The Outcast

The aging light grey unicorn doctor with white hair and lavender eyes examines the alicorn's body again but finds no issues with his mane or tail saying, "I have never seen anything like this or you before now, perhaps it is something unique to an alicorn? Now let's have a look at your wings to see what is going on." He then goes and begins examining his wings, taking several minutes while touching various places on their wings, and comments, "Your wings are most definitely unique because they are colored differently to your coat color, those red tips are also curious to me. They have a magical signature and show that they are an affliction, but is not what prevents your wings from healing and restoring your ability to fly. What afflicts your wings is a much more serious and powerful magical curse, who was it that put these afflictions on your wings?"

I sigh and say, "It was my father who ordered my brother to inflict the curse upon my wings preventing flight, though it was my father who changed the tips of my feathers to the color of blood. Are you able to lift the curse preventing the healing?"

He then shakes his head then looks away from the patient's wing and looks up at their face with a shocked expression on his own face saying, "Unfortunately, neither I or Magis can do that because we are not strong enough or that gifted with magic, sorry. Why would anypony be so harsh to their own family member, it would be better if they just cut your wings off!"

I look up at him and say, "It was a fair punishment for what I did... You see, we haven't interacted directly with or made any big signs to the ones we watch over for a long time, therefore I went to be among them. I was bored of just watching over them from our lofty homes, so I wanted to go out and fight evil. Well after I dealt with the evil, a foe too powerful for me to deal with appeared so I called for aid. My brother came and swiftly dealt with the demon and sent it away, putting off the coming war between our rivaling forces and not wanting the innocent to be caught between our fighting. My father had a plan for them, and my direct involvement among them altered his plan and angered him. So I was brought before him by my brother where I received punishment for interfering with his intricate plans, by cursing my wings. My next punishment was that my father himself colored my tips this color to remind me that all life is precious, no matter how big or small the creature is. Then to keep the rest of the family in line, he cast me out of our home and I eventually found my way here where I fell through the sky surrounded by fire and crashed into the ground."

The doctor, Magis, and Light all stare at him in shock. Finding it hard to believe the hardship he had to deal with as the doctor says, "Wow, that is quite the ordeal you went through. I am sorry that you lost your home, what was your other world like?"

I think back on what things were like on earth and say, "Well, the beings there abused the resources of the earth, and sky. It was not as lovely as this world is, and I hope that it remains this way for a long long while. Since then, I have come to like this world a lot more than where I came from."

Magis then remembers seeing the bare spots on the bottoms of his wings and says, "Oh, Doc Holly, what do you think about the bare and scratched up places on the undersides of his wings? Do you think they can heal so the feathers can grow back?"

Doc Holly cocks his head curiously and carefully lifts up a wing part way, seeing the spots she mentioned and nods his head saying, "Most definitely, though it will take a little time for the feathers to grow back in. We should try to find a way to keep his wings from dragging on the ground though, do you have any ideas Magis?"

She thinks for a moment and then smiles widely saying, "Oh, I can go get Swift Needle, I think she may be able to help out because she has some cloth she makes clothes with. I'll go get her and come right back, I will make sure to pay you for your visit before you go."

He watches her leave and says, "You really are such a kind and loving filly, you know that Miss Amore?"

Magis then stops and turns her head around saying, "Mhm, I do but I enjoy taking care of others, it makes me happy." She then turns back around and heads out the door, making sure to close it behind her after she leaves.

Doc Holly then looks back at Galadriel and asks, "I look into your eyes and can see the wisdom in them belying your youthful appearance, how old are you...really?"

I chuckle and think about it for a moment, then answer, "Well I was created or born 5 years before Noah's great flood, so I guess that would make me around...3,400 years old or so...I think. Time does not mean much to us, so we don't pay much attention to it though we still are aware of its passing."

His jaw hangs open as his mind fails to form words at hearing that and just stands there blinking when the door opens, hearing someone say, 'At least the snow has finally stopped.' remaining unfazed and only saying, "Incredible..."

Magis stands in the room with Swift Needle behind her and says, "What's incredible, Doc Holly?"

Doc looks at her and closes his jaw and points a hoof at the alicorn and says, "He is."

