Through the Eyes of an Orphan

“I traveled for miles… I don’t even want to think what might have happened if they wouldn’t have caught me. I ran from my home, which was to the north-east of the Everfree forest and the Royal Sister’s Castle, to the south.” Chestnut said, taking a deep, wheezing breath as he looked at his grandbabies. Smiling, he continued, “I ran as fast as I could… that is… until I ran into a stranger who was destined to be, so much more. The end.”

“Aaawww!!” The two foals cried in unison.

“But… but what happened before that? How did they catch you?! Where did they take you?!” begged a small yellow filly.

“Come on!! Tell us!” demanded her brother, a small, purple colt.

“Ok, ok.” Chestnut laughed, “I’ll tell you the rest of the story.” he said as his laugh turned to a coughing fit. “Well… after I ran, I ran to a city in the clouds. The great city of Cloudsdale.”

Chestnut ran with closed eyes as he darted through the thick underbrush. “Why? Why would they come for me?” He asked himself out loud, fighting back tears as he slowed to a trot. “I… I mean… I-I… Oh what’s the use? They’ll catch up to me eventually. Maybe I should just go back.” he continued, looking back over his shoulder as he finally stopped. “No! I.. I can’t go back. I’ll just have… have to keep.. Keep going.” Chestnut sighed, sitting down under the shade of a large tree.

Suddenly a rustling could be heard above him. “H-huh? Wh-who’s there?” He asked, looking up and backing away slowly.

“Oh!! Oh hi!” Said a slick, black-coated mare as she peeked out from the tree’s thick leaves. “What are you doing here?” she asked, looking at Chestnut with curious red eyes.

“O-oh. H-hi.” he stammered. “I…I’m hiding from some ponies.” Chestnut said, looking up at her from the ground. “How did you get up there? Are you a Pegasus to?” he asked, flapping his wings in question.

“Oh no dear. I’m not a Pegasus like you. In fact, I’m most likely somepony you will never forget.” Said the dark pony with a sinister voice as she sank back into the green foliage.

“Wa-wait! Come back!” Chestnut called, flapping his wings and flying into the dark foliage of the tree. “What’s your name?!” He called as he flew into a large, web. “Eww! What is this?” he asked, squirming to try and escape the sticky web.

“That my dear,” Said the black pony as she crawled back into view, her chest turning to a large black abdomen of a spider, “is my web… which you just so happened to fly right into!~” She cried happily.

“Ahh!” Chestnut shouted, closing his eyes in fear as he saw his newest acquaintance. “Wh-what are you?!” he asked, flailing to try and escape from his webbed prison.

“I, my dear, in your terms am a spider-pony.” She said. “And you can call me spinner.” She said, smiling as she crawled onto the thick web.

“B-but… what are you gonna do to me?” Chestnut asked with a shaky voice.

“Well.. First I’m going to wrap you up, then I’m going to suck you dry, and finally… Eat you!” Spinner said, laughing as she finished her sentence.

Chestnut’s face grew paler and paler as Spinner spoke. As she laughed, Chestnut began to scream, “HELP!!” he shouted, over and over as Spinner got closer and closer.

Spinner laughed as she hovered over Chestnut, smiling down at him as her fangs slowly appeared from her mouth. “Oh well.. Say goodbye to whomever you were running from dear.” She sang.

“Stop right there!” Shouted a voice as a dark blue aura appeared around the spider, pulling her away as a quick, blue blur snatched Chestnut from the web. “Stay here, don’t move, don’t run.” Said the mysterious mare who had saved him.

Chestnut nodded as he sat down to watch the mare take on the evil spider-pony.

“You’ve eaten too many ponies Spinner. We warned you.” Said the mare, standing between Chestnut and Spinner in a threatening stance.

Hissing at her, Spinner glared. “How else do you expect me to survive? You think I can live off of these accursed creatures that live in this stupid forest?!” she shouted as she lowered herself to the ground.

“Yes! We do! Now leave before I send you away forever!” continued the mare. “That is our last and final warning for you.” she said, turning her back to Spinner and walking towards Chestnut.

Spinner glared as she sank low to the ground, sneaking towards the newest arrival.

Chestnut pointed at her, “Look out!” he cried as Spinner leapt towards the pair.

Pivoting quickly, the mare grabbed Spinner in her dark-hued magic once again. “I warned you… now begone!” she said, her horn growing brighter as her magic quickly crushed Spinner.

Chestnut cowered away from the mare as he watched her crush Spinner. Slowly backing away, he started to run when the mare grabbed him. “Ahh! No! Don’t hurt me!” He cried, covering his face with his hooves.

“Hurt you? Why would I hurt you after I just saved you?” She asked, looking at Chestnut with her royal blue eyes. “Why did you run away?” she asked, setting down Chestnut as she laid in front of him.

“They wanted to take me from my home.. B-but… my parents were killed.” He said, whimpering as his ears fell. “I didn’t want to leave.. But.. I had no choice.”

“I see, but why run? The ponies who wanted to take you were friendly. They only wanted to take you to a safe home.” Said the mare.

“Who are you? And… and how do you know what they wanted?” Chestnut asked, taking step back from the mare.

The mare sighed as she stood up. “I shall explain on the way out of this forest. Hop on my back.” she said, lowering herself enough for Chestnut to hop on.

Chestnut obeyed, jumping onto the mares back. Suddenly she took off flying, and Chestnut realized who she was. “Bu-but your…your highness!” he said, almost falling off of her back.

“Shh… it’s ok Chestnut.” She said, smiling back at him. “I know what happened. We sent those ponies for you as soon as we heard.” She said.

“B-but…Princess Luna.. Why?” he asked, staring at her with tears in his eyes.

“Because Chestnut, we want all of our little ones safe.” She said. “Now… go and find those two stallions. They will take care of you. Trust me.” she said as she set him down and flew off.

Chestnut stared after her, waiting until he could see her no more before he took off in search of the two stallions.