A Lone Wonderer
The Road Unknown
It was calm night in the small town of Ponyville after one of Pinky pie's 'famous' parties, almost every pony had turned in for the night, all asleep in their homes. They were unaware of the shadowy figure walking into town.
He was dressed in a black Stetson cowboy hat and a long leather cloak that just reached his hooves, like him they looked tattered and worn. The last pieces of this cloaked figure that could be seen were a medium sized guitar on his back and an object hanging around his neck shining in the moonlight. This unknown stallion walked through the small town without ever looking up, like he had no mind to where he was going.
There was only one pony walking around after the party, Applejack, an orange mare with a sun gold mane. She walked away from the town square enjoying the cool night air on her fur when she caught sight of this strange figure. Being the kind pony she is, when she noticed him limping with his head down she couldn't help but feel sorry for him and at least see if he was alright. She cautiously approached him so as not to scare the poor stallion.
"Howdy mister, y'all ok?" Applejack asked with a concerned tone in her voice. The pony stopped when he heard her voice and stood there swaying a bit before he collapsed into a heap on the ground right in front of her, knocking his hat off.
"Mister!?" Applejack yelled in shock as she tried to wake him up but he wouldn't move. 'This ain't good' she thought to herself as she looked around to see if anypony was around to help her get him to the hospital until she noticed a rainbow colored tail hanging off of a cloud over head.
"HEY RAINBOW!" Applejack called out. The pegasus in question lazily flopped over onto her stomach looking down, slightly annoyed somepony interrupted her wonderbolt acceptance dream.
"What’cha want AJ?" she replied in an annoyed tone.
"GIT yer feathered behind down here! Somepony needs our help!" Yelled Applejack. Dash had a confused look on her face until she looked a little closer and saw the cloaked figure on the ground wheezing and instantly bolted to the ground.
"What's wrong with him?" The cyan and rainbow colored mare asked slightly freaking out.
"I don't know but we better git-em to the hospital quick" replied Applejack as she lowered herself down and scooped the stallion up onto her back as gently as she could. Applejack carried the stranger carefully, making sure not to drop him. Dash carried the stallion's guitar and hat following close behind Applejack as they ran to the hospital. Once they arrived Applejack burst through the door and yelled at the top of her lungs.
"Sompony help! This guy aint doin too well!" As soon as she yelled a doctor and 2 nurses ran up with a stretcher and tenderly placed the stranger onto it before they started a quick examination.
"Ok, nurse help me get this cloak off him" The doctor said as he and the nurses quickly but gently removed the cloak. What laid there before them was something they didn't expect. It was an alicorn, a young one at that, probably only a couple years younger than the elements of harmony themselves. The doctor rid himself of his shock in sake of saving the patient. His left wing was snapped in several places, 4 broken ribs and multiple gashes, cuts and tears that had been untreated for days.
"We need to get him to the ICU immediately! Nurse, get 2 pints of blood and an antibiotic treatment ready immediately" He ordered never taking his eyes off the patient.
"Yes doctor" One nurse replied running through a set of double doors.
Applejack approached the doctor "Is he gonna be alright?" she asked with a worried look on her face.
"I don't know, but if he was able to move let alone WALK for days with all those injuries I'd be willing to bet he's not going to go down without a fight" The doctor said confidently. Applejack nodded in understanding before Dash flew over.
"These are the things he had on him when we found him" Rainbow stated holding the items out to the doctor. He looked at the items briefly before he noticed something odd stuck to the hat's brim.
"Could you hand me the hat for a second?" The doctor asked with an eyebrow raised in curiosity. Rainbow handed it to him, he examined item attached to the hat. It was a gold necklace with a simple locket attached. He hmm-ed as he opened the locket. What met his eyes was a small picture of a beautiful alicorn holding a newborn foal in her forelegs with a huge smile on her face. Then his eyes drifted to the inside of the cover where a crest of a sun and moon was engraved. Going wide eyed he looked at the 2 mares.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked showing them the picture inside along with the crest.
