The Alicorn Who Knew Nothing

The Alicorn Who Knew Nothing

Chapter 12

Seeds Of Deception

Princess Cadence trotted down the corridor in silence, she had a few questions she wanted to ask somepony. Ever since Ridge had shown up at the castle she had noticed that Celestia had been far too relaxed about the whole new ‘Alicorn in Equestria’ situation. Her reaction at the fair, in the Throne room with those two circus ponies, and during dinner were too…

‘perfect’ was the only word she could think of that seemed appropriate.

Cadence had a suspicion that Celestia knew more about Ridge than she was telling. So as she quietly rounded a corner that led out into the main garden, she quickly made sure nopony was around and flew into the nighttime sky. She had one destination in mind, and if Cadence knew this pony as well as she thought, she would be in the castle’s observatory.

The heat from the midday sun beat down on Ridge’s wings and back. He had been trotting through this field of strange flowers all day and his hooves were starting to get sore. He was starting to grow desperate as well, he was extremely thirsty and hadn’t seen any water all day. If he couldn’t find anything to drink soon he felt as though he was going to die from dehydration. As he kept on marching past each row of flowers, he swore he could hear a whispering noise wafting past his ears. Deciding that it must be the wind Ridge tried to ignore the sound, but the longer he went on the louder it seemed to get. After what felt like hours of this constant whispering, he finally crested a hill and gasped at what lay far off in the distance.

‘Water!”

Ridge broke into a full gallop down the hill toward the oasis. Now he was practically yelling at how happy now that he had found water. A short minute later he finally came up to the little oasis and stared down into the blue water.

“Oh how happy I am to see you!” he yelled at his reflection in the water.

As he lowered his snout down to the water’s edge he opened his mouth expecting the cold water to flood into his mouth, but instead all he got was a mouthful of sand.

“Ack…Whg…hgf!!”

Ridge stumbled back coughing loudly, and spitting sand left and right. After a minute to get all the sand out of his mouth Ridge looked back at the water trying to figure out what had went wrong.

“No…” He said watching the oasis fade away until all that was left was a circle of sand.

“No…No,NO,NO!!”  Ridge said beginning to slam his hooves into the ground.

“A Mirage! All this time it was a Mirage!” He yelled into the sky.

Falling over into a pile of flowers he huffed loudly wondering if he was going to get out of this field alive

“I guess this is how I die…” He said solemnly to the waving flower in front of his face.

“If you want something to drink, why didn’t you just ask?” The flower whispered to him.

Ridge’s head snapped away from the seemingly innocent flower.

“D..Did you just talk?” He said rolling over onto his stomach.

“Why yes I did! Now do you want some water?” The purple flower said in a strangely familiar feminine voice.

The purple flower wiggled back and forth in a sweeping motion causing Ridge to become almost hypnotized by its movement. After shaking his head vigorously trying to clear his head he composed himself enough to think of a question.

“Um? Sure I guess, but you’re a flower how can you get me water?”

“Like this!” the flower yelled loudly.

Suddenly the flower began to wiggle faster, and in a flash of purple magic Ridge found several dozen water bottles floating around himself and the flower.

“H..How did you do that?” Ridge asked with wide eyes.

“It’s magic silly.” The flower said moving back into its normal waving motions.

“Well whatever it is thank you, thank you so much.” He said grabbing one of the bottles.

After staring at the bottle to make sure it was real, he removed the lid and gulped down its contents. Quickly grabbing another bottle trying to sate his thirst, he made quick work of it also and moved onto the rest of the bottles around himself. Only after he had drunk all of the water did he realize he hadn’t even learned the name of his purple savior. Loudly giving a self-satisfied belch Ridge scooted along the ground and brought his snout close to the flower.

“Thank you for the water…um…What’s your name?”

“um…You can call me Sunset!” The flower said.

“Sunset?” Ridge asked confused.

“Yea I just thought of it what do you think?”

Ridge stared at the flower unsure of how to respond.

"Uh, it’s a fine name. But if you can magically make water, will you help me get home, I seem to be lost?” Ridge said truthfully.

“Well sure thing Ridge, all you have to do is close your eyes and relax.”

“That’s it?”

“Yea Ridge, I can send you back home all you have to do is lie down on your side and go to sleep!” Sunset said practically vibrating from excitement.

Ridge stared at Sunset wondering if this was a trick, or if she really wanted to help.

“How do I know if this is some sort of trick to get me to…um… I don’t know …lay down so you can eat me or something?”

“Ridge I’m a flower, I don’t even have a mouth. Now it’ll be alright I promise, just trust me okay?” Sunset said wiggling.

“Alright.” He said lying down on his side closing his eyes.

“Now just think calm thoughts while I prepare the spell.” Ridge heard.

"I can’t think you enough Sunset, you’re the best flower a pony could ask for.”

