Rove knew that he was in trouble the moment he walked through the door, the house was to quite. His parents were always silent before he got a scolding.
“Where have you been? It’s already dark out. Do you have any idea how worried we were?” The grey unicorn asked him in rapidly.
“After school I went to a friend’s house, then I- ”
“Don’t lie to us, your teacher came over she wanted to check up on you because were sick, when we asked her what she meant she told us that you weren’t at school this week, she even showed us a sick note. Where did you get a sick note?” His dark blue father interrupted.
“Well I-”
“Where were you? What did you do this week? And don’t say that you were with friends.”
“I was exploring the dungeons.” Rove said excitedly, he really wanted to share his findings with someone.
“What dungeons?” His mother asked with a worried expression.
“They’re under the castle, it’s dark and old and some of the tunnels are caved in, but it’s really cool.”
“What were you thinking of going down there?” His father burst with rage.
“Night light don’t be too hard on him, he’s just a filly.”
Roves dad calmed down before he continued “Rove, it could have been dangerous down there. The dungeons have been abandoned for hundreds of years, there isn’t any maintenance done anymore. And you aren’t a filly anymore, no matter what your mother thinks. All the other kids have gotten there cutie marks months ago, why do you think that you’re the only one who hasn’t?”
Rove didn’t show the hurt from his father’s words, he doesn’t know why he doesn’t have his cutie mark. As far as he could tell are most unicorn colts in Canterlot are either part of the guard or business men, and he wasn’t interested in either of those, all he wanted to do was travel finding new places and strange things. History also fascinated him, his dad says that he should become a teacher, but that just sounds boring.
“It’s because you aren’t serious about anything, you just want to climb buildings and play in dungeons, but that’s done now, from now on you are coming straight home from school and go to your room to study.”
“But dad-”
“No buts! Listen to your father, you’ll break your neck if you keep on going out every day. I’m always worried about you, Shining and Twilight never put me through so much stress. Twilight always studied and look where she is now if you just-”
“I’m not Twilight!” Rove didn’t know where that anger came from but he couldn’t hold it back, his blue horn started to grow a bright yellow. “Or Shining, stop comparing me to them.”
“Honey calm down.” His mother said as all the furniture in the room started shaking.
“Why should I calm down, it’s true isn’t it, you want me to be just like them but I’m not, I’m just not.” Rove could feel his magic about to explode as the windows cracked.
“Enough!” his father stomped his hoof to the floor. “That’s enough Rove go to your room and calm down.”
Rove sat on the balcony looking out over the unicorn mountain range. He always wanted to cross that dangerous ground to the mysterious Smoky Mountain. He tried to go once when he was younger but his brother caught him before he got out of the gates.
At least shining promised to not say anything to mom or dad.
He often wanted to go again but couldn’t gather his courage, but there was something that kept luring him to that distant place. He once told his father about his feeling but he said that it was just his imagination.
Dad said that I’ll grow out of it.
But he wasn’t a filly anymore, his father said so himself.
He got up and walked to the railing. his heart raced while he used his magic to get his secret plank and made a bridge to his neighbours’ roof. He crossed as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake anypony. Once on the other side he lowered the plank back to its place. From that angle he could see into their living room, he saw his parents there talking to each other. He wanted to go back, to forget his plan and apologize to his parents, but he turned around, and left.
Rove knew Canterlots roofs. Even in the dark he easily got to where he was going without being seen. The train station was his best bet, there weren’t as many guards as the other gates. He sneaked by the trains almost out, from there he just had to go west until he reached the mountains.
“Halt, who goes there?” Rove turned around expecting to see his dad, instead a Pegasus landed in front of him
“What are you doing here at this hour boy?”
Rove was mute fore only a moment before he answered, I’m going to see my sister.”
“O, and who’s your sister”
“Twilight Sparkle, the princess. I’m Night Lights son.”
“You have his look, his colours too, but why would she want to see you on outside of the city?”
“She said something about official princess duties, you understand being on the guard and all, but I’m in a hurry and have to go now. I can’t keep the princess waiting.”
“No of course not, will you be fine on your own or do you need an escort?”
“No I’ll be fine thanks.”
“Very well then, please give my regards to her majesty.” And with that he flew off to complete his rounds.”
“Man that was close.” Rove muttered as he left Canterlot behind.
He galloped until he put a far enough distance between himself and his home. When he was done he was almost too tired to stand. Rove wanted to sleep but the night was cold, much colder than he expected. It took him awhile to gather enough firewood and use a simple spell to light it. He laid down next to the fire trying to get himself warm, there in the silent of the mountains it was difficult to think of anything but his family, he knew that he is going to miss them, but also knew that he had to do this, he knew that it was the only way he’ll discover who he truly is.
The next morning Rove woke up hungry. He cursed himself for not thinking of bringing any food.
He took a deep breath and tried to remember the spell twilight taught him so many moons ago, sitting there in the silence concentrating his horn started to glow brightly. After a few minutes the first of the berries started to float towards him, after a while he had enough to fill his belly. After eating greedily and set of once more.
The rest of the day was pretty boring, Rave did enjoy the beautiful scenery but that was about all. He was tired of walking, his legs hurt and he was hungry again. At least he found some streams on his way to quench his thirst.
By the time Luna raised the moon Rove stumbled into a deserted campsite. There was a table of food and he helped himself. He took his time eating and enjoyed the assortment of fruit. When he was full he decided to look through the camp, there wasn’t anything unusual, it just looked like a group of colts camping on the mountains, until he entered the tent.
There before him was a table with dozens of rings. Each one was more beautiful than the last, but only one caught his eye. Rove couldn’t keep his eye of the golden ring with an emerald carved into the shape of a dragon. Suddenly yellow light surrounded and lifted it of the table. It rose until it was eyelevel with him and started to slowly drift towards him. It wasn’t until it got to his horn that Rove realised that it was him moving the ring.
Rove snapped out of his trance as soon as it was on. He tried to lift the ring of but it wouldn’t budge, he tried to use a spell, but it stayed where it was. He started to panic when he heard someone entering the tent. He turned to see a horrible blue monster behind him.
“Looks like someone found the right one for us boys.” It said laughing.