"Don't rightly know doc what is it?" Said Applejack tilting her head to the side slightly.
"I got no clue" Rainbow said hovering in the air shrugging her shoulders.
"Your friend ... what was her name, Twilight Sparkle? She knows the princesses right?"
"Yeah she's Celestia's apprentice, why?" Rainbow asked with a skeptical look on her face. The doctor looked back at the crest and the back at them.
"Tell her to send word to the princess about him and ask if she could come here as soon as possible." the two stunned mares looked at each other then back at the doctor skeptically.
"How many alicorns do you think exist and how many of them are male? Trust me on this the princess is going to want to know about this immediately" he pointed out, making them nod then run out of the hospital without hesitation, heading towards the town library where Twilight lived with her assistant a baby dragon named Spike.
"Hey AJ you think this is important enough to tell the princess about?" asked Rainbow
"Dash, have YOU ever seen a alicorn stallion before cus I sure ain't" Applejack said flatly. Rainbow thought about it for a second remembering that the only male member of the royal family she had ever met was Blueblood and he was a unicorn, a stuck up ass of one at that.
"I guess I haven't, I never really thought about it before" Rainbow replied with a hoof resting her chin.
"HEY TWI! WE NEED YER HELP PRONTO!" yelled Applejack As they reached the library, knocking hard on the door hoping to wake its occupants quickly. They heard a few grumbles, crashes and moans before the door swung open to reveal a very annoyed and tired looking Twilight.
"What in the name of Celestia are you 2 doing knocking on my door at this hour?" Said Twilight as they ignored her and barged inside.
-15 min later-
"I can’t believe this, a MALE alicorn?" Twilight asked excitedly, all hints of tiredness gone.
"We didn't believe it at first either but sure as rain's wet there he was" Stated Applejack.
"Looking like he's been through Tartarus and back" said Rainbow exaggerating her statement with her hooves.
"Ok, SPIKE!" Twilight yelled trying to wake her sleeping assistant, they all heard loud snoring in response. Twilight half closed her eyes in annoyance.
"I'll get him for ya" said Rainbow darting up the stairs. After a few seconds they hear a crash and a very annoyed dragon "What the hay Dash!!" dash flew down the stairs with a very triumphant look on her face as she carried an annoyed baby dragon by the tail in her mouth, "got'em" she said as she put him on the floor. Spike crossed his arms pouting and looking at the 3.
"What's the big idea I was having a nice dream" He huffed.
Twilight rolled her eyes "We have more important things to worry about besides your wet Rarity/gem dreams right now" At that second both Rainbow and Applejack tried not to laugh at the blushing dragon "TWIIII!!" she patted him on the head with her hoof as she walked past him and levitated a parchment and quill over to him.
"Spike we need to send a letter to princess Celestia immediately" shaking off his embarrassment he got into assistant mode and looked serious "Ready Twi" Twilight cleared her throat and then began to speak.
Dear princess Celestia,
I have just been informed that a young stallion has been admitted to the hospital here with serious injuries, normally I would not write to you this late if there wasn't a good reason. He bears some royal seal and apparently he's an alicorn. If you are able would you come down and confirm this?
Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle
"I thought only mares could be alicorns" Spike said, flabbergasted at what he had just written.
"I thought so to Spike but if anypony knows what's going on it will be Celestia, send the letter Spike” Twilight replied, nodding he breathed in and lightly blew green flame reducing the letter to ashes. The ashes sparkled then flew out the window on their way to the princess.
At the same time in Canterlot
Celestia was sitting in the throne room with her sister as she went through the last of her daily reports "Is everything alright Luna?" She asked her sister with concern.
Luna sighed "Forgive me sister I've just been so bored since the incident on nightmare night" Luna replied making Celestia giggled.
"Maybe something fun will happen soon, the grand galloping gala is coming up" Celestia said making Luna roll her eyes.
