Shaken

by canonkiller

Rating: everyone
Tags: Sad, Princess Luna, Original Character, Apple Bloom, Spike, Tragedy, Big Macintosh, Derpy Hooves, Crossover, Sweetie Belle, Main 6, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 11767

As Fluttershy and Liponite's foal tries to fit in, he is met with cold stares and harsh remarks.

With his mother still haunted by his father's sudden leave, and his father far away in another land, the colt produced by the two has nobody to talk to that understands him. Trying to fit in is useless. He is warded off with cruel insults and hateful sneers. With nopony willing to love him for who he is, where will little Coronus go?

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** This story was written when I was 14, and the quality and content reflect that. Please be aware that my position on topics contained within may have changed in the time between publishing and now, and I apologize for any offensive material that I may have condoned in my younger years. **

Published 2011-09-17 20:18:20 UTC
Last updated 2011-11-22 21:55:26 UTC

Spiralling

Fluttershy flicked an ear as her son jogged past. She was thinking about Liponite again. She could bear to see parts of him in her colt.

Realizing his mother was in one of her moods, the colt kept walking, nosing the door open and letting the warm sun heat his scaled forehead. "I'm going outside, okay?"

She didn't reply.

Trying to stay in the shadows as he moved up the main street, the colt accedentaly bumped a fruit stand with his wing, sending it toppling. The cart's owner sat up from where she was counting her bits. "You better pay for all that waste, you little hooligan!"

The colt scrambled to his feet, racing past the ponies watching and flattening his ears as they insulted him. Yesterday, a filly his age had knocked the same stand over. She had gotten little more than a 'try to be more careful next time'. It was because of his father.

It was always because of his father.

"Oh, hey." Rainbow Dash looked down over the edge of her cloud at the foal standing below. "Why are you here?"

"Mom's in one of her moods. She won't teach me how to fly."

"Oh, she's sulking again?"

The colt nodded.

"Has she given you a name yet?"

The colt blushed, his orange coat darkening. "Not exactly."

"Then no wonder everybody makes fun of you!" Rainbow Dash commented, dropping down to stand in front of the colt. "How about... Thunderwing? Charburn? Batwings? Dragoflight?"

"N-no... none of those." The colt stammered. "I want a name that helps people forget that I'm part dragon. I don't want to draw any more attention to it than I need to."

"Are you kidding?! You're awesome!" Rainbow Dash pulled open his wing with her teeth. "Look at that! Pegasus flight control with dragon speed and power!" She dropped his wing, holding up on of his paws. "And you don't have to worry about getting shoes, but you still have power in your legs! And you have claws! Imagine the fights you could win!" She dropped his paw. The colt enjoyed the praise, but it was starting to get annoying. "And those black scales are great armour!"

"Not to mention they look great on your coat!" Rarity added, cantering up the path. "It would be much worse if your fur was blue or pink. Those scales would look horrid! And your mane looks nice with it, too! Dark grey with a streak of red, and your tail with a streak of yellow - you look amazing!"

"Thanks, girls." The colt blushed again. "But I still don't have a name."

"How about Wondercoat?"

"He can't be named that, Rarity! Look at his cutie mark!"

He looked at his flank. True enough, the name didn't fit with his mark, a star that was half black and half white. He sighed.

"How about Coronus?"

"How about loser?" Some filly sneered as she trotted past, heading for town.

In seconds, Rarity had magicked her into the air, and Rainbow Dash was yelling at her, shaking her with both forehooves.

"No! Stop!" The colt pounced, landing on Rarity's back. His weight made her topple, and the magic surrounding the airborne filly began to evaporate. Leaping off of Rarity, he managed to skid to a landing under the filly. She bounced off his tough scales and rolled to the ground.

"Thanks for helping me." She smiled, getting to her feet. Suddenly, she remebered who had rescued her. "Dragon-boy!"

As she cantered away, the colt sat up and sighed. "Coronus is fine."

Flap Harder!

"Look, in order to get airborne, you have to flap your wings harder! Jumping won't work!"

Coronus pumped his wings, trying to get higher off the ground than a hoof-width. It wasn't working. "Rainbow, can't we start slower? I haven't had any lessons yet..."

"Fine." Rainbow Dash landed from where she expected Coronus to hover to. "Okay, so run over there."

Coronus obeyed, jogging a few pony-lengths away and turning to face her.

"Now run at me as fast as you can with your wings open. You might be able to glide a bit."

Coronus started running, trying to get to his top speed. Suddenly, his wings caught the breeze and he lifted up. Startled, he stopped running. A gust of wind started forming in his wake, blowing him into Rainbow Dash. The pair rolled for a few pony-lengths before Coronus rolled off and ground his muzzle into the dirt.

Rainbow Dash got up and dusted herself off. "Well. This is going to take a while."

...Three weeks later...

"Rainbow! I think I'm getting the hang of this!" The colt was growing fast, already larger than Rainbow Dash, who was hovering as he caught up. "Look! I bet I'd beat you in a race!"

"No way, colt! It's on!"

The two took off side by side, muscles straining. Slowly, Coronus pulled ahead of Rainbow Dash. By the time they passed the center of Ponyville, Rainbow was starting to lag behind. Coronus landed, waiting for Rainbow Dash.

As she approached, her wings locked. She slid the last few pony-lengths on her belly.

"Are you okay?! Talk to me!" Coronus waved his paw in front of her face.

She opened her eyes. "G...g..."

"What? I can't hear you!"

"Good race, buddy!" Rainbow Dash jumped to her feet, hugging the half-dragon. "I haven't flown that hard in ages!"

"Uh... thanks?"

"C'mon!" The racing Pegasus yelled, taking off towards the library. "Bet I can beat you to go tell Twilight!"

"No way, filly!" Coronus laughed as he took off after.

Suddenly, something landed on his back, pushing him to the ground. He skidded, feeling small cuts open on his belly where stray rocks had peirced. He whimpered in pain, trying to see his attacker. A frond of pink mane fell in front of his eyes.

"What is wrong with you?!" Fluttershy screeched, pushing his head down with her hooves. "Why are you out here all alone?"

"I-I'm not alone, mom... Rainbow Dash was teaching m-me how to f-fly..."

"No! You are not flying. Do you hear me? Never!" She jerked her head up as Rainbow Dash flew into her, knocking her off and rolling her into a store's wall. "Don't you dare teach him how to fly!"

"Why not?"

"Because he'll turn out like me!"

"No, he won't!"

"Yes he will!"

"He can't never fly because he's part you and part goshdarned DRAGON!"

Fluttershy stood up, wincing as she narrowed her eyes at the two. "He's never been a part of me." She snarled, galloping off back to her home.

Coronus scrambled to his feet, running after her. "Mom!"

She stopped, glaring at him. "You're not my son."

As she cantered away, Coronus felt like the weight of the moon had fallen on his shoulders. He sank to the ground, tears running down his face.

Rainbow Dash walked up beside him. "If it helps, I could find you a place to stay. I've got no room to spare, but somepony ought to. C'mon. Let's go."

She grabbed his scruff gently, pulling him to his feet. Staying half-carried, Coronus stumbled alongside her, unable to see the ground he was placing his paws on. Rainbow Dash could feel her side wet with tears.

Shadows in the Corners

~I would like some feedback, so when you rate, could you tell me why you picked it? I want to get better, and I need to figure out how. Thanks in advance, Ice~

"So, you're taking care of me?" Coronus asked, scuffing his claws on the floor. "Like, feeding me and stuff?"

