A Blooming Hopeby BirbNerd17ChaptersChapter 1: InnocenceChapter 2: InjuryChapter 3: InsultsChapter 4: ImagineChapter 5: DreamsChapter 6: IntentChapter 7: InvisibleChapter 8: New FriendsPrologue: IntroChapter 1: InnocenceAuthor's Note Just a content warning for this chapter only, there is a traumatic scene at the end of this chapter that may be triggering to some readers. Proceed with caution. Also, Cella is named Cella Strings and her name is pronounced: Chell-uh Like Cello, but with an A instead of an O Chapter 1: Innocence September 12th, 10 years ago. "Hurry up Cella!" I yell to my bestie, it's the first day of school and I'm over the moon with excitement. "We're gonna be late!" I holler. "I know, I know, just let me catch up, all this running isn't easy on me, this new prosthetic leg isn't strong," Cella called from behind me, her fluffy, blonde mane pushed in front of her smiling face, by the wind. "Oh c'mon slowpoke! I've seen you run without it!" "Not as fast as you're going!" She yells as I see her gaining on me, "Besides! This thing is expensive! My parents would be, like, super-duper DUPER mad if I broke it!" "Yeah, yeah!" I chuckle, "Then why wear it?" "Because mom says I have to." She sighs, clearly dissatisfied, her parents, though nice, didn't see Cella the way I saw her, all they saw was the fact that she was different, I didn't realize it at the time, but Cella sure did. "Well then your parents are stupid heads," I snorted, sticking out my tongue. "Don't say that!" She squeaked, her voice at a pitch so high it hurt my ears, "Erm... I mean, please don't say that." she corrected herself more quietly, a little embarrassed. "Fine, fine," I say, a little annoyed, “If you MUST keep that dumb thing on then I suppose I can slow down for you," I say at last. "Thank you" she sighed, finally catching up to me and trotting just to my left. "Your parents are really weird." "Yeah, well you've barely even met them" "Oh really? I've been to your house! They add padding to all the sharp corners as if you’re a foal. Like they think you're so clumsy that you won't be able to stop yourself from hitting anything." "Well... they... uh...." Cella droned off. "Hey! Don't take it personally! Your parents may be weird, but you are one of the coolest ponies I know!" I state with certainty. “You really think so?” Cella asks, her eyes glowing. “Yeah, I do! Stop making such a big deal of it!” “It means a lot to me,” She said softly, her eyes glowing with joy. I flip my wavy mane out of my face as the wind repeatedly pushes it back, “Well that’s good to hear, now c’mon let’s get to class.” We entered the schoolhouse side by side and sat at our desks, we’d scoot them closer together until Miss Cheerilee tells us to put them back, at which we’d carefully put them back one scoot less. The classroom would look dull to a bystander, but Miss Cheerilee made up for all of that, she'd been our teacher since we were small, so she knew us all really well, she and Cella were very close, at the time I didn’t know why now I see that it’s because Cheerilee was like a mother to Cella. Cheerilee saw us all not as students, but as budding flowers, ready to bloom. She didn’t care if Cella was missing a petal, all that mattered to her was that my best friend bloomed into a wonderful, hard-working pony. Now we sat in class as little ponies filed in, I knew each and every one of their names, and where they sat, they were the fillies I grew up with. Pip Squeak, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Snips, Snails, Dinky Doo, Ditsy Whooves, and Cherry Gumdrop. Each of them sat at their respective desks and so the day began, and it went the same nearly every day. Cella and I would walk to school and back, and every time it was the same. It was when I got home that the real fun started. “Hug attawk!” I hear my little brother shout as he dive bombs me from the couch. My mother walks over to me as I get up and shake myself off with a laugh. “I readied our lunches! are you ready for the best park adventure the Bloom family has ever done?” My mom asked me enthusiastically as I gave her a bright smile. “I sure am!” “Well then let’s go!” She says with a smile. We walk all the way to the nearest park, it’s near the edge of the Everfree Forest, so the plants are luscious and alive, it’s our favorite lunch spot in all of Ponyville. It was our favorite lunch spot. I step onto the grass and trot around when my dad shows up, I rush over to him and give him a big hug. “How’s My little girl?” He asks joyfully, his eyes bright with fatherly love. “I’m great dad! Even better now that you’re here! Zecora said the forest is clear! We can play tag!” Everfree Tag, a gave me and my father played every time we came to the lunch spot, as long as Zecora allowed it. She checked the forest for things such as Chimeras and Timber Wolves before we played, and we were always careful to avoid poison joke. “Let’s get going then!” My dad said letting me get a head start, I was fast, turning sharp corners that my dad just couldn’t I kept dodging and weaving until I came to a cave. “Perfect hiding spot he’ll never find me in here,” I said quietly to myself, backing up into the cave. I suddenly bump into something large and fuzzy. My fur stands on end as I slowly turn my head. Before me sits a large bear made entirely of stars, it is blue and holds in its paws a small log it is using as a toy. The log is barely a twig to the humongous creature. I can’t speak or move as fear grips my fur. That’s when it looks at me, its eyes glow with child-like intrigue and I gulp in a breath, thinking it my last, when I hear my dad calling for me. I let out a cry of desperation turning around, freed by this tiny pool of hope. “DAAAADD!!” I scream helplessly, but it’s too late, The creature's mighty claws grip my flank, tearing wide tears in the skin on both sides. I scream in agony as the fear and pain overwhelm me, all I see is my father running into the cave as the creature lets go and everything goes dark. Chapter 2: InjurySomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 3: InsultsSeptember 17th, 10 years ago I grabbed my stuff and began to pack my bags, hope in my heart. I tried to remember good things, like how I’d get to see my friends today. It was hard to ignore all that had happened to me, but I knew that I had to try and be optimistic. I grabbed my bags and set them on my back, it was early morning, I was set to leave at this time so I would be able to get ready for school. Cella and my parents had tried to lift my spirits, but nothing really helped, nothing, but Lumius. Caring for the sweet bird that I now called my own helped to keep me distracted, maybe it’s because, like me, Lumius never had, and would never have a symbol telling him where to go in life. He rode on his own ingenuity, his own wings, and it made me feel better to not be alone. I whistled the call I had taught him in all my free time and he flew from his perch to my side, I gave him a gentle scratch on his chin and set him on my bags as I stumbled out the door. Lumius tried to help me keep my balance with his large wings, but it didn’t do much help with how little he weighed. Despite being futile I appreciated his efforts. I stepped out the door and took a breath of fresh air, almost immediately feeling better as the sun shone on my fur. I trotted to my house to drop off my stuff before leaving for school. Since Lumius had helped me so much, my parents registered him as an official support animal, so I was allowed to take him to school, and boy did that make me happy. As always, I wore the friendship necklace around my neck, but I also wore a couple of bracelets and the sweater. I stuck a single hair clip in my hair and headed out the door, slowly walking to school, my scars covered by my bags. *** “Wiiiillooooow Blooooom!” Cella shouts as she comes tumbling over the hill near the school, she nearly runs into me but stops just in time, “I’m so glad you’re back! We missed you so much!” She said with a smile, as we walked to the building together. I stepped inside and sat down at my desk, immediately the pony beside me, Apple Bloom, started asking questions. “What was it like being so close to an Ursa Minor?” She asked me, sitting on the edge of her seat, “I’ve seen one before, but only from far away, what was it like?” I again shudder at the thought of the beast, “it was big, like, huge, and it was blue, it looked like it was made of stars. It looked at me like a foal does to a new toy. But most of all it was terrifying.” I say. “Wow!” I hear Pip Squeak say on the other side of the room, “you’re so brave! I’d never be able to face something big like that!” “I was terrified, I didn’t face it actually, I tried to run,” I say. “It didn’t go well did it?” I hear sweetie bell ask sympathetically, “you poor thing, it musta hurt so bad!” She squeaked. “I would bet!” Scootaloo interrupted, “but Willow Bloom’s tough! She made it out alright!” “How’d ya ever do it?” I hear Ditsy Whooves ask me with a walleyed stare, she looks near identical to her mother. “I guess I just did,” I say with a small laugh. “May I pet your owl?” Silver Spoon asks politely and quietly, “he’s very pretty,” “You may, just be careful, he does get spooked if too many ponies are near him at once,” I say as she gently pets Lumius. “All right little ponies, that’s enough, it’s time for class.” Miss Cheerilee says with a smile. *** Once class is over, every pony is allowed to ask questions. That’s when a certain Cherry Gumdrop walks over and asks me the question I’ve been dreading. “Is that scar like a cutie mark or something? My horn is picking up a magic aura from it.” She says. I look at her and then the ground, “um- yeah, actually it is. The doctors told me that this is my cutie mark.” “So does that mean your talentless or something?” Those words broke me, I hadn’t even thought of it that way, but now it was all I could think of. “I mean, not to be rude but a cutie mark is a symbol of your destiny, so if your destiny was that scar, then it’s already past and now you have no destiny.” I barely heard her as I sat in shock, I stood up with my head down and turned to the door. “Willow! Where are you going?” I hear Cella call after me. I say one word, “home,” and then I leave, walking at first but