The Alicorn Who Knew Nothing

The Alicorn Who Knew Nothing

Chapter 6

The Winds Of Change To The Past

‘knock..knock..knock’

“Who is it…?”

“It’s me Circus, you about ready for the show?”

“Just…Just give me a minute Circus. Why don’t you go get Martha and her snakes warmed up for her act first?”

“…Alright Ridge, I’ll be back in five minutes…so be ready.”

Ridge heard circus trot away from the entrance of his cart, no doubt headed down to the snake pit where he was sure to be getting Martha and her gaggle of snakes prepared for this evenings crowd. Ridge was sitting at a small vanity table slowly and methodically brushing down his wings, It was just a habit he had formed over the past several months. All the moving around from town to town had taken its toll on his mind.

“Will I ever find her…”

Ridge then slowly looked up to the locket he had hung off the side of the mirror.

‘Have you seen this mare’

He had seen it written on the posters he had put up over and over again, in all the cities Circus’s circus had been to over the past few months. Fillydelphia, Baltimare, Van Hoover, Los Pegasus, and now they were about done with Dodge City. They had to do one more show tonight then they could move on to the next town. Ridge looked back into his mind, and contemplated over all that had happened since they left Manehatten.

Things had started off great for Ridge, settling down able to concentrate on the book he had gotten the night they left Manehatten. Said book was still in his possession, tucked away in a trunk somewhere, he had read it cover to cover three times within the first week of traveling. He had learned all that there was to learn in the book, and getting any other books that would advance his abilities was something of a challenge. He did get lucky once, they had passed through a small town that he couldn’t remember the name of, on their way to Los Pegasus and he had found a rather strange library nestled inside a tree.

‘For such a small town the library had been very well stocked with books’ he mused.

‘ I still can’t believe they let a baby dragon run a library, he could burn down everything inside the tree-house library. Of course the dragon had said his caretaker was out for just the day to visit somepony, but still it was dangerous.’

He knew he should return that book as well, but he had decided if they ever did pass through that town again he would return it. That book turned out to be the best thing he could ask for in learning magic, because whoever owned it had taken the time to elaborate complicated spells with notes and explanations written inside the book itself. With this book he had learned teleportation spells, matter transmutation, and even how to turn animals into fruit. Ridge couldn’t see how that would ever be useful to anypony, but the owner thought it was good enough to use apparently because they had berated about trying it only in seclusion away from distractions.

‘I wonder if that would make animals cannibals then?’ Ridge thought comically.

“Alright I need to find that stupid saddle now.” Ridge said aware that he had to be getting ready before Circus returned.

He trotted over to a chest in the corner and began rummaging inside it looking for said saddle.

“No not under there…Maybe inside…nope…AH HA!!!”

He pulled the saddle from underneath the pile of knickknacks and suddenly remembered the cloak that was to go on first.

“Now where in celestia’s plot did that thing go…?”

Ridge finally found the cloak lying on the armchair, invisible because of it’s color changing magic. He secured the cloth around his midsection and watched as it slowly faded into the golden color of his fur.

‘that’s still creepy as buck’ he thought.

That thought cast aside ridge then proceeded to secure the saddle firmly on top of the cloak to finish his so called transformation. He stepped back from the mirror to admire his handiwork, and satisfied with what he saw he unlocked the door with his yellow tinted magic and stepped outside.

“AH!! Almost forgot the most important thing.” Ridge then jumped back inside, ran over to his vanity, then grabbed the locket and secured it around his neck.

Double checking his ponyself a final time he trotted out the door and locked it with his magic.

“Right, let’s go see what Martha has got planned for tonight.” With his destination set he started trotting toward the other side of the circus.

Ever since Martha had joined the circus she had persuaded Ridge to start taking part in the actual acts instead of just watching from behind the curtains. He had refused the idea at first, but starting out with small things like being an assistant, or feeding the animals Martha had turned him into a regular presence on the stage. If it hadn’t been for her never would have found out that he had a knack for tightrope walking. Martha and her pet snakes were setting up on the south side of the circus, closest to the tent so that she wouldn't have to travel far with her snakes whenever she was done with her act. As Ridge trotted up closer to her he couldn't see Circus anywhere in sight and wondered if he had stopped anywhere else before coming here, so he decided to ask Martha if she had seen him.

“Hey, Martha have you seen Circus recently?”

