Waking Eyes

Chapters

The Story Begins
Books and Apples
Muffins and Quiet Ones
Been too long...
Oppisites Attract
Drinking in my past
The Party
Clouded Pasts
Needle in a Haystack
Memories the Good, Bad and Ugly
Accepting the facts
The Flaw of Sleep
Doubtful thinking
False Assumptions
Everypony's Biting
Perfume and Rainbows
The Cruelty of Magic

The Story Begins

The story begins

"Run! Get Out As Fast As You Can!"

That was the line that made this pegasus awake every night; night after night, a reoccurring dream of his past. One that he could never forget.

This pegasus wore a dark gray coat, with a mane that was ruffled. His mane was two shades of red, the lighter of the shades being at the bottom of his mane. His eyes were a darker pink color, which was more than the normal eye can see. His rump was potentially blank, for he never found his talent. He never looked for it either. He didn't care for cutie marks, friends, or happiness. His mind was as gray as his coat. The Pegasus sleeping in behind a hollow tree in the Everfree forest only dwelled on the past.

"Why do I constantly awaken there?" the pegasus thought out loud "What happens afterward? I just want to know what happens."

Upon saying that, he smelt something; the breath of a timber wolf, no doubt. The colt looked up and saw it, standing a little ways ahead of him. The pegasus simply stood up. The timber wolf then charged, but was quickly stopped. With no emotion at all, the pegasus simply shattered the beast with a dash of his left hoof.

"It isn't nice to disturb ponies when they’re busy" the pegasus said, not moving what-so-ever from the spot of the shattering. "Maybe, you will remember this, after what I have just taught you." He then continued down the trail he had been following, before he had fallen asleep.

It was night time; the pegasus preferred this. He could get traveling a lot faster if no pony knew he had ever been there. He didn't know where he was going as long as it was far away for the place in his dreams.

The trail he followed led him to a placed called Ponyville. As the pegasus went through the road to the edge of Ponyville, he remembered his mother. He remembered the stories she told, about the places, about the ponies, about the happy times there.

The pegasus felt like he should find out if these stories were true. If a pink pony was truly a party pony, the best parties were said to be thrown by this one. If a rainbow-maned pegasus could really do a sonic rainboom; if, he really had family here.

He stopped at the edge of Ponyville, waiting for his mind to decide whether to prove these or not. He was split into two pieces.

One half, his brain and stomach, told him to go past Ponyville disregarding all the things he heard about it. His heart, however, told him this is what he was looking for. The pegasus never had to decide something like this. So, having such a hard choice, he decided to wait till morning. He didn't expect to fall asleep.

The same dream reoccurred, the dream of his past. He was a foal, in his room and couldn’t sleep. Then loud crashes came from down the hall. He heard his father yell something, but couldn’t understand it fully. The pegasus opened the door, and looked down the hall towards his parent’s room. After a second, He heard his father yell, then his mother. He ran down the hall and peeked into his parent's room to see his mother face down on the floor bleeding from some places. The young foal went to push the door open, but his mother's head rose to see her baby and the monster standing above her. The father of the young foal was nowhere to be seen.

"Mom..." The poor foal whispered, as he saw the evil monster slowly raise their blade.

"Run! Get out as fast as you can!" the mother yelled. The dream ended suddenly after the blade came down, right before contact.

The pegasus quickly sat up and yelled. He couldn't breathe, his chest hurt intensely and his eyes were watery. The dream hadn't had this effect in a long time. It was painful, more emotional than physical. His body was used to pain externally, but on the inside it was soft and could be hurt easily. But what hurt most was something he had forgotten or lost. The rest of his dream, not telling him what happened next, he didn't understand how he didn't know himself. He wanted to know if he tried to help his mother, or if he listened to her. He could have done either of those things, the pegasus just didn't know.

After he recovered he noticed that the sun was just rising. He didn't realize he was just watching the sun rise, until he could fully see it. The pegasus stood up on all four, and yawned tiredly. After a few minutes of deep thinking about the stories again, he continued into Ponyville.

He trotted through Ponyville, until he saw one of the places in the stories, Sugarcube Corner. He smiled at the building made of sweets, and thought about entering. Then he also thought he might want to get some bits first. As he turned to walk away to explore some more, he heard someone gasp. He turned, only to be crushed by a pink blur.

"Ooh, a pony has come to visit Ponyville!" The pink one said, "You must be new, because I don't know you, and I know everypony in Ponyville." The pink pony started to laugh. "Do you like Ponyville? I mean, I know I like the look of Sugarcube Corner. I saw you smile as you looked at it, so I also know you like sweets..."

The pegasus was just trying to compute with what was happening, but the pink one's speed with words was crazy. "Hey, um, do you mind not crushing me? I can answer all your questions when I can breathe." He said, trying to be polite, but also trying to breathe. As the pink pony hopped off him as he sat up, knowing he was stuck talking to this hyper pony until she was happy. "Yes, this is my first time visiting Ponyville. I like the looks of it, but you can never be sure until you move in."

That was a mistake. "You're staying? Great!" the pink one said, as if knowing he planned to just pass through. "That means we need to throw a party!" The pink one gasped.

The word "party" hit the pegasus, hard. This pink pony was the legendary party pony. How he didn't see it moments ago, he didn't know. Her mark was balloons, and that basically sealed it.

"So you are the legendary partier." He said with a smile, "My mother told me stories about you, and your fantastic parties, even as a filly." It was his turn now to go the offensive and continue talking. "She said that you knew every pony, and that you always had parties for the occasional staying ones. It brings me joy to know the pony that made my mother one of the happiest fillies in the world. Thank you, may I ask for your name?" He finished his turn and expected an earful.

"My name is Pinkie Pie, and yours is?" Pinkie Pie had replied quickly. This surprised the pegasus, not expecting instant return of fire.

"Ummm... You can call me what you want. I‘m known to have many names to respond to." He said, then realizing the disappointment on Pinkie's face, he sighed and gave in. "My given name is Thunder Flare, but as I said, call me anything."

Hoping that Pinkie didn't call him Thunder, he preferred Flare, if any part of his given name was needed.

"Okie Dokie Lokie, Flare." Pinkie Pie said, seeming to know he didn't like Thunder. Flare was happy with being Flare, and not Thunder. Pinkie then grabbed him and pointed towards Sugarcube Corner, "Tomorrow at noon be there, It's where I work." Flare simply nodded, and Pinkie hopped off, but not before waving goodbye.

"Well, that was... random." Flare said as he continued to stand for a moment and went to explore the rest of Ponyville.

Books and Apples

Flare couldn't help but to smile as he continued through Ponyville. He explored the marketplace, but just to sight-see. He wondered if the other stories were true. Maybe there was a pegasus that could perform the sonic rainboom. He couldn't even imagine what one of those looked like, but for some reason, he didn't believe he really had family here.

His mother was extremely lucky to live here for more than a week. Flare's family never had enough bits to feed all of them; meals had to be skipped mostly to survive. Flare himself was constantly hungry, but it never held him back. He never blamed his family for the cause of hunger, he mostly blamed himself. He cost them so much, including their lives...

Flare's thought were interrupted by a loud crash. He looked in the direction to see the library. He walked to the door and began to peek in.

"Sorry, Twilight." said a grey pegasus with a lazy eye. "I just don't know what went wrong."

"It's okay, Derpy. I just need to rearrange all of these books... again." The unicorn began to sort the books, until she stopped, and looked at Flare. "Can I help you?" she asked politely.

Flare didn't realize the door slowly opened to expose him. "You look like you need it more than I do." Flare said, looking at the amount of books on the floor. "May I help?" he asked.

"Do you know how books are arranged?" Twilight asked. She then glanced at the gray pegasus named Derpy, trying to put a book on the shelf. It was in the wrong spot, and as she turned around to grab another book she knocked several more down. "Derpy, you can go home, this pegasus here will help me clean up."

"Oh..." Derpy became earthbound, and slowly walked towards the door. Flare instantly picked up on Derpy's feelings. Flare stopped her as she began to walk past. He whispered into her ear.

"Hey now, it’s okay, we all have made mistakes. This one is less than minor; Twi and I will have this cleaned up in minutes." Flare looked at the mess taking an estimate at how long they would truly take. "Just go home, enjoy yourself, have some fun."

"Thank you." Derpy whispered back, before taking flight in a way Flare had not seen before. She took off in a way that could be funny, if it was a joke. Flare didn't understand why, but he already looked up to her. Before he could get lost in thought, Twilight interrupted him.

"Hey, you do know how to arrange books, right?" She asked him while using magic to sort through books.

"Of course." Flare lied and began putting books where he believed they should be.

After about ten minutes of book rearranging, they were done. "Thanks for your help." Twilight said happily "Umm, I'm sorry I don't know your name."

"Flare," he hesitated, but then continued "I just walked into Ponyville today. No doubt you know the pony named Pinkie Pie. She said hello in quite a unusual way."

"That's just Pinkie Pie," Twilight was interrupted by a growling noise. She looked at Flare, who was looking at his stomach and holding it tight. "Are you hungry?" she asked, with a hidden scent of worry. Flare knew he was; this was the second day of no food. If you consider eating dirt, grass, and tree bark as food. It was terrible tasting, but he was going to die if he didn't eat it.

"Well, I haven't had breakfast." Flare said, but thought to not add long ago he had breakfast last. Flare decided his personal problems didn’t concern the ponies of Ponyville. At that moment, he thought of his mother, she once said the same to his father.

"No pony needs to know we are this hungry," the flashback started. "We tell Flare that we’re okay, but we know that we are not. But we still can't get any pony involved." Flare's mother said to his father. "Flare gets most of our food, so he doesn't suffer, he shouldn't know how hungry we are." Flare now had looked into his parent's room; he had heard the rest from the hallway. He was hungry, so he awoke and was going to sneak a snack. His mother then hugged his father, "We will not concern any pony about our problems, and we must put hunger aside and take care of Flare."

Flare then ran into his room crying. He was the reason his parents were suffering. He ate at all meals, his parents didn't seem to mind, or at least they hid it too well. Flare knew that he got up to eat, and cried even harder for that. He was taking something the family barely had and was greedily having most of it for his self. He tried to be a good foal, but everything he did was really hurting his mother and father...

"Flare" Twilight said, breaking the flashback "Are you okay?" That is when Flare realized his eyes were watering, on the brink of crying. "How long ago did you eat last?" Twilight demanded to know.

Flare gave in, knowing lying was going to make everything worse. "Two days," Flare knew he was going to have a worried pony in front of him. "But I'll be fine." Flare knew what question came next. "I know I'm fine, this is usual for me." Flare then planned his next move; get out of there. Twilight, however, saw this and stopped him.

"Two days of no food and that is usual? That’s ridiculous! You need to eat, follow me." Twilight opened the door, wrote a note and put it on the table. Flare watched as she then grabbed her saddle bags and started walking out the door. Flare then had to follow.

Flare didn't have a clue where they were headed. Flare didn't mind that he was following some pony that he met about ten minutes ago to an unknown location. He laughed when he put it that way, he was sure Twilight didn't think of it like that. If he was murdered it was his own fault, but he was sure he could escape any trouble.

After a little ways of walking, they were at the entrance to an apple farm, called Sweet Apple Acres. Flare looked at the hundreds of apple trees. He had a guess about what he was going to eat. He knew already Twilight was going to force him to eat.