accelerating to nearly a run my back leg hurting from all the pressure as tears stream from my eyes. I burst through the front door of my house and before my mom can even welcome me I’m up in my room, I sit on my bed, feeling worthless I lie down and press my muzzle into the mattress. Tears stream from my eyes as my mother creaks open the door and walks in. “Willow Bloom, honey, what’s wrong?” She asks in a gentle tone as Lumius Glides through my window, I’d left him behind. My owl snuggled close into my face to try and comfort me, and after a bit, I look up at my mom, “Mom, am I talentless?” I ask her, tears in the corners of my eyes. My mother stops for a moment, and that’s all it takes to break me. “I am aren’t I?!” I wail burying my head back in my pillow. My mom gently sets her wing on my back, “Willow Bloom, a filly who doesn’t have a cutie mark still has a talent, they just don’t know what it is yet. You’re no different from that, your’s just lasts longer. I know that with those words my mother was trying to comfort me. But all I could think was that it meant that even if I did have a talent, that I would never know, and that didn’t make me feel much better. Chapter 4: ImagineSeptember 18th, 10 years ago I sat in my room watching the clock tick on the wall. I felt more lost than I ever had, looking back at my scarred flank I could only imagine what could’ve been had I never gone in that cave. Maybe I’d be playing with Cella right now, maybe I’d even get my cutie mark, and as I imagined I began to form images in my head. Sewing the scenes together, creating the reality that could’ve been. And suddenly it felt. Real *** “Tag!” I shout gently tapping my bestie on the shoulder and fluttering away. “Oh, I’ll get you!” She shouted, trotting after me. I smiled with joy, landing on the ground to make it fair and trotting away from her. I stuck my tongue out at her. “You won’t be able to!” I yell. “Oh, you’ll see!” She shouted, her horn sparkling up, suddenly she disappeared and then she was right behind me. She tapped me with a hoof as I stepped back. “How’d ya do that?!” I asked in amazement. “I learned it in a spellbook!” She smiled. “It’s so cool! I wish I was a unicorn! Then I could do all sorts of cool stuff like that!” “Even without magic, you can still do a ton of cool things, Willow Bloom!” “Yeah, but the things you can do are so much cooler!” I say, a little salty. I sat down with a sigh and began to hum the tune of a song I was making on the go. I loved music, especially singing, and I was pretty good too. I stood up and trotted over to Cella, “wanna go to Sugarcube corner and grab some cupcakes?” I asked her. “Sure!” We trotted to the center of town, waving as ponies passed us by. The streets were bustling, and it was no wonder, with how lovely the day was. We wandered into the large, desert-shaped shop and I fluttered up to the counter and set down a couple of bits. “Two cupcakes please!” I said with a smile as Pinkie pie sprung to the counter. “Comin’ right up!” She said with a bounce, trotting over and grabbing two from the display with her bouncy mane and setting them on the counter. I grabbed them and walked over to the table Cella was sat at, setting down the two desserts. “So... how’s life at home.” “Same old same old, padded corners, overly-concerned parents, ya know, the usual.” “It makes no sense why they treat you the way they do! So what if you’re missing a leg!? You are just as capable as any other pony! You don’t need four legs to walk, and you more than prove that!” “If I’m being honest, I don’t know how you don’t see me that way.” “Because no one should, you’re no foal, you’re amazing!” Cella blushed a little, “well, you may be the only one who thinks that except Miss Cheerilee of course.” “I shouldn’t be. You are amazing, one of the most amazing ponies I’ve ever met in fact, and as these necklaces say, we’ll be friends forever.” It was those words that broke the illusion I’d built. I lay in my bed, looking down at the small half heart. Tears dripping from my eyes and landing on the sheets on either side of it. “If only I was amazing too,” I sighed. Lumius gently nudged my side, I’d been sitting here for a good three hours now, I needed to accept my fate, but I didn’t want to. I grabbed the saddle that Lumius rode on when he rode on my back and put it on. I needed some fresh air, I hoped that it might just help a little. I trotted down the stairs and opened the door, stepping outside and taking a breath. I wandered around town aimlessly for a while before coming to the largest building in town. The crystal castle. A place I’d never been inside, but I knew they accepted visitors. The Princess of friendship was a kind soul, and I thought maybe she could help me. I gentle stepped in walking across the shiny floors and stepping through the castle. I went past each door until I found what I was looking for. “Library” I read the sign quietly to myself. I peered in and not to my surprise, sat inside was the princess herself. I’d actually met Twilight before, she’d visited our school a while back. I stepped inside and took a deep breath. “Princess?” Twilight turned her head, eyes shocked for a moment before softening, “Why hello Willow Bloom, I’ve heard quite a bit about you recently, you were attacked by an Ursa Minor if I’m not mistaken.” My nerves began to fade as she spoke, I stepped closer and sat down, “Yeah. But even worse the Doctors said that this scar I have is my cutie mark.” Twilight nodded, “I was aware of this as well, my friend Starlight actually helped with some of the tests, since she knows so much about cutie marks. It must be quite upsetting.” “It is, but even worse, a filly at school made me realize something else. With no cutie mark, I have no talent.” “Well that just isn’t true,” Twilight said setting her wing on my back to comfort me. “Every pony has talents, a lot of ponies have many, even if their cutie mark doesn’t represent all their talents.” “I guess that makes sense,” I said, wiping tears from the corners of my eyes, “but cutie marks are a symbol of destiny too.” “Not always,” twilight said, “in fact, many cutie marks are symbols that represent past events. Think about Rainbow Dash, her cutie mark is a symbol of her first rainboom, but she doesn’t do rainbooms often, her talent is going fast and busting clouds, and though her cutie mark represents that, it doesn’t show it exactly.” “When I think about it that way I feel a lot better,” I say, looking at the princess with gratitude, “thank you, princess,” “Any time,” she said with a smile, “And please, call me Twilight,” “Well then thank you Miss Twilight. You really helped” I said trotting out the door, my spirits higher, but my heart still tugged at by the feeling that I was purposeless no matter what. Chapter 5: DreamsSeptember 20th, 10 years ago. Twilight was right, I couldn’t just spend my time sulking, I had to do something. I had a talent, and I knew what it was. I had always been a good flier, ever since I was really young. And there was one simple reason, my wings were slightly larger that most other young Pegasi. So I could get higher with less flaps, and I could glide, something that not many young Pegasi were capable of. I looked back at my wings and spread them out with a flutter. I began to flap and fluttered into the sky, I was wobbly, so I landed and looked at my wings, taking each under my hoof. At the tip of my right wing there was a small bend. Something that wouldn’t limit basic and leisure flying, but could effect speed and agility. “It’s a tiny bend” I retorted, “it can’t do anything!” I flapped my wings again, I was steadier this time. I flew a little higher and tried to do a direct upward shoot. My wing gave way halfway through and I had to glide for a minute before steadying myself. “Alright. So we wait on that.” I went for speed instead this time, flying forward at increasing velocity. But it wasn’t long before I got to a speed at which I couldn’t control myself. I spun out of control and clashed into a cloud. I shook my head and flapped my wings again, once again steadying myself in air. I went for a corkscrew spin. I dove for it and made it halfway when my wing froze up again. I once again glided, but this time I landed on the ground. “Okay, so it isn’t as small as I thought,” I stated, “but that doesn’t mean it isn’t avoidable.” I flapped my wings again and reached cloud level, slowly gliding and dodging clouds as I went. I got faster as I went. It wasn’t too long though, before my wing froze up again. This time I couldn’t spread it and I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes and nearly cried. Then I felt myself suddenly get stopped. I was gently drifted to the ground and I opened my eyes to find Cella sitting in front of me. “What are you doing?” She asked, “and how did you fall from the sky?” “I was trying to fly fast! I was doing cool tricks and stuff!” “And you fell from the sky?” “My wing froze up. I got going too fast.” “Well why were you flying that fast in the first place?” She asked with a concerned look. “Because flying is my thing Cella.” I said my eyes glowing. “Yes, but it’s not the only thing. You hurt your wing, sooner or later your gonna have to see that that limits your flying.” “Not if I work around it.” I retorted. “Even if you work with it.” Cella sighed. I would know, you can’t just work around, or with, an injury like that. It always limits you in some way. It may not be a significant or important way, but there always is one.” “Cella I’m going to work around it! It’s the only talent I have! If I can’t fly...” I droned off, “if I can’t fly, I can’t do anything.” “Willow, you are so much more than whether or not you can fly.” “How!? I can’t get a cutie mark! So how am I supposed to know if I am!?” “You don’t need to know! You already are so much more! I know you are! You don’t need a dumb cutie mark to show it!” “But I do Cella!” I began to cry, “everypony else gets to know what they can do! But I’ll never know!” I slumped to the ground. Cella’s eyes softened as she walked over to me and set a hoof on my shoulder. “Listen Willow,” She said, “I know it’s hard, but you’ll make it through this.” I turn to her, tears in my eyes, “how do you know?” I ask through sniffles. “I just do. I know you Willow Bloom, and