into her brother's eyes. Tears were running down his face. She knew he was telling the truth. “...How?” she said very quietly.

“What?”

“How did it happen?!” This time she yelled, startling her brothers. Her hooves were clenched, but she remained on the ground. She didn't have enough energy to get up on her own. She wanted this to be a nightmare. A horribly vivid dream. She just wanted to wake up, safe and sound, under her covers. To go hang out with Pinkie Pie and Ditzy and the rest of her friends. Reality slapped her in the face when her brother put his hoof on her shoulder.

She was quivering. Mostly out of fear. The same fear she experienced when she was a filly. She was now an orphan. Her, Star Strider, and Thundercloud. They were all orphans. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began to sob again. Something fell on her snout, and she realized that Star Strider was crying too. She managed to see him through the tears that fogged up her eyes. She looked over at Thundercloud to see that he too was crying. She had never seen her brothers cry. She'd never even seen them shed a tear. “I'm... I'm sorry for yelling,” she squeaked out.

“It's fine Dash,” Thundercloud said. “We're all a bit shaken up right now. There's no need to apologize.” Thundercloud stood up and walked over to his sister. The three siblings shared a group hug, and went back to where they were sitting before.

“It... It was about a week ago.” Star Strider said, recounting the memory. “I was working at the weather factory, when the boss told me I had a visitor.” Star Strider's eyes glazed over as he began the story. Rainbow listened intently, while Thundercloud looked at his brother, also recalling the events of that day. “It turns out that the visitor was Thundercloud here.” He motioned to his younger brother. “He was out of breath. I asked him what was going on, he said 'You need to come home. Now.' It was one of the only times I'd seen him so serious. I tried to talk to my boss, but he wouldn't let me go. Then Thundercloud, whispered something into his ear, and his eyes went wide.”

“He told me I could have the rest of the week of which I thought was strange. Thundercloud and I flew back home, to find mom laying on the floor in the kitchen. Thundercloud told me he found her like this and flew off to get me. She wasn't in a good state. Her breathing was heavy, and she could barely stand. We helped her into bed and stayed with her all night. She spoke to us a couple of times, but a lot of it was incoherent.”

“Why... Why didn't you take her to the hospital.?”

Star Strider bit his lip a little, then sighed. “Because she wouldn't have been able to make the trip, and neither of us wanted to leave her side. Even if we tried to make the trip to the hospital, the exertion would have only...” He trailed off. “We helped her up to bed. We stayed with her overnight, and when we woke up, she wasn't breathing. Thundercloud left to go to the hospital, while I stayed with mom.”

“Oh...” Rainbow had tears flowing out of her eyes like a faucet had been turned on. She knew what was happening. She heard about it before. Depression taking a toll on the pony body. She assumed that's what happened with her mother. It was her father's fault her mother had died. No. It was Rainbow's fault. She could have just as easily not left with her father. “So... that's it? She passed away peacefully in her sleep?” Rainbow stood up, very shakily.

“Yes Rainbow.” Star Strider comforted his sister. Thundercloud also stood up and walked over to his siblings. He opened his mouth, but Star Strider shot him another one of those looks. Rainbow didn't see it though. Her eyes were shut. She felt horrible for what had happened. “It's... It's all my fault...”

“What was that, Rainbow?” Thundercloud asked.

“It's all my fault that mommy died! It's my fault that we're orphans!”

Star Strider winced when she said this. He had suspected that their dad was no longer alive. But to have his suspicions confirmed broke his heart. “Oh Rainbow...”

A look of utter confusion overtook Thundercloud's face. “What do you mean... orphans? Rainbow...where's dad?”

“It's all my fault... Thundercloud, Strider I'm so sorry!”

“Rainbow. What's going on.” Her second oldest brother demanded. He put one hoof forwards, as if he was going to attack Rainbow.

“I... I...” Rainbow squeaked. She was beginning to sound like Fluttershy. She had only felt this helpless once in her life. She tried to push the thought of that day out of her mind.

Thundercloud looked as if he was about to blow. He was glaring at Rainbow Dash. “What's going on?” he said harshly.

“Enough!” Her oldest brother stepped in. He stepped in between the two ponies. Rainbow had shrunken back in fear, and Thundercloud looked like he was about ready to charge. Star Strider turned to his sister. “Rainbow, we can talk about this in the morning?” he said this with a very kind tone, that reminded Rainbow of her father. Before he made her leave her home. “Why don't you go upstairs and get some sleep. It's really late.” Rainbow didn't even bother arguing with Star Strider. She nodded and sulked up her stairs to her bedroom. Star Strider whipped around to his brother. The two locked eyes for a minute until they heard a door close. “What in the hay was that,” Star Strider said through gritted teeth.

“You heard her, she said we're orphans.” Thundercloud angrily said. “Which means dad's dead. Don't you even care?!”

“Of course I care! He was my father! But you saw the way she was. She was sobbing! She blamed herself for her own mother's death!” The brothers managed to keep their arguing down enough as to not wake up their sister.

“Well if she and dad hadn't left, mom wouldn't have gone into a depression, now would she? So in a way, it is her fault. You and I both know that she was never the same after dad and Rainbow left.”

Star Strider stared his brother down when he said this. It took all of his strength not to buck Thundercloud through the wall right then and there. “Don't you EVER talk about Rainbow like that!” He said this a little louder than the rest of the argument had been. “Don't you blame her. You know darn well that it was the loss of both of them that affected mom! And I can't believe you questioned her! Right after I finished telling her that her mother died, you bring up dad's death?”

“Like you weren't going to ask her. And that's another thing. You lied to her. The honest Star Strider lied to his own sister. You said she was ill. What in the hay was that?” Thundercloud said in a mocking tone.

“It was for her protection...” Star Strider lowered his voice.

Thundercloud leaned in and did the same. “For her protection? You think sparing the details of her mother's death is protecting her?”

“She's seventeen years old, Thundercloud. She doesn't need to know. She doesn't need that image in her head.”

“We saw it...”

“I'm twenty-three and it haunts me. You're twenty one and i'm sure it still haunts you.” Thundercloud tensed up at this, Giving Star Strider his answer. “A seventeen year old doesn't need to know that her mother was torn apart by Rocs.” Star Strider snorted. “She's too young to know how it happened, and I don't plan on telling her anytime soon. Now, we both should get some sleep. Goodnight.” Star Strider climbed onto one of the couches and lay down while Thundercloud did the same across the room. They closed their eyes and let themselves drift off to sleep. Neither of them heard or saw a young mare slipping back into her room and gently shutting her door.

Rainbow Dash flopped onto her bed in tears. She wished she hadn't snuck out of her room. When Star Strider went into the part about protecting her... she should have just gone back upstairs. Her stomach turned at the thought of her now departed mother. Fluttershy had told her a Roc was a giant eagle. The same thing that had attacked her. She looked at her wing, remembering how much damage just one of it's claws caused. She couldn't even begin to imagine what her mother must have looked like after the attack. She repressed the urge to vomit. She cuddled up to Stormy Skies, whom she had grabbed when she was listening to her brothers argue. She felt like a filly again, and she hated it. I'm Rainbow Dash! Best flier in all of Equestria! And I've been crying like a little filly!, she thought as she pounded her hoof on her bed. Tears began to form in her eyes again. She shook her head to clear her mind of all of the recent thoughts she had, but it didn't work. She just curled into a ball and began to cry.

“Star Strider! What did I tell you about having family visit while you're on the job?” Star Strider's boss, Lightning Rod, said to him in a harsh tone. “I don't care if it is his day off, he can't just come here thinking that he can distract my workers. You either tell him to leave now, or I will make him leave. Permanently ” Lightning Rod was usually easy-going, but hated it when his workers were interrupted.

“Will do sir.” Star Strider said as he left his cloud making station. He grumbled some things to himself about a lazy pegasus. “What is it this time Thunder.....” Star Strider trailed off when he saw the horrible shape his brother was in. His black mane was a mess. It looked like it had little read spots in it. He was out of breath and looked like he was about to pass out. “Thundercloud?”

“You have to come with me. Now.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I'll tell you on the way. You just have to come with me now.”

“I can't just leave work.”

“Strider. It's mom.” Star Strider's eyes widened at this. He knew his mother was ill, but it didn't seem that bad.

“Let's go.” Star Strider unfurled his wings and took off, his brother flying close behind him.

“You're just leaving? What if you get fired?”

“I don't care. My family is more important.” Thundercloud shook his head at his brother's devotion.

“Well, you're flying in the wrong direction. It's this way.” Thundercloud made a sharp left turn, and Star Strider followed right behind.

“What is?” Star Strider asked. But Thundercloud stayed silent. He just kept flying. Tears were running down his face.

They landed on a blood-soaked cloud. The pegasus they found was a sight they would never forget. The normally cherry red mare’s coat was stained a deep crimson, and her yellow mane was streaked with blood. One of her wings was nearly torn off. The other wing was broken and bloody beyond recognition. Her cutie mark was marred by a haphazard series of deep gashes that were oozing blood. She tried to stand but collapsed; her leg had been slashed open. “S-Star… Strider…” she moaned, barely audible.

“Mom... no. No, this can't be happening.” Star Strider had to keep himself from vomiting. Scarlett Skies' breathing was ragged and shallow. She managed to say a few words. He knelt down by his mother. “We're here for you. Me and Thundercloud, we're here.”

The mare reached up with her one good leg and stroked her oldest son's mane. “Star Strider. I'm so... Proud of you. You've... grown into... s.. s... such a fine... stallion.”

Star strider had knelt down to his mothers mangled body. She was smiling, oddly enough. “Mom... no... First Rainbow Dash and dad, now you? Please don't leave us.” He was panicking. “Please, Mom! We can't lose you!” Tears were streaming down the stallion's face. “Mom! Don't go! Please...”

Scarlett Skies turned her attention to Thundercloud. “And you Thundercloud.”

Thundercloud walked over to his mother. “I'm here.” Tears were running down his face also. “I'm here mommy.” He nuzzled his mother's mane.

The mare stopped stroking Star Strider's mane and put her hoof onto Thundercloud's shoulder. “You... b...blame yourself...don't... you?”

Thundercloud nodded. “Yes...”

“Don't... It's... not... not your fault. You... You did... what you could. And... if either... of... you two... see Rainbow...” Her breaths were becoming farther and farther apart. Both brothers knew she would leave soon. She coughed, and blood dribbled from her mouth down her lips. “Tell her... I am so... proud of... her. Also... tell her... The Eye... is in... the storm... Protect the... Eye of Sherastol... At all costs...”

“Mom, don't worry we'll get you back home! They can take care of you at the hospital!” Star Strider was panicking, but knew it wouldn't help. He knew that there was nothing he could do for his mother. She was doomed to her fate. He nuzzled her affectionately. Scarlett Skies' breathing stopped and she closed her eyes. Star Strider nudged his mother gently. “Mom.. C'mon. Please... get up.” He knew she had left this world. He closed his eyes to hole back the tears. “Goodbye mom. I love you.”

“What...What happened?” Star Strider quickly turned to his brother. Tears were running down both of their faces.

“We... We were flying... quite a few miles from Cloudsdale. Mom... She... She was helping me practice some maneuvers.” Thundercloud was shaking. He had tried to push this memory out of his mind, unsuccessfully. “Then... this... eagle thing showed up out of nowhere... It screeched, as if...as if it was hungry. Mom's eyes went wide... She and I flew forwards...back towards the city... But... But it managed to catch up with us.” It was getting harder for Thundercloud to tell the story. His words were filled with chokes and sobs. “It... It caught up to mom and...” He paused for a long while.

“Thundercloud...” Star Strider put his hoof on his brothers shoulder. “...Are you sure you want to tell this?”

Thundercloud nodded, slowly. “It... It slashed her flank, and... the... blood hit my mane. She kept trying to out maneuver it... To lure it away... but it was too fast for her. It slashed her multiple times.” Thundercloud had more and more trouble trying to tell the horrifying memory. “Then... for no reason... it just... took off, as if nothing had ever happened... I think it saw that we were getting close to Cloudsdale. I... I... helped mom land here, and took off as fast as I could to get you.”

Star Strider held back tears. The two brothers stood silently for a good five minutes. Their heads were hung low. Star Strider glanced at his mother's body. “Thundercloud... you know we have to find Rainbow and dad.”

“Why? What have they ever done for us?” Strider noticed the anger in Thundercloud's voice. Obviously, the events of the day took a toll on him too.