"Not exactly." Twilight replied, magicking her current book back to the shelf. "More, I'm giving you a place to sleep." Noticing Coronus looking sad, she smiled. "Look, I know none of us can replace Fluttershy. But I want to make you feel at home. You can read here, help Applejack with her crop, make ... stuff ... with Pinkie, or modeling for Rarity. Or you could get taught how to make rainbows."

"No, I'll go see Rarity... maybe... I'll be around..." Coronus flicked his tail in goodbye and trotted out the door. It didn't take him long, and he managed to dodge all the ponies shopping.

"Coronus?" Coronus skidded to a stop, wings flared. He'd never heard his name said by anyone other than his mothers' friends. This was a young filly, a Pegasus, with a purple coat and pink mane and tail. Her large orange eyes were fixed on Coronus. He hadn't noticed he had gotten so tall.

He kneeled in front of the filly, making sure not to overshow his fangs. "What is it?"

She blushed, giggling. "Your wings are pretty. I wish I had wings like that."

Coronus opened them, looking at the draconic sails pushing out from under his feathers. "Really?"

"Yeah." She stepped forward, brushing his paw with her hoof. "Keep flying, okay?"

"W-why?"

"Because I want to be like you when I grow up."

"Coronus!!!!!" Rarity squealed, pressing the colt close to her in a ursa-hug. "You came just in time!!! Look, I just finished a set of coltswear! Would mind trying it on?" Coronus opened his mouth to answer, but Rarity cut him off. "Thanks!"

The colt growled quietly as Rarity magicked a tuxedo on his chest and a short coattail on his rump. She tugged a bowtie over his head, patted his mane back down, and stepped back. Coronus slouched, glaring at his reflection. "Rarity, I like helping and all, but-"

"I know!" She exclaimed. "It doesn't look very good on your coat. Hmm, lets try this one!"

All of the carefully measured clothes magicked back off, fitting themselves gently over their mannequin. The next set began trying to fit themselves on. A pale yellow tee, jeans and a cap. Still, Rarity wasn't pleased. The first outfit Coronus had felt good in was magicked away to the mannequin.

"Rarity, I'm not-"

"Close your mouth while I put this on!" She pushed a gold bit into his mouth, attached to a rainbow silk set of reins with streaks of gold.

"Rarisy!" Coronus lisped around the bit. "Rarisy, I'm here so ashk abous gessing a hob! I wans so help you mase closshes!"

"Why didn't you just say so?" The bit and reins floated off, and Rarity let Coronus step down from the platform. "I can't pay you unless you make good sets, though. And due to the fact you're not a Unicorn, it'll probably take a bit longer..."

Curious, Coronus fixed his attention on the bit that had just been removed from his mouth. Narrowing his eyes, he tried to lift it.

Suddenly, it seemed like his blood had turned to ice. The scaled patches on his body seemed cold as well, and his vision was trembling. His wings were spreading slowly, pushing Rarity aside and knocking over a hat rack. The bit trembled, hovering ever so slightly off the table. Exhasuted and satisfied, Coronus let it drop.

He felt his blood run hot again, and the scales on his forehead thawed. He furled with wings quickly, kneeling as his vision filled with dancing black spots.

"Coronus, are you feeling alright?" Rarity asked, pressing a wet strip of fabric to his forehead. He didn't bother to wonder how she had gotten it that fast.

"Rar... I... I lifted... it..." She turned to look at the bit, which was sitting on the edge of the counter instead of in the middle.

"You can use magic?" 'Must be dragon magic... probably why the poor thing is so exhausted. Another breed's magic digs deep into a pony's body... He's only concious because he's part dragon...' "Do you need to lie down?"

Coronus struggled to his feet, legs trembling. "I'm okay..." His eyes shone. "I used magic!"

"Y-you did..." Rarity struggled to sound happy.

Coronus let out a happy yell and raced around the store, tail and mane streaming out behind him. "Bye!" He burst through the door, almost tipping a filly over as she tried to come in.

"What's with him?" The Pegasus asked, her dark coat unnatural for Ponyville, paired with an electric-blue mane and tail. "He's not a normal Pegasus, is he?"

"No," Rarity admitted, "he's part dragon. His mother fell in love with a dragon that crashed here a few months ago, and-"

"So that's Coronus?" The filly asked. Now that she wasn't framed by the sunlight outside, Rarity noticed she was taller and older than she had thought, obviously a mare. Her cutie mark was a blue lightning bolt crossed by a red flame. Also unnatural. "Where does he live?"

"Around..." Rarity muttered.

"Not with his mother?" The mare asked. "Why?"

"She saw him flying and disowned him..." Rarity's voice choked up on the last few words.

"You've lost a child too, haven't you? A filly by the name of Light Wings?"

"H-how did you k-know? I didn't t-tell anyone about her..."

"It's quite normal for me to know her, Rarity. After all... I... met her." The dark mare trotted back outside, throwing a bag of bits back over her shoulder. It burst open at Rarity's feet.

She magicked it up in front of her face. It was over ten thousand bits, and the mare hadn't even bought anything. Confused, Rarity dropped the bag back on the ground. "Light Wings," she began, her eyes closed, "I hope you're happy," her voice caught for a few seconds, and she took a deep breath, "I hope you're happy with the angels. I... I'm so sorry..."

Corona Colt

"What happened? Rarity, are you...crying?"

"Go away, silly Pegasus! I'm fine..." Rarity sobbed, her head pressed up against the wall, her back to Rainbow Dash. "Fine..."

"Look, Rarity, we're the Elements of Harmony. Tell me what's wrong." Rainbow Dash put a wing over the Unicorn's back, turning her head away from the wall with one hoof.

"Before Twilight Sparkle came and stirred everything up, on one of Celestia's visits, one of her guards came into the shop. I was up in my room, and wanting to be a good owner, went down to greet him. But he was coming up the stairs, armour on and everything. He pushed me back into my room, and on my bed. I was forced on my back, and-" Rarity paused. "Later, in the Everfree Forest while I was looking for mint leaves, I gave birth to a stillborn filly. I named her Light Wings, in hope that it would make it easier for her to find heaven, and I buried her in the forest. A mare just came in that knew about her, but I've never told anyone until now..."

"Oh Rarity..." Rainbow Dash ran a hoof over her friend's back. "You could have told somepony..."

"No I couldn't! That filly was the result of a rape! He molested me... I'm known for being strong... I couldn't tell anyone I was forced into that..."

"I'm so sorry..." Rainbow's voice trailed off. Her voice tone changed as she continued. "Was it painful? When he... you know..."

"UGH! This is why I never told anyone!" Rarity jumped to her feet, meeting Rainbow's jaw with one diamond-studded horseshoe. "Because they always find some way to make fun of me about it!" With a final scream of rage, she cantered up the stairs to her room.

Rainbow Dash looked up as a colt entered the shop. He blushed. "Did I interrupt something?"

Coronus kicked at the air, growling. "They don't have to be so stupid!" He dropped low to the ground, clawing pebbles across the path. "It's not like I'm a Griffon or anything! I'm a Celestia-d@mn pony too!!"

"There is no need for such language." A shadow fell over Coronus, and he froze.

"C-Celestia?" She was the tallest mare he knew. "Sorry if that insulted you..."

The mare laughed, jumping over him so she was visible. "Trust me, kid. I'm no Princess."

He eyed her impressive Mark, embarrassed at his own pointless star. "Sorry. I thought you were somepony else."

"No problem." She streched out her ebony wings, the bones cracking softly, before folding them more comfortably. "My name is Raven. I came from... no... you shouldn't know. I am here to take care of you."

She bend her graceful neck to put her chin on Coronus's forehead. With the touch, he felt a weird crackle. Magic. Her blue mane brushed his face as she drew back again.

"It seems you have already come into your powers." Raven added. "Fly with me."