“AHH!!!...Ridge don’t scare me like that geez. And yes I did.” Martha said surprised.

Martha was a short brown pony who had dyed her mane and tail a very bright shade of neon green. She had said that it was to make her ‘fit in’ with today’s youth, but had revealed to ridge, one night after a few too many mugs of cider. That it was because she was tired of everypony not being able to see her because they said that she blended into the background too much.

“Would you care to elaborate as to when you saw Circus, Ms. Neon mane?” Ridge said with a smirk.

He knew that she hated that nickname, but he decided to poke fun at her.

“Stop calling me that, or would you like me to tell everypony your secret…?”

“Your bluffing….”Ridge said grinning like a mad pony.

“Alright you brought this on yourself…” She said preparing to yell.

“HEY EVERYPONY, RIDGE HAS A CRUSH…”

Several heads turned toward the pair, but after several slight chuckles they all went back to milling about their business.

“You satisfied about telling everypony about something they already know?”

“Yep, sure am” After this she stuck her tongue out for emphasis.

“But for serious, are you ever going to actually ask this mare of yours out or what?”

Ridge rolled his eyes at the mare in front of him, and decided for the umpteenth time to tell her that he didn’t even know who or where she was.

“I honestly don’t know who she even is; Her picture is the only thing I have from before the accident, that’s the only reason I even ask if anypony has seen her. So I can find out who I was before the accident.”

“Yea, yea I’ve seen how you look whenever someone gives you a lead as to who she is. I also see how sad it makes you whenever you find out that lead goes nowhere.” Martha said with a smile as Ridge’s face blushed crimson.

“W..well it’s only because I have never met her before. Now are you going to tell me when you saw Circus or am I going to have to find him myself.” Ridge had grown tired of Martha’s accusations, and he just wanted to find circus so they could get tonight over with.

“He was talking to some event planner or somepony like that last time I saw him.” Martha said as she turned around gathering the last of her supplies for tonight’s show.

“Do you know where?” Ridge said flatly.

“By the entrance to the tent the last time I saw.” Martha said starting to walk away.

“come with me and we can kill two parasprites with one stone. You get to see circus, and I get some company before the show.”

“Alright, but tonight don’t let your snakes into the audience, we almost got a lawsuit last time you did that little trick.”

“My snakes are perfectly harmless, they wouldn’t hurt a fly! Don’t think that I can’t handle them.” Martha said angrily.

“Hey, I never said you couldn’t handle them, but just please don’t try to give anypony else a heart attack. Please?” Ridge said trying to defend his ponyself.

“Alright, but it was pretty funny that night. Everypony running around like mad.” Martha was grinning like a mad pony now, and Ridge wished she didn’t have such an appetite for chaos.

“Martha, I swear you would give discord a run for his money…”

“Discord…Who?” Martha asked with a confused expression.

“Ugh, he’s the god of chaos and disharmony. You of all ponies should know about him.”

“Listen smarty pants, I don’t read books all day like you do.” Martha said rolling her eyes. As they finished their conversation they came to stop in front of a massive tent in which the excited voices of many ponies could be heard. Through the flaps of the opening Ridge could see the main stage had been set up in the middle, and he could just barely see the far end of the tent where there was another entrance just the same as the one they were currently standing at.

“See he’s over there by the ticket booth, now you can go chat it up with him before he gets started. Well I’m going in, Circus said to be ready by the time he’s ready to start so bye.” And with that Martha slipped beneath the tents flaps to set up her act.

Ridge turned left toward the ticket booths where Circus was standing with a very tall stallion that was wearing a black suit, and to Ridge it seemed that whatever they were talking about Circus was very excited about it. But, before Ridge could close enough to the strange stallion to talk to him, he and Circus finished their conversation and he turned around and trotted away.

“Who was that Circus?” Ridge asked.

“OH MY GODDESS!!! You will never guess Ridge.” Circus exploded out.

“Um,… I’m going to guess that was the event scheduler who owns the next location we’re going to set up at?”

Circus’s face fell flat at what Ridge had said, and Ridge figured he had hit the nail on the head.

“Wha…how did you know that?” Circus asked flabbergasted.

“Ha, Martha said you were talking to some event planner, so I figured that it was about which city we’re moving to. So, what is the next city on the agenda anyway?”

Circus seemed to think about this for a moment, and then said slowly as he chose his words carefully.