“It's not like we can't tell them Thundercloud! They have a right to know,” Star Strider yelled through his tears.

“We don't even have a clue as to where to look!”

Star Strider calmed down.“We'll just check the major cities first, then go with the small towns. We'll find 'em. Don't worry.” He could tell his brother's bitterness towards their father and Rainbow Dash was easily surfacing. He was never the same after they woke up that day. Thundercloud and Rainbow were as close as two siblings could get. Star Strider always called Rainbow the female version of Thundercloud. Then she left, leaving Thundercloud alone.

Thundercloud saluted, then stopped in his tracks. “What.. What are we going to do about...” He couldn't even say mom. They were both shaken up by the sight before them.

Star Strider let out a sigh. Tears were making their way out of his eyes again.“We tell someone, it's all we can do. I'll stay here. You go get help.” Thundercloud saluted again. and then took off. “Goodbye, Mother,” Star Strider said quietly. He nuzzled his mother's blood-matted mane. Tears dripped from his eyes onto the clouds. “I'll always love you.”

The morning sun shone in through the windows of Rainbow's cloud home. The rays were bright and cheerful, exactly the opposite of the way everyone in the house felt. Star Strider and Thundercloud barely got any sleep the night before. They just kept replaying the memory of that day over and over in their heads. Rainbow had cried herself to sleep, and even then it was only a light sleep. Every little noise she heard woke her up.

Star Strider was the first one to actually wake up. One part of that memory stood out. 'The Eye is in the storm.' He looked around the room, just checking his surroundings. He noticed that Dash actually had one picture of the family up. It warmed his heart to see them. Everyone together as a happy family. Their parents were on the sides, he was in the middle, Thundercloud was kneeling in front of him, and Rainbow was on top of her oldest brother's head. The family was smiling, laughing, sharing a moment. He sighed, knowing that any moment's like that were now only part of history. He stood up, when he heard a door open upstairs.

“Rainbow,” He said quietly. “Is that you?”

“Yeah...” She wasn't herself and she knew it. Normally, she would have answered with some snappy comeback. She was clutching Stormy Skies under her wing. She ran up to her brother and hugged him.

“Hey,” Thundercloud said as he sat up and held his little sister. He didn't sound nearly as angry as he did the night before. “I remember getting him for you.” He pointed at the stuffed toy under her wing. “Yeah... Remember Strider? It was the last one at Mall Of Equestria.”

“How could I forget. The mom that also wanted him just about gave me a bloody nose.” The siblings shared a laugh. For a moment, all the tension in the room had disappeared. “What did you name him again Rainbow? Starry Blaze?”

“Stormy Skies. And he'll always be my best friend.” She squeezed the little Wonderbolt. Rainbow was only sentimental around the stuffed toy, and nothing else. She looked at her eldest brother. He was smiling, but the smile soon disappeared. He shut his eyes, not wanting to do this now, but he couldn't put it off forever.

“Rainbow...we still need to talk,” he said.

Rainbow let out a sigh. She knew this was coming. She managed to keep herself composed, somehow. She figured she drained all of her tears last night. She told her brothers everything. Not leaving out one detail. The lions. Her father's sacrifice for her. The promise. The eagle, which she told them was a Roc. She ended with Fluttershy and her cottage. “And I’ve been living in Ponyville ever since.” Tears were streaming down her face. She had broken down halfway through the story.

Star Strider a look of solemnity on his face, while Thundercloud's expression seemed more disappointed than sad. “So... you never came back? What about the Best Young Fliers competition when you did the second sonic rainboom?” Star Strider brought up.

“That! That's... Different! I didn't... I didn't mean to... break my promise... Wait... you were there...” She shrank back and spoke the last part quietly Rainbow began to break down even more. This was one subject that always made her feel horrible.

Star Strider noted the change in her tone. He knew this was a touchy subject. “No. Mom wasn't doing well that day, so Thundercloud and I had to stay home. We heard a BANG and looked outside to see a rainbow. We all smiled and said 'Way to go Dash.' We all wondered why you didn't come home...”

Rainbow hung her head down. “I'm so sorry...”

He walked over to his sister. “She was so proud of you when you did that,” He whispered to her. He straightened up and resumed talking in normal tone. “But... why didn't you ever come see us and mom?”

“I...couldn't face you... I thought if I told you what happened, you would hate me...”

“Rainbow. You're our sister. We could never-”

“So you just floated there and watched our father be torn apart by lions!?” Thundercloud finally spoke up. He floated up and landed a few feet from his sister.

Rainbow clutched Stormy Skies harder and shrunk back. She knew this would happen. “Thundercloud... I'm sorry. I... I...”

“You what?” His eyes had a fire raging in them.

“There wasn't... Wasn't anything... anything I could do.” She was all but sobbing now. Suddenly, Star Strider appeared in front of her.

He glared at his brother. “What did I tell you. You don't EVER talk to our sister like that!” Rainbow felt like she was reliving the scene with the lions again. Shuddering behind someone's legs, too scared to do anything.

“She could have done something!”

“She was six years old. Your letting your anger get the better of you. Calm down and think, if she would have jumped into the fray, the only thing she would've succeeded in would be getting herself killed. We wouldn't have her or dad.” Rainbow whimpered. She didn't want to see this. It reminded her of her parents fighting. She whimpered and squeezed Stormy Skies harder.

“Ow!” The two brothers turned to see that Rainbow had dropped her plush toy, and was rubbing her right front leg.

“What happened? You okay sis?” Star Strider asked, trying to be gentle.

“Stormy... poked me...”

Star Strider had a skeptical look on his face. He walked over to the small toy that was in front of Rainbow Dash. Sure enough, the stuffed Wonderbolt had a small golden triangle sticking out where his left wing would be. “What in the hay?” Star Strider bit down on the golden triangle and pulled. There was a ripping noise and Rainbow let out a squeal. She began to cry seeing her real best friend ripped apart.

The entire left wing of the toy was now split open. The object that had caused it was in Star Strider's mouth. It was in the shape of a diamond with a round center, that looked like a cat's eye. The jewel was about as big as Rainbow's element of harmony jewel. Suddenly, a realization shot through Rainbow and Star Strider's minds. They both realized what this was. Rainbow finally knew what her father meant all those years ago. This was the Eye. The Eye of Sherastol.

“Rainbow... I'm sorry I didn't mean to...” Star Strider said as his sister walked up to the plush toy.

She looked at the toy. His stuffing was sticking out of the large hole in his left side. “It's... It's fine.” Tears were still slightly running down her face. “He's just... It's just a stuffed toy.” She picked up the doll in her mouth and went to take him up to her room.

Star Strider knew she was lying, but a knocking on the door stopped him from speaking up. The knocking was frantic. Rainbow tucked Stormy Skies under her wing and turned around. All three siblings went to the door. Rainbow opened it to find Fluttershy in tears. Her mane was frazzled, and she was panting heavily, like she had just flown a 10k race as fast as she could.

Rainbow dropped Stormy Skies at the sight of her disheveled looking friend. She wiped the tears out of her eyes. “Fluttershy? What's going on?”

“Rainbow,” Fluttershy managed to pant out. “It's Twilight.” Star Strider perked his ears up at this. Though Fluttershy failed to notice that either of Rainbow's siblings were there. She was focused only on her pegasus friend. “She... She was...” She had to take deep gulps of air in between almost every word. “She was attacked by something.”

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 4

Rainbow shut her eyes briefly. She wiped the tears from her eyes with her hoof and reopened them. “By what?” Dash's tone had changed instantly back to her usual cocky, yet caring attitude at the mention of her friend being hurt. She hoped to Celestia it wasn't a Roc. She couldn't deal with it if more of her loved ones were hurt by those beasts.

“I... I don't know. I didn't see it. But I already have everyone else gathered at my cottage. We should head there n...” Fluttershy trailed off when she finally realized that Star Strider and Thundercloud were standing next to Rainbow. “Thundercloud?” she said blushing, “Star Strider? What are you doing here?” She looked at Rainbow and gave her a sorrowful look. She knew how much Rainbow had dreaded talking to her family. Fluttershy wondered if Rainbow had told them yet. Fluttershy directed her gaze back to Star Strider.

Star Strider stepped forward. “Nothing, just visiting.” Star Strider had recognized the pegasus as a friend Rainbow had over to play when they were fillies. “What happened to Twilight?” He said this with a distressed tone.

Fluttershy took a step back. “Uhm... Like I said, I... I don't exactly know. I'll tell you what I know on the way to the cottage.” She took off in the direction of the forest, and her cottage.

Rainbow looked at her brothers. She could see the worry in Star Strider's face. “Don't worry,” she comforted her brother. “Twilight's a tough mare, she'll be fine.” Rainbow Dash grabbed her saddlebags and put the Eye and Stormy Skies in them and took off after Fluttershy.

Star Strider took off after Rainbow, and Thundercloud did the same. A few seconds later all of the pegasi were flying together towards Fluttershy's cottage. Rainbow flew up next to Fluttershy's side. “So, what happened? With Twilight, I mean?”

“Well... I was gathering up some flowers... You know just for displaying around the cottage. And I heard a scream. I jumped behind the nearest tree I could, but then I recognized the scream. I saw Twilight running out of the forest. I flew down to her, and saw that she was...” Fluttershy began to tear up.

“Fluttershy, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to.”

Fluttershy gave a timid laugh, “That sounds familiar.”

It took Rainbow a second to recall that that was exactly what Fluttershy had said eleven years ago, when Rainbow had passed out on her doorstep. Rainbow gave a small laugh but shook her head. “But seriously-”

“So you don't know what happened? At all?” Star Strider had flown up to Fluttershy's right side, leaving his brother behind.

Fluttershy shook her head. “No. When I was picking flowers, I saw Twilight come galloping out of the forest. Well more limping than galloping, but I flew over to her, and she was... ” Fluttershy gulped a little. She hated talking about these things. “She was hurt. She had a huge gash on her left back leg, what looked like a bite-mark on her flank.” Tears were forming in the yellow pegasus' eyes. “She groaned a little and said 'lions' then fainted. I took her back to my cottage as soon as I could.”

Rainbow had a look of shock on her face. She knew Twilight wasn't exactly the most athletic pony, but she could hold her own in a fight. And the lions. Thoughts went through her head at a million miles an hour. She began to tear up again. If any of her friends were hurt because of her, she didn't know if she could handle it.

“Fluttershy?” Star Strider spoke up, snapping Rainbow out of her daze. “Is... is Twilight... she's okay right?” Star Strider couldn’t bring himself to ask if the unicorn was alive or not.

“Yes, as far as I know. I cleaned and bandaged the wounds, and flew as fast as I could to Rarity's. She and I galloped back to the cottage, and she looked after Twilight while I got everyone else.” Star Strider let out a sigh at her words.

This is stupid. Thundercloud thought to himself. He didn't want to be visiting one of his sister's little friends. Even if she was injured. He just wanted to go back home with his siblings. Wasn't that the whole reason we came here? To bring Rainbow back home? He frowned.

“Thundercloud, you keepin' up back there?” His sister yelled.

“Yeah!” The pegasus stallion changed his tone and pushed forward a little to catch up with the rest of the group. After a few more minutes had passed, the four pegasi had made it to Fluttershy's cottage. They landed and walked inside. And what was inside made Rainbow and Star Strider gasp.

Twilight was on Fluttershy's green couch, which had been moved to the center of the room. She was in horrible shape. Her breathing was short. Her left back leg was, as Fluttershy said, bandaged. Though the originally white bandage was now a deep red. Twilight was laying on her side while all of the other ponies surrounded the couch.

“I brought Rainbow Dash... along with her brothers.” Fluttershy said to the group. The other ponies walked over to their two friends.

“Fluttershy, is Twilight gonna be alright?” Pinkie asked. Her usual happy demeanor was gone. Her smile was replaced with a frown and she had tears in the corners of her eyes.

“O' course she's gonna be alright. Twilight's a strong little filly. She ain't gonna let nothin' keep her down.” Applejack said, with a bit more confidence than she thought. She didn't even know if a strong pony like Big Macintosh could pull through this, let alone Twilight.

“Okay...” Pinkie didn't sound real happy about Applejack's answer.

The group resumed talking. Rainbow didn't say much. She just listened to the others talk about what happened. Rainbow felt horrible for what had happened to Twilight. When Fluttershy said 'lions' it had hit Rainbow like a ton of bricks. She knew she was the reason her friend was now lying here like a rag doll.