She cocks her head and asks, "Why, is he really weird or something?"

He shakes his head and says, "No, he is just really old and shows no signs of aging yet."

Magis looks at him for a moment then asks, "Well, how old is he then, 40 or 50?"

Doc shakes his head and says, "Way off, he has been around for 3,400 years."

She then looks over at him with wide eyes and says, "That's crazy, you must be immortal or something!"

I chuckle and shake my head saying, "It is the way I was meant to be since birth, just do me one favor and don't treat me as an all-powerful being...I have no desire to be like my father."

Swift Needle interrupts them and says, "That's cool to hear, but can we get to business now? Who here needs my services?"

I look over at her and say, "That would be me, my wings are broken and they drag on the ground. So I need some way of keeping them up and off of the ground, do you think you could come up with something to help do that?"

She makes her way over to him to take a closer look at what he means, taking a look at his wings and asking with a deadpan look on her face with a monotone voice, "I am Swift Needle, mind if I move these to take a few measurements?"

I nod my head and say, "Go right ahead, if I could do it myself I would." I then ignore the pain as she begins using a long, thin strip of cloth with numbers on it to figure out my measurements.

Swift Needle finishes measuring the length of his right wing and sets the tape down, sits down, and uses her hooves to take hold of his wing so she can fold it up to get an accurate measurement on the total width of them.

Magis lets Swift do her business and then goes to her chest in the corner, then pulls out a few gold nuggets saying, "Is this enough for your visit Doc?"

He nods his head and takes them, placing them in a pouch hanging by a string around his neck saying, "They are, thank you very much for having me take a look at him. You did very well with helping them both recover from the cold, you should be very proud of saving both their lives."

She nods her head and smiles saying, "Oh I definitely am, thank you again for coming on such short notice."

Doc nods his head and says, "Anytime kiddo, I do what I can for you ponyfolk that live in this snowy land." then turns and heads to the door, and starts to head for home.

Swift Needle continues her meticulous measuring and says, "I think that I can help you keep your wings off the ground, it will consist of a strap over your back that will be attached to a piece of cloth that your fold point will go into. There will also be a back strap that will go below the backside of your folded wing, it will have a buckle on it so you can change the height of the end of the wing from the ground. Could you come with me to my shop so that I can properly fit this to your body?"

I then look over to Magis and say, "Are you okay with her making this for me?"

The seamstress looks at him and faintly smiles saying, "Don't worry about it, she agreed to pay whatever it would cost when she asked me to come over to get your measurements."

I then sigh and say, "You really shouldn't do much for me, I won't know how to ever repay you..."

Magis smiles widely and shakes her head chuckling, "Don't be silly, I love helping those that need help. Right now, it is your turn to be helped. So go on and go with her, she may not have magic like a unicorn or the wings of a Pegasus...but she really is talented with making clothes you know."

I turn back to the dark blue mare with Amethyst eyes and a red mane and tail and say, "Lead the way miss Needle." I then turn to Magis and then to Light and ask, "Do either of you want to keep my wings from dragging on the ground on our way to her shop?"

Light prances forward and says, "I will! I want to see what this village is like outside, I have never been outside of Saddlelantis before!"

Swift Needle's eyes widen slightly and says, "You've been to the city of fashion?"

I nod my head and say, "I have indeed been to that vile city of sin, but now...it is the city of ruins."

She blinks a couple of times and asks, "Why, what happened to it?"

I then look at her squarely and say, "I happened...I called upon my magic and warned the residents to repent their sins and change their ways or be punished. They laughed at me so I had no choice but to go through with the punishment and called forth a terrible storm to wreck their city and return it to the bottom of the city, I then punished them by transforming them all into insect-like creatures I named as a changeling."

Swift Needle sighs and says, "The fashion there was amazing, though their lifestyle was....awful. They may have been mean and harsh, but they didn't deserve such treatment."

I shake my head and say, "If I didn't do as I did, they would not learn from their mistakes."

She then narrows her eyes slightly and says, "Enough for now, I will not argue what has been done already. Let the past stay the past, unless it is important for the present or future. Now please follow me to my shop to get fitted, there are others waiting for clothing as well." She then makes her way towards the door, ready to get back to working on the others wanting her services.