I know you’ll make it through this.” She said sitting down, “listen, if you wanna fly, then fly, I’m not gonna stop you. Just remember that it isn’t the only option.” “Okay.” “Good,” she sighed, “now, I have to go, my mom will not like that I’m out so long, she’ll get to nervous,” she said walking away, “I’ll see you at school tomorrow Willow.” I watched her go wiping the tears from my eyes. Even when I was so upset I yelled at her, Cella always calmed me down. She made me feel better, even on my worst days. I got up of the ground and flapped my wings again, “I’ll take it slower this time,” I said to myself, as I slowly lifted off the ground. I slowly gained altitude, reaching higher and higher until I reached the upper cloud barrier. I lifted my wings into fifth position and folded them against my sides as I fell through the cloud layers. When I neared the bottom layer I spread my wings wide and angled them, going into a loop-d-loop. I managed to gain enough momentum to do three in a row before evening out. I smiled wide. It had worked, I just had to not strain my wings with strenuous flapping. As long as I was slow in my ascent, I could fall as fast as I wanted, and could spread my wings fast to catch myself. “It’s perfect! And super impressive!” I whinnied excitedly. I gently glided to the ground, I was starting to get a bit cocky though. I spread my wings and flew up again. Trying to go up a little too fast in all my excitement my wing froze up again, but In a half flap motion, so I couldn’t use it to glide. I tried to hit the ground soft but I came down with a skid. Feeling my fur scrape across the grass. I began to cry in pain. I sat there for a while, just crying, laying on the grass, until a gentle yellow Pegasus passed by. Upon seeing my situation, the normally shy pony rushed over. “Are you alright little filly?” She asked, worry glowing in her soft, green-blue eyes. “Not really...” I sniffled, sitting up a bit. “Well whatever happened!?” “I hurt my wing a little while back, I tried to fly with it. But since wing bones are hollow, it didn’t heal quite right. So when I flapped to hard it froze up. And I couldn’t glide to get back down. So I hit the ground pretty hard.” “Oh you poor thing. I’m sure your caretakers will know how to fix this. Where do you live little filly?” The kind mare asked. “In the house three houses to the right of where the golden oak library was.” I sniffled. “Alright, Cmon, stand up, I’ll help you home,” she said, holding out a hoof. I grabbed it and stood up, following her back to my house where she explained what happened to my parents. They nodded in understanding and took me in. Once the mare was gone my father turned to me. “Willow Bloom you know the doctor said you have to take it easy on that wing.” He said. “I know,” I sniffled, “I got excited, I’d done one good round of flying while being careful, and I sorta forgot.” “Well you need to be more cautious next time” My mother said gently, “now, let’s get you cleaned up.” I sighed, it was better to have them here, I knew that, but I wished I didn’t have to be at home. If I never had gotten attacked I never would have gotten hurt. So this was just a result of that horrible day. Chapter 6: IntentNovember 12th, 9 years ago. I trotted to the schoolhouse, Lumius on my back and a look of determination on my face. I watched the other fillies and colts who trotted beside me. All of them shared something I was incapable of having. Cutie marks. But unlike the me from a year ago I was my going to let it phase me. Nearly everypony here had a cutie mark now. Even the CMCs had gotten their cutie marks. They got a big party and everything. Whereas all I got was a pity party. I sat at my desk and watched as ponies filed in and sat at their desks around me. And as things had been for nearly a month now. The seat beside me remained empty. Cella had moved away when her family did just about a month ago. It devastated me, she was the only pony I could really call my friend anymore, and then she was just gone. The last few days we spent together just weren’t enough to get out all my goodbyes. I cried a while after she was gone, but I toughened up. But just because I didn’t show it doesn’t mean I wasn’t upset. It hurt me more than almost anything that she was gone, and I was reminded of it every day when I saw the empty seat. Class flew by in a breeze as it had for a month now. Days were always so much more fun when Cella was there. She was a friend, and a friend was what I needed most in my hardest times. And it was the one thing I didn’t have. I left the building, my drooped ears perking up as I saw the opportunity. The sky was just cloudy enough that I could pull my stunt. And with everypony from school here, they would all see that I was more than just “the pony with the scars”. I flapped my wings, they’d grown in the past year, actually much faster than I had. So I could easily glide and control my movements. But with the growth my injury had worsened. Now I could barely keep steady flight if I got too fast. But I knew, that if I took it slow I could impress them all. “Hey guys! Watch this!” I shouted as many ponies looked over at me. I looked at them with a smile and nodded lightly. Flapping my wings and gaining altitude. Some nearby ponies gathered to watch. It took a couple of minutes for me to reach the top. I began to dive, pulling my wings tight to my sides. Some other ponies turned to see, a couple pointed, a few with their mouths agape. When I’d nearly reached the bottom I spread my wings wide and glided into four loops sloops, doing a small twist at the end and landing gently on the ground. A couple of ponies around me applauded, and one certain Pegasus cheered louder than the rest. “Go Willow Bloom! That’s amazing!” The small orange Pegasus shouted, half fluttering in the air each time she jumped with glee. I looked at her. Scootaloo, a pony I knew well, as every other pony here. A while back she struggled with an inability to fly. But now she barely seemed to care. I knew it was because Scoots knew my struggle that she cheered so loud. It didn’t make it any less great to hear. I stood there for a moment soaking in their praise when a gentle weight landed on my back. I turned to see Lumius, his deep brown eyes warm. I smiled at him and held out a hoof for him to step onto. I sat down and began to groom his feathers with a comb. Scootaloo trotted over to me her eyes wide with excitement. “That was so cool!” She said, “How’d ya do it?!” “I just flew into the air and fell into a couple loops, it’s nothing special,” I said, blushing a little at her compliment. “So what if it’s simple!? It still looked cool!” She said with a smile. “Well thanks,” I said gratefully, “that’s what I was going for.” “You know, you could make it big one day with flying skills like that!” “You really think so?” I asked, blushing at her compliment. “Of course!” She said, turning her head as she heard her aunts calling her, “oh! That’s my aunts, gotta go!” She grabbed her scooted and zipped away. I watched her go with a smile on my face. Despite everything, maybe I did have a destiny after all. *** I flapped my way to the lower cloud level and sat down. Looking at the world below I wondered what life would be like if I couldn’t fly at all. I was lucky, many young ponies who break their wings while they are still growing are never able to fly again. By some miracle, my injury hadn’t affected me as much. I took a deep breath and took off into the sky, testing my limits and flying quickly, I hit a sharp turn against the wind and felt my wing falter, I managed to stop myself before I spun out of control but only barely. “Why’s it so hard to just fly!?” I angrily asked, “it’s just flapping and gliding! How could such a small bend limit me so much?!” I sighed, and landed on the ground, starring at the clouds above me. As much as I wished for it, something in my heart told me that flying just couldn’t be my special talent. So I went home and grabbed my bags and woke Lumius from one of his naps. “Hoot!” He hooted at me quite loudly. “We’re going on a trip Lumius.” I said, gently petting him and smoothing his feathers with a wing. We walked all the way to Sugarcube corner and I stepped inside. In the corner the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat, having cupcakes together. I walked over to the counter and Pinkie Pie bounced over to get my order. “What can I get for you Willow Bloom?” Pinkie asked with a bright smile. “Just one cupcake please,” I said. “Okie Dokie Lokie!” She said, skipping off to grab one, she came back quick as could be and set it in front of me. I set two bits in the counter but she pushed them back towards me. “This one’s on the house,” she said giving me a pat in the head, “I can tell your upset right now, but darkness passes Willow Bloom, Cheer up.” I thanked her and went over to a table, I was sitting alone for a minute or two when the CMCs scooted up beside me. “Howdy Willow Bloom!” Apple Bloom said with a smile, “How are ya? Trying any new flying tricks?” “I’m fine, I think I’m done with flying though.” I said. “But why!? You were doing so well!” Scootaloo said. “Well, my injury is only getting worse with time, there may be a day when j can barely get off the ground. So I don’t see a point in wasting time learning something that won’t be useful to me when I’m older.” “I guess that makes sense,” Sweetie Belle said. “Yeah, I mean, why waste time, I need to find something to do.” As I said the word a flyer drifted through the open door and landed right in front of me. Join today, Canterlot Royal Gaurds, positions open for all ages 14 and up and all comfort levels.” “And I think I’ve just found it.” I said. Chapter 7: InvisibleJanuary 12th, 7 years ago I fling my bags over my back and shove on my armor, placing my helmet on my head and looking in the mirror. “Pretty sharp if I do say so myself.” I say, grabbing my spear from off the wall with a wing and opening my door. “C’mon Lumius!” I call to my owl, he flies over and sits on my back as I grab my list of todos from the back of my door. “Alright, today we have to guard the third gate of the palace. Piece of cake!” I say trotting down the stairs and out of the Guard’s quarters. I’d been working here for a whole year now and I fit right