She extended her wings to their full extent. Coronus felt small again, and opened his tiny wings, slightly embarrassed. As she shot into the sky, Coronus followed slowly. Every downstroke felt like it was weighted in stones, every movement moving like clouds over the Everfree Forest.

He loved flying.

He followed her closely, little wings thrumming, body filled with blood on fire. He shot ahead, tail streaming, yelling happily as he changed his angle, shooting straight up. He felt the air bending into a teardrop around him, forced into form by his speed. As he reached the clouds, he closed one wing, spinning back towards the ground. The air around him crackled with power. Just before his spinning impact, he flared his wings, the air around him flying by and hitting the ground, blowing a large ring of plants down in all directions.

Much slower, he soared back up to meet Raven, who hadn't stopped to wait, but had watched. "You should teach that to Rainbow Dash when we return."

"I like it!" Coronus chirped, doing a few barrel rolls. He flew in the zig-zagging, childish way he normally did as Raven broke the cloud cover he attempted to attack.

"Have you seen Coronus?" Pinkie Pie asked as she pushed open the door to the library. "I was going to see if he could light the candles on my biggest cake ever!"

"He can't breathe fire..." Twilight Sparkle responded. "Yet."

"Well, maybe he knows now. I don't want to light all those candles with a tiny little lighter, and the blowtorch would melt the icing. Coronus would be better at it." Pinkie countered. "Maybe you could magic them alight for me?"

"The way my magic has been going, I'd probably set Ponyville on fire."

"Well, as long as my cake didn't melt, that be okay."

Twilight looked at Pinkie, who was still smiling inoccently. "I can't respond to that sentence sanely, so I'm not going to say anything."

"But you did!"

Suddenly, Pinkie's mane and tail went flat, and her pupils went small. She gasped once, and she returned to herself.

"Another episode?" Twilight asked, putting a book back on the shelf.

"Twilight." Pinkie commanded, her tone more serious than had been. Than it had EVER been. "Do you have a book on dragon magic?"

"Yes. Here." Twilight lauched it across the room. Pinkie caught it in her mouth, dropping it on the ground and scanning the pages faster than Twilight had though possible.

She spun the book so it was facing Twilight, with her hoof on a paragraph. "Read."

"Young dragons come into their magic at a young age. It is very powerful, and when still uncontrolled, can be dark and dangerous. Half-dragons, although rare, have special triats to their magic." Twilight read. There was a chart beneath. "Griffon - healing. Unicorn - ice. Earth pony - air. Manticore - poison." There was an inky scratch crossing out one entire bar. Twilight squinted through the messy scribble, managing to thin it with her magic. "Pegasus..." She swallowed, looking up at Pinkie. "Pegasus - DANGER! Do not breed Pegasus with Dragons!"

"More." Pinkie ordered. Twilight looked back at the book.

"Pegasus and dragon offspring will have mild control of their powers from a very early age. Careful - if a halfling of these two isn't raised with the gentlest care, their magic will become stronger than they are, and will be dark. It is very difficult to raise a half-Pegasus without later having to destroy it."

Pinkie's face was a war mask. "Where is Coronus."

Unnecessary Resistance

The glowing spheres around him darted like water bugs. No matter how close he got, he couldn't touch them, couldn't catch them. As he fell, spinning endlessly without a feeling of actually falling, or even movement, he continued to reach out. The colours in them were repeated.

The fastest one, with a blue core that faded through all of the rainbow as he watched it.

The steady one, with a orange core that faded to yellow.

The sparkling one, with a purple core that darkened to a different purple.

The elegant-looking one, with a white core that darkened to an attractive violet.

The zig-zagging one, which was pink the whole way through.

The furthest away and the hardest to catch, with a yellow core and harsh, pink edge.

There were others as well, but they were smaller, stayed the same distance away, never seeming to move, falling at his speed, spinning the same ways he did.

A pale yellow to dark red, with highlights of pink.

A dark blue with darker, midnight edges.

A pure white with edges of blue, pink and pale green.

A dark black with electric edges.

So many to choose. Coronus spun in another roll, trying to stay upright as the glowing orbs flickered around. He could hear a voice, echoes at first before becoming stronger. It was the darkest orb with the blue edge, flying closer and closer. He reached out with one paw, managing to brush the surface. As the momentum from the swipe tumbled him forward, he reached out with his mouth, his muzzle entering the orb.

His eyes flashed open, the bright sunlight penetrating his sleep. His muzzle was locked in Ravens'. Her eyes were wide with shock. Coronus pulled back, his lips wet with her spit. She stumbled backwards, tumbling awkwardly into a tree, back pressed upright.

"Sorry." Coronus muttered, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "I was dreaming..."

"ABOUT WHAT?!" Raven screeched, pupils still small. "How old are you?!"

"Not about that!" Coronus countered, severing any of her wind ideas. "I couldn't actually tell it was you." She drew back further, and Coronus pushed his head into his paws. "That didn't come out right."

"N-never mind." Raven replied, managing to keep her volume under control. "We still have a lot of flying to do."

They both took off, staying aflight in awkward silence.

Pinkie still hadn't returned to her usual self. She was reading all the books on dragons and their magic that Twilight had. She hadn't slept or eaten in two days. As Spike returned with more books, Pinkie looked up. Her face was taut, expression drawn. "Any news?"

Spike was taken aback by her tone. It seemed more like a stallions', and one that had been through war upon war. "No. Rarity was the last one to have seem him, but he left the shop after..." Spike paused, setting the books down in anticipation of an angry tackle. "...using his first magic to lift something small."

He braced himself for impact, but none came. Pinkie Pie was still on the ground, three legs tucked neatly under her while the other held her place in a book. "He's flown away, hasn't he."

"I... I don't know. Rarity said something about a forgien mare coming in after and knowing his name, but she left. Nopony's seen her either. Not like Rarity was lying or anything, but..." For once in his life, he wasn't smiling as he said Rarity's name. His face was as emotionless as Pinkie's.

"We need a Pegasus to find him. Do you understand?" Pinkie asked, standing up and kicking the book across the room. It slammed into a bookcase as she walked over to Spike. "Rainbow Dash is too fast. She'll end up competeing with him when she finds him. Celestia isn't giving an Alicorn's rear about all this. Princess Luna... I still don't trust her. None of the other Pegasus I know care enough to find him."

"Pinkie, what are you getting at?"

Her eyes were like shards of ice. "I'm going to go give Fluttershy a good kick in the head."

The yellow Pegasus shreiked as her door was kicked in. Pinkie walked over the fallen wood, a scowl on her muzzle. "What in the Realm of Dragons is WRONG with you?!?"

"I-I don't u-u-understand..." Fluttershy stuttered, pushin up against the wall.

"I don't give a buck if you understand." All remorse for using strong language with the fragile Pegasus was gone. There was no pity, no sympathy. "You stabbed your own son in the back. His own mother, deciding he's the bane of her existence." Pinkie kept walking forward, and kicked the door back in place. "Now, not only does he not have a father, who was a bucking dragon, he doesn't have a mother either. Have you heard the insults he endures? The threats he brushes off? Did you ever actually wonder what he was doing when he went straight to his room after coming home?"

"I-I-I..."

Pinkie pivoted, kicking the timid Pegasus in the face. "He's left the nest, Fluttershy! You forced your own son to fly away! He. Is. Gone. Just like his father. But this time, he wasn't abandoning you. You were abandoning him."

Fluttershy stood up, on side of her face already bruising. Her legs trembled as she waited in defiance. "He has nothing to do with me!"

"He has EVERYTHING to do with you! He's your son!"

"I don't care! I don't love him!"