"Rich masses licking our hooves is not fun sister" Luna deadpanned, again Celestia held back a giggle
"oh come now, Twilight and her friends will be there again this year and its always so much more lively when they are around" Celestia said to her sister who seemed to accept this, humming to herself, remembering last year’s fiasco. Many didn’t know but Luna was there, she had just decided to observe the festivities rather than be in the spotlight just yet.
"True and perhaps I'll visit Ponyville again" Luna stated slightly surprising her sister.
"I'm so proud of you Luna, in the past you would never try to go out and socialize stating and I quote 'We art great princesses and the common rabble should not sully thine eyes!" Celestia said trying to look stuck up and regal.
"Tia!" Luna hollered blushing like a filly "I was never that stuck up....was I?" Celestia sighed with a smile and hugged her sister.
"That isn't who you are anymore Lulu, in the past you were a different pony but the Luna that's here before me, the caring, strong, independent mare is the real you" Luna smiled and hugged her sister back
"Thanks Tia"
"Anytime Lulu"
"Well I'm about done here so I think it’s time I retired for the evening" Stated Celestia as she rose and started to walk down the stairs to the large doors, followed by Luna. Before she reached the door Celestia felt a familiar tingle in her horn "What could Twilight be sending me at this hour?" Celestia mumbled in confusion just as a flash of light dropped a scroll in front of her. Luna walked up beside Celestia and looked at it with her.
"What is it sister?" Luna questioned.
"I don't know but it must be important to be sent at this hour" Celestia replied as she opened the scroll and read its contents along with her sister. As they read the letter they both went wide eyed and looked at each other "You did say you wanted to visit Ponyville" Celestia stated still wide eyed from the contents of the letter.
"Sister have you ever heard of an alicorn stallion?" Asked Luna.
Celestia looked confused for a second "No Luna, the only other Alicorns I know of are Cadence and Twilight"
Luna thought for a second "If he is as injured as the note says then I suggest we make hast dear sister, we shall find out the details later" Celestia nodded as her horn started to shine.
In the hospital waiting room sat the most powerful force in all equestria, the Elements of Harmony. Rainbow dash, Applejack, Pinky Pie, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, and Flutershy. They were waiting for the princess’s reply when all of a sudden there was a big flash of light and in the center stood the ruling sisters of Equestria. Twilight ran up to Celestia "Twilight thank you for informing me of this" Celestia said nuzzling her student affectionately.
"Has there been any word on his condition?" Luna asked the group who all shook their heads no except for one "Golly I hope he's ok cuz then I can give him a super duper fun welcoming party!!! Then the-" she was cut off by a hoof being shoved into her mouth by a very sleepy fashionista.
"What she means your majesty is that the doctor has not returned since he took the poor young one away" Rarity said in a sleepy yet still concerned voice.
Luna looked puzzled and asked "young? How old did he appear to you Miss Applejack?"
"Just Applejack yur majesty, an i aint sure, he looked a little younger than us by a couple years. Id figure im about 14" Replied Applejack, Luna nodded in contemplation.
After another hour of waiting Rainbow dash, Rarity, Spike and Pinkie pie were asleep in the waiting room chairs while the others were talking to the princesses. Applejack was telling the princesses how she found him after the party and got him to the hospital.
"Thank you Applejack he may very well be dead now if it wasn’t for your quick thinking, you saved his life" Celestia said with pride making Applejack blush.
"We have not heard from the doctor yet as to his condition so I think we should hold off on the hero ceremony till we know if he is going to make it" Luna stated solemnly, all the ponies present nodded with worried looks on their faces.
Lost in their worry and thoughts they all slightly jumped when the doctor finally emerged from the large double door with a very tired look on his face. "Never in all my years have I seen somepony with such a will to live" He said slumping onto his flank. Seeing the princesses he stood back up and bowed
"Doctor there is no need for that please sit down and rest" Celestia said much to the doctors relief
"thank you your majesty" He said with a sigh.