in. As boring as the job was it gave me a purpose, a reason to be there. So I continued on, doing as I was told, and making myself useful. I marched over to my post and swapped with the guard already there. And I stood, as I had, every day for the past year. And seconds turned into minutes into hours, when suddenly I spotted a familiar face walking to the palace. It’s been two years but I’d know her from anywhere. “Cella?” I take a step foreword and she looks at me, then giving me the brightest smile in all Equestria. “Willow Bloom!” She exclaimed, galloping over to me, “why didn’t you tell me that you joined the royal gaurd! We could’ve hung out!” “I guess I kinda got distracted” I said. “Well we’re gonna have to hang out later, there’s a lot we need to talk about!” She said with a smile, “when are you free?” “Um, well, I have my lunch break in two hours, ya free then?” I ask. “I’m free whenever I want to be Willow, so yeah, I’m free in two hours, I’ll meet’cha right here so don’t go anywhere!” She said trotting off towards the castle. “I didn’t plan on it!” I called to her smiling. The guard beside me gave me a weird look. “Oh! That’s just my friend from a couple years back!” I said quickly. “Uh yeah, sure,” he said turning back to face Canterlot. *** “Willow Bloom!” Cella trotted out of the palace grounds and over to me, I hadn’t noticed it before but she was wearing a pretty white dress. “Hey Cella!” I said with a smile, “why are you so dressed up?” I asked her. “We’ll I was just preforming with my quartet for Princess Luna, we’re auditioning to play at the grand galloping gala.” She said. “Really!? The grand galloping gala?” I asked with surprise. “Yeah! It’s a lot of pressure, especially since I’m the youngest pony to ever even audition, but the princess seemed to like our performance.” “Why’d you never send me a letter? I would’ve loved to come listen to you play!” “I guess I just got distracted.” She said, smirking at me. “Now I get it.” I say, “Where are we gonna eat?” “I know just the place.” She said trotting to a back ally, where a beautifully decorated restaurant sat. “Welcome to the Tasty Treat! The best food in all of Canterlot is served here!” We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a smiling face. “Welcome to the Tasty Treat!” The pony said, she opened her eyes and smiled ever brighter, “Cella Strings!” “Hello Saffron!” Cella said with a smile, hugging the pony, “Saffron meet my Fillyhood friend Willow Bloom! Willow Bloom, this is my friend Saffron Masala.” “Pleasure to meet you!” I say, shaking Saffron’s hoof. “It’s a pleasure for me as well.” She said with a smile, “Welcome, again, to the Tasty Treat, you two can sit right over here and I’ll be right back out with your menus.” She said, leading Cella and I to a table. We sat down and Cella smiled at me, “So how have you been?” She asked, “I hope life wasn’t too rough for you without me.” “It was fine, I was really upset at first, but things got better. I didn’t really make too many new friends though.” I said, sighing. “That’s really too bad,” she said, “i wish I could’ve been there, but I wouldn’t want to give up all that I’ve gotten in Canterlot either.” “What all have you gotten here?” “New friends I can introduce to you, a new group to play with, and… well, I got my Cutie Mark.” I sighed, “Still waiting and hoping on that last one.” “It must be so hard, I mean, I didn’t have mine for a long while, until just a few months ago, I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through.” “Oh it’s not too bad! Besides, I have a purpose now, I’m a royal gaurd, and I’m really good at it.” “But it’s still gotta sting. Besides that, how’s your family?” “They’ve been well, I write to them weekly, my brother started school this year, I’m very excited for him.” “That’s nice.” “How’s yours been?” “Oh, I moved out!” She said, “don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, but they were way too overprotective. We still talk and their proud of me taking steps to declare my independence.” “Must be freeing not to be stuck in a house full of bubble wrap huh?” I asked with a smirk. “Yeah,” she chuckled, “I don’t really wear my Prosthetics anymore, you might not be able to tell since I’m wearing one right now. But I only wear them when I’m playing, and ya know, just got back from doing that.” “You seem very happy,” I said, “I’m glad you’ve found who you are.” “I’m happy too, and I’m gonna help you find who you are as well.” “But I do know who I am.” “Not really, you see your scars and let them tell you what to do! But that’s not the Willow Bloom I know! She’s never let anything get in her way!” “I tried to look past it, I am looking past it, but I thought I was supposed to fly, but I can’t, not with my injury.” “So what if you can’t fly!? Try other things!” “But what if I just fail?” “Then try again!” She said, standing up, “it’s time we break these chains and see who you really are.” Chapter 8: New Friends“Who I really am?” I asked. “Who you really are.” She responded, “I see more than just a Royal Gaurd in you Willow Bloom!” “I guess we could try.” “Sorry I took so long!” Saffron said, dotting in between us, “I got a little caught up in the kitchen, I’ll give you a minute to make your selection.” *** Cella and I stepped out of the restaurant, waving goodbye as we left. “Alright! We’re taking a trip to Ponyville!” Cella announced. “Right now? I have to work!” “I’ve already sent Lumius with a letter stating that you are taking a break day.” “You what!?” “It’s okay, we’re gonna figure this out, and if being a guard is what you’re truly made for then you can go back tomorrow.” I sighed, “if you say so.” “I do say so! Let’s go!” *** We boarded the train and sat down. “So what are we gonna do first?” I asked. “We’re gonna visit the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they’re gonna help you figure out your purpose!” “Okay.” “They’re really good at helping ponies in need, I’m certain that if anypony can help you, it’ll be them!” “I trust your judgement Cella.” “Good!” She smiled, as the train began to chug forward. *** Three hours later we arrived at the station, we stepped off the train and Cella looked around smiling. “Oh it’s good to be home!” She said with a happy sigh. “Yeah,” I said, this being the first time back in a while for me as well. “Let’s get going, the CMCs are gonna need as much time as possible if they are gonna help you out!” Cella said, trotting in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “Alright!” I said, following her. We soon arrived at the Cutie Mark Clubhouse, and walked up to the door, giving a couple knocks. “Who is it?” Scootaloo called from inside. “Willow Bloom and Cella Strings!” Cella replied. “Oh!” Scootaloo scrambled to the door and opened it, “What brings you two here?” “Willow Bloom needs help, she doesn’t know what her true talent is, and that scar of hers sure isn’t going to tell her,” Cella answered. “Oh! Okay then,” Scoots said turning around to her fellow Crusaders, “CRUSADERS! We have an emergency!” “What’s the matter?” Sweetie Bell asked. “Willow Bloom needs help figuring out her special talent!” Scootaloo responded. “That shouldn’t be too hard,” Apple Bloom said, trotting over to join Scoots. “It will be.” I said with a sigh. “Not for us!” The Crusaders said in harmony. Bum ba da bum bum bum ba da bum bum Willow Bloom we’re here to help you out in any way we can! It may seem impossible but the Crusaders have a plan! Just follow our lead and we promise you we will succeed! Help you find your place within our land! The world around me used to feel so unknown. Didn’t think I’d find a place that I could call my own But now that your all here I finally have a home No longer do I have to feel alone! Cause you’ll find your place! Even without your mark, You will be okay! And now it’s time we start! To get together and start a spark, And now a journey on which we must embark! We’re gonna have to try it all But you are not alone! We’re here to help you if you fall So you can make it all your own! Cause you’ll find your place! Even without your mark, You will be okay! And now it’s time we start! To get together and start a spark, And now a journey to find your cutie mark It’s time! It’s time! To rise! And shine! The light! Your mark in sight! It… Is… Tiiiiiiime! “You really think you can help me?” I asked. “For sure!” Scootaloo responded. “Yeah! I mean, it can’t be that hard, we helped a Griffin find her purpose, of me can do that we can do anything!” Apple Bloom said. “If you say so,” I said, gently rubbing my hoof across the ground. “Alright! A chart is always a good place to start.” Sweetie Belle chimes in, “We can keep out anything you can’t physically do or have already tried, so what things fit those categories Willow?” “Well, I can’t fly very well, I already tried that, and I can’t run, or pull heavy objects or carts. Oh! And I guess we can count out animal training, cause ya know, Lumius. And guarding. Cause that’s my job and I haven’t gotten a Cutie Mark yet.” “Alright then, we have a bunch of other things you can try. And remember, though we hope you try everything, if you are too nervous to do something you don’t have to do it, just tell us you don’t want to and we’ll move on,” Scootaloo said. “If you say so…” Prologue: IntroTuesday, November 27th, 19 years ago. That's the day I was born. It was a bright sunny morning, I know because my mother always says it. Every time she does, she follows it with the words, "If only what were to follow would have been just as amazing." Sadly fate had a different path set for me. But it wasn't always so bad. In fact, it started really great. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't know. Running around, playing all day, a hundred friends by my side. Oh, I remember the days, just like they happened yesterday. It was all I knew, joy and fun, as every foal does. It was wonderful. I’d frolic in fields of flowers, play hopscotch with my friends, and chase the other fillies on the playground. It was made by my class, funded by a previously infamous bully. But she changed, and boy was I glad. Many fillies were my "friends,” but few actually cared for me once you got past my wavy, teal mane and emerald green eyes. But there was one, one who stuck by my side through it all.