Pinkie Pie dropped her voice to little more than a whisper. "I never asked you if you loved him."

The two stared off in silence. Pinkie's face had softened from ice to stone. Fluttershy's cheek had swelled, and her eyes were watering with the pain, despite the glare she was giving Pinkie.

Two ponies faced off. Neither had ever been considered an enemy. Neither had ever been so angry. Pinkie, the joyful party-goer. Fluttershy, the timid animal-keeper. Dueling it out in a battle of endurance.

Fluttershy was the first to open her mouth. "I never thought of any of you as enemies."

"I'm no enemy." The Earth Pony responded. "Your only enemy is yourself."

They stood in silence again. The tension was weakening both wills. Pinkie's anger was ebbing. Fluttershy's heart was aching.

"Pinkie?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"Fluttershy?"

"Hm?"

"I'm not the one who needs an apology."

Bit of Darkness

-For best results, listen to 'Quaritch' in the Avatar soundtrack, mostly the last minute and 20 seconds-

Pinkie shoved back into the library, before changing her mind and walking out in reverse. Changing direction, she cantered to Carousel Boutique. She opened the door, charging over to Rarity.

"Yes, Pinkie?" Rarity asked, not looking up from her latest design.

Despite her urgency, Pinkie was surprised. "How did you know it was me?"

"Your hooves don't clop when you walk. They... 'boing'."

"Oh, I forgot again." Pinkie muttered. Suddenly, she remembered why she had come. "I need armour. Not Earth Pony, Pegasus. You know, aerodynamic and aluminum."

"There hasn't been any aluminum in my latest shipments, but I'm sure I have some downstairs. Old stores, maybe." She paused, looking up. "Who's it for? You have a colt-friend you want to get a gift for?"

"Not exactly. I'll tell you later. Here are the measurements."

Rarity scanned over the paper Pinkie has slammed down on the table. For once, the lettering wasn't large and loopy. It was small, even print. "I know these measurements from somewhere."

"Armour? ASAP?"

"Yes, sorry." Rarity calculated the amount of sheet metal she would need before trotting to the back of the store. Opening a door, she magicked the lightbulb to flickering life, illuminating the store. It was huge, and the shelves reached far beyond the lightbulb's reach. Pinkie ground her hooves together over a small candle, her new flint horseshoes lighting the wick. As Rarity searched one side, Pinkie searched the other. Thousands of bolts of fabric reflected the light, some with glittering threads, some looking like they were made of spiderwebs, some like spun gold. As they neared the back, the stacked bolts changed to sheets of metal.

"I think I found it!" Pinkie yelled.

There was no answer. Immeadiatly, Pinkie knew something was wrong. She set the light down, using her hearing to determine where the walls were. Her 'boing'ing hooves made a kind of echolocation. Pinkie spun around the corner, seeing Rarity on the ground, unconcious. Her horn was still glowing with Light magic. Something moved in the dark, and Pinkie looked up. The hilarity in her face vanished again, pushed under by pure determination. Ponies she loved were in danger.

"Show yourself, you bucking sewer rat!"

The thing moved again. Pinkie echolocated again before it vanished, making out a pony shape. A filly shape.

"Come HERE!"

It stopped, turning to face Pinkie and the unconcious Rarity. It's eyes glowed white against the shadows. As it moved forward, the pale light lanced off of the metal, casting the entire aisle in white light.

It was a Pegasus filly, looking to be no more than a few hours old. Her pale white fur was still wet, and a blue-purple fuzz made up her still-growing mane and tail. Her legs looked too long. How old was this foal? Maybe only minutes!

But something was... off. The filly was silent, her mouth opening and closing in silent breaths. Her hooves had made no noise. Pinkie echoed it again, making sure the light wasn't decieving her. This time, the echoed figure was still mid-leap. Behind the filly. It was like she... didn't exist.

The filly suddenly collapsed into a pool of liquid. It wasn't blood. It looked... it looked like she had just been born, and she had died...

Pinkie echoed for the final time. Behind the insubstantial foal, there was a mannequin. Pinkie had though it was the foal. With narrowed eyes, Pinkie leaned down over Rarity. The foal was still twitching, eyes rolling back in her head.

"Rarity, you have to get up." Pinkie's voice was calm, even. "Rarity, keep your eyes closed. Do not open them. Get up."

Pinkie had not taken her eyes off the foal. It was still jerking, legs sliding through the fluid around it. It was growing skinny, bones beginning to push up against skin. With a sound like old parchment, a seam opened along the throat. There was only blackness inside.

"I'm not strong enough to lift you, Rarity. You have to get up." The unicorn didn't wake, but groaned. "C'mon, get up." Pinkie hauled her to her feet. "Up."

"Pinkie, what's going on?" Rarity was facing down the hallway, and attempted to turn around.

"NO!" Pinkie shoved her forwards. "Walk away, don't look back." As the unicorn cantered for the stairs, Pinkie turned to the disintigrating foal. "I'll take care of this."

The skeletal beast stood up on bony legs, wobbling like any newborn. It's jaw gaped open, and it screamed in fury. Pinkie almost roared in reply, a wordless war cry. they charged at each other, teeth bared, hooves skidding.

Rarity stopped as she heard a sharp crack. That was a bone breaking. Against her better judgement, she ran back, horn sparking with energy. When she turned the corner, she found Pinkie standing still, flanks heaving as she took laboured breaths.

"Pinkie, what-"

She kicked a small object across the floor. "This was what Coronus magicked, wasn't it."

"It must have fallen down the stair when I came down yesterday. Why? What's going on, Pinkie?"

The party pony's face was hard as stone. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Aluminum Hope

"Docta? Are you her?"

The black stallion nosed the door open, finding a cross-eyed Derpy standing on the step. "What is it, Ditzy? Hallucinations again?"

She shook her head, wild yellow mane bobbing. "No sir. Somethan weerd is goona happen."

"What makes you think that?" In his mind, the stallion was thinking over diiferent perscriptions.

Suddenly, both of her eyes aligned, fixing him with an even, golden stare. "Because this keeps happening." Her voice was just as abnormally normal. "Everytime I start acting normal, bad things happen. Remember last time? Nightmare Moon returned."

"I am quite aware of that, Ditzy."

"I want to evacuate Ponyville. There's no need to suffer here if my senses are correct again."

"Ditzy, I don't see it as that much of a problem-"

Suddenly, her face was pressed up against his. "You will move all of your patients out as fast as you can. Get them to a safe place where they will not be harmed. I can clear out the town. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes."

Her eyes changed directions again. "Imma coonting on yu!"

She flew away into the center of Ponyville, wings flapping in an odd rythym. The doctor sighed.

"Strawberries?"

The pale red mare was at his side in moments. "Yes, Sterile?"

"Prepare for emergency evac."

She didn't question his order, just trotted back inside and began waking the healthier patients.

"Wha's she doin' yellin like that?" Applejack muttered to herself, watching as Derpy - no - Ditzy Doo tried to warn ponies about something. "Hey, Ditz, whatdya yellin' for?"

The Pegasus arced to the best landing Applejack had ever seen. Her eyes had switched sides, now moving as one. "There's danger coming. My intellect is active."

"Hookay, that was creepy." Applejack admitted. "Who managed to pull off this prank?"

Ditzy grabbed her friend's muzzle, moving into a shoulder-height hover. "This is no prank. You can feel it just as much as I can. I know it." She dropped the earth pony the short distance to the ground. By now, a crowd had started forming. "Pinkie has been acting like she's in a war zone. Fluttershy has grown angry, withdrawn, depressed even! Rarity is scared to go into her basement for some unspoken reason. Twilight has been shunning her books and pacing the park outskirts. We've seen hide nor hair of Coronus. Applejack, you've noticed the apples on your crop are withering early, haven't you?" The filly nodded, not wanting to interrupt.

