From a Painful Past to Solace in Ponyville

The next morning Crimson woke up super to go for a walk and knew he wasn’t going to be back for most of the day. He left a note for Scootaloo so she wouldn’t get worried and look for him. He ate a small breakfast, fed the fox and they went out for a walk. They went to the clearing they were at yesterday and played around for a bit. Crimson wanted to spend time having fun for once in his life. He has always spent his days building his bunker, growing his food, and training. He smiled with content and laughed while he and the fox ran around the clearing. After about an hour both the fox and Crimson got tired. He laid against a tree and the fox hopped into his lap. They sat there resting for a while.

About 20 minutes later Crimson barely heard a voice calling out, “Um hello, are you lost?” A cream-colored pony with pink hair walked up to them.

He quietly responded “No I’m good. I’m resting along with my little friend here.”

“Why are you alone in the forest. It is not safe here.” She said.

His calm retort surprised her. “I walk through the forest everyday. I know that most of the animals living here won’t hurt me unless I engage first. The only ones who will attack no matter what are the extremely wild and aggressive ones. This is nothing new for me. I know I will survive and be unharmed. Now then I don’t mean to be rude miss, but I do not have the slightest idea of who you are. What is your name miss?”

“Eep…I’m sorry sweetie. My name is Fluttershy. Who are you? Are you from Ponyville?” Fluttershy squeaked hiding her face behind her hair.

“My name is Crimson. No I am not from Ponyville. I’m from Manehatten, but I haven’t lived there for years.” He stated while petting the fox. Fox smiled and purred.

“Do you need help walking home?” She asked.

“Nope I’m fine thank you for asking. I got something to do before I head home. It was nice to meet you, but I got to go.” He says as the fox hops on his shoulders. “Hang tight little guy.” He told the fox as his wings shot out and he flew into the air so fast that Fluttershy didn’t see him leave. Crimson sensed that something bad was about to happen to Scootaloo and he needed to be there to stop it.
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On the other side of Ponyville Scootaloo and her friends were walking down the fence of Sweet Apple Acres next to Everfree Forest. “Scoots you seem in great spirits the past few days. What have you been up to?” Sweetie Belle asked with high curiosity.

“Huh? What are you talking about Sweetie?” Scootaloo dismissingly responds.

Applebloom chimes in, “What she talkin bout is you seem happier than usual the past few days Scoots.” Before Scootaloo can answer they hear a loud manticore roar that frightens them. “We have to run before it find us!” Sweetie yells getting its attention by accident.

The manticore turned towards her voice and started running towards them. Right as the manticore was about to connect with a swing at them, they heard a loud cling.

Before the cling was heard Crimson was flying somehow instinctively toward Scootaloo. He didn’t know how, but he knew where she was. The fox somehow managed to fall asleep on his shoulders and not fall off. When he saw the manticore about to attack the girls he picked up the pace and made a sword with his magic to block the manticore hit.

When the dust went away the three fillies saw him blocking the manticore. Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were confused, but happy. Scootaloo was happy her friends were too busy watching Crimson to notice her small blush. She shook her head and wondered how he knew they were about to be attacked by a manticore. She was going to ask him about it later but for now she sat on the ground and watched. The fox had woken up, hopped off Crimson’s back, and trotted over to Scootaloo’s lap to watch Crimson. The fox is usually terrified of the manticore, but this time it was calm because it knew it was safe.

After blocking the attempt by the manticore, Crimson made his sword disappear, surrounded his fist with flames and threw a very hard haymaker at it. He wasted no time running to it while it was stunned by his punch. He grabbed the tail and tossed in into the air. He summoned 2 falcatas, short swords that can cut through armor, and flew into the air to slice the manticore into pieces. His first cuts were to its back then he finished off with its head. It wasn’t the first time he had to kill a manticore. He hated it so much. Killing animals was the last thing he wanted to do, but saving the lives of the girls was worth going against his own moral. He landed on a tree near the manticore’s body and sighed.