Chapter 1: InnocenceAuthor's Note Just a content warning for this chapter only, there is a traumatic scene at the end of this chapter that may be triggering to some readers. Proceed with caution. Also, Cella is named Cella Strings and her name is pronounced: Chell-uh Like Cello, but with an A instead of an O Chapter 1: Innocence September 12th, 10 years ago. "Hurry up Cella!" I yell to my bestie, it's the first day of school and I'm over the moon with excitement. "We're gonna be late!" I holler. "I know, I know, just let me catch up, all this running isn't easy on me, this new prosthetic leg isn't strong," Cella called from behind me, her fluffy, blonde mane pushed in front of her smiling face, by the wind. "Oh c'mon slowpoke! I've seen you run without it!" "Not as fast as you're going!" She yells as I see her gaining on me, "Besides! This thing is expensive! My parents would be, like, super-duper DUPER mad if I broke it!" "Yeah, yeah!" I chuckle, "Then why wear it?" "Because mom says I have to." She sighs, clearly dissatisfied, her parents, though nice, didn't see Cella the way I saw her, all they saw was the fact that she was different, I didn't realize it at the time, but Cella sure did. "Well then your parents are stupid heads," I snorted, sticking out my tongue. "Don't say that!" She squeaked, her voice at a pitch so high it hurt my ears, "Erm... I mean, please don't say that." she corrected herself more quietly, a little embarrassed. "Fine, fine," I say, a little annoyed, “If you MUST keep that dumb thing on then I suppose I can slow down for you," I say at last. "Thank you" she sighed, finally catching up to me and trotting just to my left. "Your parents are really weird." "Yeah, well you've barely even met them" "Oh really? I've been to your house! They add padding to all the sharp corners as if you’re a foal. Like they think you're so clumsy that you won't be able to stop yourself from hitting anything." "Well... they... uh...." Cella droned off. "Hey! Don't take it personally! Your parents may be weird, but you are one of the coolest ponies I know!" I state with certainty. “You really think so?” Cella asks, her eyes glowing. “Yeah, I do! Stop making such a big deal of it!” “It means a lot to me,” She said softly, her eyes glowing with joy. I flip my wavy mane out of my face as the wind repeatedly pushes it back, “Well that’s good to hear, now c’mon let’s get to class.” We entered the schoolhouse side by side and sat at our desks, we’d scoot them closer together until Miss Cheerilee tells us to put them back, at which we’d carefully put them back one scoot less. The classroom would look dull to a bystander, but Miss Cheerilee made up for all of that, she'd been our teacher since we were small, so she knew us all really well, she and Cella were very close, at the time I didn’t know why now I see that it’s because Cheerilee was like a mother to Cella. Cheerilee saw us all not as students, but as budding flowers, ready to bloom. She didn’t care if Cella was missing a petal, all that mattered to her was that my best friend bloomed into a wonderful, hard-working pony. Now we sat in class as little ponies filed in, I knew each and every one of their names, and where they sat, they were the fillies I grew up with. Pip Squeak, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Snips, Snails, Dinky Doo, Ditsy Whooves, and Cherry Gumdrop. Each of them sat at their respective desks and so the day began, and it went the same nearly every day. Cella and I would walk to school and back, and every time it was the same. It was when I got home that the real fun started. “Hug attawk!” I hear my little brother shout as he dive bombs me from the couch. My mother walks over to me as I get up and shake myself off with a laugh. “I readied our lunches! are you ready for the best park adventure the Bloom family has ever done?” My mom asked me enthusiastically as I gave her a bright smile. “I sure am!” “Well then let’s go!” She says with a smile. We walk all the way to the nearest park, it’s near the edge of the Everfree Forest, so the plants are luscious and alive, it’s our favorite lunch spot in all of Ponyville. It was our favorite lunch spot. I step onto the grass and trot around when my dad shows up, I rush over to him and give him a big hug. “How’s My little girl?” He asks joyfully, his eyes bright with fatherly love. “I’m great dad! Even better now that you’re here! Zecora said the forest is clear! We can play tag!” Everfree Tag, a gave me and my father played every time we came to the lunch spot, as long as Zecora allowed it. She checked the forest for things such as Chimeras and Timber Wolves before we played, and we were always careful to avoid poison joke. “Let’s get going then!” My dad said letting me get a head start, I was fast, turning sharp corners that my dad just couldn’t I kept dodging and weaving until I came to a cave. “Perfect hiding spot he’ll never find me in here,” I said quietly to myself, backing up into the cave. I suddenly bump into something large and fuzzy. My fur stands on end as I slowly turn my head. Before me sits a large bear made entirely of stars, it is blue and holds in its paws a small log it is using as a toy. The log is barely a twig to the humongous creature. I can’t speak or move as fear grips my fur. That’s when it looks at me, its eyes glow with child-like intrigue and I gulp in a breath, thinking it my last, when I hear my dad calling for me. I let out a cry of desperation turning around, freed by this tiny pool of hope. “DAAAADD!!” I scream helplessly, but it’s too late, The creature's mighty claws grip my flank, tearing wide tears in the skin on both sides. I scream in agony as the fear and pain overwhelm me, all I see is my father running into the cave as the creature lets go and everything goes dark.
Chapter 3: InsultsSeptember 17th, 10 years ago I grabbed my stuff and began to pack my bags, hope in my heart. I tried to remember good things, like how I’d get to see my friends today. It was hard to ignore all that had happened to me, but I knew that I had to try and be optimistic. I grabbed my bags and set them on my back, it was early morning, I was set to leave at this time so I would be able to get ready for school. Cella and my parents had tried to lift my spirits, but nothing really helped, nothing, but Lumius. Caring for the sweet bird that I now called my own helped to keep me distracted, maybe it’s because, like me, Lumius never had, and would never have a symbol telling him where to go in life. He rode on his own ingenuity, his own wings, and it made me feel better to not be alone. I whistled the call I had taught him in all my free time and he flew from his perch to my side, I gave him a gentle scratch on his chin and set him on my bags as I stumbled out the door. Lumius tried to help me keep my balance with his large wings, but it didn’t do much help with how little he weighed. Despite being futile I appreciated his efforts. I stepped out the door and took a breath of fresh air, almost immediately feeling better as the sun shone on my fur. I trotted to my house to drop off my stuff before leaving for school. Since Lumius had helped me so much, my parents registered him as an official support animal, so I was allowed to take him to school, and boy did that make me happy. As always, I wore the friendship necklace around my neck, but I also wore a couple of bracelets and the sweater. I stuck a single hair clip in my hair and headed out the door, slowly walking to school, my scars covered by my bags. *** “Wiiiillooooow Blooooom!” Cella shouts as she comes tumbling over the hill near the school, she nearly runs into me but stops just in time, “I’m so glad you’re back! We missed you so much!” She said with a smile, as we walked to the building together. I stepped inside and sat down at my desk, immediately the pony beside me, Apple Bloom, started asking questions. “What was it like being so close to an Ursa Minor?” She asked me, sitting on the edge of her seat, “I’ve seen one before, but only from far away, what was it like?” I again shudder at the thought of the beast, “it was big, like, huge, and it was blue, it looked like it was made of stars. It looked at me like a foal does to a new toy. But most of all it was terrifying.” I say. “Wow!” I hear Pip Squeak say on the other side of the room, “you’re so brave! I’d never be able to face something big like that!” “I was terrified, I didn’t face it actually, I tried to run,” I say. “It didn’t go well did it?” I hear sweetie bell ask sympathetically, “you poor thing, it musta hurt so bad!” She squeaked. “I would bet!” Scootaloo interrupted, “but Willow Bloom’s tough! She made it out alright!” “How’d ya ever do it?” I hear Ditsy Whooves ask me with a walleyed stare, she looks near identical to her mother. “I guess I just did,” I say with a small laugh. “May I pet your owl?” Silver Spoon asks politely and quietly, “he’s very pretty,” “You may, just be careful, he does get spooked if too many ponies are near him at once,” I say as she gently pets Lumius. “All right little ponies, that’s enough, it’s time for class.” Miss Cheerilee says with a smile. *** Once class is over, every pony is allowed to ask questions. That’s when a certain Cherry Gumdrop walks over and asks me the question I’ve been dreading. “Is that scar like a cutie mark or something? My horn is picking up a magic aura from it.” She says. I look at her and then the ground, “um- yeah, actually it is. The doctors told me that this is my cutie mark.” “So does that mean your talentless or something?” Those words broke me, I hadn’t even thought of it that way, but now it was all I could think of. “I mean, not to be rude but a cutie mark is a symbol of your destiny, so if your destiny was that scar, then it’s already past and now you have no destiny.” I barely heard her as I sat in shock, I stood up with my head down and turned to the door. “Willow! Where are you going?” I hear Cella call after me. I say one word, “home,” and then I leave, walking at first but accelerating to nearly a run my back leg hurting from all the pressure as tears stream from my eyes. I burst through the front door of my house and before my mom can even welcome me I’m up in my room, I sit on my bed, feeling worthless I lie down and press my muzzle into the mattress. Tears stream from my eyes as my mother creaks open the door and walks in. “Willow Bloom, honey, what’s wrong?” She asks in a gentle tone as Lumius Glides through my window, I’d left him behind. My owl snuggled close into my face to try and comfort me, and after a bit, I look up at my mom, “Mom, am I talentless?” I ask her, tears in the corners of my eyes. My mother stops for a moment, and that’s all it takes to break me. “I am aren’t I?!” I wail burying my head back in my pillow. My mom gently sets her wing on my back, “Willow Bloom, a filly who doesn’t have a cutie mark still has a talent, they just don’t know what it is yet. You’re no different from that, your’s just lasts longer. I know that with those words my mother was trying to comfort me. But all I could think was that it meant that even if I did have a talent, that I would never know, and that didn’t make me feel much better.