The two walked into Sweet Apple Acres and an orange pony appeared from inside the barn. She wore a cowpony hat, and her mane was yellow. Her mark was three red apples, Flare wasn’t surprised. Twilight approached her, as Flare decided to lag back a bit.

"Howdy, partner. Who’s this with ya?" She asked Twilight.

"My name is Flare, I'm new to Ponyville." Flare said, "Twilight led me here." He glanced at Twilight, then realizing this was the first he had met formally, he put his hoof out to shake.

"My name's Applejack." AJ taking his hoof and shaking it. For a pony, she sure had a firm grip.

"Applejack, can I talk to you for a moment?" Twilight asked nudging her away from Flare. They went to go have their little private chat that left Flare just sitting there. He could hear them talking but couldn't make out what they were saying. He gave up after a few seconds; he was probably going to hear it in a few minutes anyway. The duo returned a minute later.

"So, you looking for some good food here in Ponyville?" AJ asked, trying to act like it was a normal question.

"Nope," Flare replied "I'm looking more for work, so I can buy the food to survive. I believe that’s what I'm looking for." Flare smirked; there was no way he was being fed for free, that happened to him enough as a foal. He waited to see if they took the hint that he would help around the farm for some food.

"Well either way, we got that here at the farm," AJ said pointing outward. "How bout this? You help me buck some apples, and I'll give you some bits and ya can be on yer way?"

Flare figured it was a good deal, afterward he could visit Sugarcube Corner to try some sweets and maybe see Pinkie. It was funny how at first Pinkie was a little annoying, but now that he thought of it, he enjoyed the conversation he had with her, even if most of it was one-sided.

Twilight said her goodbye and reminded Flare that if he needed a book he just needed to ask. AJ then lead Flare to the apple tree orchard. Flare then realized how many apple trees there actually were.

"Quite a nice orchard you guys have here," Flare commented, "but one question before we begin. How will I be paid, by how many apples I bring in?" Flare asked trying not to sound rude, but he knew it totally was.

"Sure, how bout..." AJ had to think for a moment. "One bit for a hundred apples." AJ seemed to want Flare to really work to earn his bits. He grinned as he put his mind to think about how much he would need for something at Sugarcube Corner.

"Okay, I lied." Flare confessed, AJ looked over at him. "Do you know how expensive things are to eat down at Sugarcube Corner?" He lied when he had told her he only had one question, which had been his second.

"Sugarcube Corner, ay" AJ said with a smile "Have you met Pinkie yet?" AJ just knew the answer already, but she wanted to see Flare's reaction and input.

"Indeed I have, “ Flare chuckled. "When I walked into Ponyville, I didn't expect to be crushed by a bouncing bundle of pure happiness." After a second he added, "Not like I minded it either, I really enjoyed talking to her." Flare had begun to replay his mother's story about Pinkie Pie in his mind. This forced Flare to smile and laugh a little more.

AJ laughed with him "Yep, ya have defiantly met Pinkie Pie.” AJ then remembered Flare's question. "Yea Sugarcube Corner ain't that expensive. Ya'll need to buck, oh, at least eight hundred apples off these trees here." AJ finally answered his question and pointed to the vast ocean of trees.

"When do I start?" Flare said with a smirk, but he knew he would be stuck here for a little while. He tried to calculate about how many apples he could do in an hour. Flare decided to wait till he started bucking to take an estimate.

"When yer heart desires," AJ said "It's simple, buck the apples in these buckets" AJ then set a couple buckets on his back, just like saddlebags, but more wood. "Then, simply put them in that there wagon." AJ pointed to the large wagon. "When you’re done, come get me from the barn and I'll count your apples." After that, AJ returned to the barn.

Flare nodded and walked towards a tree. He looked up and set the buckets on where most of the apples would fall. Then he bucked it as hard as he could, and buckets mostly filled up with apples. As he watched the rest of the apples fall after his buck, one struck him in the head. He picked it up.

"Well, maybe one apple wouldn't hurt…" Flare said as he thought out loud again. He looked in the farm's direction; AJ was nowhere in sight. Flare took a bite from the apple, and it tasted wonderful. This apple was a dream to him; after all, he’d been eating anything to survive, stuff that no normal pony, colt, or even filly would eat. He savored every bite of that apple; he didn't realize that he’d fallen in love until the final bite, where he had to say goodbye to his lover with a tear in his eye. "I'll miss you..." Flare said just to try to be funny even though no pony was listening.

Flare then picked up the buckets and dropped the apples into the wagon. He repeated this process till he felt he had near eight hundred apples. He then took the full wagon and pulled it to the front of the barn and knocked. AJ had appeared behind him instead.

"Well, I see ya be quite eager to get to Sugarcube Corner." AJ said, Flare just turned around his mane and coat now a mess. AJ’s voice didn't surprise him either; he had learned to hear hoof steps a while ago, after his parent’s death. He found it a useful tactic for survival, and spent a lot of time specializing in it. Hoof steps were easy to hear for him; anything else was fair game.

"I really want to try their sweets." Flare replied, knowing that sweets were not fully what he was after. He knew he just wanted to talk to Pinkie Pie again. She makes every pony happy and the pain somewhat forgotten when Flare talked to her. The memory of his mother's pain was covered with his mother's story memories instead. Flare on the outside smiled and grinned all the time trying not to attract any attention. He knew if he acted sad all the time, that every pony would take notice. Pinkie Pie, however, forced a true smile on his face, something that no pony had ever done before.

"Well then, let's get counting." AJ simply stated as she opened the door to the barn. Flare wanted to help her count, but if he messed up the count he would feel bad knowing he lied for a few extra bits he didn't earn.

After thirty minutes, that true apple count came out. "What?" Flare gasped "One thousand one hundred eighty-seven apples! That is ridiculous!" At what rate he worked himself to get that many, Flare thought to his self.

AJ didn't expect that in two hours of bucking. "Well, Ah never expected ya to buck so many." AJ said opening a bag and pulling out a number of bits. She put them in a tiny sack, knowing he didn't have any way of carrying them. She then gave the bag to Flare.

"Thanks," Flare said "If you ever need some help bucking apples you can come find me, I'll gladly help" AJ nodded, as Flare waved goodbye and headed back towards Ponyville.

As he got closer to Sugarcube Corner a very serious question hit him. What was he going to buy? Flare had to sit and think for a moment. "I like cupcakes." Flare said with a satisfied smile, but then changed to a frown "Maybe I should get a muffin instead." His mother sometimes made muffins and they were fantastic. Flare was hoping maybe he could remember the better times then worse ones, when he finally made his choice.

Flare then started his way towards Sugarcube Corner again.

Muffins and Quiet Ones

"Yes, I do have a muffin." Flare said, turning around to see Derpy. If he saw anypony else it would have been extremely awkward, but it was indeed Derpy. "Do you want it?" Flare knew he had another so he had no problem giving Derpy the first one. He held out the muffin for Derpy to take it.

"Oh, muffins. I love these so much." Derpy said taking the muffin from Flare's hoof. Derpy smelled it; Flare couldn't tell if it had the same effect on her as it had on him.

"So I have heard," Flare said, while taking the other muffin out of the bag. "Wanna sit down?" he moved over to make room for her. When Derpy sat; she sat an odd angle and position. This forced Flare to move even more over.

"Have you ever had one of these?" Derpy asked, with a really goofy grin. It made Flare smile; he laughed a little bit, leaning back. When he leaned back, he had fallen off the bench. He hit the ground, and in terror watched as his muffin fell towards the unforgiving ground. Flare reached to catch it, but before he could it hit the ground. He looked at it, and then put his hoof on the ground next to it and laid his head down on his arm.

Flare looked awfully sad that it happened, Derpy noticing this. She put her muffin on the bench and picked up Flare's. He looked up to see Derpy examining it with only one eye, the other appeared to be watching him. She blew on the part that landed on the ground. Dirt and a single blade of tiny grass fell from it. She then wiped it off, and looked at Flare's sad eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling him onto his feet. She handed the muffin to Flare, who smiled and was even more excited to see that it was fine. "All better?" Derpy said, acquiring hers from the bench.

"Yea," Flare said, seeming a little embarrassed that he acted so foalish. But, Derpy fixed it without a problem, like she had been used to it. "Hey Derpy, do you have any fillies or colts?" Flare asked, still looking deep into his muffin.

"Why?" Derpy turned around, wondering why the question came from nowhere.

"Because, you seem like a good mother. The way you just handled it, like it was nothing. I would have let it sit there for minutes before eating it over depression," Flare laughed, but knew it was true. "It would have been funny to most, but you saw it as a problem that needed to be fixed."

"I have a filly" Derpy confessed "but I didn't give her life. I found her in a box on the side of the road in ditch. I heard crying, and to my surprise a filly appeared when I opened the box." Flare's thoughts went crazy. Derpy had saved a filly, which most likely would have died if she hadn't. If she lived, her life would have been like Flare's with no doubt. "I took her home and fell in love with her. She’s my little muffin." Flare smiled.

"Found her with no family?" Flare said. "Lucky, I was never found, but she was really young wasn't she?" Flare asked; he could easily guess yes. Flare felt terrible for her, she must have been so afraid. He knew he was left all alone. He ran as far as he could. One of Flare memories came back to him, one he had ditched a few years ago.

It had been a day since his parent’s death. He was going insane, having crazy thoughts that it was his fault that his parents had died. "Mother! Why?! I'm sorry, I can't live without you!” He screamed in the fields, where he had ran from his parent's murderer. He looked back in the direction where the house was. He sprinted as fast as he could towards the house.

When he got there he was completely out of breath, but like he cared. Flare ran up to his room, and inside it looked it hadn't been touched since the night of terrible pain. He hadn't eaten in ten hours, he felt weak, too weak to continue. Flare thought about letting his starvation kill him quietly, then he could join his parents. He took a picture off the shelf. He had drawn it; it was a picture of Flare and his parents, all smiling and having a great time. Flare cried as he ripped it into as many pieces he could.

Flare saw his school saddlebags in the corner; he went to them and duped them out. He stuffed his favorite stuffed puppy in one of them; he looked for anything else personal to him. He saw a picture of him and his family on his third birthday. It was framed and relatively small, Flare begin to cry harder as he stuck it into his saddlebag next to the stuffed animal. His body felt as if it was being torn apart, it hurt so much. But that pain was sufferable and that isn't what made him cry so much. His parents death was what so painful, it hurt him physically.

Flare took a few other things that were important to him, making his saddlebags overweighed on one side. He ran to the kitchen and started putting food in the other side of his saddlebag. When this food ran out he knew he would have to scavenge and starve. He figured he would have about two weeks if rationed correctly. The tears hadn't stopped since he entered the house. He saw something that made him die inside. It was the necklace his father gave to his mother when he married her. Flare picked it up and clutched it tightly, and put it into his saddlebag. Flare knew that they were gone, but he had to say goodbye. He continued to his parent’s room and opened the door. Flares mother lay dead on the floor and his father in the corner, both with terrible cuts and dried blood in their coats. He walked up to his mother's dead body.

"G-G-Goodnight, m-mother," Flare said hugging, crying and kissing the lifeless body. He was crying so much he could see at all. "Sleep well..." He managed to say before crying into her shoulder. Flare stayed like this for five minutes, crying nonstop. He then stood, and wiped his eyes enough to see his father, dead in the corner. He walked to towards him.

"And... Goodnigh..." Flare started, but couldn't get it out a second time. He hugged his dead body and put his head on his father’s chest. "F-Father, sleep w-well." He whispered; barely able to hear through all the tears and whimpering from Flare. He couldn't take it; he screamed like he was getting murdered. Flare wouldn't have cared to die at that moment, if he took a sword through the heart, it wouldn't hurt considering it was already dead to him.

