The Lost Prince

That next day they went to go see Twilight Sparkle in her castle. Applejack, Rarity, and the Perryton stood in front of the grand doors which opened for them as they walked inside. Twilight, a pink pony, and a yellow Pegasus, as well as a purple dragon were there. Twilight turned and was excited to see AJ and Rarity, but was curious at the newcomer.

"Hello," she said "who are you may I ask?"

"I don't know," the Peryton said "I guess my name is Antlers."

"Antlers?" Twilight mused "that's a funny name. What's the story behind that?"

"We gave it to him when we first met," Applejack said lightly slugging his shoulder "that's why we're here too."

"I know," Twilight said "Princess Celestia sent me a letter detailing the events of your travels."

"Who's Princess Celestia?" The Peryton asked.

"She's the Princess of all of Equestria," Twilight said "she taught me everything I know."

“More importantly,” Twilight said “Princess Celestia instantly recognized you because she has the gift of Far Sight and knows everything that goes on beyond our borders. She already knew about the events which forced you here. She brought YOU here to help YOU remember. I don’t know all the details, but we’re going to be finding that out tonight when Princess Luna comes here.”

“The Princess are coming here?!” They all shouted.

“Yes,” Twilight said “but I hope you can at least give our guest some space before we begin to question him."

Later that night, when Gale was asleep, they all stepped into his bedroom and Princess Luna turned and faced them “Now,” she said “the spell I’m going to cast is one which should only be used in the direst of circumstances. We need to help this Peryton retrieve his memory and tell us who he is. My sister wasn’t able to give us much information, however, we can learn all we need to know when I cast this spell. Are you ready?”

"Why did you call him a Peryton?" Pinkie Pie asked "Antlers isn't a Perry, is he? Is that his real name?"

"No," Princess Luna said "Peryton is what kind of creature he is. Just like you are an earth pony, he is a Peryton."

"Oh," she said.

“What will it do?” Twilight asked with concern on her face and bringing them back to the current subject.

“I will have him enter a trance, from which he will relate to us the events of his past,” Luna said “I will invade his realm of sleep and dreams, but it is the only way. Do you understand?”

They all nodded.

“Very well,” she said closing her eyes “let us begin.”

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“Ice,” Gale said panting in his trance “wind…snow…stinging…cold. I’m blown away on the winds of winter. I am fleeing my father’s palace. Hunted…chased…the howls of hounds and Windigoes. Father! His death shocks me, I am barely able to let go of his hoof before my friends are set upon by the wolves and killed. All killed…defending me…so that I could escape. Their blood freezes to my skin as I topple in the storm. I’m in a forest…my limbs are frozen to the boughs of a tree. There are timber wolves, glowing eyes and bearing their sharp teeth…I’m aloft again…I don’t know how, all I know is that the storm is over and I can see further. The wind is harsh against my face as I continue to glide onwards. No food…no warmth…no comfort…I…suddenly see mountains. The Crystal Mountains! I know they are there because they are to the south of my country. All things are to the south…all good things…trees, grass, water…and light. I then collapse with exhaustion…and I…I…father! FATHER!”

He continued screaming in his trance until he sobbed. Twilight stood up angry at Princess Luna for intruding on his dreams “Enough!” she said stomping down her hoof “I won’t have this any longer.”

Turning to face the Diarchs she said “This is MY castle, and MY home. I won’t have MY guest be treated in this matter. It doesn’t matter what information he told us. He was our guest, and we intruded into his private memory.”

“Twilight,” Luna began but she was cut off with a wave of Twilight’s hoof.

“He needs rest,” she said “and he’s going to get it whether you like it or not!”

With that, and the fact that she glared at them so angrily that made both of them flinch, they bowed and left the room.

Twilight stayed a little longer. She saw a tear fall from Gale’s noble face and she felt her own eyes water. Such a majestic creature should never be brought to such sorrow. She looked at his silvery coat, as if it radiated moonlight. His horns, bone white which spread forth like angels wings, the silver eye lashes and hair which were raggedly elegant and barbarically regal. She looked at his powerful muscles and the light sweat on his flanks, his wide nostrils and pearly teeth which she knew would charm a dove out of its nest if he smiled. He was breathing heavily, but she knew he would calm down if she was next to him. Without another thought, she climbed into bed with him, draped a leg over him and, holding him tight, went to sleep.

The next morning the bed was empty, Twilight looked around when she woke up and wondered where Gale was. She then saw him standing looking down at the battlements from the tower balcony. The door was closed but she could see him through the glass. He looked morose and speculative. She opened the door with magic and stood beside him. For a little while they said nothing and then, turning his brilliant blue eyes on hers he said “Thank you.”

“For what?” She said curious.

“For spending the night with me,” he said looking awkward “I didn’t realize that most of my problems were simply caused by loneliness.”

“There’s no need,” she said “I know what it’s like not to have friends.”

She reached out, and held his cloven hoof and examined it “Tell me more about your ponies.”

“What would you like to know?”

“Why do you live so far north?” she said “why do you not come trade in the south? Have you always been isolationists? Was the last contact you had with pony kind before the time of King Sombra?”

Gale looked down at her searchingly, and then said “We live in the north because it’s not always a land of ice and snow, in the summer and the spring, the sun is in the sky all day and never sets, and the foxes and lemmings breed and feast, the snow geese come up from the south and lay eggs, and there are fields of wildflowers which carpet the green. Calves are born and the wolf pups play. The creatures of the sea and the fowls of the air live with us in harmony, just as you do in the south. In the winter, for winter must surely come, the stars shine brilliantly and light up the night, even when there is no moon. And, on special nights, you have the shimmering light of the aurora to watch the calves dance and play to.”

“It sounds like a lovely place,” Twilight said looking back into his eyes “I’d surely like to visit there some day.”

“I hear you are a star gazer yourself,” he said smiling “you would love to see our constellations, which are different for us than for you. Our moon is even what we call the ‘Smiling Moon’ because its crescent is upside down, and it is sad to set to let the sun come out.”

“What constellations do you have?”

“There is the Hare, the Telescope, the Fox, the Unicorn, the Hunter, and many others,” he said “and beyond that, there is a great many things I could teach you when we get there.”

“Can you teach me now?”

“Possibly,” he said “you are very curious about the world aren’t you?”

“Yes,” she said, and for the first time, she blushed when she said it “do you find that odd?”

“I find it commendable,” he said smiling again “I like a pony who is willing and loves to learn.”

“Will you come back and visit Equestria after you return home?”

“Many times,” he said reaching down and gently stroking her chin “especially, if I have a good reason to.”

Twilight looked away slightly embarrassed “I would like that very much your majesty.”

“My lady,” he said turning her face towards his again “I like the sound of that.”

“What do you mean? How I am addressed?”

“No,” he said with a twinkle in his eye “you being mine, and I being yours.”

She blushed a deeper crimson, but smiled and returned his gaze. Yes, she thought it was going to be a very enjoyable time with his lordship.