While the other ponies talked, Star Strider slipped out and walked over to the unicorn. She was laying completely still. Maybe a few twitches here and there. He leaned down and nuzzled the unicorn's cheek. “It'll be okay Twilight,” he whispered.

Applejack smiled when she saw Star Strider nuzzling Twilight. “Well look at that Rainbow,” she said quietly, so the stallion didn't hear her.

Rainbow smiled. She had just been teasing him the other day, but she was happy to see her brother happy. The rest of the ponies turned to look at the two ponies.

Twilight Sparkle's eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to realize where she was, but she recognized it as Fluttershy's house. She looked around for the voice that had spoken to her a few seconds earlier. She was soon face to face with Star Strider. She managed a weak smile and blushed a little. She still wasn't completely sure how she felt about the pegasus. “Star Strider?”

The pegasus just smiled. “Hey Twilight. How are you feeling?”

“Better.” She shut her eyes. Seeing Star Strider made her happy, but confused at the same time. Twilight opened her eyes and smiled again at the stallion that was looking into her eyes. Twilight moved her injured leg a little which made her gasp in pain, alerting the other ponies to come over and help their friend.

“Twilight! How are you feeling, darling?” Rarity asked.

“I'm... fine Rarity. It's just a couple of scrapes and bruises.”

Rainbow surveyed her friends condition. “That doesn't look like just a couple of scrapes and bruises.'”

“I'll be fine, girls.” Twilight moved herself off of the couch to stand up. She managed to stay up for a tenth of a second before she fell over. Her bad leg couldn't support the weight. Applejack managed to catch her falling friend.

“Definitely not 'just a couple o' cuts an' bruises.'” Applejack helped Twilight back onto the couch. “Ah' think you should just stay layin' down right now sugarcube.”

“Thanks Applejack,” Twilight grudgingly said; She hated feeling helpless.

“So, Twilight. How'd all of this happen?” Rainbow asked. Applejack and Rarity scowled at her. “What? I'm just saying what everypony's thinking.”

“Girls, it's fine. I don't mind talking about it, especially with you, Rainbow.”

Rainbow tensed up when her friend said this. “Uh... Yeah sure. Whatever.”

“Good.”

“Well if y'all don't mind tellin' us, we'd all like to hear how,” She gestured to Twilight's injuries, “that happened.”

Twilight took a deep breath and began to tell the story.

Twilight was having a rough morning, to say the least. It started out with her actually falling out of bed, after having a bad dream. “Stupid Trixie,” she muttered to herself. “Thinking she can sick an Ursa Major on me.” She trotted down Ponyville's main street, thinking heavily.

Her mind then drifted to her studies, which were a whole different story. Of all days, Spike had to go to Canterlot today. Twilight had been in a huge studying fit lately. She and Spike had decided that today would be a good day to clean up the library, but Spike belched up a letter from the Princess asking him to come to Canterlot. He said Princess Celestia wanted to talk to him about how Twilight was doing in Ponyville, even though it had been about a year. Twilight tried to argue that she could go, but Spike said it was better not to question the Princess' methods.

Twilight sighed. She needed her number one assistant to help her clean up the library. She couldn't do it all on her own, even with her magic. The purple unicorn had decided to go to Zecora's hut for some tea and maybe to discuss some books that the zebra could lend Twilight. “Maybe all I need is some relaxation to get my thoughts together,” she said to herself.

“Hey, Twilight! Twilight!”

Twilight turned her head to see a sea-green pony running up to her. “Oh, hey Lyra. How are you today?” Twilight wasn't real great friends with the unicorn. Twilight had talked to her a couple of times and had gone to see Lyra's concerts on more than one occasion.

“Doing fine.” She just brushed off the question. “Now what's this I hear about you having a coltfriend?” Lyra was bouncing up and down excitedly, with a wide grin on her face. Her light green and white mane was all mussed up from her running and bouncing.

Twilight sighed, but blushed a little. She had already dealt with four other ponies questioning her about the navy blue pegasus. Twilight told them all the same thing. “Star Strider's just a... wait a second. Who told you I had a coltfriend?”

“Bon Bon. Who heard it from Pinkie Pie.”

Note to self: Never tell Pinkie Pie anything again. “Well I'm afraid Pinkie was just teasing. Star Strider is just a friend.” Twilight didn't want to lie to Lyra, but she didn't even know how she herself felt about him. She figured it was better to call him a friend, than try to explain it to Lyra. Twilight resumed walking down the street, with Lyra following on her right.

“So who exactly is Star Strider? I've never heard of him.”

“He's Rainbow Dash's brother. I met him when he landed in Ponyville. He asked me if I knew a blue pegasus with a rainbow-colored mane. I immediately said yes, and we went out looking for Rainbow. He talked a bit about his home life, but avoided it if I asked about Rainbow.”

“Weird,” Lyra chimed in.

“Yeah... Anyway, we found Rainbow and she, Pinkie Pie, and Ditzy Doo gave him a tour of the town.”

“Is he cute?” Lyra asked abruptly.

“What?” Twilight was taken aback by the unicorn's question.

“Is. He. Cute?” Lyra asked again, giggling a little.

“Oh. W-well, you see,” Twilight stammered blushing.

Lyra had a sly grin on her face. “That's a yes.” She laughed a little. “Well if he's as cute as you say, you better claim him before somepony else does,” Lyra winked at her.

“But I don't like him like-”

“Whatever you gotta tell yourself Twilight,” Lyra winked at her again. “But anyways, I gotta go meet Bon Bon for our lunch date. See ya later Twilight!”

“Bye Lyra.” The other unicorn ran off in some random direction leaving Twilight with her thoughts. That pony, I swear. Twilight's thoughts soon drifted to the navy blue pegasus she met the day before. Maybe I really do like him. Twilight shook her head. No. That's silly. He's Rainbow Dash's brother. I can't like him like that. Twilight just kept walking, trying to push the thoughts of Star Strider out of her head. Soon she came up to the entrance to the Everfree Forest. She walked inside the thick forest and kept cautious. Zecora's hut wasn't too far into the forest, but far enough that something could still attack her if she wasn't careful.

After what seemed like half an hour, Twilight knew something was wrong. “Lets see, straight until you hit... the poison joke...” She hadn't seen the small blue flower at all. Her ears perked up when she heard a branch snap. She spun around, but all that she could see were trees. She looked up to the sky to see rays of moonlight shining in through the treetops. “Wait, it can't be night already!”

“And why not my darling unicorn?” a voice hissed from the shadows. “Anything can happen in my presence.”

The sudden voice startled twilight. It sent chills down her spine. She snapped around to see where the voice had come from, but couldn't see anything but the inky blackness that the trees produced. “W-where are you,” she demanded.

“Why I am everywhere. And nowhere.”

“What does that mean!”

“You're a smart little pony. I am sure that you can figure it out, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Who are you and how do you know my name?”

“I am nobody; Just a figment of your imagination. Or am I somebody that you just cannot perceive? Honestly, the pony mind is so limited these days.”

“What are you talking about?!” Twilight was not only frustrated; She was scared. This voice was unlike anything she had ever encountered in this forest. She kept looking all around for the source of the voice, when the thick forest around Twilight dissolved and was replaced with a large dirt arena, with a thicket of trees surrounding it. The moon disappeared and was replaced by a blood red sun.

“Welcome to my domain, Twilight Sparkle. I do hope you enjoy it here.”

“Your... domain?” Twilight shouted. “What the hay are you talking about?!”

“Shouting at him does nothing.” Another voice came from behind the pony.

Twilight spun around to face the new voice. She was face to face with a lion. But this wasn't only a lion. A grotesque goats head was sticking out of the small of its back. A snake was in the place of where its tail should be. A long scar ran down its right front leg. “You're a chimera.” Twilight planted herself to the ground.

The chimera smirked. “My name is Aratuk. And we've been waiting for a pony to wander this way.”

Twilight stiffened herself and went into a defensive stance. “What do you mean by we?” Twilight certainly tried to refrain from violence most of the time, but she got a bad feeling from this creature.

“My... extended family and I.” Creatures began to come out from their hiding places in the thicket. They looked like the Chimera minus the goat head and snake tail. Many of them were snarling, baring their yellowed fangs. A low growling came from the throats of others.

Twilight tensed up, but concentrated her magic to make her horn glow. “Stay back!”

“Now now. Calm down. My lions here just want to talk.”

“Lions?” Twilight asked.

Aratuk sighed. “The mind of a pony is such a sad thing. I mean, honestly what are they teaching you in those schools?”

Twilight disregarded the statement and kept herself low to the ground. Her horn glowed a little brighter

One of the lions laughed. “We could tear you to shreds. Don't even think about it.” The lions were now circling Twilight. Twilight was about to use a teleportation spell when one of the lions slammed his side into her causing her to fall over.

“Now now, we can't have you leaving... Hey,” He turned his head to Aratuk. “Isn't she supposed to be blue?”

“What are you talking about?” Aratuk questioned the lion.

“The pony, isn't she supposed to be blue?”

Aratuk thought for a minute then lowered his head. “I do believe you're right, Sharashon. The pony we want is supposed to have a blue coat. A blue pegasus with a rainbow mane.” Aratuk walked over to Twilight and put his face right in front of hers. “Tell me my pony, do you know what the Eyes of Sherastol are?” Twilight shook her head timidly. Aratuk slapped her snout lightly. “I thought not.”

“So than what do we do with her,” the lion called Shrashon nodded in Twilight's direction.

Twilight was still on the ground staring at Aratuk as he smirked Oh Celestia no... Her eyes began to well up with tears.

“BOYS!” Aratuk yelled. “We're eating pony tonight!” One of the lions grinned and made a lunge for the pony, but soon felt himself encased in a strange field. He was floating in the air. He scrambled around as the unknown force slam him against a tree. The lion name Shrashon lunged and slashed at the unicorn. She tried to avoid it as best she could, but he manged to hit her left back leg, leaving a long gash along it.

Twilight screamed in pain, but managed to stay upright. She began to run. Everytime her injured leg touched the ground, an almost immobilizing wave of pain shot through her body. The unicorn did all she could to keep herself going. She used a spell to block out the pain, but it didn't mask it completely. It barely masked it at all. She ran towards the thicket of trees. She knew she couldn't outrun the beasts. She only knew what they were from books, books of myths. Goodbye everypony. Fluttershy. Rarity. Applejack. Pinkie Pie. Rainbow Dash. You were all so good to me. I'm proud to have had you as my friends. I love you all. You've made me one of the happiest unicorns in Ponyville. The purple unicorn shut her eyes to keep the tears from running down her face. Even though she had accepted her fate, she wasn't going to give up without giving the lions a fight.

She quickly shot them open when she almost ran into a tree. She pushed forward with all she could. Just then, she felt a sharp pain on her flank and saw that one of the lions had jumped and bitten down on her flank. She flung him off with a telekinesis spell. She could barely stay upright as it was, and now the bite marks in her flank weren't doing anything to help her. She kept running, as best she could with a bloody leg, through the trees when she felt a warm sensation hit her, like the sun had just been intensified. She shook her head, but kept running. This was no time to think about her body temperature.

She screamed at the top of her lungs hoping somepony would hear her. She tried to keep running, but the loss of blood was affecting her. She began to push herself to go faster. She could see the entrance to the forest coming up on her. Her leg and flank were burning with pain, but she pushed through it. But she also saw something else. More like somepony else. “Fluttershy!” The yellow pegasus flew over to her unicorn friend, who was now standing at the entrance to the forest, shaking.

“Twilight, I... Oh my! Twilight! You're hurt.”

“Lions,” Twilight started before fainting.

“And the next thing I knew, I woke up in Fluttershy's house,” Twilight said, finishing her story.

“So you're saying you were attacked by... What now?” Applejack asked

“Lions, Applejack, Twilight answered. She knew her friends wouldn't understand. She barely understood it herself. If she didn't have the wounds and bandages to prove it happened, wouldn't have believed it herself.

“Right. But I ain't never seen those lion things in Equestria before.”

“Neither have I Applejack, but why would I lie about being attacked.”

“She has a point,” Rainbow cut in. She knew instantly that the chimera in Twilight's story was the same one that attacked her eleven years ago. She wanted revenge. Not only for hurting her friend and murdering her father, no. She wanted revenge for everything that the beast had caused to happen to her, psychologically and physically. Rainbow began to shiver out of the storm of emotions that was welling up in her. Guilt and anger took precedence in her mind.

“Dashie? You cold?” Pinkie asked, seeing her friend shivering.