"Hey dock how is he?" Asked Applejack, everyone was looking at the doctor with tension apparent on their faces, even Pinkie was paying full attention, and the doctor sighed "He has multiple cuts, broken bones and nerve damage. We used the most advanced healing magic we knew and pumped him full of antibiotics and set every bone where it should be. The rest is up to him. If he makes it through the night id say he’s out of the woods" they all looked shocked at the amount of damage
"Doctor, may I see his personal belongings?" Asked Celestia.
"Of course your majesty, we also have the cloak he was wearing, the nurses wanted to put it in the incinerator for how ripped and bloodstained they are but I thought they might help us determine who he is exactly" The doctor replied going over to the main desk and pulling out said items.
'Hmm this cloak appears to be very old and tattered certainly older than this colt' Celestia thought to herself as she removed the piece of clothing and laid it on a table.
"HOW could ANYPONY be seen wearing such RAGS?" Rarity exclaimed as she looked the garment over.
"I kinda like the hat" Applejack said.
"Darling your fashion sense is SO last century" Rarity stated flipping her hair back. As everyone rolled their eyes at Rarity’s comment till they heard Celestia gasp in surprise.
"Luna look at this" Celestia said with wide eyes. Luna trotted over to her sister and gave an equal if not louder gasp.
"It couldn’t be what I think it is could it?" Luna asked not looking away from the crest.
"Without a doubt this is the old royal seal" stated Celestia as she examined the locket.
As she held it in her hoof the seal started to glow a white shining light "Princess Celestia what’s going on?" asked Spike.
"Allow me princess" said Twilight, going into scholar mode "The old royal crest was used before the time of Celestia and Luna’s reign. It was used by the first alicorns back during and before the tribal era"
Celestia noded not hearing any flaws in her students telling "that is exactly right Twilight, but how did it end up in the hands of this young colt?" They all stared at the crest in awe as it shined brightly.
"What about that guitar there?" asked Applejack.
“I am not sure" Replied Celestia almost as curious.
"Think he'd mind if i took a peak?" Asked Applejack.
Celestia thought about it "I suppose not we are already going to have to apologize for trifling through his effects anyway”
Applejack grabbed the handle on the case with her mouth and sat it on the floor "let’s see here" she said as she undid the clips holding the lid shut. once she did and lifted the lid she saw a very old guitar, it needed some new strings and a little tlc but otherwise it was a beautiful instrument that had seem many years "wow" was all she could say as she examined the instrument gingerly, it was made of dark honey colored wood with an ebony neck and head with a silver pick guard "That’s one of the most perdy guitars I’ve seen in my life" She said in awe.
Most of them had to agree as they looked at the instrument in her hooves "What? it’s just some old guitar" stated Rainbow hovering over Applejacks shoulder looking at it closely.
"You just don’t have any interest in anything that aint loud or fast enough to do somethin stupid on" Said Applejack with a smirk.
Everyone chuckled as Dash blushed "Hey I like other things" She said, hooves crossed still hovering in the air.
"Doctor how long do you think until the colt wakes up?" Asked Luna.
The doctor hummed in thought "If he makes it through the night I would give an educated guess of about 3 days" the doctor replied, Celestia nodded and turned to the mane six.
"Girls I would like to ask you a favor" Celestia said getting their attention. They all gather in front of her and nodded "Look after him until he wakes up, when he wakes he will most likely be scared and confused. As soon as he wakes up contact me immediately" They all nodded.
"We would be honored princess" Rarity said with a bow. The rest of the main 6 nodding in agreement.
"Thank you everypony, when he wakes show him that he is among friends and that he is not in danger. You are the only ones I would trust with this task" As she finished her sentence Celestia and her sister teleported away taking the locket with them for safekeeping.
"Well everypony I don’t think there’s much we can do till the morning. We will all come and visit him in the morning" everypony nodded in agreement and went their separate ways.
Author's Note
An attempt to get back into the groove of writing, I have not abandoned my other story but this one came to my mind and i couldn't ignore it.
This first chapter is vague on purpose.
As always criticism is required and will be read and considered.