"I've been delivering the mail as usual, but these moments keep striking - suddenly I know what I'm doing, my words are right, I can see straight. Nopony goes outside anymore. The birds have stopped singing. The ground is layered in dust. The market wasn't even put up this week! Have any of you even noticed you've been hiding?"

There were a few uncertian murmurs among the gathered crowd. This was the first time they'd been out in a while, they realized. Only because all stocks were running low. The ponies who had already shopped realized they were carrying at least three times their usual burden.

"What are you saying we do?" A voice called out from the back. "What's going on?"

"We have to get out. Every time I get episodes where I think straight, which are rare, somethign bad happens. Last time, it was the return of Nightmare Moon. I don't know what's going to happen. Get the caravans ready, everypony. Pack as fast as you can and move out. Head somewhere further away." She paused, and her eyes crossed. "Pweese."

Coronus rolled over in his bed of tree roots, their knarled edges poking against his back. He streched and yawned, looking around for Raven. She was still sleeping against her tree, wings wrapped around her flanks protectively. Coronus got to his feet and looked around for something to do. He saw a squirrel calmly grooming itself on the branches above.

His eyes gleamed as his predator half surfaced. Shaking his tail in anticipation, he shot straight up, grabbing the rodent and snapping its neck in his teeth on the descent. He swallowed the warm meat in chinks, not bothering to chew.

Raven watched through one narrowed eye. The dragon half was growing stronger. As he finished, licking the blood from his lips, she pretended to wake up, shaking out her mane and tail and streching her wings.

"Good morning, colt."

"How much longer will we be flying for?"

Raven tried to figure out how much distance they had covered. "We'll probably get there by noon."

He streched out his back, feeling the vertabrae pop in their places. "You need anyhting to eat?"

"I'll get something when we arrive."

They took wing side-by-side, catching the thermal and slowly circling higher. Like Raven said, the small town was a indistinct blur near the horizon.

"It doesn't look very big." Coronus commented, squinting at it. "Are you sure thats not just a herd of cows?"

"It's a town, trust me. It's called Trottown officially, but everyone just calls it 'that little place in the middle of nowhere'. Both are appropriate." She paused, gliding up to the next thermal. "But stay close to me once we get there, okay? It's not the best of places."

Pinkie held up the box of armour, presenting it to a Pegasus hovering in front of her. "Here."

"I thought Fluttershy was going." Rainbow Dash announced, holding up the helmet. "I didn't think I'd get to go."

"No, you lose in races - no offense - but if he's with the Pegamare, he won't be going very fast. Chances are, you'd be able to catch up." Pinkie's face had returned almost to normal, and she was saying a few random things every so often. But, despite Pinkie's improvment, Ditzy Doo was still sane.

Rainbow Dash had finsihed strapping on the aluminum armour. A chestplate, four boots, wing sheaths, back plate, and helmet. Because it was Rarity who had built it, there were small shards of gemstones implanted along the edges. Rainbow raised on hoof to her head in a salute.

"If I come back, Coronus is coming with me." With those words of semi-encouragement, Rainbow Dash shot into the air. Surprisingly, she could see two dots far away, flying at cruising level. With a yell, she took off after them.

Raven landed in front of a run-down pub. There was an unconcious stallion in front of it, a bottle still in one hoof. Raven nosed the door aside, waiting for Coronus as he sidestepped around the pony. Loud music blared as Coronus entered.

Raven started walking away, and Coronus hurried to follow her. She went behind the bar and upstairs, leaving Coronus behind. The music started to get to him, and he moved closer. There was a filly out in the middle of the flashing floor, mane and tail swinging, dancing almost exactly to the music. The bottle in her hand proved she was drunk, but she danced nonetheless.

Coronus gave in and joined her, his claws clicking on the plastic. She eyed his scales, but didn't comment. "Dance with me?"

He nodded, and started matching her moves. She held out the bottle, and against his common sense, Coronus took a swig.

Upstairs, Raven was knocking on a door. Five minutes passed. Ten. Fifteen. Fed up with waiting, she opened it, seeing a bedraggled-looking stallion slouched on a couch, watching TV. He was so drunk she could smell it from the door.

She tried to restrain from gagging. "Dad?"

"Oh, shorry hun. Didna shee you there." He slurred, getting up on wobbly legs. "Been a shwhile, hashn't it? What took sha sho long?"

"I told you four times. Every time I've come to visit I've told you. I've been hired by Princess Luna to find half-dragons, remember? Because there are too many?"

"Oh yesh. You did tells shme. What doesh she do wish them once you drop tshem off?"

"Look, I don't know. Can I stay here for the night?"

"You realishe the Princesshessh are that way? The way shoo came?"

"Yes, I know. That's why I'm here. Now please, can we stay here?"

"Shure you can, my girl. Doorsh alwaysh open."

Raven went to exit the room, but looked back. "Speaking of doors, there's another unconcious pony outside that you should move."

"He'll wake up evenshually."

Raven suddenly sensed something was wrong. She hurried down the stairs, spotting Coronus kissing a pony in a booth across the room.

She swerved through the crowds and skidded to a stop beside the booth. "Coronus!"

He looked up. "Heya Raven."

She saw the dull glaze in his eyes. Whoever this pony was, she had made Coronus drunk. Raven narrowed her eyes, spotting a small difference in the placement of the chin, and the curve of the legs.

"You're a colt-cuddler?!"

"He's not?" The colt replied, sitting back in the chair. "He acted like he was."

With a snort of distaste, Raven picked Coronus up by the tail and lugged him upstairs. Dropping him down on the old, torn mattress, she pinned him under one wing and fell asleep.

Collision

Rainbow Dash tackled the Pegasus from behind, turning it around to face her. She let go suddenly as the Pegasus's large teal eyes focused on her face.

"Fluttershy?!" The smaller thing flying beside her looked to be a dragon, with oversized eyes and tiny wings flapping hard. "What are you doing out here? And what is that?"

"Oh, um... you see... um..." The pale Pegasus looked away from Rainbow Dash, making eye contact with the little dragon. "Um... I..."

The dragon hovered steadily in front of Rainbow Dash, pulling out a letter from the curl of it's tail.

Rainbow Dash skimmed the scrawl. "So, Toothless has finally summoned you. How're you going to tell him about his son? That's going to go over really well, I can tell."

"Um... I..." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "I love him, okay! Just let me go."

The dragon rolled the letter up again and fluttered over to Fluttershy. She darted away at a steady, fast pace. The dragon looked back at Rainbow Dash in almost pity, and flew after her.

Rainbow spun, kicking a cloud in anger. She had lost so much daylight chasing Fluttershy. There was no way she could find Coronus before the sun set. She raced back to Ponyville as fast as her tired wings would carry her.

Raven ran a comb through Coronus's dishevlled mane as he squirmed in protest. One lashing paw almost hit her, but her instinctive flinch pulled the hair in the comb taught. Coronus screeched, yanking his mane free of the black mare's grip.

"Where are we going that I have to get all prissy for?" He complained, his tail now subject to her wrath.

"You're a colt, so I have no way of keeping you from rolling in the mud or eating bugs or whatever, but you may as well be presentable."

"I am!" Raven pulled a still-leavy branch, complete with small caterpillar, out of his matted tail, proving her point. With a snort, he changed topics. "Anyway, where are you taking me?"

"All dragon halflings must be taken to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna for proper care."

"Then why are we going this way? Care doesn't sound that bad."

Raven looked up at him, pushing his semi-brushed tail aside. "I've heard the screams, Coronus. Proper care is extermination. Dragon halflings can stir up the bad relations on the borders."