“No Pinkie, just,” she bit her lower lip. “Just shaken up by Twilight's story. That's all”

“Okie dokie lokie,” Pinkie smiled.

Twilight laughed a little, then shot a quick glance at Rainbow Dash. A glance that said “We need to talk. Soon.” Rainbow got the message. She stepped back a little, but nodded. Twilight turned to the rest of the ponies. “Girls, I'm fine. I just need to get back to the library.”

“No. Twilight, you can't leave. It's only been a few hours since the attack. You have to stay here and get your rest.” Fluttershy said. She was worried about her friend. “You need time to heal.”

Twilight sighed. She needed to get back to the library so she could do some research on lions and chimeras. She had a book of legends, Mythological, Mystical, and Majestic Creatures In and Around Equestria, that, if she remembered correctly, said something about at least chimeras.

“Fluttershy, I have to get back to the library.”

“Twilight, I'm sorry, but you have to stay here. You need to give those wounds more time.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but knew that Fluttershy was right. There was no way that Twilight would be able to make it to the library in her current state.

“Fluttershy, can I stay here while this heals?”All of her friends were surprised that the unicorn had given in so quickly.

“Y-Yes of course Twilight. I'll fix up the bed so you can sleep there.”

“Thank you Fluttershy, but I'll be fine on the couch.”

“Twilight,” the yellow pegasus sighed at her friends stubbornness. “I can't ask that of you.”

“I don't mind. Really.” Twilight smiled warmly at her friend.

“Okay.”

“Thank you.” Twilight then turned her attention to Pinkie Pie. “Pinkie I need you to do something for me?”

“What is it Twilight? You want me to throw you a get well party? I can do it! But I'll have to make up invitations, and get some streamers, and-”

“Pinkie.”

“Oh! And can't forget the balloons. Not to mention I'll have to bake a bunch of cupcakes-”

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight said sternly. Her pink friend stopped talking. “I'm sorry, but I really need you to go back to the library and get a book for me.”

“Okie dokie lokie! What book do ya need Twilight?”

“A book called Mythological, Mystical, and Majestic Creatures In and Around Equestria.”

“Will do. Be back in two shakes of a pony's tail!” Pinkie trotted out the door.

Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, puzzled. “You sent Pinkie out to get a book?”

Twilight nodded. “I figure she found the last two easily when I needed them, why not now?

Rainbow smirked a little. “Good point.” She was putting on a front for her friends. She was still torn up inside about her mother. She wanted to talk to Star Strider and Thundercloud more, but this was neither the time or place to do it. Rainbow looked around the room, when her eyes came to rest on her saddlebags. She walked over to her saddlebags and pulled out Stormy Skies. She clutched him under her wing and walked over to Rarity and tapped the purple unicorn on the shoulder. Rarity spun around to see her cyan friend with a look of hurt on her face. “Hey... Rarity?” Rainbow asked.

“What is it, darling?”

“I... I need a favor,” she said as she gently unfurled her wings. Stormy Skies hit the floor with a tiny squeak. Rainbow quickly scooped him up in her hooves. “Could you...”

“Would you like me to fix your doll, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity could see how much the doll meant to her friend. Rainbow only nodded. Rarity smiled. “I'll have it for you in a few days. It will be good as new.”

“Thank you Rarity.” Rainbow smiled at the thought of having her best friend back.

“Why it's no problem at all, darling.” Rarity smiled at her friend.

Suddenly a thought shot through her mind. Somepony wasn't here. “Hey,” she said, getting everyponies attention. “Where's Thundercloud?”

Thundercloud had left the cottage when Twilight mentioned the chimera, Aratuk. Nobody heard him as he silently slipped through the door. He headed for the forest that was less than a days flight away. One thought was going through his mind. The thought of revenge. At Twilight's mere mention of the chimera, he began seeing red. This ends here. He will pay for killing my father. Thundercloud flew until he hit the entrance to the forest. The Everfree was bigger than he expected. The tree line seemed to go on for miles. He gulped a little. No. If some mare can do this, then I can. He shut his eyes and thought of his father. This is for you, dad. Thundercloud took a step inside the forest.

He decided to walk through the Everfree, figuring it was less of a risk than flying. He walked through the thick forest, keeping his ears open for anything he could hear. There was the occasional hiss from a snake, or a bird flying off in a different direction, but no signs of a chimera. Thundercloud kept his defense up. Suddenly, it felt as if he passed a barrier.

The air became colder, and the trees began dissolving. They were replaced with large red columns. The ground was now a large dirt circle. In front of Thundercloud was a large statue. It looked like a lion, but was much too big to be life size. It was made out of some sort of black stone and was in a position that made it look like it was going to attack him. Eighteen diamond-shaped holes covered the statue. Six ran down each side, while another six were arranged in a circle on the statue's chest. One large circular hole was in the middle of the ring of diamonds.

“Thundercloud?” a voice from behind the pegasus made the gray pegasus jump.

Thundercloud turned around to see the owner of the voice. It was a black pegasus stallion, whose orange mane seemed to glow in the sunlight. Thundercloud didn't believe what he was seeing. His eyes widened as tears formed in the corners of them. He floated to the ground and folded his wings. “Dad...”

Twilight Sparkle was resting on Fluttershy's couch. All of her other friends had gone home, and Fluttershy had gone out to gather more flowers. The only ponies left in the house were Twilight and Star Strider. He had volunteered to stay with Twilight and help her out if she needed anything. Luckily, Pinkie had come through. Not ten minutes after Twilight had asked, Pinkie Pie had come bounding through the door with the correct book in her mouth. Twilight wondered how the pink pony was so fast at the time. The unicorn was now flipping furiously through Mythological, Mystical, and Majestic Creatures In and Around Equestria. She found a small tidbit on chimeras. “The chimera is a mythological creature, said to have the three heads. It is able to breath fire, and poison its victims through a bite.” Twilight sighed as she kept going through the book, looking for any sign of lions or chimeras she could find.

“You okay?” Star Strider asked

The pegasi's voice made the unicorn jump. “Y-yes. Just a little flustered.”

“Looking up information on lions?”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“What else would you be reading about?”

“Touche,” Twilight said. The conversation stopped for a bit. Twilight resumed flipping through her book. Star Strider was kneeling on the ground next to the couch, reading one of the newest best sellers, Harry Trotter and the Sorcerers Saddle. “Hey, Star Strider,” Twilight said breaking the silence once again.

“Yeah?”

“Do you believe me? About the lions I mean?”

Star Strider had to think carefully about how to answer this. On one hand he didn't want himself to start pouring out his heart to Twilight and tell her about his father, but on the other hand, he didn't want to sound like a mule and say no. “I really don't know Twilight. I mean, it's kind of hard not to with that gash on your leg.”

“Thank you,” Twilight smiled. “And thank you for staying here and helping me.”

“By 'helping' you mean being your personal slave? 'Star Strider could you help me find this book? Star Strider could you get me a cup of tea,'” he mocked Twilight a little, but saw that she had a look of hurt in her eyes. “Twilight, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was just joking around, nothing serious.”

“Oh...”

“I'm sorry.”

“No, it's okay.” Twilight smiled. “See? All happy!”

Star Strider shook his head and rolled his eyes a little. “You're lucky you're cute,” he said, a little louder than he meant to.

Twilight blushed at this comment, and Star Strider realized what he said. The stallion also felt a blush reddening his cheeks. “You think I'm cute?” the purple unicorn asked timidly.

“W-well, I. I meant to say-” A knock on the door cut the stammering pegasus off.

“I'm assuming you want me to get that?” Star Strider said quickly, diverting Twilight's attention from his earlier statement. Twilight nodded and he flew downstairs. He opened the door to the mailpony. “Hey Ditzy. How are you today?”

Ditzy looked confused. “Star Strider, you're here too? Fluttershy said Twilight was here, but she didn't say anything about you.”

“Twilight's hurt, and I'm taking care of her.”

“Hurt? It's nothing too serious is it?” Ditzy had a look of concern in her golden eyes.

“Nah. Just a bit of a cut,” he lied. He felt horrible for lying to his friend, but he didn't want anypony else worrying about Twilight.

“Oh, well I have something for her.” Ditzy reached into the mailbag and pulled out a muffin. She popped the baked good into her mouth, then reached into her mailbag again. This time she pulled out a large boxy item wrapped in brown paper. “Could you give this to her? I gotta go meet Screwball for lunch. This was the last stop on my route.”

“Will do, Ditzy. Stay safe.”

Ditzy saluted. “Will do.” She took off and a few seconds later he heard a thud. He turned around to see Ditzy flying away from a tree. She looked more dazed than hurt. Star Strider walked back upstairs with the package in his mouth, to find Twilight engrossed in her book. He chuckled a little and Twilight looked up from her book.

“A package? For me?”

Star Strider put the package down gently. “Apparently.”

“Could you bring it over here please?”

“Lazy,” Star Strider teased. Twilight just stuck her tongue out. Strider picked up the package and placed it on Twilight's bed, on top of her book.

“Hey! I was reading that!” This time Star Strider stuck his tongue out. Twilight sighed. She opened up the package and stared at the contents. She didn't speak for at least a minute.

“Twilight? You okay? What is it?”

“A... Book.”

“A book?”

“Yes but... it came with a letter.”

“a letter from... ?”

“From Princess Celestia...”

“Dad...” Thundercloud said. Despite everything that had just taken place, his heart melted seeing his father again. Thundercloud flew full speed at his father, but just went through the pegasus as if he was a ghost. The gray pegasus ended up crashing. “Dad? What's going on?” Thundercloud shook his head and turned around to see his father was gone. “What is going on!”

“Welcome, Thundercloud,” said a voice. “Welcome to my domain.”

Thundercloud quickly floated up into the air. “Show yourself beast!” He automatically assumed it was the chimera.

The voice laughed a little. “Oh I would if I could my little pony, but unfortunately, I don't have the luxury.” The voice trailed off leaving Thundercloud floating in midair. He looked around for the chimera, but saw nothing. Then something next to the large black statue caught his eye. He flew down to see Rainbow Dash; she was a mess. She was missing both of her wings, with only bloody stumps in their place. Her face was torn up from claw marks and her normally cyan coat was covered in blood.

“Rainbow Dash?” Tears were welling up in Thundercloud's eyes.

“Thundercloud... you... Where were you? I needed help. And you weren't there.”

Thundercloud was frozen in place. This was a sight worse than his mother. This was his little sister. “Rainbow... I...” Suddenly the image of his sister disappeared right in front of him.

“Oh your pain is so lovely, Thundercloud,” the voice from earlier said.

“WHAT ARE YOU!?”

“Oh calm down. You're making a scene. Now answer me this. What is your deepest desire? Go ahead, say it out loud for everypony to hear!”

“I'm not answering anything I can't see.” Suddenly, a black mist began to swirl around the ground in front of Thundercloud. The mist began to take shape, forming into something that was familiar to the gray pegasus. It was a mare. Not just any mare. It was Fluttershy. “Fluttershy?”

“Hello Thundercloud.” Fluttershy's misty image flickered in the sunlight. She was a smoky color, not her usual yellow.

“What, What are you doing here?”

“Oh let's not fuss about that, Thundercloud. I have a very important question for you.”

Thundercloud took a defensive stance. “Ask away,” he said through gritted teeth.

“You know that little jewel that Rainbow found in her doll?” Fluttershy said this is in a sensual tone, closing the distance between her and Thundercloud.

Thundercloud found himself becoming less tense. “I... W-what. Y-yes. Why?”

“Well I need you to bring it to me, right back here in the forest.” her face was now inches away from Thunderclouds. Her eyes were staring into his. He felt as if his heart was melting.

The male pegasus stepped back and narrowed his gaze at Fluttershy. “And why should I help you?” Suddenly his mind was filled with visions and a voice. The same voice from earlier. The same icy voice that sent chills down his spine.

“Think about it Thundercloud. If you help me, I can give you anything. I can bring your parents back to you.” A murky vision appeared. It was Thundercloud, Rainbow Dash, and Star Strider, all standing around laughing with their parents. They were all at home in Cloudsdale, where they should be. Thundercloud and Rainbow began to zip around the house, while their parents watched. Star Strider joined them, and all three siblings began to laugh and play, as if they were foals again.

“Mom... Dad...” Thundercloud shook his head and the vision disappeared “No! I will not give into your temptations demon! My parents are dead! Nothing can fix that!” Thundercloud was shaking from what he had just seen.

