The Prince Of The Everfree Forest

“Twilight, you don't need to do this, I'm fine,” I insisted, sitting helplessly in my wheelchair despite their being nothing wrong with my legs. Twilight was mercilessly pushing me along towards town anyway.

“I don't want you getting hurt again, you just got out of the hospital and I don't want to have to take you back in because you fell over,” there was no reasoning with her. She had her mind made up, I was staying in the chair, whether I liked it or not.

I attempted to stand up despite her worries, and I was gently but firmly pushed back into the chair with her magic. Before I could voice any complaints she swung around in front of me and gave me her best puppy eyes.

“Please Autumn, I know you don't like it, but please, for me?”

I crossed my hooves like the stubborn foal I was and grumbled something that almost sounded like a 'Ok'. That was enough for her, she gave me a quick peck of the cheek and when back to pushing me along in her magic.

She was still too shy to tell anyone (Besides Celestia) of our little relationship. Apparently if her friends found out that we were together she'd never hear the end of it from some of her friends.

Twilight kept on pushing me along, seemingly like she knew where she was taking me. When the doctor told me it was safe for me to leave, Twilight was overjoyed and went off to tell her friends the good news. I hadn't heard anything else about that since.

It occurred to me that this was the first time I'd going into Ponyville properly. Twilight's castle was the furthest I ventured into the town and she was taking me deeper and deeper into the town. Looking around, there weren't many ponies out and about, sure it was evening when I last check but I expected more ponies to be wandering the streets. The few I saw all smiled and gave me little waves, a few even came over to talk, saying that I was nice to see me all better. Such a nice little town.

Twilight homed in on one building in particular. It was quite a large building, judging from the signs I suspected it was a business rather than a home. It wasn't the style of the building but the fact that all the lights were out, plunging the interior of the building into complete darkness. Despite this Twilight pushed on.

“Hey Twi, I don't think it's open?”

“No, I'm sure it is, they don't close until late,” she informed, still, I didn't want to eat in a place that was completely pitch black. We reached the door, confronting the biggest threat I'd seen since my fight. A small set of stairs.

“Oh no, a set of stairs, looks like I'll have to just walk in-” I began to sit up, confident that I finally be able to walk around on my own free will. Until she pushed me back down and levitated me up the stairs. I grumbled under my breath and she just smiled over her victory of me.

Opening the door, letting the outside light flood into the dark abyss as Twilight pushed me further in. “Twi I'm really sure that-”

“Surprise!”

All the lights came on instantly and the collective cheer of at least half the population of Ponyville nearly sent me tumbling back. They got one thing right, I was definitely 'surprised'. They all stay standing, with wide eyes and gentle smiles directed at me.

A single pink mare who I recognised instantly bounced her way out the crowd and towards me, a smile wider than every other plastered on her face. “Surprise!” she continued to beam at me whist confetti from seemingly nowhere burst out into the air around her.

“Welcome to your super duper party Autumn, when I first heard you were ready to come out of hospital I was like *Gasp* 'I need to throw him a get well soon party, but then I was like oh my gosh I never threw him a welcome to Ponyville party in the first place so I thought I combine the two and make it a super amazing party to party out all parties!'” she nearly screamed out, I forced my mouth closed from the sheer speed she spoke at.

“But enough about that, lets get this party started!” her words were accompanied by the cheering ponies from around the room. Music kicked and a friendly chatted began as ponies either spilt up into their little social groups or went for the snack table that was in the centre of the room. Pinkie Pie hooped away towards the crowd and disappeared into the mix of ponies.

“What, just happened?” I asked Twilight, my mind still reeling in the events.

She just shrugged, “You get use to it,” I pushed my mind away from trying to understand that mare. Twilight pushed me over to a small table tucked away in the corner of the room, already sitting their was four ponies that I was already familiar with.

“Howdy partner, it's good to see you out and about again,” Applejack said, welcoming me with open hooves as always. Twilight tapped my shoulder as she passed, wandering off somewhere.

“Hey, it's good to see you again,” my mouth bent into a small smile. Turning my attention to the two mares I hadn't had the pleasure of speaking to yet, “Hello, I'm Autumn Leaves, just call me Autumn, though I'm sure you already knew that,”

“I'm delighted to finally make you acquaintance darling, I'm Rarity and this is Fluttershy,” Rarity nudged the buttery pegasus with her hoof, prompting her to speak. Somewhere in the back of my mind I thought I recognised the pegasus from somewhere...

“Hello Autumn...” Fluttershy whispered, only hearing her speak once and already seeing the shyness her name implies. I hope she wasn't scared of me.

“I wish my first impressions were under better circumstances,” I mumbled, recalling seeing both of them before in the hospital a few times though never speaking to them.