Flare then left the room, but not before looking back and saying, "I-I'm sorry... That I wasn't good enough..." Flare had to pause for a moment. "I couldn't h-help you..." Flare again couldn't see through all the tears in his eyes. He just ran for the door, and opened it and ran. Ran as fast as he could, Flare couldn't take it anymore if he was in there one more second; he might have killed himself.

Flare just ran, to nowhere, running as fast as he could.

Flare didn't know if he was crying at all, and he was crying pretty badly too. Derpy had to stop him from crying, she couldn't help but to wonder what Flare had gone through. She wanted to ask, but she didn't think Flare could handle telling her the whole thing. Derpy hugged Flare.

"Shhh, everything will be okay," Derpy said, wiping tears from Flare eyes, "It'll be fine, you done good so far, It will work out, you'll see." Derpy took the muffin from Flare's hoof and peeled off the wrapping. "Here, eat this." Derpy said softly, holding it close to his mouth.

Flare took it from Derpy and took a small bite. It was delicious, just like his mother's he had tasted many years before. He had lost everything in those saddlebags except for his mother's necklace; that was in a special spot. But here in Ponyville he found something from his mother that he had lost, her muffins taste. One more tear appeared in his eye, while eating it. Derpy knew to let this tear fall.

"I'm sorry Derpy, I'm just really happy to hear that you did that." Flare apologized, "You would think every pony would do that, but you would be surprised." Flare needed to let Derpy know about a little of his past. "Only one pony helped me, three years after what had happened, one pony that was only a year older." Flare was talking about the one who had his mother's necklace; when Flare had a safe spot for it he could retrieve it.

Derpy was indeed surprised. "Well, I'm different," Derpy said, "In many ways." Flare knew that her eyes pointed different directions, her voice was a bit different and she was the only one Flare knew that could care for a stranger so much. The moon had risen at this point, and Flare kind of wanted to sleep after a day like this.

"Derpy, thanks for eating muffins with me. But, I need to go, I need to find or make a safe place to sleep tonight." Flare said quieter than normal, like he was trying not to wake some pony. "Plus, I think you need to get back to your muffin," Flare smiled, "I'll see you around, Derpy." Flare waved and made his towards Everfree Forest.

Flare had a weird feeling in his chest after leaving Derpy. It wasn't painful or anything like that, but he had never felt it. Flare hoofed his face after sitting and thinking for a moment. But he kind of didn't believe it. He had fallen in love with Derpy. Flare felt that wasn't right, he having a crush on Derpy was as far as he was willing to accept. Flare's body didn't care what Flare accepted, it knew the truth.

Flare made it halfway to the Everfree when he spotted a pony having trouble with a broken saddlebag. He trotted over to the pony; she was a yellow coated pink maned pegasus. She pony saw Flare and hid her face.

"Do you need any help?" Flare offered, he heard a small noise come from the pegasus. "I don't mind helping, you seem to need it."

"Umm, no I don't need help, thank you." She said, her voice getting quieter through the entire sentence. Oh look, a quiet one, Flare thought to himself.

"I really insist that you let me help," Flare said, letting his voice lower than hers, but loud enough to hear. "I can carry one and you can get the other, if you want to, I could carry them both. When we reach where you are going I'll simply put the bags on the ground and leave you be." Flare couldn't exactly play shy against some pony that really was, so he took worried in a dropped tone instead.

The pegasus made another noise. "okay...” she said, even quieter than earlier. Flare was going to have to try to her voice like he could hear pony's hooves while walking. Flare was going to have to really be as quiet as he could be when they start to carry the bags, but he couldn't help himself.

"My name’s Flare," He was just as quiet as her, "Can I ask for yours?" The Pegasus hid her face even more. Oh no, he thought, I messed up.

"Fluttershy." She said so quietly Flare was surprised he caught it. She picked up one bag and he picked up the other one. Flare could never drop his voice that low, even with years of practicing. Flare figured it was a good name, considering he’d caught only a single glimpse of her face.

Then they were off to where the bags needed to be. Flare realized it had been going outside of Ponyville. It was a wonderful path, it was quiet and peaceful. Too bad this path only lasted about 5 minutes, before reaching Fluttershy's house. She walked up to the door, put her bag down and unlocked the door. Flare heard something inside, did she have a pet?

When the door was open a little white bunny appeared. She defiantly had a pet. Flare put the bag down, as Fluttershy had to explain her reason for being tardy. Flare found the bunny disliked eating late, it was obvious. Fluttershy then turned to Flare after the bunny went inside.

"Thanks Flare." Fluttershy said a bit louder than earlier. Flare couldn't help but want to see inside her house, but she was a little shy for him to ask that directly. So he took a bit of a different route.

"Is that bunny the only pet you have?" Flare asked, his voice however stayed as low as earlier.

"No, I have many. Want to see a few?" Fluttershy said seemingly more confident if they stayed on subject. Flare didn't want to intrude, but he wanted see a few indeed.

"Maybe one, do you have any birds?" Flare asked. Fluttershy knew what to do, and she gently whistled. About five different birds flew to her. One however flew to Flare, a blue jay. Flare held out his hoof, and blue jay landed on it and chirped. Flare smiled, this was really cool; he’d found some animals that didn't want to eat him. It was great, but he had to return it and pushed his hoof towards Fluttershy. The blue jay flew off his hoof and towards Fluttershy.

"That’s really amazing," Flare said forgetting to lower his voice. "You must really have a way with animals. If I ever whistled at a bird, it would probably fly as far as possible." Flare joked and laughed a little, he couldn't whistle. "Well it has been nice meeting you Fluttershy, but I need my rest. Goodbye." He waved.

"Bye Flare, goodnight," Fluttershy said with her voice once more a bit lowered.

Flare continued towards the Everfree Forest. She was really nice; she was also shy, but really good company. The way those birds just simply flew to her after she whistled was incredible. Flare wondered if that came naturally, he should have looked at her mark; that could have helped prove something. There was always a next time.

When Flare had entered the Everfree Forest, he felt like the last spot that he had slept was really peaceful. But as he headed for that area, he noticed that there wasn't anything to stop him. This was weird, but Flare figured that they were all just in another part of the forest. So he took the chance to run to his area, not letting anything else find it first. It was his spot, nothing else was allowed!

Flare arrived at his spot to see that nothing had been there. He noticed there was no trace of that timber wolf. It must have put itself back together and told the others not to mess with Flare. He chuckled, before leaning back on his tree to sleep. Today had been a very busy day, and Flare was tired. He thought about everything that happened today. He had been crushed by a pink blur, helped pick up books, bucked apples off of trees, got kidnapped and had his mane brushed, met the most colorful pony he had ever seen, ate a muffin with a friend, and held a blue jay. Flare was pretty sure this was one of the busiest days he had ever been through.

Flare then closed his eyes and then remembered how many memories he lived through today, some sad ones and some happy ones. Flare also thought about how many new ponies he met.

"Well, today was a great day." Flare said, not thinking anything was listening to him. But a moment later his eyes shot open, and he jumped into the air. An arrow had struck the tree where he had been sleeping not even a second before; it grazed the end of his tail. He looked at it and then turned to the direction it was shot from.

"Well, you’ve made yourself well known," Flare said trying to make whoever shot that to come out. "Might as well show yourself." Flare grinned, as he issued the challenge.

"It's been too long, Flare..." A voice came from the bushes.

Been too long...

Flare realized suddenly that he knew he had been caught once more, his face turned very serious. As the blue unicorn with a spiky white mane that had the ends green appeared, Flare's mind confirmed it. This unicorn's mark was a bow and an arrow.

"So it is really you, Arrow? Long time no see, but I doubt you came to catch up right away." Flare said with a flat voice with a hint of challenge. Flare put his front right hoof a step in front of the left one, then took his hind left hoof a step back. What ever happened he had to move quickly.

"Flare, you are always jumping to conclusions," Arrow said, while beginning to levitate the bow that was on his back. "like when you thought I didn't have a plan B when you broke my bow." Flare remembered that happened in their last encounter. Flare had snapped Arrow's bow in half, and then went to rush in for an attack. He didn't think a blade with cut his face, causing much blood. Somehow Flare didn't have a scar, he didn't understand.

"I know now, that you carry that blade," Flare replied "I know that this time you poisoned it as well, so don't expect to hit me with that blade. You had better gotten better with that bow if you plan to win." This was going to be their sixth fight, they had never killed each other, because the loser would find a way to escape. Flare has beaten Arrow twice and lost twice. During one fight, bunch of other ponies and stallions got involved leaving both to get out as fast as they could. Neither was very fond of jail time.

Arrow levitated his blade. "How did you know that?" Arrow was smiling, letting a drip of liquid fall from his blade. "Was it that obvious?" Arrow starting laughing, not evil like, more like a crazy laugh. Flare didn't react to this, he knew his answer.

"No, If we haven't fought that time when you cut me, you wouldn't of poisoned it." Flare was sure of this. "You didn't expect to truthfully hit me, remember? But now, you think you can do it again and then finish this right?" Flare eyes fixed on Arrow's, Flare was ready to begin.

"Well, it would appear we have one who is smart and is eager to learn." Arrow send, putting his blade back. "So, bow and I will teach you that you can't beat me again Flare!" That line had began this battle.

Flare got ready to move, as Arrow levitated an arrow into his bow. He drew his bow back and fired, Flare had dashed left and when he hit the ground, another arrow was already on it's way. Flare jumped upwards, most would think this was a mistake. Then the third arrow was launched towards Flare while in midair. Flare pushed his wings outward and moved just enough to dodge the arrow. He then used the arrow's momentum and his wing to send his into a spin.

Flare's spinning attack was heading towards Arrow. Arrow smirked and moved to where Flare was standing a second ago. He used his magic to pull the arrows from the ground and the tree, and loaded all three into his bow. Flare landed on his front hooves and looked where Arrow was standing.

Flare didn't expect Arrow to already have shot the arrows. He pushed off the ground, he felt the air from the arrows, they were so close to hitting him. Half a second was the choice between life and death. He landed on his hind hooves, and turned it into a cartwheel towards Arrow.

When he finished the cartwheel, Flare used the momentum from the cartwheel for a right hoof in Arrow's face. Arrow flew into the air, big mistake. Flare slid under him and bucked him straight upwards. Flare then launched himself at Arrow, who dropped his bow. Flare got ready to pelt Arrow with as many hooves as he could, but Arrow levitated his blade and was now falling towards Flare.

Arrow was smiling, even if blood was falling from his mouth, He was excited to cut Flare with his blade, then maybe finishing Flare. Flare smirked, when he saw the blade come out. He wasn't able to stop his momentum, but he wasn't getting hit with that blade. Arrow swung the blade and Flare grabbed Arrow. Arrow stopped the blade, he knew what was going to happen if he didn't, Flare was going to pull him into the blade. Flare threw Arrow towards the ground and gave himself a launch to get himself as high as he could.

Flare couldn't fly, but he could plummet. He planned to do this right on Arrow. Arrow concealed his blade and grabbed his bow with his magic, loaded it and aimed it at Flare's body falling right at him. He shot and Flare leaned a little and let the arrow hit him. Arrow was surprised it wasn't blocked or deflected, he didn't move. Flare landed right on top of him.

