Chapter Eleven- Return To Sender

Everypony thought my poem was amazing! Was it really that good? I didn't think so, but apparently, it was brilliant. Do they know who it's about?

Although composure was mine through the corse of the poem, the emotions crept back into my mind shortly after. I started to get teary, so, without anypony noticing, I walked into the kitchen, sat against a counter, and cried. I cried so hard. I avoided wanting to tell them about my troubles, because I wanted to avoid upsetting them. I could overhear the girls talking.

"No! I was the most talented!" Rainbow says.

"You got to be kiddin me right? D'you know how hard those tricks are to perfect?!" Applejack responds.

They continue like this for a bit, until I overhear Fluttershys take on the little dispute.

"Well, I think you all did as good as each other." She quiets down her voice, and looks at the floor, embarrassed slightly. "I personally liked Sparks though..."

"Say, where is Sparks anyway?" Twilight wonders.

"Sparks? Ember?! Ember?!" The group shout.

At this point, I couldn't stop crying and quietly whining. Eventually, after some panicking from the group, Rainbow walks into the kitchen, and catch a glimpse of me, bawling. She slowly walks up to me.

"Sparks?...whats the matter?"

I didn't reply.

"...is it us arguing? Because I can tell the others your a bit more sensitive than you look?"

"...*sniff*...no...*sob*"

"Do you wanna tell me what?"

I didn't reply to that, either. The intrigued pony sits in front of me.

"It's ok Ember...you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but..."

She stops, probably because I was about to speak up.

"...the...poem...it was about my...my brother...his name...was Ascending Shadows..."

Rainbows mouth opens.

"...he died...wh-when I was just a fillie...as...as a royal guard..."

"Celestia..." Rainbow quietly exclaims.

"He was my...my hero...my idol...I...I...loved him...and..." Rainbow was beginning to get watery eyes.

"...and I don't even know how...how he died..."

Rainbows bottom lip was starting to quiver.

"...I don't think anypony...knows...how..."

Dash erupts into tears at the tragedy. Never before had I heard a pony cry so loud. This attracted the attention of the others, pleading that nothing had happened. They all run in and find me and Rainbow crying in each others arms.

"What in Equestria happened to you two?!?" Pinkie exclaimed.

Still in Rainbows grasp, I deny wanting to talk about it.

After this, we all acknowledged that it was pretty late, so Twilight offered we all stay over the night. Saves everypony waking home. While everypony else was fast asleep, I started thinking. Is my dad even dead? How did my brother die? Was the house still burnt down? Or had it been re-built? So many more questions I have to answer, and that's what I'm going to do. I hope the others don't take it personally.

In the morning, I was awake before anypony else. I got up early to see if Zecora had anymore of those pills because she was still in town, and luckily, she had. My first lot hadn't run out, but I wasn't sure how long they would last. I return to the library, to see that Spike is awake.

"Hey Ember, you alright today?" The young dragon asks.

"Good...thanks." I don't think I could face the others and tell them I was leaving, so, like a coward, I pass the message through Spike.

"Listen, I have too many questions that need answers...so I want to go on an adventure, like the ones you tell me about! Don't take it personally, but I can't live much longer without-"

I look away, as a tear drips from my eye onto the ground.

"...without finding out if my dad is still alive...tell the girls, when they wake up this. And thank them. For all they have done."

The poor dragon was in bits. I make my way to the front door.

"...wait...before you go..."

"Yeah?"

"I...I will never forget you Ember..."

"...likewise Spike...if I can, I will come back to visit!"

"...*sniff*...yeah, you could..."

I open the front door.

"Farewell, Spike. Good luck with the 'problem'...I love you..."

I then look over at all the others, still snoring away.

"...I love all of you."

I walk outside...and close the door. I hear Spike burst into tears from inside. This is bound to wake the others up, so I ran. I ran through the forest that Rainbow found me in, and came across a stretch of beach...where I washed ashore.

I will see them again. I promise.