The Flower of Trotland

It is written:

'In the darkest hour for a little filly lost in the world, the realm of fairies will open its doors and the true Queen of Trotland will return to her children, to see them safe and sound.  For the Queen of Trotland sealed herself in the realm to protect her land, and if her land needs her, she shall return.'

-Bruce Galloneigh, 'The Queen of the Trots; theories and conspiracies'

Part One: A Not Quite Fond Recollection and the Beginning of the Start

Bonnie Thistle had always loved exploring as a filly.  One day in particular stuck in her mind - the day she made her parents angry.

The sun was bright and broke through the clouds.  She was determined not to let the day go to waste.  Rounding up her herd, she stood proudly on the climbing rocks that they spent so much time playing on.  Weakly using her magic to lift her notebook she stared at her friends.  To them, she was a smaller than average filly with a mane of orange and coat of yellow.  What she lacked in physical size she made up for in voice and charisma.  "Friends, we're gonnae go on an adventure today."  She stated.

"Don't we always?"  The trouble maker of the group asked.  Her name was Whisky Snap, and she was the colour of whisky and honey.  Like the two she could be sweet and energetic - but most would argue wearisome and trouble.  It depended on the pony, Bonnie always supposed.

"Well, aye, but this time I need to research."

The older stallion of the group, Iron Heart, stomped his hoof in eagerness, "Aye, okay, where do you want to go today, Bonnie?"

Bonnie grinned, her eyes blazing with sudden energy.  "The Dovecote!"

There was a sudden silence in the air.

"I-I'm not allowed to go there," Lilac Dreams squeaked, hiding behind Iron Heart.  "M-my maw would freak out if I went near there."

"But I have tae!"  Bonnie snapped, shaking her mane.  "I heard rumours that there's a monster in there and I need to see!  How can I write about it if I dinnae ken aboot it?!"

"Well, you could use yer imagination,"  Shortbread, a slightly plump colt muttered, rolling his eyes, "Isn't that what your cutie mark represents?"

Bonnie snorted, and glared at her friend, "Naw, it represents my talent in writing.  How can I have talent if I won't explore?"

The silence lingered a tad longer.  "I'll go with you."  Iron Heart stated, stepping forwards.

Bonnie threw him a gleeful look and nodded.

Not one to lose out on Iron's attention, Lilac attempted to stand up straight, shaking her bangs from her eyes.  "I'm going too then."

The orange coated colt turned back and shook his head, "I don't want you to get in trouble.  You go home, and if we don't come back by dinner, tell yer maw where we are.  I need you to do this for me."

Iron Heart was the oldest, and therefore the wisest.  With a small nod, Lilac turned on her hooves and galloped back home.  "Shortbread, are you in or out?"

The smaller colt shook his head, "Naw.  Sorry, Bonnie, but I think I'd rather avoid my parents scorn fer the day."

"Well, I'm gonna come along!"  Whisky grinned, a small snap firing from her horn.  "Us unicorns can use our magic if we get in a pinch!"

That left Bubble Drop.  "Are ye in or oot?  Aye or naw?"  Bonnie asked, "Ye can stay at hame if ye want."

Bubble pondered for a second, before stretching her wings, "Ah... Ah guess ah can come fer a bit."

The four set out on their way down to the Dovecote.  The parents of little fillies forbade them from travelling so far into the Glen.  Bonnie never understood why - the forest was safe from predators, and everypony was friendly in Trotland.  One day, perhaps she would understand the evils that parents fear, but this day was not due for a long time.

The Dovecote wasn't hard to find.  It was a single tower sticking out from behind a clump of bushes.  Carefully making their way through the over growth, Bonnie managed to find the door.  "It's sealed tight from the inside," she mused to herself, grazing her hoof over the rock.  "I need tae get in..."

"I can try explodin' it," Whisky offered, her face a mask of glee at the thought.

"Naw, that'll cause too much noise," Bubble whispered, glancing around.  "Do you guys hear that?"

Iron Heart shrugged and turned his rear to the door, only to attempt kicking it.  "Nae luck.  Maybe it's switch activated..."

"Hey!"  Bonnie yelled, as she leaned up the wall, "There's a window up there.  I can fit through!"

"And how're ye gonna get in?"  Whisky asked.

Bonnie glanced at her friends, "Help me?"

"Please?"  Iron Heart laughed, kneeling down.  "See if ye can clamber up now?"

After a brief scrabble, Bonnie cursed.  "It's tae high... Bubble Drop!  Gie's a wing, eh?"

Reluctantly, Bubble took her friend's hoof and wildly flapped her wings.  After a few seconds she heard her friend give the affirmative.  "I'm on the ledge."

Iron Heart looked up with mild concern, "Be careful, Bonnie.  Don't head in, okay?  Just have a look."

Bonnie nodded and turned her head into the Dovecote.  Using her horn, she attempted to light up the room, only to awaken a group of bats that flew in her direction.  Trying to maintain her position on the ledge, she found herself stumbling forward into the panicked bats.