Flare got up and jumped back, and looked and the in his front right leg. He saw blood coming from it as expected, but it barely breached his skin. He saw blood hit the ground but not from his leg.

Flare touched his face, there was blood coming from a cut on it. One of those arrows from a minute ago had hit him. Flare looked up and saw Arrow spitting out some blood from his mouth. Flare had left his entire left side bruised for his little plummet trick. Arrow didn't care though, he used magic.

" Good job, Flare you have actually made your body useful once." Arrow laughed as he insulted Flare. Flare wasn't falling for something as simple as that, he knew the blade would decide the fight. Arrow hoped for Flare to rush and attack.

Flare knew that Arrow had speed with his bow, but this was ridiculous. Flare had to think of a way to get inside Arrow's mind. Flare had no clue how to, all his previous attempts had always failed. Flare wasn't good with word and mind balancing.

Flare hated how fast Arrow was getting with his bow, the only thing that kept Flare alive was how agile he was. He would have to outlast Arrow's magic flow with his energy. Flare couldn't let his movements be slowed in any way. Arrow let him take a second to take the arrow off of his leg. Flare took the arrow out and stuck the tip in his mouth. He tasted his blood, and felt more fall from the hole in his leg.

Arrow was not amused, disgusted, or fearful. Arrow was ready to strike and drew his bow back and fired another arrow. Flare spat the arrow from his mouth at the incoming projectile, and they collided in midair. Arrow didn't expect that from Flare. Flare's usually jumpy and quick style of fighting was a little annoying, but for Flare to stand in one spot and not move and inch was a little intimidating for Arrow.

"What is wrong Flare?" Arrow started up again, "Why aren't you eager to move, afraid I'll stick you with another arrow?" Flare simply stared Arrow down, Flare was not acting like himself. Arrow had prepared himself for anything. Flare was ready as soon as Arrow launched an arrow.

"What's wrong Arrow?" Flare smirked, "You scared that if you miss, that I will end you?" Flare was sick of Arrow always trying to get into his mind. Flare had only one message for Arrow's mind, don't miss. Arrow shot and Flare leaned the to the other direction, but it still cut Flare forehead open. Flare dashed towards Arrow.

Flare bucked Arrow into a tree and rushed towards him. Flare jumped with great force at Arrow, crushing his body into Arrow's. Flare's forehead cut was bleeding already, he hoped for this. He wiped blood from his head and splashed the blood into Arrow's eyes.

Arrow clutched his eye's closed and he could feel a burning feeling. Arrow panicked and grabbed and swung his poisoned blade at Flare. Even with with eyes closed, he landed the blade into Flare's face. Flare jumped off of him and held his cheek, that was already bleeding. Arrow had cut his blade into his arrow cut, causing searing pain from this poison. Arrow wiped his eyes, but couldn't open then still. Flare used a hoof-full of blood to blind Arrow. He knew he only had a minute to regain the ability to see again, that poison wouldn't hold Flare for long before his adrenaline would give Flare what he needed to defeat Arrow.

Last time Flare got his adrenaline rush while fighting Arrow he used it to destroy Arrow. He became as fast as bullet, and move in every direction. Arrow lost that battle as a minute into Flare adrenaline. Arrow wasn't letting this happen again and began to wipe his eyes until he could see.

Flare gave him his time to, Flare decided to stop his bleeding. He found a dark green bush nearby, and ran to it. He took a leaf from it and licked it, and put it on his bleeding leg. Flare let go and it stuck to his leg, this was great. Flare took a few more leaves and licked them and put them over all his wounds.

When Flare had licked a leaf and put it on his cheek, he tensed up. it was already in serious pain, then it felt like some pony had poured salt water onto it.

Arrow regained vision and Flare had stopped his bleeding, both could easily lose that again. Arrow pulled back his bow and loaded it with an arrow. Flare just looked at him, his eyes resent the message to Arrow..

"Had enough of it Flare?" Arrow asked, "Let's make a deal, if anyone finds themselves at a huge advantage point, they will use it finish the other off." Arrow stopped for a second and smiled. "For good." Flare was surprised that Arrow wanted to end it as fast as possible. Flare also felt the emotionless voice said the Arrow didn't care who won. If Flare would win, he would spare Arrow and let him fight another day. But if Arrow won, Flare wasn't sure if his life would continue or not.

"Want to end this quickly, Arrow?" Flare said, "You aren't having fun anymore, are you? Usually you try and make these fights last for as long as possible." Flare noticed Arrow's voice was a bit darker just a moment ago.

"We have had enough second chances." Arrow continued, "I'm tired of the broken bones, blood-filled faces and pain all together." Arrow had a good point it was getting a little old. Arrow un-drew his bow and walked towards Flare. "Let us make this last fight the best." Arrow held a hoof to shake, Flare shook it.

"So, loser dies I take it." Flare remarked. He wasn't willing to kill Arrow, but wasn't willing to die either. "Well, I'm not sure I could kill you Arrow." Flare said stating the truth.

"Well, the loser should not have to live with defeat in their mind forever." Arrow stopped for a second. "Whatever happens Flare, you have always been a good enemy. It is your choice to spare me or not if you win." Flare nodded, Arrow was sure about his mind set, and Flare had no right to argue.

Flare had to win this, if he didn't he was gonna be killed. He wouldn't accomplish anything, he would never know what happened after his mother's death. If he won, he would spare Arrow for sure, and maybe Arrow would find himself saving Flare one day. That is, if Flare is ever going to see him again after this,

"Arrow, I thank you," Flare smiled and said, "If it wasn't for you all these years keeping me on my hooves, I probably would have died already. You always said you were returning and that kept me busy with being ready at any moment. Thank you, Arrow." Flare looked into his eyes, he only saw hesitation. Flare then looked up, the moon was out a shining. "By the way, do you have any idea what the time is?" Arrow chuckled to that, Flare was never one to keep things dark. He was always trying to lighten things up.

Arrow looked at the moon. "Judging by the moon, maybe around ten o'clock." Arrow then walked twenty feet away from Flare, and turned around. "Are you ready?" Flare was not at all.

"As ready as I can ever be." Arrow drew his bow and Flare rushed towards him. Arrow shot scraping Flare's left shoulder, it hurt terribly. Flare still launched towards Arrow, not expecting to get bucked in the face. Flare went flying into the air, and Arrow jumped after him. Flare hit the ground, and Arrow landed on top of him. Arrow cut his other shoulder his the blade, and Flare clutched as searing pain returned. Flare hoofed Arrow off of him, and slammed him into the ground.

Flare punched Arrow in his face, and in return Arrow grabbed his hoof and rolled him over. Flare was fast, but not to strong. Arrow overpowered him and punched Flare in his head until the leaf fell off his forehead. Flare couldn't really block any of his punches, since Arrow was holding his front legs down. Arrow saw serious amounts blood, and decided to finish it.

Arrow hopped off Flare and drew his bow. Flare looked up, but could only see from one eye, his over was covered with his blood. He saw the arrow was loaded, he just layed his head back. Flare was beaten and could barely move, so he just accepted fate, he know what was next. He closed his eye and felt a tear come from it, a tear from everything he was thinking.

Flare was thinking about his parent's death, he felt terrible dying with nothing to be proud of. He was going to die with nothing that his parents would approve or be proud of him. He didn't fight the killer when he was a foal and hadn't found the killer yet. He probably wouldn't of beaten the monster anyway, he was too stupid to take Arrow serious. His death would be just as tragic.

Flare started drifting in air towards Arrow. Arrow levitated Flare into Arrow's leg. Arrow hugged him and Flare was stunned as he felt a tear for Arrow's eye. Flare returned the hug, and layed his head on Arrow's shoulder.

I'm sorry, Flare," Arrow said, "It really has been too long." Arrow held Flare a little closer.

"I know, brother," Flare said, with a tear in his eye, "I know."

Oppisites Attract

"I haven't seen you in years." Flare said, now feeling his eyes water, "I thought maybe you died, without completing your dream." Flare cared for Arrow so much, if Arrow had ever been confirmed dead, Flare may would have just ended it. Flare was so happy to see Arrow, but never showed joy when they come face to face. Knowing he had to fight brother was a problem.

Arrow felt the same way, but Flare needed to duel Arrow ever so often. Arrow knew Flare couldn't hold out on his own without someone to keep him on hooves. Arrow also knew that couldn't kill Flare, the first and last of his family. Flare and Arrow were not blood brother according to science and stuff like that. But with Flare and Arrow both losing their parents, their only family, they could consider themselves blood.

"I couldn't of died Flare" Arrow said, in a confronting voice, "I know my fate is right next to you, dying with you by my side is okay. I wouldn't let it happen in any different way." Flare looked up when Arrow said this.

"You shouldn't let it happen, anyway!" Flare said with a louder tone. Flare never wanted Arrow to die, ever. If Arrow died, Flare couldn't continue as himself, Flare wouldn't exist. Flare couldn't take having no family once more, because if Flare didn't protect them both, he would suffer knowing he failed to protect his family, twice. Flare slammed his head on Arrow's shoulder.

"Flare," Arrow said, now facing the moon, as if they were giving him the right words to say. "I know that you, would not let it happen." Flare looked up at his face, and Arrow looked down and frowned. "Let me get you bandaged up, I can't stand to see you covered in blood." Arrow levitated saddlebags out of the bush he appeared from.

Arrow let Flare go so he could get ready to feel painful spray, and be taped up with bandages. Arrow took quite a bit of medical supplies out of his bags. Flare glared at the spray, he hated it, but Arrow always said it was better then infections. Arrow levitated a cloth and wiped all the blood off Flare's face. He then levitated the spray.

"Um, Arrow do you mind not spraying that in my cheek cuts?" Flare said, putting his hoof over it, "It still burns enough from your blade, what was on that?" Arrow put the spray down and instead got some bottled water. He pushed Flare's hoof off his face and poured it above the cheek cuts, letting it was out.

"You wanna know?" Arrow asked, Flare nodded, "Lemon juice mixed with salt water, on an open wound that burns really bad." Flare learned that quickly the hard way, he figured Arrow wouldn't go that far. But he learned that was not the case. "Well, I hate to tell you, but I'm going to still spray these cuts" Flare was disappointed. "The blade cuts are the ones I am the most afraid will get an infection." Arrow held the spray right to the cuts, and sprayed.

It stung and burned really bad. Flare was so convinced there was still some of Arrow's burning mixture was in there. This was almost unbearable, Flare smacked the spray away. It never burned so much, it as if some pony had slammed Flare face into a burning furnace. After about thirty seconds, Flare was ready for the rest of his wounds.

"That hurt that bad?" Arrow said messing with Flare. "Well, the rest shouldn't be as bad. But I'm sure you know that." Flare knew that it still burned no matter what. Flare reached into the bags Arrow got, and grabbed pain killers from a smaller bag, inside the saddlebags. Flare then pulled a rock over and set them on it, Arrow moved towards Flare and lifted his mane. As Flare crushed the pills, as Arrow sprayed his head wound, and his shoulders. Flare took the rest of the bottled water and put the crushed pills into it and handed it to Arrow, after he finished spraying all Flare's cuts.

Arrow drank the rest of the bottled water, he knew Flare wouldn't let him save any for Flare. Arrow levitated the bandages and bandages and patches. Arrow patched up Flare's leg and shoulder. Flare just sat there waitng for it to be done with.

"So how have you been?" Arrow was the first to ask, "Anything new?" Arrow knew he was in for it when he saw Flare's eyes light up. Arrow patched his cheek and before Flare could begin, he said, "Also patch or bandage?"