He was quiet for a second. "I'm turning more dragon, aren't I? You're taking me somewhere I can't hurt anybody." Raven went to protest, but he held up a paw to silence her. "I know you weren't brushing me for 'my own good'. You were checking for spines and fur loss. I know I'm changing, Raven. You don't have to try and protect me from it."

"Coronus, I was never going to hide it from you."

He curled his tail around his paws. Where the hairs split, dark blue scales could be seen. His muzzle was rounder, eyes more alert. "Then why are you hiding me?"

"Because I don't want any more innocent foals slaughtered."

"Twilight! I need a spell, fast."

The purple Unicorn woke up from where she had fallen asleep against a bookshelf. "Wha?"

"Anything for night vision and cold resistance."

"You need rest, just like everypony else. I can't keep you out at night."

"Would you rather I got Trixie to do it?"

"FINE! I'll do a spell." A few misplaced books and incantations later, Rainbow looked around the dim room, seeing everything like it was as bright as day, with the detail recieved upon hours of inspection. She blinked a few times before spinning and running out the door.

"Coronus..." she whispered to the sky, eyes closed in prayer. "I'm coming."

"Then I'll help." The sky answered. A pair of narrow green eyes opened in the starless dusk above her. The creature flew down gracefully, the sharp edges visible to the eyes of the Pegasus.

"Toothless?! But Fluttershy got a message from you!"

"Get on my back. She'll still meet us there, trust me."

One the ground, Twilight Sparkle watched the exchange. Wiping the spell from both her own eyes and Rainbow Dash's, she trotted back inside and turned off the lights.

Rainbow bucked at the sudden darkness, vaguely seeing the dragon's reflective eyes. As she landed on his back, a voice let out an annoyed snort.

"Get off my tail!" A pony yelled, turning to glare at her. His fur was pale pink, almost white, while his mane and tail were dark brown. His cutie mark was a dragon egg. "Toothless, are you sure about this? She looks pretty wimpy."

The dragon laughed, muttering something to himself in his own language before responding. "She's faster in the air than you are, that's for sure!"

The pony smacked Liponite's shoulder with one hoof. "By the way," he turned to face Rainbow Dash again, "my name's Hiccup. Hold on."

"To what?!"

Toothless began his quick flight, the tears once gaping through his wing healed over. The Earth Pony kept flicking his back hoof on some metal contraption. It took Rainbow Dash a while to see the thick cords and metal bindings running down the dragon's flank. One of his tail fins had been replaced by a red banner, which the pony was adjusting. There was a white shape on it, in the vague outline of a pony skull wearing a horned helmet.

"Hey, Toothless, when'd you get that?"

"This pony keeping us airborne took it out with a cannon shot." The dragon replied, surpressing a laugh.

"This pony keeping you airborne saved your life more than once!" Hiccup replied, jabbing the dragon's shoulder again.

"This dragon keeping you from splatting on the ground saved yours too!" Toothless snikered. "All but one leg."

Rainbow Dash looked down at the pony's feet. Sure enough, one was missing from the knee down, and was replced by a crude metal skeleton. She felt pride at having such finely made armor. "Did you decide you were too hungry or something?"

"A dragon did, but it wasn't me!"

They all laughed for the rest of the flight, dying down to gentle speech as Rainbow Dash decided to go to sleep. She could sense the bond of family between them as she let her eyes shut.

Raven carried Coronus by what little of his tail wasn't hiding scales. The colt was snoring peacefully in her grasp, swinging gently when she flapped. There wasn't much time left before Coronus woke up, but she wanted a nighttime start. For one thing, Luna didn't patrol her time as much as Celestia did.

A few hours later, she landed at a lengthy gallop, slowing to a stop as Coronus manged to land directly into a tree. She pulled his wings out of the branches until he could struggle free. He landed on the ground belly-up, grunting as he scrambled to his feet.

"Work on those landings, okay?"

"Yeah, whatever."

"Welcome to Berk. The village is just ahead."

Fluttershy was standing at the edge of a cliff, which dropped almost straight down to the grassy floor. Inside the ring of stone, there was a wide lake and a few large trees, hidden from a distance. Some other pony said this place was 'Raven Point'.

The little dragon had fluttered away once she landed, probably to go eat. She had told it over and over that she was sorry about her lack of speed, but it hadn't replied. At least, not in a language she knew.

A filly, looking about Fluttershy's age, meandered out of the underbrush nearby. She had a spiked necklace, with matching bracers. A thick belt around her waist held a heavy-looking battle ax in place. On the other side of the band, there was a gathering basket.

The filly's coat was an orange-yellow, with a blond mane and tail. Her mane and tail were done in thick braids, keeping it from falling in her eyes. She noticed Fluttershy and trotted over.

"You're one of Toothless's friends?"

"W-who are you? Who i-is Toothless?"

She rolled her eyes. "My name's Astrid. Toothless is thie big black dragon that sent you a letter? With a Terrible Terror attached?"

"Oh... yes, I'm here because of him. My n-name's Fluttershy." The filly was at least two hands taller than she was, and was looking down with a disappointed stare.

"Well, welcome." She snarled the last word before galloping off around the outside of the cliff-ring. Watching her, Fluttershy vaguely remembered the mare that she and Liponite had encountered. Maybe the two were related.

Toothless aced the landing, claws gripping the edge of the rooftop. Hiccup jumped off, followed by an uncertain Rainbow Dash. The dragon climbed down the wooden pillars built into the walls, getting to the ground with ease. Hiccup jumped right off the roof, landing safely on the wooden porch below.

"C'mon down! We don't bite."

Ebony Opals

...Dear mother, oh father,
how could you leave me alone to starve?
Dear sister, oh brother,
save me from a love that went too far...

Coronus's head throbbed with the song. He couldn't remember where he had heard it before.

He couldn't remember anything.

His paws were moving, forward, mostly, towards the stairs. Down, down each one. Past the counters. Out the door.

Everything was a black kind of spectrum in colour.

Across the road. Down the road. Past a stand of apples. Past a restraunt. Past the Hall. On the grass.

Why did everything look so vividly dull?

Over the grass. Past a pond. Into a forest. Around a tree. Back out of the forest. Back into the grass.

Everything... everything hurt...

...I'm sorry, so sorry,
for all the pain that I have caused,
I'm sorry, so sorry,
For everything I have done wrong...

The song hurt Fluttershy's ears as she charged into the wall again. The giant dome hit Ponyville in a layer of thick fog. Rainbow Dash had tested it for flaws. There were none.

She charged it again, Coronus's unconcious mind-speak ringing in her ears. Her son was in there. Her son needed her.

And yet again, she wasn't there for him.

She had never been there for him.

... But this thing that grows inside me
I know it's far too late
To break down and beg for peace,
In hope that this darkening shroud will break...

Toothless howled in pain, forehead pressed against the dome. He could feel the magic eminating from the dome. He had seen ponies... they must have gotten out of the town. Somehow, they must have known something was going to happen.

Moaning, he dragged his claws down the wall. It rippled around them like a balloon, keeping him out effectively.

Raven was beside him, chanting spells to try and keep the voice out of her head. The noise burned at her memories, at her willpower.

And for once in his life, Liponite felt powerless.

Coronus's heart was breaking.

...Oh mother, dear father,
how could you leave me alone to starve?
Oh sister, dear brother,
save me from a love that went too far...

Twilight Sparkle groaned as the last echoes of the song faded away. Ditzy was leading, taking them out of danger. How had she known?