Chapter 4: ImagineSeptember 18th, 10 years ago I sat in my room watching the clock tick on the wall. I felt more lost than I ever had, looking back at my scarred flank I could only imagine what could’ve been had I never gone in that cave. Maybe I’d be playing with Cella right now, maybe I’d even get my cutie mark, and as I imagined I began to form images in my head. Sewing the scenes together, creating the reality that could’ve been. And suddenly it felt. Real *** “Tag!” I shout gently tapping my bestie on the shoulder and fluttering away. “Oh, I’ll get you!” She shouted, trotting after me. I smiled with joy, landing on the ground to make it fair and trotting away from her. I stuck my tongue out at her. “You won’t be able to!” I yell. “Oh, you’ll see!” She shouted, her horn sparkling up, suddenly she disappeared and then she was right behind me. She tapped me with a hoof as I stepped back. “How’d ya do that?!” I asked in amazement. “I learned it in a spellbook!” She smiled. “It’s so cool! I wish I was a unicorn! Then I could do all sorts of cool stuff like that!” “Even without magic, you can still do a ton of cool things, Willow Bloom!” “Yeah, but the things you can do are so much cooler!” I say, a little salty. I sat down with a sigh and began to hum the tune of a song I was making on the go. I loved music, especially singing, and I was pretty good too. I stood up and trotted over to Cella, “wanna go to Sugarcube corner and grab some cupcakes?” I asked her. “Sure!” We trotted to the center of town, waving as ponies passed us by. The streets were bustling, and it was no wonder, with how lovely the day was. We wandered into the large, desert-shaped shop and I fluttered up to the counter and set down a couple of bits. “Two cupcakes please!” I said with a smile as Pinkie pie sprung to the counter. “Comin’ right up!” She said with a bounce, trotting over and grabbing two from the display with her bouncy mane and setting them on the counter. I grabbed them and walked over to the table Cella was sat at, setting down the two desserts. “So... how’s life at home.” “Same old same old, padded corners, overly-concerned parents, ya know, the usual.” “It makes no sense why they treat you the way they do! So what if you’re missing a leg!? You are just as capable as any other pony! You don’t need four legs to walk, and you more than prove that!” “If I’m being honest, I don’t know how you don’t see me that way.” “Because no one should, you’re no foal, you’re amazing!” Cella blushed a little, “well, you may be the only one who thinks that except Miss Cheerilee of course.” “I shouldn’t be. You are amazing, one of the most amazing ponies I’ve ever met in fact, and as these necklaces say, we’ll be friends forever.” It was those words that broke the illusion I’d built. I lay in my bed, looking down at the small half heart. Tears dripping from my eyes and landing on the sheets on either side of it. “If only I was amazing too,” I sighed. Lumius gently nudged my side, I’d been sitting here for a good three hours now, I needed to accept my fate, but I didn’t want to. I grabbed the saddle that Lumius rode on when he rode on my back and put it on. I needed some fresh air, I hoped that it might just help a little. I trotted down the stairs and opened the door, stepping outside and taking a breath. I wandered around town aimlessly for a while before coming to the largest building in town. The crystal castle. A place I’d never been inside, but I knew they accepted visitors. The Princess of friendship was a kind soul, and I thought maybe she could help me. I gentle stepped in walking across the shiny floors and stepping through the castle. I went past each door until I found what I was looking for. “Library” I read the sign quietly to myself. I peered in and not to my surprise, sat inside was the princess herself. I’d actually met Twilight before, she’d visited our school a while back. I stepped inside and took a deep breath. “Princess?” Twilight turned her head, eyes shocked for a moment before softening, “Why hello Willow Bloom, I’ve heard quite a bit about you recently, you were attacked by an Ursa Minor if I’m not mistaken.” My nerves began to fade as she spoke, I stepped closer and sat down, “Yeah. But even worse the Doctors said that this scar I have is my cutie mark.” Twilight nodded, “I was aware of this as well, my friend Starlight actually helped with some of the tests, since she knows so much about cutie marks. It must be quite upsetting.” “It is, but even worse, a filly at school made me realize something else. With no cutie mark, I have no talent.” “Well that just isn’t true,” Twilight said setting her wing on my back to comfort me. “Every pony has talents, a lot of ponies have many, even if their cutie mark doesn’t represent all their talents.” “I guess that makes sense,” I said, wiping tears from the corners of my eyes, “but cutie marks are a symbol of destiny too.” “Not always,” twilight said, “in fact, many cutie marks are symbols that represent past events. Think about Rainbow Dash, her cutie mark is a symbol of her first rainboom, but she doesn’t do rainbooms often, her talent is going fast and busting clouds, and though her cutie mark represents that, it doesn’t show it exactly.” “When I think about it that way I feel a lot better,” I say, looking at the princess with gratitude, “thank you, princess,” “Any time,” she said with a smile, “And please, call me Twilight,” “Well then thank you Miss Twilight. You really helped” I said trotting out the door, my spirits higher, but my heart still tugged at by the feeling that I was purposeless no matter what.
Chapter 5: DreamsSeptember 20th, 10 years ago. Twilight was right, I couldn’t just spend my time sulking, I had to do something. I had a talent, and I knew what it was. I had always been a good flier, ever since I was really young. And there was one simple reason, my wings were slightly larger that most other young Pegasi. So I could get higher with less flaps, and I could glide, something that not many young Pegasi were capable of. I looked back at my wings and spread them out with a flutter. I began to flap and fluttered into the sky, I was wobbly, so I landed and looked at my wings, taking each under my hoof. At the tip of my right wing there was a small bend. Something that wouldn’t limit basic and leisure flying, but could effect speed and agility. “It’s a tiny bend” I retorted, “it can’t do anything!” I flapped my wings again, I was steadier this time. I flew a little higher and tried to do a direct upward shoot. My wing gave way halfway through and I had to glide for a minute before steadying myself. “Alright. So we wait on that.” I went for speed instead this time, flying forward at increasing velocity. But it wasn’t long before I got to a speed at which I couldn’t control myself. I spun out of control and clashed into a cloud. I shook my head and flapped my wings again, once again steadying myself in air. I went for a corkscrew spin. I dove for it and made it halfway when my wing froze up again. I once again glided, but this time I landed on the ground. “Okay, so it isn’t as small as I thought,” I stated, “but that doesn’t mean it isn’t avoidable.” I flapped my wings again and reached cloud level, slowly gliding and dodging clouds as I went. I got faster as I went. It wasn’t too long though, before my wing froze up again. This time I couldn’t spread it and I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes and nearly cried. Then I felt myself suddenly get stopped. I was gently drifted to the ground and I opened my eyes to find Cella sitting in front of me. “What are you doing?” She asked, “and how did you fall from the sky?” “I was trying to fly fast! I was doing cool tricks and stuff!” “And you fell from the sky?” “My wing froze up. I got going too fast.” “Well why were you flying that fast in the first place?” She asked with a concerned look. “Because flying is my thing Cella.” I said my eyes glowing. “Yes, but it’s not the only thing. You hurt your wing, sooner or later your gonna have to see that that limits your flying.” “Not if I work around it.” I retorted. “Even if you work with it.” Cella sighed. I would know, you can’t just work around, or with, an injury like that. It always limits you in some way. It may not be a significant or important way, but there always is one.” “Cella I’m going to work around it! It’s the only talent I have! If I can’t fly...” I droned off, “if I can’t fly, I can’t do anything.” “Willow, you are so much more than whether or not you can fly.” “How!? I can’t get a cutie mark! So how am I supposed to know if I am!?” “You don’t need to know! You already are so much more! I know you are! You don’t need a dumb cutie mark to show it!” “But I do Cella!” I began to cry, “everypony else gets to know what they can do! But I’ll never know!” I slumped to the ground. Cella’s eyes softened as she walked over to me and set a hoof on my shoulder. “Listen Willow,” She said, “I know it’s hard, but you’ll make it through this.” I turn to her, tears in my eyes, “how do you know?” I ask through sniffles. “I just do. I know you Willow Bloom, and I know you’ll make it through this.” She said sitting down, “listen, if you wanna fly, then fly, I’m not gonna stop you. Just remember that it isn’t the only option.” “Okay.” “Good,” she sighed, “now, I have to go, my mom will not like that I’m out so long, she’ll get to nervous,” she said walking away, “I’ll see you at school tomorrow Willow.” I watched her go wiping the tears from my eyes. Even when I was so upset I yelled at her, Cella always calmed me down. She made me feel better, even on my worst days. I got up of the ground and flapped my wings again, “I’ll take it slower this time,” I said to myself, as I slowly lifted off the ground. I slowly gained altitude, reaching higher and higher until I reached the upper cloud barrier. I lifted my wings into fifth position and folded them against my sides as I fell through the cloud layers. When I neared the bottom layer I spread my wings wide and angled them, going into a loop-d-loop. I managed to gain enough momentum to do three in a row before evening out. I smiled wide. It had worked, I just had to not strain my wings with strenuous flapping. As long as I was slow in my ascent, I could fall as fast as I wanted, and could spread my wings fast to catch myself. “It’s perfect! And super impressive!” I whinnied excitedly. I gently glided to the ground, I was starting to get a bit cocky though. I spread my wings and flew up again. Trying to go up a little too fast in all my excitement my wing froze up again, but In a half flap motion, so I couldn’t use it to glide. I tried to hit the ground soft but I came down with a skid. Feeling my fur scrape across the grass. I began to cry in pain. I sat there for a while, just crying, laying on the grass, until a gentle yellow Pegasus passed by. Upon seeing my situation, the normally shy pony rushed over. “Are you alright little filly?” She asked, worry glowing in her soft, green-blue eyes. “Not really...” I sniffled, sitting up a bit. “Well whatever happened!?” “I hurt my wing a little while back, I tried to fly with it. But since wing bones are hollow, it didn’t heal quite right. So when I flapped to hard it froze up. And I couldn’t glide to get back down. So I hit the ground pretty hard.” “Oh you poor thing. I’m sure your caretakers will know how to fix this. Where do you live little filly?” The kind mare asked. “In the house three houses to the right of where the golden oak library was.” I sniffled. “Alright, Cmon, stand up, I’ll help you home,” she said, holding out a hoof. I grabbed it and stood up, following her back to my house where she explained what happened to my parents. They nodded in understanding and took me in. Once the mare was gone my father turned to me. “Willow Bloom you know the doctor said you have to take it easy on that wing.” He said. “I know,” I sniffled, “I got excited, I’d done one good round of flying while being careful, and I sorta forgot.” “Well you need to be more cautious next time” My mother said gently, “now, let’s get you cleaned up.” I sighed, it was better to have them here, I knew that, but I wished I didn’t have to be at home. If I never had gotten attacked I never would have gotten hurt. So this was just a result of that horrible day.