The fall wasn't that bad, but it hurt her rear.  She winced in pain as the tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.  It was only after she used her magic as a torch again that she realised she was trapped inside.  The room wasn't particularly big, and the air was stale.   "I'm stuck..."  She muttered, turning to the rock door.  Placing her hoof against it, she tried to push it.  "I'm stuck," she repeated, louder.  "Help!"  She called to her friends.

They had seen her fall, but were on the brink of madness.  "What do we dae?!"  Whisky wailed, hiding her eyes with her hooves.

"I'll fly in and get her!" Bubble Drop offered, attempting to fly up.

"Be careful,"  Iron muttered, attempting to kick the door again.  He glanced up in confusion as Bubble squealed.

"I can't get in!  The bats!  They're swarming and blocking the window..."

Using a grown up curse, Iron kicked the door again.

"What're we gonnae dae?!"  Whisky wailed again.

*

Bonnie sat in the darkness.  The only noise she could hear was the chattering bats.  Luckily, the seemed uninterested with her.  How long would she be stuck here?  She was unable to hear her friends, and she doubted they could hear her.

The clammy heat of the Dovecote made her drowsy, yet she tried her hardest to sit up straight.

She should have listened to Shortbread and Lilac, she decided.  She was always too stubborn.  Rummaging around in her small satchel, she pulled out her notebook and pencil and began to write.  There was nothing else she could do.

"What are you doing, my little filly?"  A voice asked her, curiously.

"Describing the Dovecote,"  Bonnie muttered as she focused on the paper.

"Oh my, may I take a gander?"

Bonnie nodded and held up the notebook, only to blink in disbelief.  She jumped up and cowered slightly in the corner.  In front of her was a small unicorn with pegasus wings.  She glowed slightly, and her blue mane sat tidily on her head like a bluebell.  "H-how'd ye get in here?!  Who are ye?!"

The mare tilted her head and smiled softly, "Who knows.  Perhaps it was the small lights that shine in here."

Bonnie, confused, looked around the room, and was surprised to see tiny lights floating in the room.  "... how... Is this magic?"

The older mare smiled and bowed her head, "It is.  But not of this realm."

"Realm?"

Again, a nod.  "You are an author, wee lass?  Look up the word when you get home."

"I'm never gettin' hame," Bonnie sulked, "I'm stuck in here cause I'm a stubborn idiot."

Another smile, and the white mare shook her head, "Nay, wee lass, ye have people who love ye and wouldnae let ye be stuck here forever.  Hear that?  They're coming for you now..."

*

It was the light that woke up Bonnie.  It burst into the small room and hurt somewhat.

"Bonnie?  Are ye alright my lamb?!"  It was her mother.

"A-aye," she muttered, moving towards the light.

"We were only able to open it up a bit lass, ye're gonnae ha' to crawl through it."  The sterner voice was Iron Heart's fathers.  She nodded, and managed to squeeze through the hole he had made.

Both her parents stood outside, staring at her with shocked eyes.  Lilac Dreams hide behind them, a regretful look on her face.  Fighting the urge to cry, Bonnie stared at her parents.  "I'm sorry.  Lilac, I shoulda listened to ye.  I'm so sorry."

Her mother gave her a strange look - one she had never seen before nor never would.  "Ye're foalish, Bonnie.  I... We... I never want you to do something sae stupid ever again."

"What if you hurt yourself?"  Her father said, his tone cold.  "What if we couldn't save you?"

"But she said you would come for me no matter what," Bonnie snivelled.

Her mother raised an eyebrow curiously, but her father shook his head.  "Don't do it again, Bonnie Thistle."  He said.

The young mare couldn't help herself.  The tears leaked out, and her friends could see.  Iron Heart turned his face, and Whisky lowered her ears.  The words weren't just meant for Bonnie.  They should have talked her out of it.

But the call for adventure was just too great...

Or perhaps the call for adventure was just too early.

*

Bonnie picked a book off her shelf and grinned to herself.  "The Ancient Kelpie, Morven, was said to have been locked up at Loch Mare-y.  It's close to home, so we should go there first."

"And why us?"  Whisky asked, her face a look of mild amusement.

"Well, Old Tam said there's been weird stuff happening at Loch Mare-y.  It's probably just goblins or something again, but I think we should investigate.  Besides, I need to research for writing!"

"I'm in," Iron Heart said, grinning.

Bonnie thought for a second, "Ye reckon anypony else will want to go too?"

"Doubt it," Whisky yawned, "Bubble Drop is constantly in flight school - you know how in demand pegasi are in Trotland.  Shortbread took his family business over to Canterlot to make money on all the festivities there."

"Oh aye, I forgot Celestia was making it a national holiday.  I guess she's happy Luna came back."

Iron Heart gave a polite cough, "Then it should just be us."

"What about Lilac?  We should ask her."

"Naw, Whisky," Iron snapped, "She might get hurt or something."

"I doubt the Kelpie actually exists," Bonnie pointed out, "It's just a weekend trip to Loch Mare-y.  And how come it's okay fer us to get hurt?"

"You two can look after yerselves."  He muttered, "Besides, actually, nevermind."

Whisky gave a wicked smile and winked at Bonnie who shook her head.  "Okay, then.  I'll let Old Tam know we're leaving for a few days.  We leave tomorrow morning."