“I can also see the way you feel about your siblings.” A vision in Thundercloud's head switched to a scene from his colthood. He, Rainbow, and Star Strider were all flying together. He was lagging behind the other two. He hated the fact that he couldn't be as fast as them. He hated the fact that they always had to prove they were better than him.

“C'mon slowpoke! You gonna keep up or what?” Rainbow yelled at her brother.

Thundercloud mumbled. “Show-off”

“Ah, I struck a nerve didn't I?” The voice said. The scene changed again. It was now Thundercloud, flying with the Wonderbolts. He saw his brother and sister in the stands, with a look of bitter disappointment on their faces, and it made Thundercloud feel good. It made him feel good to know he was finally better than them at something. “Thundercloud, I can make you the fastest flier in all of Equestria.”

“Fastest... flier in Equestria,” Thundercloud murmured. He shook his head again. “Wh- what if I refuse?” The vision in his head quickly answered his question. It was a horrible scene. Rocs were flying in the sky above both Ponyville. Thundercloud was seeing through the eyes of one of the Rocs. He looked at the horror that lay before him. Ponies and lions were entangled in combat on the ground below. Of course, the ponies were no match for the clawed terrors. Bodies of the injured and dead were scattered all about the ground. Thundercloud saw the body of Pinkie Pie being swarmed by three or four lions. This isn't right. Stop! Please! Stop! he thought, but the vision kept itself going.

The large tree that served as the library was in flames. The smell of burning flesh and loud screams filled the air. Thundercloud felt himself turn sharply. He outstretched his talons at a pony who was trying to fly away. It was a gray mare. Her yellow mane streaked behind her as she flew away, but she wasn't a match for the bird. Thundercloud felt his Roc body pick up the pegasus in its talons. He squeezed around her body to knock the wind out of her. Make it stop! Just make it stop! I'll do whatever you want! The Roc dropped the dazed pegasus from high up, knowing she wouldn't survive the fall. She wouldn't be able to regain her senses before she hit the ground. DITZY DOO! The vision then stopped. Thundercloud was panting heavily from the vivid “dream.” Tears were streaming down his face and he was shaking all over.

“You asked me what would happen,” the voice in his head said. “And I showed you.”

“So what do you say,” Fluttershy asked, snapping the other pegasus back to reality. The mare had a smirk on her face, but it quickly changed to a sensual smile. “Will you help?”

Thundercloud said nothing. He was too shaken up to speak. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. The visions of his family and him being in the Wonderbolts swirled in his head again. They seemed more realistic now. They seemed within reach. Like they could actually happen. Thundercloud smiled at the thought of Star Strider and Rainbow Dash's face's when he was accepted into the Wonderbolts. He nodded his head.

“Oh, There's one other thing I need you to do for me, my little pony.” Fluttershy drifted closer and ran her hoof down Thundercloud's cheek. “I need you to bring me your sister also.”

Thundercloud slowly nodded his head in agreement again. “I'll do it,” he said.

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 1

Rainbow Dash awoke to hear her parents in an argument, which was odd, because in all her life, she had never once heard her parents argue. It was strange to hear them yelling. The six year old filly tried to go back to sleep, but couldn't. She wondered if Star Strider and Thundercloud were awake also, although her brothers could probably sleep through the Wonderbolts flying by their house. Rainbow strained to hear the argument that was going on downstairs.

“Their fate is not for you to decide, Shadow Streak! They may be your children, but you have to let them choose their own paths,” yelled a female voice which Rainbow recognized as her mother's.

“Well, Scarlett Skies, I'd rather not have those paths lead to my children's deaths,” her father shot back.

Deaths? Rainbow thought. She didn't know much about the pony body, but she knew what death was. What does he mean? She strained her ears to hear more, but her parents had quieted down now. Rainbow put her head back on her pillow, and tried to get back to sleep, without much success. A few minutes later, her parents resumed yelling at each other.

“That pendant has been in my family for generations! If it was going to cause any danger, it would have by now!”

“There's just no reasoning with you, is there! What about the Rocs? What if they come hunting you down? Would you put your children in that kind of danger?”

What do rocks have to do with anything? Rainbow thought to herself as she listened to the argument.

“There haven't been any Rocs sighted in Equestria since Celestia banished them over 300 years ago. Our children are safe and sound, asleep in their own beds, that is if you haven't woken them up with all your yelling! This conversation is over, Shadow.”

“Fine with me, Scarlett.” A door slammed, and Rainbow could no longer hear anything , but she kept her ears open to catch anything she could. A few hours passed, and Rainbow was still awake. She heard somepony walking up the stairs to her room and quickly dove under the covers. She didn't want whoever it was to know she heard the argument, much less to know she was up this late.

Rainbow felt something nudge her shoulder, quite forcefully. “Rainbow, it's time to wake up,” the older pegasus stallion said in a cold tone. Rainbow could already tell there was something off with her father. His black coat shone in the small bits of sunlight that was coming in through the filly's window. Rainbow was in her bed, covered up in multiple cloud blankets, obviously not wanting to be disturbed. She was still awake, going over the snippets of the argument she heard just a few hours before.

The stallion gently removed the covers over his daughter's face. Rainbow Dash opened her eyes, expecting to see her father's warm, smiling face. Instead his face was hard and straight. He was frowning, with tears in the corner of his eyes.

“Daddy? What are you doing home? Shouldn't you be at the Weather Factory?” she said as she rolled over onto her left side, not moving out of bed, clinging to her stuffed Wonderbolt. She didn't want to let on that she had heard the bits and pieces of the argument that had taken place.

“Not today, Rainbow.” The stallion smiled as he looked at his daughter. He heard a noise come from downstairs, and the smile disappeared. “Rainbow Dash, get up and out of bed now.” His usual cheerful tone was now a stern and serious one. In all her life she had never seen her father this angry. He wasn't the type to get angry. Disappointed, maybe, but not angry.

“Daddy? What's going on,” Rainbow asked as she slid herself out of bed. She gave her father a big hug.

“We have to leave Cloudsdale, now,” her father said as he pushed his daughter away. She looked hurt. This wasn't the father she knew. He was colder, and seemed, worried. Distressed, even.

The young blue pegasus' eyes went wide when her father said this. “Wha... What? What do you mean we have to leave...”

“We have to leave Cloudsdale, Rainbow,” her father repeated.

“No,” she said under her breath.

“Yes Rainbow Dash. We have to leave.” The young pony's jaw dropped a little, but then she pulled it back up, and nervously laughed.

“Oh I get it. This is another one of your jokes right?” The serious face of the stallion tossed the idea out of the filly's head. “But... but why? What about mommy? And Strider? And Thundercloud? We can't just leave them!”

“Your brothers will be fine for a few hours until I come back to get them.” She noticed he specifically dodged her mother from the sentence. She decided it was better not to question her father.

“But they... they can just come now, right?” She gave her father a hopeful look. But he just sighed and turned away. “... right?” The stallion turned back to his daughter. Tears began to form in the filly's eyes. “... right?,” she said in a sad tone, through the tears that were now running down her face.

“No Rainbow Dash. They can't come.” His tone was still icy. “Not now at least.” He said this with a slightly warmer tone, more like what she was used to, but still not the same.

“But why do we have to leave? And why----”

“Enough questions, Rainbow!” He said this a little louder and it made Rainbow Dash shrink back. He had never yelled at her in all six years of her life. He walked over to her and put his hoof on her shoulder. “I love you Rainbow Dash, and I'm doing this for your safety. But we can't bring your mother or brothers along. The more ponies we have, the more danger you are in. And it's your mothers fault we have to leave.” Rainbow was now on the verge of full blown weeping, even though her father had returned to his soft and normal self, if even just for a moment.

“What do you mean it 's mommy's fault?”

“I will explain it to you when you're older. I promise. But now we have to leave.” The serious tone of his voice had come back to him.

“But what about-”

“No more questions, Rainbow Dash. We have to leave.”

“Where... Where are we going,” the filly managed to choke out.

“To a place called Trottingham. I have friends there that will take care of us. Now come,” He opened the window in the filly's room. “We have to leave.” Rainbow found no use in arguing anymore. She had to be strong. She had to be brave. She pulled off the Sonic Rainboom. She was the greatest flier in Cloudsdale, except maybe for Star Strider. She always did envy her older brother's flying talent. But this was no time to think about her jealousy issues.

“Goodbye, Thundercloud. Goodbye, Strider. Please take good care of Mommy. I love you.” She said quietly under her breath. She hugged the stuffed Wonderbolt that Thundercloud and Star Strider had given to her for her birthday, which she had named Stormy Skies, and stuffed it into her saddlebags. Her father picked up the saddlebags and put them on her back. He already had his own on. He nudged his daughter and she took a few steps back, then ran towards the window and jumped out. She spread her wings and soared over Cloudsdale.

She loved the thrill of flying, usually. Now she just felt, well, heartbroken. She looked behind her to see her father flying towards her. She also took a long look at her home and the family she left behind. She didn't know why they couldn't come along now. All she knew was that she had a bad feeling, a feeling that she would never see her home again. She turned her head to see her father was in front of her now, not saying a word, tears running down his face. Tears began to well up in her eyes also.

It had been some time before Rainbow Dash and her father touched down in what seemed to be an abandoned field. The grass was very tall, it seemed as though nopony took care of it. Then again, she thought. Why would they?

“Ah, here we are Rainbow Dash. Well not exactly here.” her father said, although in a sad and faraway tone. “Trottingham's only a few miles off.”

“Cool,” Dash said in an off tone. “But can't we just fly there?”

“No, Rainbow. Flying right now would be too dangerous.”

Rainbow Dash just let out a sigh. “Whatever.” She quit questioning her father. She just walked behind him, like a good, obedient filly. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to be back at home, with her family. The family that her father had just ripped her away from. She thought about reaching into her saddlebags and taking out Stormy Skies. But before she could, her father rushed her over to a side road, that was barely trimmed. The grass was as high as the filly.

“My friends live right on the outskirts of the town. We can just walk there.”

“But that will take forever...”

“Trust me Rainbow Dash, it's safer this way.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Rainbow didn't even care about her father's friends. She was hoping to maybe see some familiar faces. She knew that Fluttershy lived close to the ground now, caring for the animals. She was old enough to take care of herself. Then there was Ditzy Doo, who had to move down to Hoofington, because of a job her father was offered. Hoofington, was far off though.

You never know, she thought to herself, and for the first time in a few hours, cracked a bit of a smile. She remembered the fun that she, Ditzy, and Thundercloud would have pulling pranks on other ponies, mostly Star Strider. She laughed a little

“ But before we start, you have to promise me something.” Her father turned around and looked his daughter in the eyes. “You can never go back to Cloudsdale.”

“What!?”

“Promise me Rainbow Dash.”

“I... but... Star Strider...and Thundercloud! What about them?!”

“You'll see them soon enough. I promise that. Now promise me.”

“I... I...” She closed her eyes to hold back tears. Have to be strong, she thought. She heaved out a sigh. “... I... promise.” She looked at the ground when she said this.

“Good. Then let's get moving.” They had been walking for a while now. Rainbow guessed it had been around two hours since they landed. She thought about what Star Strider, Thundercloud, and her mother were up to. Considering it was probably around five o'clock in the morning when her father woke her up, it was probably around nine now. Her brothers were probably still asleep, and her mother... she didn't want to think about it. Suddenly, her train of thought derailed when she bumped into her father, who was standing completely still. His ears were twitching.

“Daddy? Is something wrong?”

“I don't know, Rainbow Dash . Just keep walking.” Her father was now taking cautious steps and staying as low to the ground as he could, as if he were waiting for something to pop out and scare him.

“Daddy...”

“Rainbow, be quiet. Please.” Rainbow shut her mouth. She had never seen her father angry until that morning, and she didn't want to see it anymore. Suddenly, something pounced out of the tall grass, making Rainbow Dash scream. She lived up to her name and dashed behind her fathers legs, and closed her eyes. Remembering she had to be brave, she opened her eyes to see it was a... oh what was it called... a... a... Chimeer... Chimera! It was a frightening creature with the body of a lion, a goats head sprouting out of its back, and a menacing looking snake for a tail. She decided to stay behind her father.

“Well well well,” the snake tail hissed “A couple of poniessssss out of placcccccccce?”

“What do you want with us, beast?” Rainbow's father spat out.

“I think you know, Shadow Streak,” the lion head grumbled. It stepped forward and rainbow saw a large scar running down its right front leg. The stallion recoiled at the mention of his name. He leaned over and nuzzled his daughter's mane. “It'll be okay,” he comforted his daughter. He then stepped forward and planted one hoof on the ground hard.