Chapter 6: IntentNovember 12th, 9 years ago. I trotted to the schoolhouse, Lumius on my back and a look of determination on my face. I watched the other fillies and colts who trotted beside me. All of them shared something I was incapable of having. Cutie marks. But unlike the me from a year ago I was my going to let it phase me. Nearly everypony here had a cutie mark now. Even the CMCs had gotten their cutie marks. They got a big party and everything. Whereas all I got was a pity party. I sat at my desk and watched as ponies filed in and sat at their desks around me. And as things had been for nearly a month now. The seat beside me remained empty. Cella had moved away when her family did just about a month ago. It devastated me, she was the only pony I could really call my friend anymore, and then she was just gone. The last few days we spent together just weren’t enough to get out all my goodbyes. I cried a while after she was gone, but I toughened up. But just because I didn’t show it doesn’t mean I wasn’t upset. It hurt me more than almost anything that she was gone, and I was reminded of it every day when I saw the empty seat. Class flew by in a breeze as it had for a month now. Days were always so much more fun when Cella was there. She was a friend, and a friend was what I needed most in my hardest times. And it was the one thing I didn’t have. I left the building, my drooped ears perking up as I saw the opportunity. The sky was just cloudy enough that I could pull my stunt. And with everypony from school here, they would all see that I was more than just “the pony with the scars”. I flapped my wings, they’d grown in the past year, actually much faster than I had. So I could easily glide and control my movements. But with the growth my injury had worsened. Now I could barely keep steady flight if I got too fast. But I knew, that if I took it slow I could impress them all. “Hey guys! Watch this!” I shouted as many ponies looked over at me. I looked at them with a smile and nodded lightly. Flapping my wings and gaining altitude. Some nearby ponies gathered to watch. It took a couple of minutes for me to reach the top. I began to dive, pulling my wings tight to my sides. Some other ponies turned to see, a couple pointed, a few with their mouths agape. When I’d nearly reached the bottom I spread my wings wide and glided into four loops sloops, doing a small twist at the end and landing gently on the ground. A couple of ponies around me applauded, and one certain Pegasus cheered louder than the rest. “Go Willow Bloom! That’s amazing!” The small orange Pegasus shouted, half fluttering in the air each time she jumped with glee. I looked at her. Scootaloo, a pony I knew well, as every other pony here. A while back she struggled with an inability to fly. But now she barely seemed to care. I knew it was because Scoots knew my struggle that she cheered so loud. It didn’t make it any less great to hear. I stood there for a moment soaking in their praise when a gentle weight landed on my back. I turned to see Lumius, his deep brown eyes warm. I smiled at him and held out a hoof for him to step onto. I sat down and began to groom his feathers with a comb. Scootaloo trotted over to me her eyes wide with excitement. “That was so cool!” She said, “How’d ya do it?!” “I just flew into the air and fell into a couple loops, it’s nothing special,” I said, blushing a little at her compliment. “So what if it’s simple!? It still looked cool!” She said with a smile. “Well thanks,” I said gratefully, “that’s what I was going for.” “You know, you could make it big one day with flying skills like that!” “You really think so?” I asked, blushing at her compliment. “Of course!” She said, turning her head as she heard her aunts calling her, “oh! That’s my aunts, gotta go!” She grabbed her scooted and zipped away. I watched her go with a smile on my face. Despite everything, maybe I did have a destiny after all. *** I flapped my way to the lower cloud level and sat down. Looking at the world below I wondered what life would be like if I couldn’t fly at all. I was lucky, many young ponies who break their wings while they are still growing are never able to fly again. By some miracle, my injury hadn’t affected me as much. I took a deep breath and took off into the sky, testing my limits and flying quickly, I hit a sharp turn against the wind and felt my wing falter, I managed to stop myself before I spun out of control but only barely. “Why’s it so hard to just fly!?” I angrily asked, “it’s just flapping and gliding! How could such a small bend limit me so much?!” I sighed, and landed on the ground, starring at the clouds above me. As much as I wished for it, something in my heart told me that flying just couldn’t be my special talent. So I went home and grabbed my bags and woke Lumius from one of his naps. “Hoot!” He hooted at me quite loudly. “We’re going on a trip Lumius.” I said, gently petting him and smoothing his feathers with a wing. We walked all the way to Sugarcube corner and I stepped inside. In the corner the Cutie Mark Crusaders sat, having cupcakes together. I walked over to the counter and Pinkie Pie bounced over to get my order. “What can I get for you Willow Bloom?” Pinkie asked with a bright smile. “Just one cupcake please,” I said. “Okie Dokie Lokie!” She said, skipping off to grab one, she came back quick as could be and set it in front of me. I set two bits in the counter but she pushed them back towards me. “This one’s on the house,” she said giving me a pat in the head, “I can tell your upset right now, but darkness passes Willow Bloom, Cheer up.” I thanked her and went over to a table, I was sitting alone for a minute or two when the CMCs scooted up beside me. “Howdy Willow Bloom!” Apple Bloom said with a smile, “How are ya? Trying any new flying tricks?” “I’m fine, I think I’m done with flying though.” I said. “But why!? You were doing so well!” Scootaloo said. “Well, my injury is only getting worse with time, there may be a day when j can barely get off the ground. So I don’t see a point in wasting time learning something that won’t be useful to me when I’m older.” “I guess that makes sense,” Sweetie Belle said. “Yeah, I mean, why waste time, I need to find something to do.” As I said the word a flyer drifted through the open door and landed right in front of me. Join today, Canterlot Royal Gaurds, positions open for all ages 14 and up and all comfort levels.” “And I think I’ve just found it.” I said.