I then look over to Light and say, "Are you ready to go outside now little one? Just lift my wings up and we will be on our way."

Light uses her magic to lift up his wings, then says, "Ready, let's go!"

I watch the door open as the mare exits, leaving it open for me to pass through it. Blinded by the brightness for a few moments, I continue forward carefully and walk off the first step unprepared. Startled by falling down onto the next step, I look down to see a bluish block of stone under my hoof. Resuming my descent down the steps, I look around to see other houses made of the same material scattered randomly around the snow-covered land, but are slightly different colors. Some are purple while others are blue or even bluish-green, wondering what kind of stone these are made out of. I look to the mare ahead of us and ask, "What kind of stone are these homes built out of? I have never seen stone quite like this before."

Swift Needle smiles faintly and says, "These homes are built from mined crystal, there is a mine at the base of Mount Everhoof where we get the stone from for the houses. Have you never seen crystal before?"

I look around at the snowy landscape and say, "Yes I have, but this stone doesn't shine or sparkle like the crystal I know."

She nods her head lightly and says, "Crystal does normally shine and sparkle, but it loses it a little while after it is mined into blocks."

I continue to follow her around and think of how drab this area looks with barely any trees around and think, 'What can I do to help the ponies out here?'

*Thirty minutes later at Swift's shop*

I look at my new black, wing holders and smile saying, "Thank you so much for making this for me."

Swift Needle shakes her head slowly and says, "Don't thank me, thank Magis. She is the heart of this village, she cares for and helps out the others, asking nothing in return. This village would likely be gone by now if it wasn't for her, she is the strongest of us all."

I then nod my head and leave her home as the word heart bounces around in my head, still wondering what I should do as a gift for her and her village. I then think of how the storm was so bad yesterday and look up at the cloudy sky saying, "If there was only some way to give them something to keep them safe from outside dangers..." and then I think, 'Perhaps I could make something powerful to do that...but how would the item be powered? Magic fades too fast...and I can't fuel it with life, that is too barbaric for my tastes. What other options do I have, hmm...'

Light sees that he is deep in thought and trots up to him asking, "What's on your mind, leader?"

I look over at her and say, "I'm trying to think of what I can make to protect them from outside dangers, but I need a strong source to supply it. Do you have any ideas, little one?"

She sits on the ground and taps her hoof deep in thought saying, "Hmm...that is a very good plan. I need to think about it a little bit though, so hold on a moment while I try to think of something." She looks around the area for any inspiration, continuing to tap her hoof as nothing comes to her until she spots a couple walking together with smiles on their faces and says, "What about emotions for the source?"

I raise one of my eyebrows in curiosity and say, "Okay, but which emotion to use? There are so many, can't use any of the negative emotions. The strong positive emotions available are, joy, gratitude, hope, amusement, affection, cheerfulness, euphoria, happiness, and last but not least...love." Just then, an idea strikes me as I think, 'Wait a minute, the last couple of ponies I spoke to both cared a lot about Magis. In turn, she loves every pony in this village the same. So love might be a good choice to use as the supply...' I then look to Light and start saying, "Any idea yet on what the gift shou..." trailing off as I think of what the last pony said about her and mumble, "She is the heart of this village."

Light cocks her head and says, "What's the answer? What did you come up with?"

I then smack myself on the side of my head while chuckling saying, "That's the answer little one...that will be my gift to her. Something to hold the source, and the other to activate it." I rise to my hooves quickly and say, "Come with me Light, we shall go find somepony to take us to the deepest part of their mine so I can begin working on it."

She huffs as he starts trotting away, looking for the closest pony to take them to the mine and trots after him saying, "Come on, tell me what you are going to give her!"

I continue to chuckle and call over my shoulder saying mysteriously, "I gave you all the clues you need little one, it is up to you to put them together."

A brown earth pony holds a pickaxe in his mouth as he heads off to the mine when a strange pony that Doc calls an alicorn comes up to him and asks him if he can help them find the mine and sets the pickaxe down then answers, "Umm...it's where ah was goin until ya stopped me, follow me this way and try to keep up cause ah'm late for my shift." He then leans down and picks up his pickaxe and continues on towards the base of the mountain.