“Tell me what you want. Now.” Rainbow dash was still trembling behind her father's legs.

“Well aren't you one feisty pegasus? But you know exactly what I want, and my friends and I are going to make sure we get it.”

“Friends?” Shadow Streak asked. “I'd like to see them. The chimera smirked, and roared. Suddenly, multiple creatures began coming out of the tall grass and surrounded the pair of ponies. These weren't like the Chimera. They looked like the large chimera, but lacked the goat and snake aspects. Golden colored coats with a fluffy brown mane around their heads. Rainbow let out a terrified squeak.“Lions,” Shadow Streak spat. He leaned over to his daughter. “Rainbow, I want you to do something.”

“What is it, daddy?” She was still shaking out of fear.

“I want you to fly away. The Everfree Forest is probably about a mile past here. I want you to fly north,” he pointed his hoof in the same direction. “Along the edge of it until you come to a cottage, that's where Fluttershy is living, I want you to stay with her.”

“But how will staying with Fluttershy do anything?!”

“Because, they won't go that close to a town. Remember, we're still a few miles away from Trottingham. And I want to tell you something. Whatever happens to me, protect the Eye.”

“But... Daddy! What about you?! And what does that mean?!”

“Don't worry about me and you'll know soon enough! NOW FLY!” Rainbow started to cry, but her father put a hoof on her cheek. “My daughter, crying won't get you anywhere. You have to be brave and strong.” The lions were drawing in closer. “Now fly!” Rainbow shakily nodded her head and took off. She heard the roar of the chimera, which was followed by the roars of the lions. She didn't dare look back, she knew what was happening. She just flew and flew.

After what Rainbow assumed was about half an hour, she finally came close to a thick forest line. “That must be the Everfree,” she said to herself. She quickly turned and started flying in the direction that her father had pointed out. She kept flying by the treeline for about an hour. The entire time she had been flying she tried to push what had just happened out of her mind. But the scene was vividly rooted in her mind. I'm sorry daddy. I'm sorry. She closed her eyes to hold back the tears that were welling up in her eyes.

Just then something shot through her mind. Oh Celestia… what about mommy, and Strider, and Thundercloud? They should know but… but… her thoughts were interrupted by a loud screech from above her. Looking up Rainbow saw an enormous bird. It looked like one of the white ones her mother had shown here. What was it? An eagle? Yeah, that was it. She was watching the eagle as she flew. Rainbow quickly realized that it was flying right at her and it was far bigger than any eagle she had seen.

It dove at her with its outstretched talons. Rainbow barrel-rolled out of the way at the last second. Driven by terror Rainbow started to panic. “What are you doing?” she screamed at the bird. She drove forwards as fast as she could but still couldn’t put any distance between her and the winged terror. She saw Fluttershy’s cottage looming on the horizon and pushed herself even harder. The eagle still hung near her, swiping with its talons. Rainbow managed to dodge most of the slashes, but one managed to catch her right wing. She felt the blinding pain, the blood flowing down her wing, and the terror of falling. The eagle screeched in victory upon seeing its prey tumble to the ground.

Rainbow could barely keep conscious after she hit the ground. The eagle’s screech snapped her out of the daze. Lifting herself to her feet, Rainbow felt a sharp pain in her left front leg. Probably just a sprain, she thought hopefully. She could see Fluttershy’s cottage not far off. She made a dash for it as fast as she could on three good legs. The eagle saw its prey moving towards the house and started to dive after Rainbow. “GO AWAY! JUST GO AWAY!” she yelled nearing the cottage.

Seeing how close its prey was to the cottage the eagle pulled out of its dive and flew off up above the clouds. Rainbow collapsed on the porch. Her leg was killing her, but the pain in her right wing was worrying her more. She reached to knock on the door but couldn’t quite reach it. She gave up and moaned, trying to get Fluttershy’s attention.

The door slowly opened, to Rainbow’s relief. “Uhm… hel… RAINBOW DASH?!” the yellow pegasus recoiled in shock. Rainbow could only assume she looked just as bad as she felt. “What happened to you?” Fluttershy said taking in Rainbow’s condition. Her leg was swelling, but it didn’t look too serious. The real damage was Rainbow’s wing. Fluttershy couldn’t see much through the blood-matted feathers. “Come in Rainbow. Let me help you.”

Rainbow Dash struggled to get herself standing, using her three good legs and undamaged wing for balance. “Thanks… Flutter…” she trailed off as she collapsed on the yellow pegasus' doorstep.

Rainbow Dash woke up in a house that looked like it was built for animals. There were small birds flying around inside and a little bunny noisily eating a carrot. Rainbow herself was laying on a couch. She looked over at her damaged wing, which she could only assume was broken. The bad wing was now bandaged and in a splint. Her leg was just in a bandage. A yellow pegasus walked into the room.

“Oh good. You're awake,” Fluttershy said softly as she trotted over to Rainbow and sat down on the floor next to her. Rainbow smiled. She had known Fluttershy for a while now, and wasn't surprised by the way the normally timid pony was acting. When it came to her friends, Fluttershy would be the first to help.

“I'm assuming this is your handiwork,” Rainbow asked, nodding to her bandaged wing. “I'd like to know if I can fly again, though.”

“Yes. It is. And don't worry you will. It wasn't that bad. Give it a few days. Though I'd like to know how it happened.” Rainbow bit her lip when Fluttershy said this. “Rainbow....you don't have to tell me,” Fluttershy said when she saw her friends reaction. “You know that right?”

“I know, but I... want to tell you. Just sit back...and...and I'll tell you the story.”

Rainbow told Fluttershy everything. She started with her parents' fight. The thing that had started the whole fiasco, which even Fluttershy knew was an unusual occurrence. Then Rainbow went on to when her father ushered her out of her bed and her home. She spared some of the details with the lions, for Fluttershy's sake. Next came the giant eagle attack. She didn't spare any details with that. That was stuck fresh in her mind, and she was still worried it was going to crash in and attack them. She finished her story by telling her friend about the promise she made to her father.

“....So....you can't return to Cloudsdale? Ever?” Despite the fact that Fluttershy didn't know whether to believe the lion attack part of her friends story or not, she pressed the issue that Rainbow seemed to be struggling with the most.

“I could. But...it's the last thing I ever promised my father.” Rainbow was trying to be strong and not sound scared. The truth was that she was still terrified that something was going to attack her and Fluttershy. But she had to be strong and brave, like her father told her. She decided that she should just hide her pain and fear, that it would be the easiest for her, and her friend. She hated to see Fluttershy worried. The timid pegasus was already worked up about her friends predicament, and Rainbow didn't want to make it worse by crying all over the place.

“Rainbow Dash...I...I'm so sorry.” The yellow pegasus didn't know what to do other than to hug her friend. “So you're never going to go back.”

“No...and...even though I want to... I don't think I could. I can't face my family...They'll blame me for what happened. Even though it's my fault anyways.”

“Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy's quick change in tone startled the cyan pegasus. “Even though you were there for what happened, there was nothing that you could have done. Don't you think for one second that what happened back in Trottingham was your fault. I'm not going to sit here and let you feel sorry for yourself. C'mon, lets go into town. Ponyville's quite a fun place, with lots of interesting ponies. Plus it'll get you up off that couch.” Rainbow Dash's jaw was on the ground. She had never heard Fluttershy talk like that. I doubt anypony else has either, she thought. “Uhm... i mean... if you want to.” Fluttershy finished. Rainbow chuckled a little.

“There's the Fluttershy I know and love.” Rainbow smiled, be it a forced smile. “And yeah, ill head into town with you. Could be fun...”

“OH DASHIE!!!!!”

Rainbow Dash fell out of her bed when she heard her nickname. She usually didn't like being woken up, but Rainbow was happy that she was that morning. The dreams about her past were always so vivid, it felt like she was there, again. It seems like it was just yesterday. Tears began forming in her eyes as she thought about her family. She wanted to see them. To see her brothers and mother again. But she couldn't. Not after what happened to her father. She was courageous, but not even she could muster up the courage to tell her family what happened that day.

“C'MON DASHIE!!!!!!!! YOU PROMISED WE WOULD HANG OUT!!!!!!!!”

No doubt that was Pinkie Pie yelling for her. The rainbow-maned pony let out a smile. Where does that pony get her energy, she thought. Then her smile disappeared. '...protect the eye.' To this day, Rainbow Dash still didn't know what that meant. Her past was one thing Rainbow wouldn't talk about with anypony. Whenever somepony asked about it, she would quickly change the subject. The only pony that knew about her actual family was Fluttershy. Rainbow let a sigh escape her mouth, and shook her head to get her mane in that slightly bedheadish look she was used to. She walked into her bathroom and looked into the mirror. She chuckled a little at her appearance.

“Best it's gonna get,” she said to herself.

“DASHIE!!!! YOU COMING????”

Rainbow Dash sighed and shook her head, laughing a little. “That pony is so random,” she said to herself as she took a last look around the room to make sure she had everything. Disappearing ink. Check . Sneezing powder. Check. Her eyes came to rest on Stormy Skies. He was sitting in the corner on top of a chest, next to her Best Young Flier crown. She took a long look at the stuffed toy, letting memories of her brothers flood back to her. She let out a little whimper and closed her eyes, holding back the tears that were forming.

The crown next to the toy was also a bad memory for her. She was so happy when she won it, but the real reason she was so distraught before the competition wasn't nerves. That was what she told her friends. The real reason was that she had broken her promise to her father. She had returned to Cloudsdale, even if it was only that one time, and it was for her own desires. She returned, but she didn't go see her family. She couldn't, even after all those years had passed. She couldn't bring herself to tell her family about her father.

After a few minutes passed, she shook her head and regained her composure. “COMING PINKIE,” she yelled as she stretched open her wings and took off out the door.

Rainbow and Pinkie made their way down the street from Rainbow's house into Ponyville. Pinkie bounced her way up and down the street while Rainbow Dash flew close to the ground, and slow enough to keep pace with her pink-haired friend.

“So Dashie, what are we gonna do today? Huh huh huh huh?” Rainbow chuckled at her friends enthusiastic demeanor. The little pink pony was always so up-beat. Never down in her life.

“Weeeeeeeellll I was thinking maybe we could just pull some pranks, then just hang out back at my place, you know?”

“Sound super duper awesome!” Pinkie smiled so wide, it looked like it would hurt. “So who're we gonna prank first?”

“Twilight?”

“Hmmmm... We got her last time....”

“True...Rarity? We could put itching powder in one of her outfits. Like her spa robes?”

“OOH! I like that one!”

“Got it,” Rainbow suddenly shouted. “Ditzy Doo.” Pinkie pie giggled at this.

“How exactly are we going to do that, Dashie?”

“Simple. Pepper her muffins.” Rainbow had an evil look on her face.

“Mmmmm pepper muffins.” Pinkie pie licked her lips. “Probably not as good as hot sauce, but I bet they're still tasty!” Rainbow shook her head and rolled her eyes.

“You are so random, Pinkie.”

“Thanks.” The pink pony smiled widely again. The two walked into Ponyville's market square. It was filled with the usual. Applejack's apple stand, with her and Big Macintosh selling the apples. Pinkie Pie walked up to the stand. “Heya Applejack”

“Well howdy Pinkie. How're yah doin' today?”

“Good,” The pink pony said as she bounced up and down. “Just going to hang with Rainbow Dash today!” Applejack's expression changed from happy to serious.

“Y’all ain't gonna be touchin' mah apples again, are yah?”

“Not that I know of. Hey Rainbow, are we painting any apples today?”

“Wellll......it wasn't in the plan, but I suppose we could.”

“Ooh sounds fun!” Pinkie said in excitement. Applejack's jaw dropped, as Rainbow Dash burst out laughing.

“Don't worry Applejack,” Rainbow said through her laughter. “We won't touch your apples.”

“Y’all better not,” she muttered under her breath.

“Alright, Applejack. See ya,” Pinkie said as she and Rainbow took off. Applejack laughed a little and waved goodbye.

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash snuck up to Ditzy Doo's windowsill, where her muffins were cooling. Six muffins rested on a plate on the windowsill, steam still rising from them. Pinkie and Dash sat directly under the windowsill, so that Ditzy wouldn't be able to see them.

“Ditzy always does make great muffins,” Pinkie said, a little loudly.

“Pinkie, talk quieter or you'll blow our cover,” Rainbow said in a harsh whisper.