Rarity was beside her, crying quietly. Spike was napping on Twilight's back. Pinkie's face was still dark, and Applejack had vanished to go and comfort Applebloom. Somewhere in this mass of ponies, patients were being pushed on gurneys, over terrible ruts and holes. Somewhere in the crowd, a young Sweetie Belle cried out for her mother, losing her in the sea of legs.

Everywhere, hearts were breaking.

...I wish I knew what I had done
Before the shadow grew inside me
I wish I knew what I had done
Before there was more than what I could see...

Yelling in anger and frustration, Rainbow Dash pounded against the roof of the dome. There had to be a weak spot.

Tears running down her face, she kicked again and again and again...

Her heart beat fast as adrenaline rushed through her veins. The dome quivered, shining white beams lancing out from where she was kicking. Eyes blurred with tears, she couldn't see.

Kicking again and again and again...

The dome broke, peices dissovling before they hit the ground. All four creatures nearby fell inwards, shocked.

The haunting song tore through their minds as they ran closer to the town.

Coronus needed them.

...When did this really begin?
Back when the sky was born?
Life decided before my birth,
Why am I the one that’s hurt?...

Coronus sagged under the pressure. The dome... his dome...

As the magicked dust fell down like rain, another part of him felt like it had been ripped out. His heart was gaping open, ready for the killing blow.

His ponies were fading with the dome, the dust under their hooves untouched, their voices drowned out by the roaring in his head. His hearts were racing. His entire body was wracked with pain.

He staying lying on his side for what seemed like years.

It hurt, vaguely. But it was like thinking about someone else's pain. It was there. But it was indistinct.

Coronus closed his eyes. His ebony scales shimmered once before turning as dull as the pebbles on the path.

...Dear mother, dear father,
How did you let this get this far?
Dear sister, dear brother,
You are hope, my shining star...

Fluttershy and Toothless both noticed the song fading.

Running forward, elegant grace thrown away in the place of pure speed. Dust flew.

Coronus, lying on the ground. The song dying, leaving, breaking...

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

Coronus's body darkened, his own magic turning rough, from silk to sandpaper.

He struggled free of his mother's grasp, out of his father's reach, almond eyes shut tight.

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

He opened his eyes, whiter than snow, blazing against his black body. His form was blurring, scales wipsing smoke, form vanishing under the magicked hold.

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

The young dragon folded back to his knees, and his scales turned brilliant white a giant pulse eminating from his core, the ground around him breaking, buildings falling, white sparks leaping and scurrying over the ground like rats.

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

The light growing, drawing in rubble, seeming to grab objects and pull them to it's center. Toothless was enveloped with Fluttershy by his side.

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

Rainbow and Raven fear coursing through their bodies as they flew in to rescue their friends.

A heartbeat... a heartbeat...

...

...

...

Silence

Sunset

Silence.
Silence and darkness.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

"H-h-help! S-someone, please, help!"

"Is someone there? Keep talking, we need to hear you! Where are you?"

"I don't know *cough* I can't... I can't see!"

"Sit tight. We're on our way."

Suddenly, the blanket of darkness lifted. A stallion, middle-aged and wearing a heavy leather siut and oxygen mask. His face was hidden. All of him was hidden.

The filly didn't resist the oxygen mask strapped onto her muzzle. She took a long, deep breath, the pressure on her chest not yet subsided. The air was thick with smoke and dust. Small fires burned where candles had tipped over or lamps had broken. A team of ponies flew water from the pond, slowly putting them out.

This place... where was it? She couldn't remember ever seeing anything like it. All dusty and broken. Wait.

A giant cupcake.

THE giant cupcake.

Sugarcube Corner? Than this was...

Ponyville? Her Ponyville?

Her rescuer, the stallion was still standing behind her.

"My friends! My friends were here too! Have you found them?"

"We have four confirmed. Near the forest. They've been waiting for you."

A dirty blue Pegasus was collasped on the ground, rainbow mane in knots and good chunks missing. She was breathing.

A black mare, wings extended slightly in sleep. Also breathing.

Herself, dirtied but alive, pink mane in some state and pale yellow fur coated in mud.

A dragon, snoring almost peacefully, his bulk covering most of the clear ground. Also breathing.

Fluttershy sobbed to herself. The fourth found...

The stallion galloped up. He kicked off his protective jacket, keeping the mask on for safety. The dark red coat was met with a golden mane and a green apple cutiemark. Without a word, Big Macintosh led Fluttershy aside, past rubble and dirt and mud and fire, over to a small group of ponies.

As they approached, a small group moved aside. There was a matress, hauled out from the destruction. A blacket, thick and white and embroidered with small blue clouds. That was his blanket. or at least, it used to be...

Fluttershy spread her wings to hide the matress. Gently pulling back the blanket's edge, she saw a rounded muzzle, eyes closed in peace, young ears short and round.

She gently licked her son's head, eyes closed as tears ran down her cheeks and onto the scales below.

It was a long time before Ponyville recovered. Nopony commented on the beginning or creator of the turmoil. The subject was a delicate one... it would be for a long time to come.

Twilight Sparkle slaved over another book. The pages in front of where she had rechaed were empty. The ones behind were filled to the margins with text. The one she was on was steadily filling, muzzlewriting surprising elegant despite the length of the ink dip. The next word she wrote was 'Coronus'.

Rarity tightened the last stitch. There were many dresses like this one that she had made recently. She took a dark coal heart, wound it through a gold chain, and slipped it around her own neck. Wiping the tears out of her eyes, she looked at herself in the mirror. The black dress, despite it's dreary colour, was a symbol. Of what, she couldn't grasp.

Applejack whittled carefully, the knife in her jaw wobbling slightly. The sculpture was almost finshed. Dark red wood, with the curves of a dragon in flight, abstract but fully there. Setting the knife on the table, she lifted the wood ever-so-gently and placed it in her saddlebag.

Pinkie Pie swept out the last of the grime, dust and dirt flying out of the open gates. Their elegant, winding metal forms were old, but strong. The party pony sighed and pushed the broom back under the table. Her happy heart was soft.

Rainbow Dash dropped again, the wind bending around her. The trick was almost complete. She pulled up at the last moment, wings flaring into a matter-breaking sheet. The ripples of colour stayed in shades of orange and gray, with black, red and yellow streaks. She complemented herself on the presentation and landed.

Fluttershy sat in front of the rounded stone. She couldn't bear to read the words. Their letters were that of judgement. If she looked, their inscription was truth. It couldn't be truth. There was a dragon beside her but she felt no fear from him. Just the same sadness that she had.

Toothless set his jaw against his sadness. He could not cry. He was a reptile. They didn't cry. But he wanted to. He wanted to break down, to have tears streaming down his face, to have sobs wreching his lungs, to see evidence of his sadness on his cheeks. But dragons couldn't cry.

The assembled animals waited in silence as the Elements of Harmony, minus one, proceeded forward. The box they carried was almost too much to bear. Fluttershy felt her heart break again. She moved aside as the other Elements placed the box into the hole. She finally looked up at the stone.

Coronus
Son of Fluttershy the Pegasus and Toothless the Night Fury
May the rubble of the mountains become like stones in our hearts

And for nowhere near the last time, Fluttershy cried over the grave of her son.

And her heart was not the only one shaken.

Crossed Paths

Raven nudged Coronus ahead of her, trying to keep the pace up. The colt kept wandering off to investigate whatever was there, inculding bugs, snakes, and one lost sheep.

They reached the top of the hill, and the village sprawled out below them. Buildings made of wood and mud and who-knows-what, worn dirt paths, a wooden dock streching from the edge of the cliff down to the water. Boats of various sizes and colours were floating along the dock, dragon-head bows bobbing. But on top of that, and the massive amounts of pony below, were the dragons.