Chapter 7: InvisibleJanuary 12th, 7 years ago I fling my bags over my back and shove on my armor, placing my helmet on my head and looking in the mirror. “Pretty sharp if I do say so myself.” I say, grabbing my spear from off the wall with a wing and opening my door. “C’mon Lumius!” I call to my owl, he flies over and sits on my back as I grab my list of todos from the back of my door. “Alright, today we have to guard the third gate of the palace. Piece of cake!” I say trotting down the stairs and out of the Guard’s quarters. I’d been working here for a whole year now and I fit right in. As boring as the job was it gave me a purpose, a reason to be there. So I continued on, doing as I was told, and making myself useful. I marched over to my post and swapped with the guard already there. And I stood, as I had, every day for the past year. And seconds turned into minutes into hours, when suddenly I spotted a familiar face walking to the palace. It’s been two years but I’d know her from anywhere. “Cella?” I take a step foreword and she looks at me, then giving me the brightest smile in all Equestria. “Willow Bloom!” She exclaimed, galloping over to me, “why didn’t you tell me that you joined the royal gaurd! We could’ve hung out!” “I guess I kinda got distracted” I said. “Well we’re gonna have to hang out later, there’s a lot we need to talk about!” She said with a smile, “when are you free?” “Um, well, I have my lunch break in two hours, ya free then?” I ask. “I’m free whenever I want to be Willow, so yeah, I’m free in two hours, I’ll meet’cha right here so don’t go anywhere!” She said trotting off towards the castle. “I didn’t plan on it!” I called to her smiling. The guard beside me gave me a weird look. “Oh! That’s just my friend from a couple years back!” I said quickly. “Uh yeah, sure,” he said turning back to face Canterlot. *** “Willow Bloom!” Cella trotted out of the palace grounds and over to me, I hadn’t noticed it before but she was wearing a pretty white dress. “Hey Cella!” I said with a smile, “why are you so dressed up?” I asked her. “We’ll I was just preforming with my quartet for Princess Luna, we’re auditioning to play at the grand galloping gala.” She said. “Really!? The grand galloping gala?” I asked with surprise. “Yeah! It’s a lot of pressure, especially since I’m the youngest pony to ever even audition, but the princess seemed to like our performance.” “Why’d you never send me a letter? I would’ve loved to come listen to you play!” “I guess I just got distracted.” She said, smirking at me. “Now I get it.” I say, “Where are we gonna eat?” “I know just the place.” She said trotting to a back ally, where a beautifully decorated restaurant sat. “Welcome to the Tasty Treat! The best food in all of Canterlot is served here!” We walked into the restaurant and were greeted by a smiling face. “Welcome to the Tasty Treat!” The pony said, she opened her eyes and smiled ever brighter, “Cella Strings!” “Hello Saffron!” Cella said with a smile, hugging the pony, “Saffron meet my Fillyhood friend Willow Bloom! Willow Bloom, this is my friend Saffron Masala.” “Pleasure to meet you!” I say, shaking Saffron’s hoof. “It’s a pleasure for me as well.” She said with a smile, “Welcome, again, to the Tasty Treat, you two can sit right over here and I’ll be right back out with your menus.” She said, leading Cella and I to a table. We sat down and Cella smiled at me, “So how have you been?” She asked, “I hope life wasn’t too rough for you without me.” “It was fine, I was really upset at first, but things got better. I didn’t really make too many new friends though.” I said, sighing. “That’s really too bad,” she said, “i wish I could’ve been there, but I wouldn’t want to give up all that I’ve gotten in Canterlot either.” “What all have you gotten here?” “New friends I can introduce to you, a new group to play with, and… well, I got my Cutie Mark.” I sighed, “Still waiting and hoping on that last one.” “It must be so hard, I mean, I didn’t have mine for a long while, until just a few months ago, I can’t imagine what you’ve been going through.” “Oh it’s not too bad! Besides, I have a purpose now, I’m a royal gaurd, and I’m really good at it.” “But it’s still gotta sting. Besides that, how’s your family?” “They’ve been well, I write to them weekly, my brother started school this year, I’m very excited for him.” “That’s nice.” “How’s yours been?” “Oh, I moved out!” She said, “don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, but they were way too overprotective. We still talk and their proud of me taking steps to declare my independence.” “Must be freeing not to be stuck in a house full of bubble wrap huh?” I asked with a smirk. “Yeah,” she chuckled, “I don’t really wear my Prosthetics anymore, you might not be able to tell since I’m wearing one right now. But I only wear them when I’m playing, and ya know, just got back from doing that.” “You seem very happy,” I said, “I’m glad you’ve found who you are.” “I’m happy too, and I’m gonna help you find who you are as well.” “But I do know who I am.” “Not really, you see your scars and let them tell you what to do! But that’s not the Willow Bloom I know! She’s never let anything get in her way!” “I tried to look past it, I am looking past it, but I thought I was supposed to fly, but I can’t, not with my injury.” “So what if you can’t fly!? Try other things!” “But what if I just fail?” “Then try again!” She said, standing up, “it’s time we break these chains and see who you really are.”
Chapter 8: New Friends“Who I really am?” I asked. “Who you really are.” She responded, “I see more than just a Royal Gaurd in you Willow Bloom!” “I guess we could try.” “Sorry I took so long!” Saffron said, dotting in between us, “I got a little caught up in the kitchen, I’ll give you a minute to make your selection.” *** Cella and I stepped out of the restaurant, waving goodbye as we left. “Alright! We’re taking a trip to Ponyville!” Cella announced. “Right now? I have to work!” “I’ve already sent Lumius with a letter stating that you are taking a break day.” “You what!?” “It’s okay, we’re gonna figure this out, and if being a guard is what you’re truly made for then you can go back tomorrow.” I sighed, “if you say so.” “I do say so! Let’s go!” *** We boarded the train and sat down. “So what are we gonna do first?” I asked. “We’re gonna visit the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they’re gonna help you figure out your purpose!” “Okay.” “They’re really good at helping ponies in need, I’m certain that if anypony can help you, it’ll be them!” “I trust your judgement Cella.” “Good!” She smiled, as the train began to chug forward. *** Three hours later we arrived at the station, we stepped off the train and Cella looked around smiling. “Oh it’s good to be home!” She said with a happy sigh. “Yeah,” I said, this being the first time back in a while for me as well. “Let’s get going, the CMCs are gonna need as much time as possible if they are gonna help you out!” Cella said, trotting in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “Alright!” I said, following her. We soon arrived at the Cutie Mark Clubhouse, and walked up to the door, giving a couple knocks. “Who is it?” Scootaloo called from inside. “Willow Bloom and Cella Strings!” Cella replied. “Oh!” Scootaloo scrambled to the door and opened it, “What brings you two here?” “Willow Bloom needs help, she doesn’t know what her true talent is, and that scar of hers sure isn’t going to tell her,” Cella answered. “Oh! Okay then,” Scoots said turning around to her fellow Crusaders, “CRUSADERS! We have an emergency!” “What’s the matter?” Sweetie Bell asked. “Willow Bloom needs help figuring out her special talent!” Scootaloo responded. “That shouldn’t be too hard,” Apple Bloom said, trotting over to join Scoots. “It will be.” I said with a sigh. “Not for us!” The Crusaders said in harmony. Bum ba da bum bum bum ba da bum bum Willow Bloom we’re here to help you out in any way we can! It may seem impossible but the Crusaders have a plan! Just follow our lead and we promise you we will succeed! Help you find your place within our land! The world around me used to feel so unknown. Didn’t think I’d find a place that I could call my own But now that your all here I finally have a home No longer do I have to feel alone! Cause you’ll find your place! Even without your mark, You will be okay! And now it’s time we start! To get together and start a spark, And now a journey on which we must embark! We’re gonna have to try it all But you are not alone! We’re here to help you if you fall So you can make it all your own! Cause you’ll find your place! Even without your mark, You will be okay! And now it’s time we start! To get together and start a spark, And now a journey to find your cutie mark It’s time! It’s time! To rise! And shine! The light! Your mark in sight! It… Is… Tiiiiiiime! “You really think you can help me?” I asked. “For sure!” Scootaloo responded. “Yeah! I mean, it can’t be that hard, we helped a Griffin find her purpose, of me can do that we can do anything!” Apple Bloom said. “If you say so,” I said, gently rubbing my hoof across the ground. “Alright! A chart is always a good place to start.” Sweetie Belle chimes in, “We can keep out anything you can’t physically do or have already tried, so what things fit those categories Willow?” “Well, I can’t fly very well, I already tried that, and I can’t run, or pull heavy objects or carts. Oh! And I guess we can count out animal training, cause ya know, Lumius. And guarding. Cause that’s my job and I haven’t gotten a Cutie Mark yet.” “Alright then, we have a bunch of other things you can try. And remember, though we hope you try everything, if you are too nervous to do something you don’t have to do it, just tell us you don’t want to and we’ll move on,” Scootaloo said. “If you say so…”
Prologue: IntroTuesday, November 27th, 19 years ago. That's the day I was born. It was a bright sunny morning, I know because my mother always says it. Every time she does, she follows it with the words, "If only what were to follow would have been just as amazing." Sadly fate had a different path set for me. But it wasn't always so bad. In fact, it started really great. It wasn't perfect, but I didn't know. Running around, playing all day, a hundred friends by my side. Oh, I remember the days, just like they happened yesterday. It was all I knew, joy and fun, as every foal does. It was wonderful. I’d frolic in fields of flowers, play hopscotch with my friends, and chase the other fillies on the playground. It was made by my class, funded by a previously infamous bully. But she changed, and boy was I glad. Many fillies were my "friends,” but few actually cared for me once you got past my wavy, teal mane and emerald green eyes. But there was one, one who stuck by my side through it all.