Ten minutes later, inside the deepest part of the mine

Light sits next to him with her horn illuminated and whines, "What did you come down here for, come on and tell me already!"

I chuckle and say, "Shh little one, I need to concentrate now so just watch and you will see." I then close my eyes then reach down deep for my magic and will it to do something it has never attempted to do before, silently praying, 'Oh tall and majestic crystal mountain, I desire to create a gift that will use love to protect all ponies within it's borders. If you would bless me with a beautiful crystal heart that shines and graces all with its beauty while providing a safe haven from outside dangers, I would be forever thankful and only ask for a place to activate its power."

*In another part of the mine, several levels above the very bottom*

Miner Niner mines away at the wall, working on carving out a stone block for another house when he feels the mountain begin to rumble and shouts, "Cave-in, everypony out now!" He then hears the others call out the order and start to hurry out of the mine, starting to head out himself when he stops and thinks of the alicorn that went into the deepest part of the mine. He then grabs his pick and starts making his way there thinking, 'Ah hope that stallion and filly are okay, but ah better go help them get outta here before we really get stuck.'

Back at the bottom of the mine, several levels below the surface

I feel the mountain's answer to my silent request as it continues to rumble, hearing a faint echoing of galloping hooves coming my way and chuckle out loud and say, "I wish not to be known for making this gift, could you please hasten the process?" I watch as the wall starts to crack and crumble away, grinding itself down to dust as it reveals a large, sparkling, light blue diamond crystal heart and look at Light saying, "Quick, go get it and tuck it inside the back support strap on my right wing, then tighten the left and right rear straps to make sure it stays in place before that pony sees it!"

Light nods hastily and rushes forth as the echoing hoofsteps get louder, extinguishing her light as Galadriel illuminates his horn for her to see. She then grabs the heart with her magic and trots to his right side, tucks it under the back strap, and tightens the buckle to bring the wing higher up. Finally tightening the left buckle, she says, "Okay, it's in there. Can we go now? I don't like dark places."

I smile and start walking away from the back wall saying, "Yes we most certainly can, we have what we came here for."

Miner Niner skids to a stop as he sees the two making their way from the bottom of the mine shaft and says, "Oh good, ya two are okay. Now follow me out of here, the mine isn't safe right now." He then quickly turns and trots back up the way he came, feeling glad that either of them wasn't hurt down there.

I nod my head and trot after him saying, "Thank you for coming to get us, we were looking for something to give to Magis as a gift to show our thanks for everything she has done for us both."

He leads them up through another level and says, "She really does take good care of us all, she would make a good leader when she grows up a little more. My name's Miner Niner by the way, what's yer names?"

I follow him and answer, "My name is Galadriel and this little filly is Light Bright, thank you for showing us where the deepest part of the mine was."

Miner is curious and asks, "Did ya find what ya were looking for?"

I chuckle and nod my head saying, "We most certainly did, and it is beautiful. If you want to see it, you will have to wait until it is finished."

Several minutes later, at the top of the mine

I stop and look at Miner and say, "Thank you for coming to get us and helping us get out of there, you are very thoughtful and caring about others. I wish you have a good rest of your day, Miner Niner."

He nods his head and smiles saying, "Ya are welcome, and a good day to ya too Galadriel." He then turns to look at the others and says, "Everypony alright?!" He then looks around to see all of the miners nod their heads and says, "Ah'm glad that nopony was hurt this time around, let's take a break and then go back in for more stone."

As Light and I return to town, I see Magis heading our way and smile saying, "Just the pony I was looking for, I have something for you."

Magis stops and looks him over, then releases a sigh of relief at him being okay and says, "I heard that you went to the mine when I heard a rumbling a little later come from there, so I was on my way to check it out and see if everypony is okay. I am greatly relieved to see that you both are just fine, is everypony else okay from the mine?"

I nod my head yes and say, "I heard Miner Niner ask if anypony was hurt, and heard him say 'I'm glad that nopony was hurt this time around, let's take a break and then go back in for more stone.'