"Bandage," Flare answered and got ready to explain today. "Well today was completely different, from foods, friends and I even worked for some bits today." Flare didn't like working usually, but bucking apples wasn't that bad. "When I walked into Ponyville, which is right over that way," Flare said pointing his hoof, "I was crush by a very happy and very pink pony, with balloons for a mark." Arrow ad been bandaging Flare, but stopped for a second.

"Like from your mother's stories?" Arrow asked, and Flare nodded barely, since Arrow was bandaging.

"Yep, and she worked a sweet shop called Sugarcube corner. after that I met two more ponies, a librarian and a, goofy one" Flare didn't realize he blushed, Arrow caught it, but decided not to ask. "I helped the librarian rearrange books, she took me to a place called Sweet Apple Acres. This is where I worked for a while, bucking apples, and I'll be honest I ate one on the job." Arrow chuckled, Flare continued. "I got enough bits to visit the sweet shop, but upon arrival I was kidnapped and cleaned up, I was so dirty, it was terrible."

Flare stopped and smiled, but then continued. "After that I met the rainbow maned pony of my mother's story, I know for sure. She walked to Sugarcube Corner with me, and then had to go. The pink pony took my order and I got two muffins and learned about the muffin monster." Arrow looked in confusion, Flare would explain that next. "I then went to town park and encountered the muffin monster, and gave her my other muffin. It was the goofy pony from the library, she was nice." The blush had reappeared. "She saved my muffin."

"Saved your muffin, what do you mean?" Arrow was getting more and more confused as Flare continued the story with his crush in it.

"Well, I fell off the bench I was sitting on and my muffin went flying. It hit the ground, and she picked it up and brushed it off and cleaned it, then gave it back to me." Flare told him. "Being me, I would have sat there and let it sit there, maybe even cried, but she helped me. After that I meet a super shy pony, my shy style couldn't be as good as her natural shy. I helped her and in return I got to hold her blue jay, it was cool. But what happened next was the best. I got to see my brother again!" Flare hugged him, and then yawned.

"Well you have had a long day," Arrow said leading him to the tree with now a arrow hole in it. He layed down with Flare still hugging him. Flare let go and then got comfortable next to Arrow. "So I think it is time to say goodnight."

Flare smiled, "Goodnight Arrow." Arrow waited maybe five minutes for Flare to fall asleep. After he heard steady breaths, he got lost in thought. So Flare's mothers stories are confirmed, Arrow thought, Is now a good time to stay with him? He then remembered his former family, he left them, and he didn't know if the same would happen with Flare.

Arrow's blood family was alive and well, but everyday Arrow hoped that they suffered. He didn't consider them family, real family didn't threaten to kill they're young because of bits. Arrow met Flare and heard his story and felt a click, he stayed with Flare a little while, and found his true family.

When Arrow was young and could barely levitate a bow, his father entered him into a contest, and apparently bet a lot of money Arrow would win. Arrow trued his best but could not get a bulls eye on the target. He lost the contest. His father didn't talk to him until they got home. Arrow said sorry an uncountable amount of times, he was a failure in his father's eyes and mind. Later that night he sat at the dinner table with his parents, and his father told him to leave.

"Arrow, you need to get your stuff now, and leave. this was your last meal here." His father's words so soulless, "We lost a hundred thousand bits because of you, you failure."

"Father, I'm sorry!" Arrow was mad now, "But I tried my best, but I couldn't do it." His father smacked him and stood up. Arrow looked in his eyes, beginning to feel hate flow.

"Do not call me father!" He shouted, "I will not live with a son who is a failure. So you failure can not be my son. Now get out before I call the guards and get you sent to a dungeon." Arrow looked at his mother, she looked away.

Arrow ran to his room and packed everything he needed, and went downstairs. Since his parents didn't want him, he wanted them to suffer. There was a candle and his dad's newspaper, together Arrow made fire, and stuffed it into a bookcase. Arrow watched as more books caught on fire, and the alarm went off. Arrow opened the door and walked out, he looked back the fire was spreading fast. Arrow smiled as he saw stuff burn and his former father rushed towards the fire.

"Burn in hell," Arrow said turning and going, "It is where you belong." Arrow then slept in a ditch later that night, and next morning heard his parents were fine. Arrow wasn't okay with this, but couldn't do much at the moment.

One year later, he found a small colt, crying in a ditch, It was Flare. He got to Flare and asked him what was wrong, Flare broke down and told him everything. This was Flare's third day alone, so Arrow fed him, Flare hadn't eaten since his parents death. Arrow felt for Flare, they both lost all their family, at the same age, different ways. After a week with Flare, Arrow taught him to survive and Flare told him things and was afraid, but within the second week Flare was living on his own almost.

Flare was so thankful, he only had one thing in good value to thank him.

"Here," Flare said handing it over to Arrow. "It was my mother's necklace, it is one thing I use to remember her." Flare started crying, Arrow just hugged him. "Arrow," Flare got a hold of himself. "Will you be my big brother?" Arrow was shocked, but knew the answer.

"No, Flare," Arrow replied "I am not bigger than you, only a year older. We have both lost our families, and survived without them. It hasn't been happy, good or healthy, but we have been doing this without trying. We were meant to meet, Flare. If it was destined your parents were to get murdered, and mine to be soulless carefree demons, then we were meant to be brothers!" Arrow hugged Flare, they were both crying. "We are brothers in arms, this will be a constant war, but no matter what we will find each other once more if we separate. Protect the other if he is down. As well as die for the other, if the brother's dream needs one of us to die." That line made Flare go insane with tears, he just lost his family, and never wanted to lose more.

After a little while longer of tears, it was late. "It is getting late, Flare," Arrow said "So I think it is time to say goodnight."

Arrow yawned, he was tired himself. He put his front leg around Flare and closed his eyes. Flare wasn't his little brother, he was only his brother. Flare wasn't weaker than Arrow, but not stronger either. They both just know each others flaws, and Arrow accidentally used one today to beat Flare. He used time, not seeing Arrow in years made Flare worry. Then to see him today surprised him, and after a long day too, Arrow had a great advantage.

Arrow wanted to ask Flare for forgiveness, but Flare had already forgiven him. Flare didn't like when Arrow felt sorrow, or was asking for forgiveness, Flare wanted him to be happy. Arrow had two dreams, as did Flare, both of them wanted the other to be happy. Flare's second dream to cause the death of his parents murderer, Arrow's second was to be his parents murderer. Weird how they both accepted everything the other felt, but Flare would be there for Arrow if his confronted his parents. Flare didn't want to kill, but for Arrow he would if Arrow told him too.

But, Arrow wouldn't kill for Flare's dream, no Flare had to land the killing blow for his dream to end correctly. Flare wouldn't let Arrow kill for him. Flare was really protect about quite a few things with Arrow. Flare would lie to save Arrow's life, even if it meant his would end. Flare would give up so much to protect his family, he wish he had done the same so many years ago.

Arrow and Flare never thought about comparing their pasts. If Arrow had a say in it, Flare's was worse then his past, but Flare would disagree. Flare would hate to get rejected by his parents, and he thought Arrow's past was worse. Flare wanted to make Arrow forget his past, and realize that his true family was Flare, and Flare alone.

Arrow finally fell to the temptation to sleep and began the long darkness of his dreams. Arrow never dreamed, unlike Flare who had the same dream every night, Flare was into the middle of his dream, right after the line that usually awoke him, but it didn't. The dream continued, Flare was ready for what happened.

The blade comes down, slaying Flare's mother. It was painful seeing that, Flare wanted to wake up now, but knew that he shouldn't.

"Mother!" Flare screamed and slammed open the door. The monster saw Flare, and withdrew his blade from Flare's mother. He continued towards Flare. He stopped right in front of Flare.

"Too bad," He said, with a soulless tone, "You could of listened and lived, but now you are a nuisance. You must die." He swung his blade and Flare jumped out of the way. Then Flare pushed towards the monster's face, he hit it once in it right eye.

'I'll kill you!" Flare yelled, after getting in front of his mom's body. The monster swung and missed again. But to Flare's surprise, he was grabbed and was slammed into the wall. The monster began choking him.

"You are so weak, and pitiful." The monster said not letting Flare breathe. "Now you will die." He took Flare and threw him through a closed window. Glass shattered as Flare went flying through, none had cut Flare, but Flare was going to land face first from the second story. Flare rolled over in midair and hit the ground, hard.

This is what made Flare wake up. There was still more, but he couldn't handle it yet. Flare's mind was racing, with a lot of questions simply asking what happened after? Flare thoughts were interrupted by Arrow.

Arrow was sleeping, and in his sleep pulled Flare closer to him. Flare than noticed Arrow's leg around him. Flare thought it was a little silly, how Arrow slept better holding Flare like a giant stuffed animal. But, Flare couldn't joke about it, knowing Arrow would win. This was the only foalish thing Arrow really did, Flare on the other hand acted like that at least once ever day. Flare remembered the muffin hitting the ground. Yep, Flare was so much more foalish.

Another reason Flare couldn't joke about it was because, Flare really enjoyed it. Flare liked giving and having a sense of security with Arrow. It reminded Arrow when he had been really young, he had a stuffed animal. Every night to hugged it until he fell asleep. It reminded Flare of his mother's hugs every night before Flare fell asleep. Both were reminded of happy times. Flare decided it would be better to go back to sleep.

They both slept until morning. Arrow was the first of them awake, because the sun gleaming in his eyes, Flare had shade over his face. It was only about seven in the morning. Arrow knew this because his ability to tell time just by the position of the sun or moon. He preferred to tell the time at night though. Arrow looked at Flare, and how he was almost hugging Flare. He slowly slid away from Flare, trying not to wake him. Somehow Arrow would never wake up Flare on accident.

Arrow got up and stretched. His side was still a little sore from last night, even with the pain pills assistance. He thought about going and hunting for something for Flare and him. Food wasn't free, so they had to do something.

"Arrow!" Flare yelled, and also launching into a sitting position. Flare's eye were wide and his breathing was heavy. After a second, Flare turned to Arrow with some serious news. "Arrow..." Flare said sounding relieved that Arrow was still there. "I didn't have the same dream, of my mother." Flare paused "I had an even worse one, it was you who would die in this one. I don't really understand it at all, we were running. Running from something, and everything was on fire. We ran through a house and roof collapsed on top of you. I turned to help, only to be crushed myself rushing to help you." Flare really hated this next part. "We were only a few feet away from each other, I reached out my hoof and reached out yours. We were an inch from touching, but the world cracked up and put a huge crack between us. And slowly it crack grew and it looked like you were yelling something, but all I could here was the burning of fire. Then you became engulfed in flames, And I tried frantically to escape and help you, but it was useless. I looked over and you, you just layed there lifeless. I called out your name, then louder, then even louder, then I woke up." Flare was extremely afraid of his dreams, if they weren't in the past, they might mean something will happen in the future.

"Flare," Arrow said, walking towards him and hugging him. "It was just a bad dream, I'm not going to die on you." Arrow didn't understand, Flare had to explain his fear of the dream.

"But what if it is true?" Flare asked, "What I saw in that dream is that you needed help and I couldn't be there for you, that cost you your life. We are always separated after our visits we each other. Arrow, what if this happens you die, because I'm not there." Arrow understood like Flare now. But Flare didn't understand that some of his dreams were meant to warn other ponies sometimes. This was warning Arrow that if he had left Flare again, something would happen to him, and Flare couldn't assist.