“Oops, sorry.” Pinkie lowered her voice to a whisper as she watched the plate of delicious looking muffins. Ditzy always liked to eat a couple of muffins before her mail run, and then put some in her bag to snack on later. Today's batch was her favorite, chocolate chip. Ditzy came up to the window from the inside and picked one up, and quickly put it down.

“Still too hot,” she said, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“She can't see the steam coming off the muffins?” Pinkie asked Dash.

“Remember. Ditzy isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box.”

“Are we doing something with light bulbs now?” Pinkie asked quizzically.

“Pinkie...I...Ooooh she left. Now's our chance. Hey, Pinkie. I have the pepper shaker in my bag. Could ya get it out for me?”

“Sure thing, Dashie!” Pinkie did as asked and looked at it. It was a small glass shaker filled with red powder.

“Erm..Rainbow Dash. That doesn't look like any pepper I've ever seen.”

“It's ground chili pepper, Pinkie Pie.”

“That won't hurt Ditzy Doo will it?” Despite her love to play pranks, Pinkie made sure that none of her pranks hurt anypony.

“Nope. Well it may burn her tongue, but this is really mild, not as hot as the stuff I put on the vanilla lemon drops Gilda ate. Pinkie Pie stifled a fit of laughter as she remembered the griffon, and all the pranks that Dash pulled on her.

“Alrighty!” The smile had returned to the pink pony's face as Rainbow Dash sprinkled the chili pepper onto Ditzy's muffins. The gray pegasus soon returned, after tripping over her rug and bent over and picked one of the muffins up with her mouth, flung it in the air, and chomped it down in one bite. Rainbow waited to see the look on her face, but Ditzy just ate three more of the six that were on the plate.

“These don't taste like my usual batch of chocolate chip, but they're good!” Ditzy smiled as she talked.

“Really?!” Pinkie popped up from her hiding place, making the gray pegasus fall backwards, her eyes going different directions, as they did when she was scared. The pink pony scooped up one of the muffins and popped it into her mouth. “Mmmmmmm,” she said through her chewing. “Dashie you should try these! They're amazing!” Rainbow Dash also popped up from her hiding place, as Ditzy stood back up.

“Uhh, hey Ditzy Doo,” Rainbow said when she popped up. Ditzy chuckled a little at her cyan friend. She loved the rainbow-maned pegasus like a sister, and was used to her pranks, considering a lot of the time, they involved the muffin loving pegasus.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash,” Ditzy said as she flew out of the window and landed on the ground next to Pinkie Pie. “What are you girls up to today? Pranking innocent ponies?”

“Yep,” Pinkie said with a large smile on her face.

“Oh and who were you going to prank today,” Ditzy asked turning her attention to the pink pony, who was now bouncing up and down excitedly.

“We were gonna prank you, but it back fired and turned these muffins delicious,” Pinkie said taking another large bite out of a muffin. Ditzy turned her attention to Rainbow Dash now.

“And what did you do to my muffins,” she asked, not with an angry, but more of an amused tone. Rainbow loved Ditzy also. Just a friendly love. She knew that Ditzy was a bit of a klutz, but she wasn't stupid. She could understand things very well, and think on her toes in a sticky situation. Executing those thoughts, however, was a different matter. A sheepish grin took over Rainbow's face.

“Well.....” Rainbow pulled out the pepper shaker. “We might of sprinkled them with some chili powder.”

“Chili powder huh?”

“Yeah, but like Pinkie said, it didn't work.”

“Well it didn't work the way you wanted it to, but it did make those muffins pretty good. Just the right amount of kick to go with the sweetness of the chocolate. I might have to use that in the recipe.” Rainbow smiled. Ditzy was one of those ponies who could take a bad situation and make it happy. She always had a knack for that.

“So you gonna start selling those then,” Rainbow asked. “Come and get your Chocolate Chili Muffins?” Ditzy about fell over laughing and Rainbow did the same.

“HEY! It's Twilight,” Pinkie yelled over the laughter of the two Pegasus. “HIIII TWILIGHT!” Pinkie started bounce up and down again, waving at their friend. “And she's with someone.”

“Well, who is it? Rarity? Fluttershy? Applejack,” Rainbow asked.

“Nope. None of them. Its a colt,” Pinkie giggled.

“Twilight has a date? That's even more confusing than Ditzy liking the chili muffins.”

“HEY TWILIGHT! IS HE YOUR DATE????”

Twilight Sparkle blushed when her friend yelled this. “I'm sorry about that. She's just being Pinkie Pie.” The pegasus stallion walking with her let out a chuckle.

“Well, we are walking together. And you did offer to make me lunch. I guess it could be a date.”
Twilight blushed even more and started stumbling over her words.

“Well...uh...i mean...i guess it could...erm....uhhh....Oh look, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight blushed and thought about it. He is really cute, but I don't have the time to date. Just to many studies, and ohhhh why am I even thinking about this? The pegasus chuckled again, making the purple unicorn blush even more.

“Hey Rainbow,” Twilight yelled to the cyan pegasus. “Could you come here for a second.”

“Guess I gotta go,” she said to Pinkie and Ditzy. Rainbow took flight and headed over to where twilight was. “Hey Twilight, whats u.......” Her voice trailed off into oblivion. Her eyes locked dead on the navy blue pegasus standing next to her friend. “What...what are you doing here?” She landed and took a slightly defensive stance.

“Rainbow, what are you talking about, you mean you know him,” Twilight asked.

“Yes, Twilight. I know him,” she said as she let up her defensive stance a little, but was by no means relieved to see the male pegasus. In fact, he made her nervous and scared. “He's my brother.”

The Eyes of Sherastol - Chapter 5

“Why would she send me a letter?! And why mail it? Why not send it through Spike?!” The young dragon had returned to Ponyville, but was told to stay at the library in case anypony wanted to come check a book out. But it was mainly so he wouldn’t be a nuisance to Twilight while she studied the lions. Twilight was flustered as Star Strider read the letter that came with the book Twilight had received.

“Twilight Sparkle,” he said as he began to read the letter. Twilight had already read and re-read it three times. She wasn't used to receiving a letter from the Princess. Much less one that addressed Twilight so informally. “I sent you this book in hopes that it will shed light on what happened in the Everfree. I was worried dearly about you, but was unable to come and see you, much less rescue you. I had other duties to attend to. The Rocs are back and I needed to speak with Arishol, their king, but you don't need to be bothered with this.”

“Unable?” Twilight asked. “Unable to help rescue her student from certain death?”

“I'm sure the Princess has her reasons, Twilight. After all she said she had to deal with the Rocs.”

“Rocks? Rocks are more important than her student?”

“Not R-o-c-k-s. R-o-c-s. They're big birds.”

“Oh.” Twilight muttered something beneath her breath, but let Star Strider finish the letter.

(A.N.: Celestia’s not being a complete bitch. The reason why she couldn’t help Twilight is explained in the next chapter. Don’t hate it because of that)

Star Strider smiled. “When you are feeling better, I would like you and your friends, including any siblings of a certain Element of Loyalty, to come and meet with Luna and I in Canterlot. In the meantime, I think you will find pages thirty-six to thirty-eight and pages forty-seven to forty-nine quite interesting in Areas Outside of Equestria. Your teacher and mentor Princess Celestia of Equestria.”

Twilight looked at the book that the Princess had sent her. It wasn't anything special. It had the words Areas Outside of Equestria inlaid in gold on the brown leather cover, and looked to be old, but certainly nothing special. Twilight flipped through the book with her magic. There were some pictures in it, but mostly it was filled with text. “Page thirty-six,” Twilight said as she flipped to the correct pages.

“LeoArun,” she began. Star Strider watched her as she read. “LeoArun, pronounced Lee-Oh-Ah-Rune, is the name of the lands beyond the Everfree forest. These lands stretch far and wide. The lands of LeoArun are more of a savannah than anything else. They are populated by the race of large cats known as lions.” Twilight quickly looked up at Star Strider. “I guess I'm not crazy.”

“Twilight, no amount of imagination could have given you those wounds.” Star Strider gestured towards Twilight's leg. The bandages had been replaced, courtesy of Fluttershy.

“I know but still. Star Strider, have you ever seen anything like the lions that I told you about?”

“No.”

“Heard about them?”

Star Strider bit his lip at this question. He didn't want to lie to Twilight, but he also wasn't ready to tell the world about his father. “No, Twilight. I haven't.”

“So apparently nopony has. Ugh.” She looked back down at the book. “The race of lions live in packs. Packs are made up of several different lions. The lions of LeoArun are divided into eighteen different packs.” Twilight kept skimming down the page for useful information. “Diet. No. Sleeping habits. No. Mate... definitely no!” she said blushing a little. She scanned down the page past what she deemed useless. “Hello? What's this? Class Separations and Religions?” Twilight checked the page numbers. Sure enough, it started on page fourty-seven.

“They have their own religions?”

“Well, the book says they do.”

“Well what does it say?” Star Strider leaned closer to Twilight.

The purple unicorn blushed a little from being so close to Star Strider. “As mentioned before,” Twilight read, “The lions of LeoArun are separated into eighteen different packs. In the pack system of lions, thirty to forty lions make up a pack. The lowest in this pack are the females. Though the females are the ones who bring life into the world, they are looked down upon.” Twilight was stunned at the information. How did the author get this much information on these beasts. Twilight's eyes drifted back to the book. “The next in the lion's society are the male hunters. They are given the praise for feeding the pack. And finally there is the head of the pack. The priest. The priest is usually a male... ch-chimera.” Twilight stumbled a bit when she said 'chimera'. Memories of the day flooded back to her.

“Twilight, do you want me to read it?” Star Strider knew she was having trouble reading the book now.

“N-no. I'm fine. Thank you though.” Twilight smiled a little, then cleared her throat and began to read again. “The priests all signify the head of the lions. They are at the top of the community because the extra appendages they possess are considered to be gifts from the lion's god...” Twilight paused for a moment. “Sherastol,” she said quietly, but loud enough for Star Strider to hear her.

Star Strider's eyes went wide. “Let... let me look at that. Please.” Twilight pushed the book over a little so Star Strider could look it over. His mother's words kept repeating in his head. He knew the Eye of Sherastol was a jewel, but the jewel of a god?

'Tell me my pony, do you know what the Eyes of Sherastol are?' The chimera's words rang in Twilight's head. Her head was spinning. She could barely see straight. She could see the look of worry in Star Strider's face. “Star Strider, could you... Could you please finish reading?”

“Of course, Twilight.” Twilight lifted the book with her magic and put the book on the ground in front of Star Strider, who proceeded to lay down and read it out loud. “Religion. The lions of LeoArun worship a central deity. The name of this deity is Sherastol, the All Seeing. It is said that the chimera priests are able to connect and speak with Sherastol, which also gains them their status in the lions society.” Star Strider stopped reading, which confused Twilight. He looked up from the book and into the purple unicorn's eyes. “There's nothing else.”

Twilight's eyes went wide. “What?” her tone was distressed. “What do you mean there's nothing else?! There has to be more!” She begin to panic, not hearing anything about the Eyes. She levitated the book over to herself and scanned the pages furiously. “No, that can't be all it says! There has to be more! There has to be...” There has to be something about the Eyes. Twilight just looked at the pages for a moment before looking up at Star Strider. “Star Strider, I need you to do me a favor. Please.” Her tone was kind, but slightly distressed.

“What do you need Twilight?”

“I need you to find your sister. I have to talk to her.”

Thundercloud awoke on the edge of the Everfree Forest. His mind was burning. He tried to recall what had happened in the forest with Fluttershy, and the voice. He tried to stand up but just flopped back onto the ground. “What in the hay, happened?” he asked himself. Only bits of the conversation with Fluttershy and the voice remained in his head. He managed to shakily stand up, and wandered down the road to Ponyville, when the memories of the forest suddenly flooded back to him.

“Oh, There's one other thing I need you to do for me, my little pony.” Fluttershy drifted closer and ran her hoof down Thundercloud's cheek. “I need you to bring me your sister also.”

Thundercloud slowly nodded his head in agreement again. “I'll do it,” he smirked. The misty Fluttershy began to dissolve into the air. The mist turned red, as if it was made out of blood. It slithered up around Thundercloud's right front leg and wrapped around it. Thundercloud felt a burning sensation on his leg as the mist pressed into it. He winced in pain. It felt as if he had stuck his leg into an open flame. When the red smoke dissipated, a mark on his leg was all that was left. A red diamond with a flame behind it was imprinted into his skin, on the back of his leg. He looked at it, and the around the area.

