Ashes to Ashes

"Azeroth?" Twilight asked with her eyebrow pulled up high, "Azeroth...hmm...not that I can recall no. I've never encountered anything named Azeroth."

Rarity sighed apprehensively and it became clear to her that she was no closer to the truth at all. In fact, as it stands, she was now pushed back. All she can do now is wait for the right moment for him to reveal his full past. Rarity could not explain what she feels but she knows that she wants to help this poor pony, in any way she can. She silently promised herself that she would not rest until Alex had found peace with his past. Rarity picked her head up as she saw Spike and Alex approaching the room that the two unicorns now sat in.

Spike looked like he was paying attention to Alex and when they came closer the two unicorns heard Alex's low toned voice say, "The parrot says, "Durotar, They've got them all over the place."."

The baby dragon burst in an uproar of laughter as Alex said his punchline. Rarity and Twilight seemed confused of the joke, they both wondered what this Durotar was. Rarity felt a corner of her lip curl as she saw Alex in higher spirits, she warmed at the fact that he was able to be around very well. Twilight first spoke and said, "Thank you for attending to my assistant's chore. Sorry Spike, I thought you could handle those boxes on your own."

Alex waved his hoof and said, "Think nothing of it Twilight. It is in my nature to help."

Twilight looked like she stored that bit of information in her head and before she was able to elaborate there was a loud whistle emanating from the kitchen. With no words spoken, Twilight got up from her seat and walked over into the kitchen. Rarity looked back over at Alex and inspected him further. She tried to find a reason why she wanted to help him, she tried desperately but found nothing. Was it because he was handsome? Was it because she wants a new friend? Was it because engraved in her very soul she has to be generous? So many questions with no definitive answer. She had never been more confused of anything in her entire life. She came back from her thinking when Alex spoke up, "So, would you mind telling me more about your brother?"

Rarity looked at Alex and said with a warm smile, "What isn't there to tell you. He is the eldest amongst me, Sweetie Belle, and himself. When we were younger we did everything together. He's the one who showed me how to sew for the first time. His name tells you half of what he is, he is a protegy. Everything he picks up, he can master it within a few days or a week. He taught me how to cook, how to clean, and how to stylize manes."

Alex looked confused and he said, "Where were your parents? Normally your parents teach you those things."

Rarity seemed troubled by the question and rubbed the back of her neck and said, "That is a simple question with a complicated answer. When Sweetie Belle was no more than a few months old my mother had fallen ill and died. My father was so distraught that he forgot he had children to look after and care for. Then once I was around twelve my father remarried and his new wife meant well but she taught us nothing. It was all in Virtuoso, he was the most kind hearted pony I know."

"Why do you say was?"

Rarity felt her smile deepen and she looked deep into Alex's eyes and said, "That was before I met you. Anyway, but once we both grew up we drifted apart. He became a sensation across Equestria and had little time to come and visit his two little sisters."

Rarity looked misty and Alex said to try and comfort her, "I'm sorry about that. You two sounded very close."

Rarity took in a deep breath and said, "So, what more can you tell me about yourself?"

Alex sat in silence. He truly had no idea how to answer that question, he tried to hide it but he heard Rarity say, "It doesn't have to be anything major. How about you just tell me how you and Elena met?"

Alex smiled at the question and said, "Ah. Yes. We both grew up in the capital of our kingdom, Lordaeran. I was a farmhand at one of the major farms near the city and she was part of a minor noble house in the city. I would only go in when I had to give some supplies to the city. We first made eye contact in the main quarter. It was a nice spring day when I first saw her face. She radiated beauty beyond measure, I could not understand how one mare could be that beautiful. I approached her and I tried my own at the art of flirting."