Coronus realized there were seven distiguishable types. One, which there seemed to only be a single one of, was his own father, snoring peacefully in the sun. There was a wyvren breed, with a tail covered in spikes. Another type of wyvren walked the paths, wings servicing as front legs. Another type, and definatley the most populous, was a small lizard-like thing, stealing food and screeching. A handful of the assembled breeds had two heads and two tails, while another was sausage-like, with stumpy wings and legs. The last breed was like a snake with legs, winding its' way down the dirt path with wings folded tight and tail swinging.

"Come on, then." Raven suggested, prodding Coronus's flank. "I have places to be, you know."

Coronus ignored her, bolting forward without warning. His entire body coursed with energy as he raised his head. "Dad! Dad, it's me!"

Raven galloped after him, eyes stinging from some unseen object. She stopped, trying to wipe whatever it was away. When she held her hoof away from her face, she saw hairs. Short, orange hairs.

Coronus ran on, oblivious to the coat shedding away from his paws and back. Large patches of scales were pushing through, shining like moondust in the light. Raven let out a few curses and chased after him again.

As the dust settled, a single orange feather came to rest in the the center of the path. It's tip was ebony.

Rainbow Dash hovered around Toothless, eyes narrowed as she investigated her new surroundings. There weren't many Pegasus, and even less Unicorns, but all of the Earth ponies were heavy-built or wire-muscled. Life looked pretty harsh, and a few of the buildings had old burn marks along the sides.

"Dad!"

She jerked her head up at the call. The voice... she knew that voice. Looking around, she could see an orange colt running down the side of the hill, followed closely by a black Pegasus mare.

Toothless didn't seem to notice the cry.

"Um, you remember how you shared a nest with Fluttershy that one time?" She stammered, watching Coronus's quick paws.

"Mm-hm." The dragon growled, licking one paw.

"Well," Rainbow Dash swallowed th elump in her throat, "there's something I have to tell you..."

Coronus skidded to a stop, ears up and tail swinging. "Dad!"

Rainbow Dash could hear Toothless's jaw hit the dirt.

Fluttershy lifted her head as the red filly called her name. "Toothless wants to see you. Something about a colt?"

She was off like a shot, weaving through the trees and bursting into the village. There.

Coronus. His fur was shedding, she realized. The soft coat he had as a foal was blowing in the wind. The thought made her heart skip a few beats. His form was getting more like Liponite's, with a shorter stature and longer core. His wings had grown, and his paws streched up to his knees now. Most of his back had lost it's fur, and one wing was short a few feathers.

Her baby.

The thoughts, the memories, the love; it all came rushing back. This was her son, no matter the father. Her colt was losing himself. She knew it would happen. When it did...

No. She couldn't think that way. His magic would be pure, and strong, and he would be fine. Wouldn't he?

Toothless was still lying down, but his son was curled between his front paws, chattering on as his father gently licked his mane.

Her baby.

With a whinny of protest, she cantered down the path, stopping just long enough to spin and deliver a sharp kick to the side of Toothless's muzzle.

Rainbow Dash and Coronus froze at the sight of the timid Pegasus. Raven was behind them, trying to look inconpsicious as she stared. Fluttershy snorted, head lowered. Toothless was still speechless from her attack.

"I loved you!" She screamed, tears starting to run down her face. "I loved you and... and you left me! Your memory made me abandon my own son!"

"I did nothing! I went home, and so did you!" Toothless countered, bruise showing on his scales.

Rainbow Dash tried to cover Coronus's ears and hide his eyes, but he pushed her away, gently. She withdrew.

Coronus stood up, avoiding brushing against his father's chin. "Mom? Dad?"

They both fell silent, looking towards him. Both of their faces were calm.

He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I know I'm turning into a dragon. It's not anyone's fault, and there's nothing you can do. Either of you. Please, fighting won't make it any better." As he spoke, his fur continued to fall off, his muzzle shortened, his tail grew heavier and his mane withdrew. He switched to thought-speak. "I... I know it's coming, and... and I read up on it. My magic can't sustain speech much longer. I... I love you both... I love all of you..."

The rest of his fur fell off, revealing glittering scales and bright eyes. The last of his feathers landed at his side. He started to back away. "I... I have to leave... I don't want to hurt you..."

"Coronus! You don't have to go!" Raven cried out, running in front. "You could stay here..."

But the young dragon was already running away, feathers spiralling around in his wake.

Fluttershy was the first to move. Falling to her knees, she let out a heart-wrenching cry. Rainbow Dash struggled to withhold tears as she comforted the Pegasus. Raven hadn't moved from the path, her flanks heaving with silent sobs. Toothless slowly got to his feet and padded away, wings dragging on the ground.

Coronus skidded to a stop, snapping his wings shut. Was this home?

The streets were empty, barren. He couldn't read Ponytongue any more, couldn't understand the letters scrawled on posters that hung around. The scribbles were just that. Scribbles. Coronus sat down in the main plaza. It was so, so quiet. Like death had already come and gone.

Coronus bared his teeth and strained, forcing his magic into shapes, ghostly ponies that began walking around the square, talking and going about their days. He forced them into noise, into shape, into clarity, illusions of life awakening all around him. He stopped, panting, morphed versions of his pony friends running about. Wincing against the instantaneous headache, he stumbled into Sugarcube Corner, past the illusions of Mr. and Mrs. Cake and collapsed on Pinkie's old bed. Shivering against the exertion, he closed his eyes and fell into an uneasy sleep.

The orbs...

The orbs were flying... away...

He was... falling...

Alternate Ending

Silence.
Silence and darkness.
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...
...

"H-h-help! S-someone, please, help!"

"Is someone there? Keep talking, we need to hear you! Where are you?"

"I don't know *cough* I can't... I can't see!"

"Sit tight. We're on our way."

Suddenly, the blanket of darkness lifted. A stallion, middle-aged and wearing a heavy leather siut and oxygen mask. His face was hidden. All of him was hidden.

The filly didn't resist the oxygen mask strapped onto her muzzle. She took a long, deep breath, the pressure on her chest not yet subsided. The air was thick with smoke and dust. Small fires burned where candles had tipped over or lamps had broken. A team of ponies flew water from the pond, slowly putting them out.

This place... where was it? She couldn't remember ever seeing anything like it. All dusty and broken. Wait.

A giant cupcake.

THE giant cupcake.

Sugarcube Corner? Than this was...

Ponyville? Her Ponyville?

Her rescuer, the stallion was still standing behind her.

"My friends! My friends were here too! Have you found them?"

"We have four confirmed. Near the forest. They've been waiting for you."

A dirty blue Pegasus was collasped on the ground, rainbow mane in knots and good chunks missing. She was breathing.

A black mare, wings extended slightly in sleep. Also breathing.

Herself, dirtied but alive, pink mane in some state and pale yellow fur coated in mud.

A dragon, snoring almost peacefully, his bulk covering most of the clear ground. Also breathing.

Fluttershy sobbed to herself. The fourth found...

The stallion galloped up. He kicked off his potective jacket, keeping the mask on for safety. The dark red coat was met with a golden mane and a green apple cutiemark. Without a word, Big Macintosh let Fluttershy aside, past rubble and dirt and mud and fire, over to a small group of ponies.

As they approached, the group moved aside. There was a matress, hauled out from the destruction. A blacket, thick and white and embroidered with small blue clouds. That was his blanket. or at least, it used to be...

Fluttershy spread her wings to hide the matress. Gently pulling back the blanket's edge, she saw a rounded muzzle, eyes closed in peace, young ears short and round.

She gently licked her son's head, eyes closed as tears ran down her cheeks and onto the scales below.

A heartbeat.

"...Momma?"