“Welcome to the pack, Thundercloud,” the voice said, startling the pegasus.

“You still never told me who you are,” the pegasus spat.

“I didn't? Oh how silly of me. I mean sometimes it's so easy to forget the details, eh Thundercloud.” Thundercloud blinked a little and a confused look overtook his face. He didn't know what the voice meant. “I am known as The All Seeing to certain races, but you, my little pony, may call me Sherastol.” The name rang a small bell in Thundercloud's head, but he couldn't remember why. “And all you need to do, is bring me that jewel, along with your sister, right back here in the forest.”

All Thundercloud could do was nod.

“Excellent,” the voice said. With that, Thundercloud felt strange. His eyelids began to droop, as a black mist swirled around him. “Consider this your initiation, Thundercloud. You are now a lifelong servant of Sherastol, The All Seeing god of the LeoArun. Use your new gifts wisely, young pegasus.”

“What gifts?” Thundercloud asked. He suddenly felt a strange sensation taking his body over. As if he was... falling. He quickly looked down to see himself falling down a large black hole. The voice of Sherastol cackled.

“You will find out when you awake! If you awake that is,” Sherastol yelled.

The next thing he knew, Thundercloud was waking up on the edge of the Everfree forest.

Thundercloud stood up and noticed a difference quickly. He felt stronger. He shook his head once or twice, and took a look around. He knew he was on the edge of the Everfree, but he didn't know where. Fluttershy's house could not be seen, which meant he was a ways away from Ponyville. He unfurled his wings to inspect them, making sure that nothing was broken in the fall. Thundercloud glanced over at each wing, and, seeing that nothing was wrong with them, took off. Flying felt different to the black pegasus. It felt as if he was flying faster than he ever had. He flapped his wings once and generated a large burst of speed. He soared over the scenery below, which was just simple field land.

Thundercloud flew for a while before coming to the edge of Ponyville. He touched down on a street leading away from the city, and walked ahead. Thundercloud slowly made his way into the small village, looking around at the scenery. All in all it was a beautiful day. Birds were singing and the sun shone down on the peaceful town. Thundercloud didn’t care for any of this beauty though. His mind was filled with thoughts of what had just happened with Sherastol, or rather, the disembodied voice of Sherastol. Fragments of the conversation still loomed over him, such as Thundercloud having to bring his sister to the “god.”

He had no idea how he was going to convince Rainbow to trek into the Everfree Forest with him. He mulled ideas over in his head. No. This is crazy. Why would I even convince to bring her into the forest? Suddenly the vision of Ponyville raced through his mind again. The bloody and gruesome bodies of ponies torn apart. The town being burned to the ground. Ditzy… Thundercloud shook his head to rid himself of the horrid thoughts. “No. That won’t happen. I won’t let it. Sherastol promised he wouldn’t hurt her.” Thundercloud decided the best approach would be to just talk to his sister about it. As he neared the town, he sighed lightly. “Easier said than done…” Suddenly, a gray blur crashed into him, knocking him to the ground and making his vision go blurry. He rubbed his head and looked around, finally finding a pegasus mare resting on top of him. “Well hello, Ditzy.”

“O-Oh. Hi Thundercloud!” Ditzy smiled at the stallion stupidly, then gasped as it clicked. “Th-Th-Thunder! You’re here! Wh-what are you doing here?!” Ditzy was now hovering excitedly in the air, blushing a little at the sight of the other gray pony.

Thundercloud laughed a little at the mare’s excitement and blushed himself. “Nothing much, Ditzy. Just here to visit Rainbow with Strider, you know?”

“Y-Yeah! I saw him too! But… you weren’t with him…” Ditzy looked at Thundercloud sadly and landed next to him, then nuzzled his mane. “I missed you…”

Thunder knew that Ditzy had always been a little… direct in expressing her emotions, but never had she done something so straightforward as that. “I… ah… missed you too, Ditzy.” He smiled a little as the mare stopped nuzzling, and looked at him with those golden eyes, which were now wide, and she was smiling.

“Well you’re here now, and that’s all that matters! We have so much to catch up on!”

Thundercloud let out another laugh at the easily excitable mare. “Well,” he hesitated, thinking about the task that was set before him. He still needed to think some more on this. And besides, one little date with Ditzy wouldn’t change anything. If anything it would give him a distraction from everything that’s been going on. “Sure Ditzy, I’d love to.”

Ditzy let out a small squeal and smiled happily. “We’ll go out to lunch then! Get a plate of hay fries and catch up. Get it? Catch. Up?” Ditzy smiled at her own little pun, which prompted a laugh from Thunder.

“Sounds nice Ditzy. Let’s go.”

Rainbow Dash was resting on the rug in front of Twilight, who was still lying on the couch. Rainbow's eyes were red and puffy from having to tell her friend about her father. Tears were streaming down her face, and she had to keep closing her eyes to try and hold them back. “I told you all I know Twilight.” Star Strider had gone back and fetched Rainbow after Twilight had asked him to. She wasn't too happy about being woken up from her nap, but when Star Strider told her what it was about, the thought of revenge flooded her mind. She immediately perked up and followed Star Strider to Fluttershy's house, where he and Twilight had been resting.

Twilight eyed her friend. She knew this wasn't easy for the pegasus. Star Strider was lying next to Rainbow, comforting her. Twilight was pressing her friend for any information she could get, but realized it was a fruitless attempt. “But that Chimera said-” Twilight started, a little too loud, when Rainbow cut her off.

“I know what he said Twilight. You told us all what he said.” Rainbow's tone had turned bitter. She was annoyed with everypony. She was annoyed with having to relive that day over and over again. “I don't know what the jewel is for. I found it this morning. That's all I know,” she lied.

“Rainbow I know you don't know, but please isn't there anything-”

“Twilight.” Rainbow cut her friend off and looked her directly in the eyes. The two ponies stared at each other for a few second, when Twilight broke the gaze.

“I'm sorry Rainbow. This must be so hard for you...”

“It's fine, Twilight. Don't worry about it,” the pegasus said, though she wasn't too sure that she meant it. “So what did that book of yours say about the lions or whatever?”

Twilight's ears perked up again. She had been waiting to tell Rainbow about the book, hoping that maybe, it would help her to gain some information of sorts. “Well it talked about where they live, their diets and everything of the sort, but even that is amazing information. I can’t believe that I don’t have this book in my-“

“Twilight,” Rainbow said, trying to get her friend to stop talking.

“It’s just crazy, Dash. I mean, somepony would’ve had to watch them to understand their habits, and yet there’s so little information on the subject of their religion that-“

“Twilight,” Dash said once again.

“Hmm? Oh… I did it again, didn’t I?”

Rainbow laughed lightly at her friend and smiled. Even though they were talking about the creatures that caused the death of one parent of hers, she felt a little better by being comforted by Twilight. She looked over at her brother, who was now asleep next to her. “How late did you keep him up last night?”

Twilight just giggled. “Oh not that long…”

“Don’t you hurt my brother with all your late night studying!”

“Oh calm down Dash. Don’t get your feathers ruffled. We went to bed around two, okay?”

Rainbow sighed and rolled her eyes. “So how did you get this book again?”

“I told you Rainbow, the Princess sent it. She also sent a letter. She wants us all to go to Canterlot to meet her and Luna.”

“Luna, huh? Think she’ll still be talking all funny like on Nightmare Night?” Dash giggled a little, along with Twilight.

“Probably not. She’s had enough time to become accustom to the speech here. I’m sure we’ll actually be able to understand her this time. Okay… you’ll be able to understand her.” Twilight giggled at her own joke.

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing, Rainbow.” Twilight smiled, happy she was able to make her friend laugh and smile.

“Yeah, it better mean nothing!” Rainbow stood up and stretched herself out, spreading her wings. “So… When are we getting the gang together?”

Twilight’s ears folded back. She wasn’t exactly sure how to approach her friends about this. “Ah… I really don’t know Rainbow.”

“Well why not?”

Twilight sighed. “Rainbow, it’s hard to explain, okay?” Actually it was impossible to explain, because even Twilight didn’t have a reason for it.

“Whatever, Twi.” Rainbow sighed and rolled over.

“Rainbow?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

Rainbow arched her eyebrow and rolled back over to look Twilight, who was looking at her with a mix of sadness, yet the oddest look of sincerity. “For what?”

Twilight sighed a little. “I can tell this isn’t easy for you Rainbow… I never… Nopony never even had the slightest idea about your parents. So… thank you… It means a lot to me that you’re willing to open up to me and tell me this.”

“Twilight… you’re my best friend. I trust you with my life.” Rainbow smiled at the unicorn then snuggled next to Star Strider, who was still asleep next to her. “Naptime sound good?”

Twilight chuckled a little and nodded. “Yes. That sounds… delightful.” Twilight rested her head against a pillow and soon fell into sleep. And with sleep, came dreams. Chilling dreams about Sherastol, the lions and the chimera, Ponyville in ruins, and Equestria erased from existence.

Ditzy Doo and Thundercloud were currently sitting outside the Ponyville Café, waiting on their plate of hay fries to come out. It was about three in the afternoon, so the café wasn’t that busy.

“So you’ve just been in Cloudsdale this whole time?” Ditzy asked Thunder. She was so happy to see her childhood friend. “But… You had my address when I moved… why didn’t you ever visit me?”

Thundercloud sighed. “I really don’t know Ditzy. A lot of stuff happened after dad and Rainbow left. Mom was ill for years to come. She never really recovered from it…”

“Oh yeah… I forgot about your dad and Rainbow leaving.”

“There’s that killer memory of yours.” Thunder grinned and laughed while Ditzy blushed. Hard.

“I… uh…” Ditzy rubbed the back of her head and smiled as the waiter brought out their food.

“A plate of hay fries for the stallion and mare. Enjoy.” He trotted back towards the shop after setting the plate down on the couple’s table.

“Thank you, and we will. Have a nice day!” Ditzy smiled as she looked at the plate hungrily, but then looked back at Thundercloud, with sad eyes. “It’s been so long Thunder… I just can’t believe you’re here. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”

Thundercloud blushed, looking back at Ditzy. “Hey… Like you said, I’m here now. That’s all that matters, right?”

Ditzy let out a small laugh and smiled lightly, then leaned over and pecked Thunder on the cheek. “Right.” Thunder just sat there blushing. “So are we gonna get started on these hay fries or not?!” Ditzy grabbed the bottle of ketchup and began smothering the fries in it.

Thunder laughed and watched her. “Do you remember the time you came over, and you and I tried to bake our own cookies?”

“Oh dear Celestia, do I?” Ditzy laughed and popped a couple fries in her mouth. Rainbow ended up covered in flour, and you and I did nothing but eat the chocolate chips!” The two friends shared a laugh. “Oh! Oh! Oh! What about the time we got Star Strider to play hide and seek with us?”

“Now that was a fun day. He started freaking out because he couldn’t find us, and we were hidden in a cloud the whole time!”

“Hey… Thunder?”

“Yeah?”

“I… Can I ask you a question.”

“O-Oh… Uhm.. sure Ditzy.”

“How… How was it? Without Rainbow at home, I mean.”

Thunder shut his eyes. That was a subject he did not like talking about. “It was very different. Without having dad or Rainbow there, it left a hole in all of our lives.”

“I see…”

Thundercloud sighed again, wishing he could just push the painful memories out of his mind. “We woke up one morning, and Rainbow and Dad were just gone. Mom was sobbing and blubbering something about a stone or something, and Strider was just silent the whole time. None of us knew what to do. We asked mom if we could go out looking for them, but she said that we were too young, she didn’t want to lose us either. Within the next few months, mom fell ill. Nothing too horrible, just a cold or something, but it never went away. She was like that for the next seven years, her illness worsening and taking a toll on her body. Strider and I had to make sure we had alternating shifts at the weather factory so one of us could always be at home with her…”

Ditzy was tearing up a little. “So you found Rainbow… what about your dad?” Thunder turned away and sighed. “Thunder? Did you find him?” Ditzy was being her oblivious self. Thundercloud remained silent. “Thun-“

“No! Alright? I didn’t find him. Now stop asking me,” he said in a harsh tone.

Ditzy winced a little, but put a hoof on her friends shoulder. She was a klutz, but her heart was huge and she cared for, above all else, her friends. “Thundercloud. I know this is a hard topic for you to talk about. I’m sorry for asking questions. Why don’t we just get back to eating, alright?” She smiled at her friend and popped a few more fries in her mouth. Thunder smiled lightly and did the same.