Author's Note

Hello everypony! This story is a tribute to one of my favorite Disney movies from my childhood. Please comment and share this story with others because it is you that I write these stories for. Thank you for your time and please enjoy Spirit of The Mountain!

Canto 1: Mother is Stirring

I gently take in the landscape just outside of the window around me. Crowds of ponies line the sidewalks and streets of busy downtown Seaddle as the lunch shift had just been let out and everypony was in a hurry to either go and get some much needed food or get a much needed break from the work environment. There is not a cloud in the sky, letting the harshness of the sun beat down onto the landscape with a fierce intensity, but my mind pays little attention to these minor details as my vision is directed to a much farther away object. Towering high into the sky some 57 miles from where I was located now was the beautiful but terrifying appearance of Mt. Mazama , a massive stratovolcano that even at that distance casts a deadly metaphoric shadow across the entire surrounding landscape. It is a beautiful mountain, with flanks that gently cascade down into the surrounding landscape seem to convey a sense of absolute serenity. The crater at the top is almost a perfect circle, undisturbed by either its past eruptions or the elements of nature that now claim the summit. The only sign of it actually being a volcano from where I sit is a small steady stream of steam and gases pouring up from inside the crater into the air.

"Hmm, calm for now but how much longer will you be that way?" I think questionably as I gently stretch my pair of massive fire colored wings out behind me, still not used to being tucked away for such and extended amount of time without being unfurled. But hear in the setting I was currently in unfurling them was just not possible as there was not enough room and the last thing I want to do is have somepony accidently step on my wing with one of their hooves. So I keep them tucked into my back, albeit uncomfortably as I continue to stare off at the towering form of Mt. Mazama.

"Mr. Roc, are you alright you seem...distant." A warm and cheerful voice says, breaking me from my intense gaze towards the mountain and back into the classroom towards the front where a tall earthpony mare stands near a chalk board, eyes masked by a overhead projector light.

"Yea, sorry Cheerilee I just got distracted that's all." I say putting my hand behind my head in slight embarrassment.

"Oh it's alright, I know that you are paying attention dear so no need to get embarrassed, I'm not calling you out." The light pink mare says before with a smile she turns back around and resumes her teaching. Sensing that the danger had passed I give a slight sigh of relief and in doing so accidentally relax my wings muscles on my back allowing them to fall to my side. This makes a loud bang on the desk next to me as the massive 8 ft wing smothers the desk and occupant in a torrent of soft feathers and heavy muscular flesh.

"H-hey Clay can you move your wing please!" A strained female voice says from underneath the large wing, causing me to gasp and swiftly remove it from the desk, quickly folding them back into position on my back as I look over to the lavender colored unicorn mare sitting across from me with an embarrassed look.

"Sorry about that Twilight, but every once in awhile I got to stretch them or they will get cramps and with wings as sensitive as mine...yea you know the rest." I say grimacing slightly at the thought of the last time someone had just stepped on them, much less a major cramp as Twilight starts giggling softly, making my heart beat quicken within my chest.

"I remember that day like it was yesterday." Twilight says sarcastically, giving me a warm smile that highlights her already beautiful equine body making a small blush form on my face.

"Y-yea thankfully though Rarity was there to help. I must say she is amazing with her hands." With that compliment I can see Twilight role her eyes slightly as she fiddles with a strap on her backpack.

"Rarity works in fashion and I imagine that after all those years she may have learned something about anatomy. That and she is obsessed with your wings." Twilight says plainly.

"Her and Rainbow Dash." I utter in annoyance as I turn back around and stair out the window towards the volcano in the distance.

"You really think that volcano is pretty, you stare at it everyday you know and some ponies even say they have seen you flying around the crater." Twilight says in a calm tone, stirring me into a small smile despite what my current thoughts are.

"Because it is amazing. For something to be as pretty as that but at the same time one of the most deadly forces of nature on the planet just boggles the mind don't you think." I say happily as I turn back around to face Twilight just as the bell rings.

"Alright everypony, class dismissed and have a wonderful summer!" Cheers instantly erupt from the classroom as ponies eagerly rush from there seats towards the door.

"I think so to, but lucky for us we have been assured that the mountain will remain dormant for the time being by the EQGS." Twilights replies to me in a matter of fact tone as she rises from her seat and uses her magic to levitate the bag onto her back. However, this causes me to chuckle slightly as I stands up from my chair and look back out the window.

"Yea...as long as mother stays calm. I think to myself as I give the volcano a quick one finger salute and then turn back around to face Twilight while motioning towards the door. "Shall we go?" I ask energetically, moving over beside Twilight and offering her my hand, which she takes with a bright smile on her face.

"Alright, lets go and meet the others down by the snack machines near the front entrance of the school so we can decide what to do to start the summer."

"I am one step ahead of you on that one! Race you to the bottom!" I say happily, shoving Twilight playfully as I rocket past her to the door, followed closely by the clopping of hooves.

"Oh no you don't get back here!" Twilight yells playfully to me as I round the corner and instantly collide with somepony, sending them straight to the floor with a loud THUD.

"Damn are you alright-" I start to say as I look down to the pony who I had collided with and then quickly chuckle slightly. "Celestia we have got to stop "bumping" into on another like this." I say in mock seriousness as I extend my hand down to the white alicorn currently shaking her head to get the dizziness out of her eyes. However, even dizzy she still manages to take ahold of my hand and I easily pull her up to standing.