“Indeed... Though I must say I'm happy to finally meet the stallion that saved my sister from that ferocious mantiacore,” Twilight returned again, levitating a nice jug of fruit punch over for me.

“Oh, don't worry about that, it was nothing,” I attempted to shrug off her praise, though she wasn't having any of it.

“Nothing!? Darling I can't imagine the bravery it takes to fight such a creature,” she exclaimed. I moved my drink to my lips to quench what little thirst I had growing in the back of my throat.

“I'm just glad nopony... ya know,” I shuttered slightly at the thought of more blood on my hooves. Before the conversation could go on the sound of hooves bouncing across the floor distracted us.

“Oh Autumn!” Pinkie said in a sing-song voice. “Guess what time it is? It's time to cut the cake!” she cheered. Wheeling me over to the snack table I was confronted by a cake taller than me.

Time went by as Pinkie introduced many games for us to play and other party favourites that made everypony laugh and smile. Never had I been surrounded by so many happy faces, it made me smile knowing they were happy to be here with me.

Eventually the games died down back into the social chatting and food munching. I saw a opportunity to slip away from being the centre of attention. Spotting Fluttershy nearly hugging the back wall away from the other ponies, silently drinking from her juice box as she attempted to stay away from conversations.

Seeing a perfect opportunity to speak with her, I wheeled myself over to her. “Hey...” I said, nearly making her jump out of her skin.

“Oh, H-Hello Autumn,” she whispered, I perk my ears just to make sure I could hear her over the music and talking ponies around us. One thing we both could agree on, this wasn't either of our favoured environments.

“I just wanted to say, thank you,” I began, my brain finally realising where I recognised her from.

“For what?”

“You help heal the woodland critters don't you? Over the years I noticed more animals with bandaged wounds and things like that, I just wanted to say that I appreciate it,” I explained, she was also the mare that occasionally left food outside the forests that help stem the tide of starvation. It wasn't much, but it was the thought that counted.

“Oh, it's nothing,” she said, starting to sound a lot like me.

“I just wanted to say thanks, I know it's not easy and it tends to be a thankless job,”

“I wouldn't call it thankless, the look of the happy animals is thanks enough,” she countered, her voice become louder as she slowly emerged from her shell of shyness.

“I just wish I could do more to protect them, to just be that little bit stronger,”

“So long as you try your best, then nopony can ask for any more from you,”

“But I should be better, I'm the prince of the Everfree Forest... I should be able to help them, you don't see Celestia failing to protect her subjects,”

She had to pause before answering that. “You'll get better, in time,” she reassured.

“I hope you're right...”

After a few more minutes of small talk, Fluttershy was soon stolen away by Rarity. Though I wasn't alone for long, soon enough a certain rainbow maned pegasus saw this was the perfect time to get me whilst I was by myself. She gently tapped her hooves to me, as if she didn't want to be spotted talking to me.

“H-Hey dude, can we talk for a second?” She asked, I nodded my head in response. “I just wanted to say, thanks... for saving Scootaloo...” she spoke reluctantly.

“Don't worry, you'd have done the same in my position,”

“Actually, I'd probably grab the fillies and run,” she actually winced at the dent she did to her ego by saying that. “Fighting the creatures of the Everfree Forest is almost unheard of, as most that try don't get to brag for long,”

I was about to reply, but a voice interrupted me. “Am I hearin' a proper thank you over here?” Applejack appeared from seemingly nowhere, resting her hoof on rainbow's shoulder.

“No, I was just telling Autumn that fighting a manticore puts him second on my awesome list, right under yours truly,” she put her hoof to her puffed out chest.

“Right...” Applejack said whist nodded her head slowly, I wonder if Rainbow realised she was being mocked. “Anyway, I think Pinkie's openin' up a new barrel of cider!” In a rainbow colored flash, she was gone.

“So how ya doin' Autumn...”

Me and Applejack talked for a while, but the peace didn't last. The crazy pink party pony soon roped me in for more fun and games. I'd be lying if I didn't enjoy embarrassing myself on the dancefloor or losing a cider drinking competition to Rainbow. Despite how much fun was had, it couldn't last forever, and ponies had to leave, each one saying their goodbye to me and sending their best wishes. I had to have picked the friendliest town in Equestria, for none of them were scared of me. I was expecting at least one to be reluctant at meeting me or just a tad fearful of my ability to control the beasts that lurk in the back of a child's mind, but no.

They welcomed me with open arms and even wider hearts, and I could be more thankful.

As more and more ponies bided farewell, the party dwindled into the single digits quicker than I expected. Soon enough it was just the ponies that decided to suck the snack table of all its goods, taking each cupcake and candy apple until it was just an empty plate. I was surprise they hadn’t licked the plates clean. I didn't blame them, I was one them, snatching up any survivors of the candy massacre.