"Do not worry," Arrow said with a softer voice, "I'm not leaving. Thank your dreams Flare, because without your special dreams, I might have died. I was thinking of staying with you from this point on but wasn't too sure, but then got a warning telling me to stay. You have something very special." Arrow hugged Flare a little harder, "By the way, good job on the mark." Flare drew away from the hug looked down at his rump. He saw a mark there, a mark of a couple clouds covering the moon a little. He turned to Arrow smiling a giant smile, Arrow just hugged him again.

Flare hugged back, "No Arrow, Thank you," Flare said. "You helped me so much, carried me through life, I would have been dead if you had no came to help me." Flare knew he should have been dead, but he wasn't he lived through everything every pony had to throw at him.

Just then both their stomachs seemed to ask, "We do we get filled?" Flare smiled and knew where to go, Sweet Apple Acres. That work was fun, easy, and now if Arrow was helping they could hit up Sugarcube Corner and eat a few sweets for breakfast. Oh my gosh, Sugarcube Corner, Flare promised Pinkie that he would be there today at noon. It looks like Arrow gets to come on an adventure.

"Okay, Arrow ready for some work?" Flare asked and Arrow nodded. Flare and Arrow began towards Sweet Apple Acres, they talked about usually stuff. "So, have you been to Ponyville?" Arrow just shook his head, he was silent and just admired everything around him. "Well it's a really nice place, and has the most unique ponies ever!" They so arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was just leaving. "How are you today, AJ?"

"Howdy," She said, but then noticed all of Flare's patches, "What happened to ya?" She looked at Arrow, "And is this a friend, ya got here?" She was confused.

"This here is Arrow, my brother." Flare told AJ the truth, "And I got really banged up in the Everfree Forest, but he patched me up well." It would be awkward if he had said Arrow did that then fixed him up, and the fact being that they were brothers. AJ was smart, but Flare didn't think she could understand. "Hey, do you got any work? Arrow and I have got no bits and are a little hungry."

"Well, I'll be gone all day, but if ya'll wanna buck some more apples off the trees, I'd gladly appreciate it, and for payment ya'll can take a few for breakfast." AJ said, she know Flare needed to be by Sugarcube Corner at noon.

"Well, that would be great. It's a done deal, we'll buck off apples and take a few for breakfast." Flare looked at Arrow awaiting Approval.

"That sounds pretty good" Arrow agreed, "Thanks, AJ" Arrow have a hoof to shake and AJ shook it. Flare was glad that Arrow didn't mind the deal, made right in front of him that he didn't seem to have a say in.

"Alright, I'll be seein ya two around now," AJ said, beginning to walk by Flare. "Flare, did ya have that yesterday? I mean ya cutie mark." Flare looked back remembering he didn't have it yesterday.

"No, I didn't" Flare replied, "I got it right after a dream I had, a dream that took a lot to understand that it just wasn't a bad one." Arrow didn't understand at first, Flare had to explain it. Flare was really good at understanding dreams, just wasn't sure how to force them to continue. "I am really good at explaining and understanding dreams." Arrow looked over and thought hard about something, but Flare couldn't tell what.

"Well good job, Flare!" AJ patted him on the back "Now do another and get me lots of them apples." She said walking away chuckling, Flare waved, as did Arrow, and they got a wave back. Flare headed for the apple trees, Arrow followed a little surprised on how many apple trees there were. Flare knew what to do and ran towards the trees, until he realized that running was painful for him. Arrow caught up to him, and began to wonder why Flare was in a rush today.

"Do you have anything to do today?" Arrow asked, looking at Flare's patches making sure he didn't open any wounds. "Like, plans?"

Flare smiled "We have to be at Sugarcube Corner at noon, but I have no clue why." Flare said. Oh, and by the way, Arrow, when was the last time you partied?" Arrow laughed, knowing Flare knew what happened last time he was at a party. Arrow got drunk.

Drinking in my past

Flare laughed as he recalled the memory. Usually most would be embarrassed after what happened to Arrow at the old party. Arrow didn't care, his reputation didn't matter that night. Arrow didn't care what happened that day each year. The day his parents banned him, The day he had his first drink. He wasn't getting addicted, but he didn't stop drinking.

"There is a party down this way," Arrow told Flare "open for every pony to come and have a good time." Flare didn't know why Arrow wanted to go. Arrow hadn't told him the date was painful to him, and he wanted something to wash it away. Flare didn't want to argue though, maybe it would be fun.

"Alright, if you want to then let us go." Flare said, and the two started walking down that way. Arrow replaying the life changing scene in his mind. Arrow hid his hatred that day, usually he would be destroying anything in his way. Flare was with him this year, and he keep Arrow from destroying anything.

They walked in and were amazed on how big it was. Arrow looked for what to do, there were ponies dancing, romantic like. That was something Flare would argue to, if Arrow asked him. There were party games in one corner, but more for the young ones there. Flare also looked into the corner and watched as they laughed, smiled, and were having fun.

Flare thought back, before the massacre, and realized he didn't know how to play any of the games there, but the looked quite simple. A party for Flare was just his family, which is now a party of two. Arrow looked at Flare, and thought of interrupting him for his own good. Flare breaking down was not needed at a party.

But instead, Arrow continued to look for activities for they're ages. There was a few holding a hoof wrestling contest, but that wasn't fair for Flare. Flare was agile, not really too strong. He could hold his own in a fight, but was not one who could hold his own in every fight. Arrow might have been good there, though. Arrow spotted the refreshments.

"Want to get something first" Arrow said pointing at the table of foods and drinks. "Then we will find something to do." Flare just shrugged.

"Sure." Flare said, glancing one more time at the young one corner.

Good times, Flare thought. "You ready to get started?" Flare asked and Arrow nodded. Flare looked for the buckets, they were in the wagon. He placed them around a tree. "It is really easy, it just requires a little strength." Flare said knowing Arrow was stronger. Arrow heard this and thought this was going to be a breeze if Flare had enough strength to do it easily.

Flare bucked the tree and most apples fell into the buckets, he was still learning from yesterday, but almost had it figured out. Flare nodded as Arrow walked over and picked up an apple. He stared at it, and Flare stared at his, waiting to see Arrow take a bite. Arrow looked over at Flare.

"So, these apples are really that good?" Arrow asked Flare. Flare smirked and nodded, he also walked closer to Arrow and began to push the apple towards his face. "All right! I can eat by myself."

"Then why are you not?" Flare questioned, "You trust me, right? I wouldn't lie to you about the taste of apples." Arrow looked him in the eyes and stared at him.

"Again," Arrow said, "You wouldn't lie about the taste of apples again" Flare laughed in his face, remembering the first time he lied about apples. "You think it's funny, I still don't know how you ate one right in front of me, and then told me that they were great." Flare thought back to the apple moment.

Flare and Arrow got to the table. They looked at all the food, a lot of it being fancy and high priced food. The food itself was free, but it had a lot of things that 'added flavor' to it. Flare looked at everything, he saw everything as stuff to good for his likings. Arrow spotted a bottle of wine, and took a small glass near the bottle. Flare picked up an apple and bit it. It tasted so bad, but Flare was a good house guest. Flare also knew how to hid and fake many emotions, disgusted is one he could hide well. Arrow poured the wine with his magic, and looked at the glass full of wine.

Arrow had never drank alcohol before, because he heard how many different things could happen when drunk. He could get extremely mad at nothing and attack some pony, even Flare. He could get himself in trouble by ending up hitting on every mare in sight. On a day of depression, he might kill himself. All of these thoughts ran through Arrow's mind, but he drank the glass anyway. He turned towards Flare, who was just about to eat the last bite of the apple.

"How are the apples?" Arrow asked, Flare took the last and held out a hoof that said 'give me a second.' Flare swallowed the terrible thing and went to reply.

"It was really good, high price apples," Flare lied completely, "I haven't had apples in forever, but if I can remember correctly, these were the best ever." Maybe Flare just forgot to say worst, instead of best. It didn't matter what Flare said, most ponies would believe what Flare said sounding as convincing as he told them as many lies as Flare wanted. Flare didn't usually lie to any pony, but t was going to be funny to see Arrow's reaction, whatever it may be.

"I might try one," Arrow took the apple, Flare's face didn't change at all, he just looked at Arrow. Flare smiled as Arrow took a bite. Arrow spat it out, coughing heavily. Flare patted his back, to make sure he hadn't started choking, but he was. Flare didn't know how to correctly stop choking, so he did his best to get the apple out of Arrow. He raised his hoof up high and smacked down as hard as possible.

Arrow was smacked, chest first, to the ground. The apple spat out of him, he could breathe. Arrow was breathing heavily as Flare took his face near Arrow's. Arrow spat apple in Flare's face. Arrow stood up and was fine.

"Flare! How dare you lie to me, faking a good mood to say it was good." Arrow scolded, Flare wiped the apple off his face. Flare prepared to get into a lot of trouble, causing Arrow to choke hurt him already a lot. He didn't want anything that hurts Arrow. "And then I start choking! All you do is think I was faking at first. Then you slam me onto the ground!" Arrow yelled at Flare, successfully causing a scene for every pony. "You should feel lucky that the slam worked."

Flare felt a tear in his eye, he had to stop that. He wiped his eye, and stood. Flare was completely hiding his sadness for hurting Arrow, but showing weakness wasn't going to help either of them. "I'm sorry, Arrow," Flare said very calmly, insides wanting to burst and beg for Arrow's forgiveness. "I didn't think that you would choke over that apple. If I knew I would not have lied." Flare looked at every pony staring. Great, they now were popular, and not for good reasons. Flare pulled Arrow into a hug. "I'm deeply sorry..." Flare was using a lot of energy holding himself together. Arrow pulled away from the hug, and busted out laughing.

"Oh, Flare, Flare, Flare, Flare," Arrow repeated his name a few times, "You aren't the only faker here." Arrow then started laughing really hard. Flare looked at him in surprise, his mouth was slightly open. Arrow faked the whole thing, Flare smiled. That smile turned into a cheerful laughter, Arrow was really mad at all.

Arrow rolled on the ground laughing, Flare jumped on top of him. "You dirty faker! I faked that an apple was good, you faked choking and being mad at me." Flare stopped for a second. "Good job." Flare laughed as he jumped off Arrow, and held a hoof to help him up.

"Okay, let's find something else to do okay?" Arrow asked getting up, and Flare nodded, Both were still laughing, Arrow looked at the wine. He filled a second glass, and drank it. "Okay I'm ready." Arrow said, Flare looked at him with worry. Flare didn't want to know what Arrow was drunk. He begged that Arrow was not aggressive.

Flare laughed at the memory. Arrow ate a bad apple, Flare got beat at his own game, it was funny if you thought about it. "Yea, I wouldn't lie a second time." Flare put his hoof on Arrow's shoulder. "This time, I swear, that they are fantastic apples." He took his hoof off his shoulder. Arrow bit the apple, and it was so good. Arrow smiled and looked at Flare.

"It's okay, I guess," Arrow said, "It is not the best apple I have ever had." Arrow faked a bored-like attitude and figure. Flare saw right through this one.

"Don't feed me these lies!" Flare declared, "I will not eat them! These lies, these lies!" Flare was yelling at this point like a crazy pony who had lost there mind. Flare laughed as he could not continue the act. Arrow continued to eat the apple, trying not to choke or laugh.

"Hey Flare!" A voice came from behind the two. It was Derpy. What was she doing here? Flare blushed at the sight of the mare, Arrow caught it. "Is AJ here?" Derpy asked.