"Yes we do." Celestia says giggly as she removes her hand from mine and stretches her wings out behind her. "I was actually one my way to talk to you about something if you don't mind." Celestia asks me in her usual warm motherly voice as Twilight quickly appears around the corner smashing into my back and causing a massive wave of pain to shoot through me like a bolt of electricity. But in an effort to avoid shouting at the top of my lungs I grit my teeth hard and only let out a painful grunt.

"Sure...lets chat." I say in a strained voice as Twilight get back to her hooves and quickly gasps as she runs up to me and put a hand on the spot where she had impacted my wings causing me to let out another longer grunt of pain.

"I am so sorry Clay I really did not mean to run into you!" Twilight says in horror as she gently tries to rub where she had impacted me at but I quickly wave her off.

"No...your alright...now I have to talk to Celestia for a second...you mind...going ahead without me?" I ask as I yank my wing from her grasp, instantly lessening the pain within my body as I breathe out a soft sigh of relief.

"What is it you need to talk about Princess Celestia?" Twilights asks honestly, causing the alicorn to brighten up and rest one of her hands on my shoulder.

"Just a update from my other pupil, nothing serious but as you know important." Celestia says in an honest motherly tone as I give her a sly smile.

"Alright then I guess I will see you downstairs, are you going to check in with me as well later?" Twilight asks honestly as she steps around me and starts to head towards the top of the staircase leading to the lower levels of the building.

"Yes I plan on it, but for right now I want you to enjoy your summer and keep practicing that friendship spell alright." Celestia says warmly, giving me a small thumbs up that I internally laugh at. But Twilight on the other hand seems all too happy to show her emotions as she sighs in defeat and folds her ears down to her head.

"Alright Princess, just remember to see me when you can." Twilight says turning back to the stairs and slowly starts to descend, her tail laying flat against her body and her body swaying from side to side. This continues for another minute before the clopping of hooves all but disappears and I turn my head back to Celestia.

"She seems upset about something." I say plainly stretching out my wings behind me, grunting slightly at the pain from earlier. Celestia now turns back around to face me, a look of knowing present in her facial expression.

"Twilight never does like it when I speak to others first, thinks it compromises her position as my star student." Celestia says calmly motioning me to follow her and I quickly do so, wanting to get our usual conversation out of the way so I can get back to my summer vacation.

"But we both know I am not your student and I already know why they cannot know any different."

"While that may be true, Twilight and the others also realize that you're a prince and have official duties." Celestia says in comfort, wrapping a wing around my shoulder and placing her hand in mine, giving me a soft feeling of warmth throughout my body.

"So...what is it that you wanted to speak about, I am assuming that it is about my mother?" I ask plainly, not wanting to let Celestia on to how her extra attention was making me feel. It was not that it made me feel uncomfortable, quite the opposite actually. The way Celestia, her sister and the rest of what I liked to call The mane six made me feel was beyond amazing. Having grown up with them, my friendship with them was always strong. However it all changed when I turned 12 when those feelings of friendship started to intensify dramatically. It started off small, me wanting them to pay more attention to me or standing slightly closer to them whenever I got the chance. Over the years these simple things grew into more complex things but most of the girls always thought it was just me being friendly. But Celestia and Luna with their good few extra years on them recognized it as they to felt a certain way about me as I came of my teenage years.

"The EQGS has detected more harmonic tremors coming from inside the volcano and an increase in the emissions of sulfur dioxide, are we going to have a problem?" Celestia asks me worriedly, stopping in her tracks giving me a serious look.

"Well to be honest I do not know right now, but I can tell you this much. Mother has been...stirring recently." I say giving her hand a reaffirming squeeze hoping that she will not be even further alarmed by me saying this.

"When you say "stirring" what exactly do you mean?" Celestia asks me questionable in response, albeit now with less panic present in her voice.

"Again I am not sure. She has been very calm up until the beginning of this week so whatever her reason is must have taken place then." I say conclusively as a loud sigh of relief escapes Celestia's lips.

"Okay that's good for now. But when you find out then please let me know, I need to stay informed on this for everypony in Seaddle and Equestria, that way we can do what is best for them." Celestia is still worried and I can feel it. It is just barely there, but it is still there and I know that I have at least one thing to calm her worried nerves. So I turn in towards Celestia and gently unfurl my wings draping one over her wing on my back and the other around her back pulling her closer to me. At first she seems confused at what I am doing and lets me know it with a strange look, however all of her question is solved as I reach up and softly plant my lips onto hers. Celestia's eyes grow wide for a second at the sudden contact but she quickly realizes what is going on and closer her eyes while bringing her arms to rest on my shoulders. Her lips are heavenly soft, warm and caring. But every time I kiss her it's like this and the feeling always makes me want to take it further. But yet as always despite the overwhelming sense of emotions that associate with kissing one of your special someponies, I manage to keep it to a simple kiss.

Eventually after an unknown amount of time passes, we reluctantly part from one another, but hold are embrace of hands and wings. Celestia smiles to me in a cute way, making me chuckle slightly before I slowly release my hand from hers and fold my wings back behind me.

"You know I wish I could do that with Twilight and the others but for some reason I just can't." I say honestly laughing as Celestia's happy expression turned to one of confidence.

"I know you can do it, just stay true to your feelings for them and you will know what to do when the time comes, just like with me and Luna." Celestia says warmly, filling me with feelings of warmth and hope. But she always has and that was one of the many reasons I had fallen for both her, Luna, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

"Thanks for the confidence it really means a lot to me and I will be sure to let you and Luna know about what the situation is with my mother soon alright." I say in heartfelt truth before I start to make my way back to the stairs, a happy smile on my face. However, unlike my current expression, one troubling question kept repeating over and over in my head, making my mind wander. "What is going on with mother?"