She then smiles and says, "Okay, now I can stop worrying. What is it that you have for me?"

I look down at the filly and smile saying, "I have a gift for you, I found it in the mine. Light, if you would get it and give it to her please."

Light smiles widely and makes her way to his right wing, then carefully removes it from under the strap with her magic. She then makes her way toward her and hovers it towards her saying, "Here you go, thank you again for saving our lives."

Magis looks at the sparkling, light blue, diamond crystal heart in awe and uses her magic to inspect it, then says, "Th-this is a magical item, you couldn't have found this down there. That mine was carved into the mountain by the miner's parents." She then looks at it again and gasps saying softly, "Y-You made this...didn't you...with your magic."

I sigh and nod my head yes saying, "I did, but you must not tell anypony that it was made...tell them that it was found instead." I then smile and walk closer to her saying, "It is powered by love, and it will protect your village from outside danger. It is up to you to figure out how to use it though, however, there is just one more thing I need to give you before we take our leave."

She takes the gift from Light and says, "W-What else is there? This is too much already, I said you didn't have to pay me back and I meant it."

I chuckle and say, "I still would have done it anyway to help your village out, take me to a spot in your village where there is plenty of room for the final gift...the one that activates that heart.

Magis thinks for a few moments before saying, "Oh, right this way then, I think this may be a nice spot." and then trots off towards the center of the village.

I follow her to the spot and look around to see if there is enough room and shake my head right away saying, "Sorry but there isn't enough room for it here, perhaps there is a more open place on the edge of the village?"

She then nods her head and carries the heart beside her in her magic, then heads towards a flat area that she was hoping to help the ponies to turn into fields saying, "There is one more place that might work, though I had plans for it to become fields."

I arrive at the area and smile, liking how much open space it has and say, "I apologize for this next part, but could you use your magic to raise me high into the sky so I can see the layout of the village?"

Magis nods and hands the heart back to light saying, "Yes I can, I wonder just what exactly you have planned for this spot." As Light takes the heart from her, she uses her magic to take hold of his body and lifts it off the ground slowly. She then moves him higher and higher into the sky, waiting for him to let her know to bring him back down.

I look down at the village, and remember where each home is and smile quietly saying, "This will work perfectly..." I then look down at her and loudly say, "Alright Magis, you can bring me back down now."

She then begins to bring him back down to the ground thinking, 'Just how big is this going to be?'

I return to the ground and then walk around to where I want it to be and say, "Now I must concentrate once again, so please don't interrupt me unless I need you to do something." As I see them both nod, I sit on the ground and close my eyes. I then begin to concentrate on channeling my magic into the element I wish to control and silently pray, 'Oh untarnished crystalline element, hear my request. I wish for a marvelous breath-taking structure of crystal to act as a housing for a powerful artifact, may it pierce the very sky and activate a spell of protection from outside dangers cast upon the land and keep those that live within safe. Please allow me to assist with the structure's design, as I will ensure it shall have no equal."

Magis feels the ground rumble as several large, white crystals rise up through the ground and slightly alter their shape as they continue to grow out of the ground. She looks up into the sky as a massive structure starts to emerge from the shifting crystal spires, taking final shapes as numerous round, spear-like protrusions as a hollow space emerges below the base of the massive structure.

I watch as I guide the crystal's shape into forming a hollow tripod-like base that even towers over me, continuing to guide the center peak of the tower as I form smaller arches that run up along either corner of the tower. I finish the tower and then direct the crystal down to form a circular path underneath the dome, and spread the crystal outward in the basic shape of a snowflake. I have just enough left to form pathways leading away from the structure at each point on the snowflake, as my magic fades away and leaving me feeling pretty tired and forcing myself to stand. I make my way over to Magis and then smile at her saying, "Now that is the final gift, the rest is up to you to figure out little one. I need to get going now, maybe someday I shall return to visit. May you have a long and happy life, Magis Amore." I then turn and begin to walk away, ignoring my exhaustion.

She then starts to walk after him and says, "At least stay for a bit longer and rest up before leaving!"

I turn away from her with a happy smile and say, "I apologize, but my presence is required elsewhere. Goodbye for now, Magis."