"No, Derpy," Flare answered "She is somewhere in Ponyville." Flare said trying to be calm. Flare never had experience with this so it was hard to try and stop it. But the blushing was obvious to Arrow. Flare looked away from Derpy, towards the ground. Derpy flew up towards Flare.

"Oh, well I'll find her." Derpy said reaching into her saddlebag full of mail. "But first, I have one for you, Flare." She grabbed the letter and placed it on top of Flare's mane. "There you go."

"Thanks, Derpy," Flare said, removing the letter from on top of his head. "I didn't know you were a mailmare, Is it hard? You know, because of your eyes?" Flare asked hoping not to offend. Arrow then realized one of Derpy's eyes was in a different direction.

"No, it is really easy." Derpy answered, and Flare couldn't detect anything that said she got offended, but then again he couldn't detect a lot about Derpy at all. "Well, I have more deliveries to finish. I'll see you around, Flare!" Derpy turned away to continue on her way, but Flare interrupted with a question.

"Wait, how is Dinky?" Flare asked, both Derpy and Arrow were a little surprised. "I just wanna know how she is." Flare didn't know why he cared so much, he just knew he did. Arrow looked at Flare, then at Derpy.

"She is at a friend's house," Derpy answered happily, "She is so popular." Flare smiled at this answer, Derpy left the ground. "Bye Flare, and," Derpy looked at Arrow.

"My name is Arrow," He said calmly, "It is good to meet you Derpy, but if you have to go, then see you later Derpy." Arrow said this with a serious look on his face. A lot of thoughts were running through his head.

"Okay, bye Arrow!" Derpy said waving to them and flying off. Flare had a blush on his face when she was out of sight. Arrow looked at Flare, who was ready for some questions.

"So, the muffin monster is disguised as a mailmare." Arrow said, "Clever, I would not have seen it coming. I also didn't see that tough guy, Flare, would have a crush on a very goofy pony." Flare just waited for Arrow to continue. "Come on, Flare you can tell me, you can't hide it." Flare stayed completely silent, he smirked as Arrow looked towards Flare for an explanation. "I don't know why Flare, but you choose the most random mare you could find to fall for."

Flare attacked back on that sentence. "So did you," Flare said "and almost got into a fight over it. But instead I had to to convince the other to calm down." Flare hesitated recalling the moment.

Three hours since Arrow's first glass of wine, he was now at twelve. Arrow really had no idea what he was doing at this point. Flare watched as Arrow talked to a very pretty mare. She was giggling and Arrow was laughing.

"Hey!" A stallion walked up behind Arrow and turned him around. Flare shot up, ready for anything that happened next. Flare walked towards the three. "What do you think you are doing?" The stallion pushed Arrow to the ground. Arrow calmly stood up.

"I think I'm doing whatever I want." Arrow said with a smirk. "It is a party, right?" The stallion got up in Arrow's face.

"Do you want to get bucked through a wall, because that is what it is sounding like." Flare pushed between them and glared at the stallion, who tried to push Flare. Flare pushed back giving him full space between the two.

"Know, I don't know who you are, but you really should watch what you say." Flare warned him. "If you don't I will be forced to knock your teeth out." Flare threatened, "Know this is the first time my friend her has ever gotten drunk, so you should really forgive him. If you don't, you are going to start a fight with the wrong ponies. We have been through a lot more then you have in your life. Living daily is a challenge, but you get food served to you. Now, you seem like you have a fair share of bits, and I'm guessing that is your marefriend. Your life is fine, so just my drunken friend do as he likes for one night." Flare looked back at Arrow, and shook his head.

Flare turned back to the stallion, who got right in his face. "I am the one picking a fight here?" The stallion said trying to sound as loud as he could, "If you want to fight me in his place say the word!" Flare wasn't surprised to smell alcohol on his breath. Flare touched his head with the stallions, eye to eye, Flare gave a simple, easy to understand warning.

"If you swing first, then it is self defense." Flare said calmly, "I will not be afraid of any charges at that point. What about you? What will happen if you get in trouble?" Flare tried drilling some logic into his head. "I am not afraid to fight, but I would to just talk out our problems." Flare pulled away from the other's face. "Alright? I can get my friend to leave her alone, and we can forget this ever happened." Flare said trying to convince the stallion.

They both turned to look at Arrow, He stared back. "What I am in trouble now?" Arrow asked, the stallion went to speak, but Flare stopped him. Flare walked up to Arrow, and looked at him. Flare could smell alcohol. He hated that smell already.

"Arrow, you need to leave this mare alone." Flare said and Arrow went to reply, but Flare stopped him with a hoof over his mouth. "Look, yes it is a party, and at a party you should try to have a good time. But that doesn't require this mare, do you understand?" Arrow nodded, and Flare was going to release him hoof, but didn't. "Okay, If I let you talk we are not going to say a word, and we are going to walk away from this problem without making it worse." Arrow nodded, he didn't realize that he could just push Flare's hoof away. Flare let his hoof drop. "Come on." He said, tugging at Arrow.

The two began to walk away, and Flare looked back and nodded at the stallion. The stallion nodded back, that would confirm their agreement.

Flare thought that it could have gone a lot better than it did. "Okay, another question," Arrow said bucking a tree, "Do you plan to ever tell her?" Arrow knew Flare would need a second to think "Also, did she miss the bandages? Or did she just disregard them?" Flare wondered, Arrow had a good question.

"I think she just ignored it, she better at seeing emotional and mental pain, anyway." Flare told him, "I know because I broke into tears and she could almost read my past, when I talked to her. And as for why I like her, I don't know, but I am glad I do. I also wouldn't know how to tell her." Flare looked at the letter, it only said three words, To Thunder Flare. Arrow looked at Flare after he showed Arrow it said his real name.

"No return address, so who sent it?" Arrow wondered out loud, only a hoof-full of ponies knew Flare's full name, most didn't know anything about Flare's real name. "There are not a lot that know your real name, or even half your name." Flare looked at the letter, he had no idea who sent the letter.

"Only one way to find out who sent this." Flare said beginning to open the letter. He pulled out the letter, letting the envelope fall. He opened the letter and began reading out loud for Arrow. "Dear Flare, remember to be at Sugarcube Corner at noon today, but no earlier. If you don't come I'll be really really sad, so don't be late. Your friend, Pinkie Pie." Flare paused for a second reading the letter again in his mind, "Really? Well, Arrow we can't have that happen can we? Pinkie Pie doesn't like to be sad, so Arrow what time do you think it is?" Flare looked towards the sun.

"Maybe close to nine, so we got a while to work." Arrow said "I guess we are going to a party then." Arrow looked at Flare, who nodded.

"Arrow," Flare said, "Can we not end this party the same way we ended our last?" Arrow looked away from Flare. "Arrow, please do not drink this time. I don't wanna end this party covered in vomit and dragging you on my back." Arrow looked towards the ground. Flare walked over to him and made him look into his eyes. Flare then hugged him. "Arrow, for your good, do not drink. For your reputation, for your honor, for you. I didn't care that I had to carry you out, I cared more about the fact you let yourself get like that."

"Did you remember that date?" Arrow asked, and Flare knew now it was the date of Arrow's release. "I would normally be destroying everything in my path, but I had you that year. So instead, I tried to block out those feeling with a party, and alcohol. That didn't end up good for either of us, we separated and stayed away from each other. You were always watching from a far, making sure I was okay." Arrow paused, and pulled Flare off him. "Flare, I will not let this party end the same way, I swear." Flare nodded in agreement.

"We have work to do, for another two hours or so." Flare said, " So let us just focus on that." Flare said trying to not replay it in his head, but he couldn't stop it.

Two hours after the almost fight. Flare was completely across the room from Arrow. Flare poured himself a glass of wine, 20 minutes ago. He still had it in his hoof, it was completely full. Flare had gotten it and was going to drink it, but every time he looked at Arrow and couldn't push himself. Arrow was across the room leaned up against the wall. Looking like Arrow was about to fall asleep Flare went over to him.

"Are you gonna drink that?" Arrow asked when Flare walked up. "If not, then let me borrow it." Flare looked at him, and that the full glass. He didn't want to hand it over, so he didn't. He drank it, for Arrow's safety. It tasted terrible, but Flare downed it. Flare then handed Arrow the glass the glass, which was now safely empty. "I saw what you did."

"Not like I hid it," Flare said, "Anyway, are you ready to go?" Flare was ready, and Arrow was going to be leaving soon anyway.

"Why are you ready to leave? You have just sat around the entire time watching the filly corner." Arrow said "You know, if any pony else would of noticed that, you would be proclaimed a freak for fillies." Flare was attacked by this.

"What is wrong, Arrow?" Flare asked, "You aren't yourself today at all." Flare was concerned for Arrow. "You need to tell me so I can understand and help you." Flare needed to know

"Okay then, today is the day my parents abandoned me." Arrow said with appearing no emotion, Flare saw through him and saw his sadness and anger. "Every year, I don't act like me at all. But I think this is the best year, getting drunk is way better than destroying stuff." Right after saying that Arrow vomited. Flare was right in his way, and he got hit in the upper chest. Flare looked down and saw he was covered in Arrow's vomit. "Oh sorry, Flare, I just couldn't hold it back." Arrow then layed his head on Flare shoulder. Flare waited a second and heard snoring.

"Goodnight Arrow." Flare said lifting Arrow up on his back, Arrow was pretty heavy for Flare. Flare slowly made his way out the door, when someone stopped him. It was the stallion from earlier. He was holding a bucket of water. Flare looked at him and said, "Yes?" The stallion just splashed Flare's chest with the bucket of water, washing most of the vomit off. "Thank you, for everything tonight." Flare said.

"No problem," The stallion said and walked back into the party. Flare walked outside, and didn't have any idea on where to go.

"Arrow, I'm sorry," Flare stopped and thought about it.He had no reason to say sorry, but he would if he didn't find a good spot to sleep at night. He walked down the road looking for the right spot to sleep.

The two worked for a couple more hours then pulled the wagon into the farm. They took a few apples from the top. They didn't count how many apples they got. The main reason was because they didn't care. They left Sweet Apple Acres and continued towards Ponyville.

"So, ready to test your mother's story?" Arrow asked Flare.

"I don't doubt any part of it." Flare replied "Not after meeting the pink pony. She almost crushed me, well what I am saying? She did crush me, that it how I met her."

"Well, It going to be fun to meet her." Arrow said. "Hey do you think Derpy's going to be there? Do you know who is invited at all?" Flare shook his head, he had no idea what was going to happen. Flare hoped Derpy was there, maybe he could meet Dinky. Flare had to think for a second, he was a freak for fillies. Flare stopped in his tracks. "Are you okay?" Arrow asked, "Flare?"

"Huh," Flare regained his grip on reality "Oh, yea I'm fine I just realized something." Arrow didn't have to ask what, giving Flare a second would also force him to tell him. "I just might be, a freak for fillies." Arrow stopped him from continuing.

"Flare, you aren't a freak for fillies." Arrow told him. "You only want a second chance at childhood. You want to spend most of your life while your parents are alive. Yet, inside you know you can't. But if you can't get a second chance, you want to make sure every filly or colt has a great first. You are a freak, but not for fillies. You only want to make sure that every filly and colt is happy for their entire childhood." Arrow had to think of what to say next. "Even if you were dying Flare, if you found a young one with no family, no home, you would treat it as a son or daughter. You would jump through hoops to make sure he or she wasn't hungry ever, that they had a safe place to sleep at night. You, Flare, would give up so much to make sure that a filly or colt was happy all the time." Flare looked into Arrow's green eyes, and began to tear up.