“Hey!” Crimson looked down when he heard the voice. “We want to thank you for saving us. I also have some questions.” It was Sweetie Belle who was doing all the talking. He jumped off the tree next to the girls. The fox left Scootaloo’s lap and hopped back on his shoulders. “Before I answer your questions which I’m sure I already have an idea of what they are, what are your names?” He asked. During this exchange Scootaloo hasn’t moved from the ground or said a thing. She just watch off in her own thoughts mostly not paying attention.

“Oh right I didn’t think about that. I’m Sweetie Belle!”

“Howdy I’m Applebloom! Thank ya for savin us! I was wondering how you found us when the manticore appeared?” she said.

“My name is Crimson, and I live in the forest. I found you because I heard the manticore roar. I know what two of your questions are before you ask me. You want to know how I was able to light my hand on fire and how I was using swords, right?” Appleboom and Sweetie Belle nodded and shocked that he figured out what they wanted to know.

“It’s my special talent. I can create and wield any weapon as well as the ability to create and control the elements. Before you ask, I will not tell you the story of how even though I know you want to know. It is not a story I want to share. I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to go now. It was nice meeting you have a good day and stay safe.” With that said he flew into the forest back home. Scootaloo spent the entire time staring off at the sky and didn’t hear anything.

“I wonder how a pegasus can manipulate magic like that. He is so kind and where did that fox come from, I’m confused by that. Did you see it at all Appleboom?” Sweetie asked.

She responded back, “No ah didn’t see it. What bout you Scoots? Do you know where that fox came from?”

“Oh, that fox was in my lap while he was fighting. It was sleeping on his shoulders when the fight started. I’m gonna head home girls see ya later!” Scootaloo scurried off leaving them so confused. She had never rushed home like that before and they also didn’t know where she lived. They decided to leave it for today because of what happened earlier. The girls went to the clubhouse to play. Meanwhile Scootaloo was trying to get home as fast as she could because she knew there was more to why Crimson was at the manticore attack than what was told her friends.

When Scootaloo got home she could smell dinner being cooked and is smelt really good. “Hey Moony what you cooking?” Trying to ignore the blush on his face being called Moony he stated, “Tonight I’m making daisy onion soup and grilled cheese. I’m happy I got there in time to save you and your friends. I’m guessing you want to know how I knew you were in trouble right Scooty?”

Scoot’s blush was almost as bad, “Well yeah. I knew you were nowhere near me when that manticore showed up. I’m happy you got there in time. That would’ve been very bad if you didn’t so thank you.”

He smiled and said, “No problem. I was relaxing in a clearing in the heart of the forest when I met Miss Fluttershy. While I was talking to her, I sensed that something bad was coming to you and I needed to be there before it could do anything. After I left Fluttershy I flew into the air and heard it roar so I could figure out what direction to go. After that I trusted my instincts to get to you and got there just in the nick of time. It’s been a long time since I covered my hand in fire. I usually don’t do that, but I was happy I was able to defend you three. Dinner is ready. How hungry are you? How big a bowl do you want?”

“I’m pretty hungry can you give me a medium sized bowl please?” Once her bowl was filled they ate silently enjoying each other’s company. Crimson put two bowls on the ground for the fox. He filled one with water and the other with nuts and berries. Tonight, Crimson decided he wasn’t going to train or work on the dummies. The opted for relaxing with Scootaloo and the fox. Scootaloo spent the evening asking questions about his special talent which he was happy to answer. He was still trying to figure something out regarding his ability to create and the elements. There are weapons he knows he wants to make but doesn’t know if he has enough magic in him to do that. The current amount of weapons he can create is good enough for now in his eyes and he is thinking about making an armory as a lower level of their home. They talked until middle of the night and then they both went to sleep. They both fell asleep wondering why they felt so comfortable being around each like some kind of familiarity was between even though they were complete strangers. Unknown to the both of them was the fact that they are actually fraternal twins who were separated that night all those years ago. Crimson had suppressed the memory of that night that he forgot she was his sister and her real name. Scootaloo didn’t know this because she was kidnapped by the people who killed their parents and locked her memories away of that night. That night her name was changed, and she was put at the orphanage in Manehatten. A year later in she ran away due to the horrendous living conditions there and never wanted to return there. Currently slowly but surely that magical spell that locked away her memory of that night was breaking. The ones who put that spell on her knew it was weakening and hoped they could find her and recast it before she found out who she really was.