“Don’t thank me Ridge I was just being a good friend. I’m the one who should be thanking you; you actually stopped to talk to me. Most ponies I try to talk to just run away, you’re the first one who actually stayed here with me.”

Ridge opened his eyes to look at Sunset’s face.

“Well you’re a good friend yourself, I’m sure if those ponies had gotten to know you they would agree with me.”

“Aw, thanks Ridge.” Sunset said turning away from him trying to hide a blush.

After a quick moment to compose herself she turned back to face Ridge.

“The spell is ready, now just close your eyes and keep them closed okay?”

“Okay Sunset, I promise to keep them closed.”

Ridge closed his eyes and rested his head on the ground waiting for sunset to cast the spell. After a moment he began to wonder what it would feel like. Would it hurt, would it tingle, be cold, or would it leave a taste in his mouth. Ridge slowly let his mind wander while he lay there waiting on Sunset, if it did have a taste would it be strawberry, blueberry, or maybe his favorite apple. Maybe when he got back he could get some apples, or even an apple pie if he was lucky.

“Goodbye Ridge….I love you.” Sunset said touching his horn.

Ridge was too far lost in his own thoughts to fully understand what she had said to him, so he said the first thing that came into his head.

“Bye…I love you too.”

Ridge went back to wondering what type of pie he was going to have for a snack, and after deciding that it would be an apple pie with ice cream, sprinkles, and orange juice he realized that something was off. The warmth of the sun no longer was on his wings, but it was now against his belly and legs. Opening his eyes he noticed that he was no longer in a field but was back in his bed, snout to snout with Twilight. Realizing that his limbs were now free Ridge quickly scooted back toward his side of the bed and rubbed his eyes trying to wake himself up. Looking back toward Twilight Ridge realized that he must have been dreaming all of that weird stuff that had just happened to him.

‘Talking flowers my hoof, that’s just crazy’

Wanting to get some fresh air he quietly got out of the bed and went out to the balcony. As he came out into the night air he took a moment to clear his mind of the dream he had just had.

“Well I’m sure anypony has had weirder dreams than that.” He said to the stars.

As he looked out over the castle grounds he saw that only a few ponies could be seen making their midnight runs to wherever they needed to be. Following the wall that marked the border of the castle Ridge found the large waterfall that ran just outside the main gate and over the edge of the mountain. Even from this much of a distance he could hear the thunderous splashing of the water on the rocks. Realizing he wasn’t going back to sleep anytime soon he decided that a walk around the waterfall would be relaxing. So giving one last glance back toward the sleeping form in the bed he stretched his wings and leaped from the balcony.

‘I’m sure she’ll be fine now’ Ridge thought.

Angling his wings downward he started his decent toward the base of the castle.

After making sure both Twilight and Ridge were asleep Luna jumped from the balcony and made her way skyward toward the observatory. Quickly making her way through an open window she landed behind a large telescope that was currently in use by her sister.

“All is well my sister, thine student and Ridge are asleep.” Luna said to celestia.

“Good, did you make sure they were having pleasant dreams tonight?” Celestia said without looking away from the ocular device.

“Of course, dreams are my domain after all.” Luna said siting down beside Celestia.

“I swear Luna ponies do the weirdest things when they think nopony is looking. I’m looking at a pony who is actually dancing down the streets on their way home.” Celestia said moving away from the lens.

“It is very bad for a ruler such as thine self Tia to be spying on other ponies.” Luna said rolling her eyes at her sisters antics.

“Oh lighten up Luna, it’s not spying it’s preemptive ruling.” Celestia said sticking her tongue out at Luna.

“Whatever you say Tia, you may retire for the evening I shall resume watching the night time sky now.”

“Thank you Luna, I bid you good night then.” Celestia began trotting away toward the exit ready to return to her bedroom, but before she was able to exit the observatory she wanted to know something.

“What dreams did you give Twilight and Ridge?” She said without turning around.

“Oh, Ridge I stuck out in a desert, where flower that looks like twilight admits he is her only friend. Twilight’s dream is where you send her on a test to find some book made of yellow feathers.” Luna said moving the telescope up towards the stars.

“What no saving a princess in peril? No knight is shining armor? I think you have lost your touch Luna.” Celestia said smiling.

“Subtly is key Tia, when dealing with matters of the heart one cannot force love it has to come naturally.” Luna said looking across the room at Celestia.

“As long as you know what you’re doing Luna, we can’t afford to mess this up. Now goodnight it’s been a long day.” Celestia then quietly left the Observatory and made her way back to her room.

Unknown to both of the princesses a certain pink pony was currently hovering behind an open window. Quietly flying away from the window she was shocked at what she had just heard.

‘What are you two up to.’ She thought as she made her way toward the Waterfalls of the city.

She had to get to the bottom of this.