Rarity smiled at the story and giggled slightly at his later comment. His face and posture grew more warm and more inviting as he continued, "She laughed. And I laughed, but I later found out that she was promised to another. To have her family go up in the elite. A count. While I was just a farmhand. Eventually her parents found out that she was seeing me and she gave her a choice. Either marry the count and have improved wealth or follow me and be exiled from the family. Within a few days she decided me, and I could not for the life of me figure out why she would give up her wealth for me. I can still remember those heart warming words. She said to me, "Being countess would only bring me temporary wealth, when I'm with you I am the richest mare in the world." And after that we never left each other's side. Until the First and Second war."

Rarity raised her eyebrow at his last statement and Alex saw the confusion and said, "A story for another time."

They noticed Twilight standing in the doorway holding a tray with a pot of tea and four tea cups. As she stood there Alex heard a voice in his mind say,
Keep...an...eye...on...that one...

Alex held the words in his head and made sure he did not forget them. She came in and said, "That was a beautiful story Alex."

Twilight poured some tea for everypony and after taking a sip Twilight said, "I hear that you come from a faraway land. I doubt you know much about Equestrian history."

"No," Alex said after his first sip, "I don't. And I did not know that you lived in a library. Had I known I would like to ask if I could borrow a few books."

Twilight carefully poured tea into four tea cups and light thin wisp whisked off into the air and Alex watched as it dissipated in thin air. Twilight levitated a cup over to him and he took it in his hooves and after he took a gulp of it she said, "Would you care to share something about you?"

Alex shifted his position and said grinning bringing the cup up to his lips, "I would like to actually know more about you."

Twilight appeared surprised by the counter question. She suspected that he was purposefully dodging the question but she let it slide this time. She offered a warm smile and said, "There is not much to say. My family is very secretive of themselves. I only know of a handful of relatives, even then it's not that large. And as far as my occupation I oversee this library and I am a student to Princess Celestia."

Alex raised his eyebrow questionably, "Your princesses teach?"

Rarity smiled and she explained to him, "Celestia is the Goddess of the Sun and she has a sister, Princess Luna Goddess of the Moon. They are as well as the only alicorns to exist, any records on alicorns are gone. But yes, Celestia has her own school where Twilight attended. Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns."

Twilight set down her tea and said, "Now answer my question."

Twilight was staunch determined to get something useful out of him. Alex took in another sip of tea and nervously swallowed it down. He slumped and rested his elbows on his knees, he looked over at Twilight and Rarity as if to read them and study more about them with mere looks and glances. Finally after a few minutes Alex explained after a short sigh, "There is something that you must know. The ponies where I came from were anything but peaceful. One minute your talking to your best friend the next thing you know he and half your family is dead and your trying to fight back.

"Too many wars took place where I came from. All that I want is order and peace...it...it's half of the reason that I left..."

Twilight took a nervous sip of tea. Equestria was not known to be very violent, there were laws in place against public violence. Self defense, if it ever comes to that, is the only thing that defends some killing or beatings. Twilight's heart grew heavy, she thought over ponies killing other ponies. It was horrifying. But despite the leud scenes she had she asked once more, "What was the other half?"

Alex set his tea down and thought for a long hard time. Twilight was about to query but Rarity placed a gentle hoof on her shoulder alloaing Twilight to look over at her friend, Rarity gave a simple shake of her head. Alex swallowed hard and he choked on some of the words that came out, "I...my...my family...they're gone..."

Twilight felt terrible, she let her curiosity get the better of her. She nearly broke a pony and showed no remorse. She needed to do something. She stood up setting her tea down and rushed over to Alex. She went down and pulled him into a friendly hug. She tightly woven her hooves around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Alex was shot back to reality as he realized there was a mare hugging him.

Twilight said softly, "I'm sorry if you were hurt by having to remember something you weren't comfortable with. I'm so sorry....you are more than welcome to borrow any books you need."

Alex kept his hooves raised in the air. He was still surprised at the gesture. He decided to give the gesture back. He returned the warm gesture and he felt his cold heart give a little and melt away. His once calleous mind fell apart. But it went back up as he heard Ashbringer say,
She...is...the...key...