Eventually Twilight prided me away from the table. Claiming it was time to go home. I wanted to offer to help clean up, the mess of confetti and split drinks was all over the place. Pinkie was rather persuasive, saying it was perfectly under control.

Not that I had much choice in the matter, with Twilight in control of my chair again I found it hard to do anything besides accept as I was carted out the door. I hadn't realized how dark it got, nightime had sneaked up and stolen the day away. Most ponies were off to bed, they had their lives to wake up to after all.

“Twi, can I stop by the Everfree? I want to check if everything's ok,” I asked, I hadn't heard anything from the locals, if any attacks or unusual behaviour were known of, ponies would have told me, right?

“It's too dark Autumn, we'll go in the morning, besides I have a gift to give you,” she replied. A gift? Gifts were fun, but I couldn't get intrigued when Everfree butterflies rampaged in my stomach, or maybe that was the cider? I couldn't decide.

“But the creatures need me, I been away for Celestia-knows how long and they might be in danger! Or worse-” I was cut off by a purple hoof covering my mouth.

“Stop worrying Autumn, nothings happened,” she reassured, moving her hoof again.

“You seem pretty sure about that,” I crossed my hooves, redoing my stubborn foal technique.

“I am sure, I may have visited a few times while you were in hospital,” she explained, at they sight of my absolutely terrified look she continued swiftly. “Nothing bad happened, I guess they recognised me from the few times they saw me with you,” she went on dreamily, “I must say it was fascinating to watch all the little Timberwolves and Cockatrices playing, I thought the animals wouldn't like each other,”

“Oh it was never always like that, they use to fight all the time, slowly as each generation passed, trust was made between the two predators, delicate, but trust nonetheless,” My head sunk down, “I only hope it sticks, or that I can get all the animals to like each other,”

She perked my head up with her hoof, “Of course we can make it stick,” she planted a quick, sweet kiss on my lips, “We're here,” she guestured to the castle

She wheeled me into the main room, nothing had changed during the time I was away, despite how much Twilight complained about it she still hadn't done anything about it. “Alright, you stay here, I'll go get your present...” she rushed off down one of the crystal corridors, leaving me along to fiddle with my hooves.

She soon returned, a box wrapped in green with red ribbon securing it. Placing it on my lap and sitting down, waiting patiently for my reaction to the contents inside.

After a long duel with the ribbon, I managed to part it with the wrapping paper. I tried to be gentle, I didn't know if the objects inside were delicate but if my inkling was correct, they were.

Under the green wrapping was a wooden box, neither what I'd call heavy nor light, but perfectly in the middle. Opening the box, the small worn out hinges putting up some resistances to my touch but I caught sight of the content and pushed passed the small hinges.

I could hear their soft thrumming, like a angel's choir to my ears. Their copper colour hadn't changed since those long days since I last saw them. My only souvenirs from my visit to Canterlot were now mine. Those four shinning greavers held my long lost power, and I had them now.

“Me and Celestia both agree you should have them, and I hope we can just ease you into them, take your time with them, don't rush into them,” she said, sounding more like Celestia than herself.

I delicately picked one up and held it in my right hoof. Balancing it and holding it up to the light for a better look at the runes engraved on them. Seeing myself in the reflection, looking at myself, the stallion who wished time and time again to be where I am now. It was clearly made for my left forehoof, I could hear it talking to me, begging for me to put it on and be reunited with my powers.

I sighed, lowing it back into the box and snapped the lid shut. Handing it back to Twilight.

“What are you doing?” she asked, almost like she was disappointed that I didn't put it on. I guess she was eager to see the effect it would have on me.

“Not right now, the time isn't right, besides, I think we both could do with some rest,” I smiled at her.

I guess she was thrown back me not just throwing them on my hooves like it was nothing. I was thrown back to, I'd been waiting for that moment, and shrugged it off. What had changed? No matter how much I thought about it, all my fantasies on claiming my powers seemed foolish. I soon realised what changed, for it was right it front of me.

Twilight, she was what changed.

It wasn't just her, everything around me changed for the better. Though it was her, the bright eyed mare that wandered into the forest in search of a new book and found a new friend instead. She was the herald of my new life. The light at the end of my dark tunnel, the flame to my candle.

It almost made me want to grab the box and smash it, break the final link to my old life and start anew. But life's cruel, I had to have my powers, whether I like it or not. To protect the citizens of Equestria and beyond from the danger ahead. Once that's done, I can final do the thing I want to do so badly.

Start again, with her by my side.

I know what must be done. United the Everfree Creatures and save the world, then like a ghost I'd disappear, taking her along with me. I had 2000 years of living to make up for and it would start with her holding my hoof.

“Come on, lets go to bed, I'm shattered,”