“It’s a place that will take us to the top, if we can pull it off.”

“But, first we have to get through tonight without a hitch so let’s go!” Circus continued, then proceeded to push Ridge toward the opening in the tent.

“C..CIRCUS…WAIT!!!...”

“WELCOME EVERYPONY, TO THE MAGICAL LAND OF CIRCUS’S CIRCUS!!!”

The introduction Circus always gave to the crowd made Ridge roll his eyes at his friend.

‘show off ‘ he thought.

“NOW TO BEGIN OUR MAGICAL EVENING I GIVE YOU THE TIGHTROPE WALKING RIDGE THE UNICORN!!!”

The spotlight that was on the ground turned skyward toward the roof of the tent then settled on a yellow shape, Ridge was perched on a small platform that overlooked the main stage and all the ponies below. The platform currently was connected to a similar platform across the tent by a single half hoof width wide.

‘Alright your only one inch above the ground’

Slowly ridge stood up on two hooves and with delicate movements, put one hoof on the wire. He didn’t dare look down to the gasping crowd below, that would be certain doom.

‘One inch…one inch…one inch’ hoof after hoof Ridge painstakingly started his march across the wire.

‘One inch…one inch…one inch’ Ridge repeated this over and over in his head, forcing his brain to think it was true.

After what felt like several agonizing hours, Ridge felt his hooves connect with the other platform and looked down at his feet to be sure.

‘perfect’ he thought.

With a smile graced across his lips Ridge turned to the crowd and gave a celebratory bow to show that he was alright.

Everypony cheered toward him and Ridge felt his pride swell at all the hooves clapping for him.

“AND FOR OUR NEXT ACT WE HAVE MARTHA THE SNAKE CHARMER!!!”

Being this high up Ridge felt he was safe from the snakes should they decide to escape.

‘not that Martha would ever let them escape’ Ridge sat there high above the circus stage and watched all of the acts that night. After every pony performance Ridge would applaud their perfect performance.

Only after the circus was completed and only a few ponies were still milling about in the stands did Ridge decide to teleport down to the ground. In a bright amber flash Ridge appeared next to Circus who was gathering up his papers from the night of announcing everypony and their acts. With a startled yelp Ridge jumped into the air very nearly knocking over his stack of papers that sat precariously on the edge of his desk.

“D..Don’t do that Ridge!!! You know how I hate that!”

“HAHA! That’s exactly why I do it Circus. I love to see you jump.” Ridge then stuck his tongue at Circus who was glaring back at him.

“Just calm down Circus, I’m poking fun at you.”

Circus’s expression softened slightly at hearing his friend apologize.

“It’s fine Ridge, let’s just get everything wrapped up for tonight.”

“Ok…but before I go will you tell me what is the next town were going to.”

Circus’s face changed into one of thought before he said

“I want to tell everypony at once, so it’ll be more of a surprise.”

Ridge scrunched his nose in disappointment before he got an idea in his head. Suddenly Ridge jumped forward and grabbed the microphone Circus had used that night for his announcements, he then flipped the switch to power on the speakers and in a squeal of feedback he tapped on the end to make sure it was in fact on.

“Hey Everypony, Circus has a very important announcement he would like to make, Regarding our next venue that we will be performing at!”

Circus proceeded to wrestle the microphone from his grip and give him a death glare that made him think

‘I’m definitely going to pay for that’

As everypony present inside the tent stopped to turn and look at Circus, he announced

“As my friend Ridge here so gladly announced, I have spoken with a pony who is in charge of planning important and political recreational activities…”

With a final glance back toward Ridge, Circus turned back toward the ponies to finish his announcement.

“…We have been invited to perform for the princesses in a celebration located in Canterlot.”

Wild cheers and hoots were heard from all around the tent, all except two ponies were cheering and one of those ponies was about to lose his mind.

‘C..Canterlot…’ Ridge Thought.

His eyes had shrunk to the size of pinpricks.

‘N..No…no..no..noooooo….’

Suddenly Ridge felt a hoof on his shoulder.

“Ridge I was going to wait, so I could tell you in private.”

“C..Canterlot…” was all he could say.

“It’s going to be alright Ridge. Nothing is going to happen. I promise.” Circus tried to comfort his friend.

“C..C..Can’t…”

That was all Ridge could muster before the world around him went black and his snout decided to meet the floor of the tent.

“Well… that could have gone better…”