Flare learned that his parents did a lot of those thing for him. They would go hungry, as long as Flare ate. Flare never asked for much, but every now and again Flare would ask, and one day get whatever he asked for. Flare never asked for expensive stuff though, so he felt better about himself about that. Most young ones would ask for a lot and some being expensive. Flare really only wanted a family to love him, even if he had to starve with them. But Flare was never hungry, he always had food. Flare felt a tear fall out of his right eye, he had realized his parents were the best he could have. Arrow wiped the tear for Flare's cheek, and pulled him closer to hear anything Flare had to say.

"I'm so weak," Flare said, "I wanted to protect them, but I didn't and I couldn't avenge them either." Arrow knew Flare was trapped in the thoughts of his parents death. "I was so stupid, and didn't even risk my life for theirs. I should of, Arrow, I should have died first! Not them, they should be the ones alive now not me!" Flare was angry at himself, he didn't do anything but run! "I'm a terrible son. I couldn't hold on to anything to remember them by even, that is how weak I am." Arrow was more mature then Flare, he would never cry when thinking about his past. Arrow didn't blame himself, but Arrow couldn't tell Flare to stop blaming himself. Arrow lost his parents, Flare watched his die right in front of him.

"Flare," Arrow said gently, "You still have your mother's necklace. It is still in a safe spot, trust me." Flare looked up and got even angrier.

"No Arrow! I don't have my mother's necklace, you do! You were strong enough to keep it safe, and protect it. Those things I can't seem to ever achieve! You say if I had to raise a young one I would be great, but that is not true Arrow! We would probably be hungry constantly and he or she would never feel safe enough to sleep, ever!" Flare said, inside his body was screaming. Arrow hugged him.

"Flare," Arrow said sounding calm, but demanding, "Silence these lies. You know that is not true. You thought of Derpy's filly, when I mentioned Derpy didn't you. You thought you might get a chance to meet her. You are already worried her, you want to know if she has a good life. You trust Derpy, completely I bet, but you know somethings you can not so alone, so you want to help Derpy make sure Dinky is happy." Flare pulled away and began to calm down, realizing what Arrow said is true.

"Derpy isn't Dinky's real mom," Flare said, "Dinky was abandoned, and Derpy found her. I want to know if Dinky ever thinks about this, is she possibly as strong as one of us about this situation? She had help for Derpy, I don't know if that makes her as strong as she is or what." Arrow then realized why Flare liked Derpy so much. It was easy, Flare had found some pony who cared, He had found some pony that had had not found when it was necessary, Arrow had not either. Flare needed a minute to breathe and completely calm down. The two continued down towards Sugarcube Corner,

When they reached it, Flare saw Rainbow Dash standing outside. "Hey Dash," Flare said "What are you doing?"

"Hey Flare," She turned to look at him and saw all the bandages. "What happened to you?" Flare completely forgot that he was all patched up still.

"Answering a question with a question, are we Dash?" Flare said, "Fine, I hurt myself while doing some really stupid things. Now, can you my what you are doing, and maybe the time." Flare had no clue what time it was.

"Yea it's..." Dash said peeking into Sugarcube Corner to see the time. "11:59, and it looks like my order is done I'm going go get it." Dash walked into Sugarcube. Flare and Arrow sat there.

"Remember not anytime before noon," Arrow said smiling. Flare looked at Arrow, and laughed.

"I have a minute to spare, it appears." Flare sat there and count sixty seconds. He then stood, but was stopped by Arrow. "What is wrong?" Flare asked.

"Let's be fashionably late." Arrow said with a smile. Flare sat down, he didn't know why, but he totally wanted to be just a minute late.

The Party

After one minute had passed, Flare nodded at Arrow. They didn't know what was going to happen to them, considering they were given strict orders not to be late. Flare arose from his sitting position first, Arrow did the same. Flare put his hoof on Arrow's shoulder.

"Arrow, whatever happens in there," Flare paused for dramatic effect "I need you know something, I love..." Flare paused again, it was really hard to say it. But, he knew he had to say it, Arrow needed to know. "muffins..."

"We all do Flare," Arrow replied, "We all love muffins, it is something we can't control... Wait what are we doing?" Arrow looked at Flare, who grinned. Flare walked up to the door and pushed it open, Arrow quickly followed. It was dark, but only for a second.

"Welcome!" Every pony in Sugarcube Corner yelled, making both Flare and Arrow jump. That, and the fact they were shot with confetti and streamers from a big blue cannon. The lights were all of sudden on, Flare didn't notice till a second afterward. Pinkie Pie then appeared from behind the cannon. She dashed over to Flare, giving him a crushing hug.

"Hey... Pinkie... How you... been?" Flare asked the best he could. He couldn't breathe, but he made the mistake of asking Pinkie how she was before asking her to let go. Flare couldn't do anything, or at least thing of anything to do.

"I'm great," Pinkie said letting go just to time to spare Flare. "But, Flare, you exactly one minute and six seconds late to my parity! I was so worried that you wouldn't come. But then you walked in, and I was glad glad we didn't waste a perfectly good party." Flare looked up at Pinkie from the ground still regaining his breath.He thought to himself, could Pinkie be stronger than Flare and Arrow together?

"Well, I'm sorry Pinkie, I didn't realize you got so worried about my absence." Flare apologized, he stood then continued. "Anyway Pinkie, this is my brother, Arrow." Flare motioned towards Arrow, Pinkie grinned. "Pinkie, be sure not to crush or hurt him, he is probably as sore as I am cut." Pinkie looked over to Flare and finally noticed all the bandages and patches.

"What happened to you, Flare?" Pinkie asked looking at all the patches, "Did some pony do this to you?" Before Pinkie could just go crazy with questions, or accusing any pony else, Flare shook his head.

"I was being stupid, like always." Flare told her, "No other pony caused any pain to me." Flare flat out lied about that one. Every pony around seemed to accept that answer, except for Pinkie. "Pinkie I was being careless in the Everfree Forest." When Flare said that, he heard many murmurs in the crowd of ponies.

Pinkie gasped, "Why were you in the Everfree forest?" Pinkie asked, she sounded like she needed to know or her life wouldn't be complete. Every pony in Sugarcube Corner awaited Flare's answer. Flare began to hate every pony looking at him.

"That is where I have been sleeping, anywhere dry in the Everfree." Flare replied, this shocked every pony even more. Now, Pinkie can we get started?" Flare asked, he was desperate.

"No," Pinkie marched over to Arrow, "My name is Pinkie Pie, and I have heard your new to Ponyville." Pinkie didn't hear anything, she knew.

"Yep, my name is Arrow. Flare is my brother, we both just happen to cross paths here again." Pinkie Pie smiled, and looked towards Flare, then back at Arrow.

"Now with two new ponies, we have successfully doubled the fun1" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, then he eyes lit up. "Maybe we could have double the parties!" Flare didn't like this idea, nor Arrow.

"Pinkie, I know you want to, but I really do not need a party to feel welcome." Arrow explained "Look we can still have double the fun for this one party, Flare can share the welcoming with me." Pinkie looked at Flare.

"Yeah, Let's make this our welcome party, Arrow!" Flare said trying to get Pinkie on board. "You don't mind, do you Pinkie?" Flare looked into the pink pony's eyes, they were no longer lit up. Flare thought she didn't like the idea, until another Pinkie hug attacked Flare.

"It's so nice of you to share with your brother, Flare!" Pinkie said, at this point Flare didn't know if she knew she did this or not.Flare was released a second later, only to be pulled close by Pinkie, along with Arrow on the other side. "Come on, you guys need to meet every pony else!" The crowd had begin separating, and Pinkie began to show the two all the other ponies.

Flare could remember only a few, since they had about fifteen seconds to meet each of them. Pinkie then dragged them to Derpy. "Hello again, Derpy!" Flare said with a smile. Derpy looked at the two.

"Hi, Flare! Hi, Arrow! isn't this gonna be a great party?" Derpy asked, Arrow just nodded, but Flare had to answer verbally.

"I sure hope so," Flare began, also he began to run short on words and blushed. Thankfully Pinkie pulled the two away, leaving Flare to just wave at Derpy. Derpy waved back. Pinkie pulled Flare towards the other Elements. "Hey guys," Flare said realizing he met all of them already too. "Oh sorry, girls, this is my brother Arrow, AJ you met him earlier right?"

"Yep, I sure did." AJ said tipping her hat towards the two. Twilight approached Arrow.

"My name is Twilight Sparkle, I run the local library her in Ponyville." She began, Arrow stuck out a hoof to shake, and Twilight did shake it. "If you ever need a book, tell me." Rarity then made her way towards Arrow, but as Twilight began to move Flare had a quiet question to ask.

"Will you be at the library after this party? I really need a book." Flare said quietly hoping only Twilight could hear. Twilight just nodded and walked past.

"My name is Rarity, I am happy to make your acquaintance." Rarity said, Arrow slightly took a bow. Arrow seemed to notice that she was a bit more fancy then anything else.

"Thank you." Arrow said. Flare looked at Arrow who then mouthed the words 'my lady' as treating her as royalty. Flare laughed at this, Arrow smiled and was glad some pony caught that. Rarity looked over at Flare, who then stopped laughing, and attempted to put his hoof behind his head. His shoulder cut had stopped him from doing so though.

Rainbow Dash then took Arrow's hoof and staked it. "My name is Rainbow Dash, we just met outside." She said, Arrow looked liked he got lost in thought for a second. Flare knew Arrow was trying to be funny.

"Did we really? I don't recall, anyway my name is Arrow." Arrow said, Flare tried again not to laugh. Dash just shook her head and smiled, she understood what he was doing. Sarcasm was one thing that Rainbow Dash used a lot, so she knew it when she saw it.

That left Fluttershy, Flare was going to have to help her meet Arrow. Flare lowered his voice to make it a bit easier for Fluttershy. "Fluttershy," Flare said softly and quiet-like. Fluttershy looked at him for a second. "Would you like to meet my brother? He is really nice, I promise." Flare got silent and waited for her response.

"Okay..." She said finally, and looked up at Arrow, who wasn't looking directly at her. Flare gave Arrow a quick glance, then Fluttershy took a step towards Arrow. "Hello... My name is... Fluttershy." Everyone looked at Arrow.

"That's a wonderful name, mine is Arrow." Arrow didn't use the same tactics as Flare, but whatever worked, worked. Arrow decided to back off, as did Fluttershy. After awhile she would open up and be okay with the two, at least Flare hoped she would.

"Good!" Pinkie Pie said, "Now just a few more to meet a few more ponies then we can start the party1" Pinkie took Arrow and Flare and dragged them towards a white unicorn with a dark green mane. Her mane went off to one side and completely covered that eye, a bit like Fluttershy's. Her mane went straight down and covered almost half her face, and it looked like a single spike. Her eyes were a ocean blue, Flare noticed this as they got close. "This is Clouded Sun, she is a unicorn!"

Thanks Pinkie," Flare said, then turned to Clouded Sun. "My name is Flare, and this is Arrow." Flare said and looked at the unicorn. For a second, she seemed to be lost in thought, but she then realized she was staring and answered.

"Oh, Sorry. My name is Clouded Sun." She smiled and held out a hoof, but as soon as Flare shook it, she seemed to lose herself at the sight of Flare. Flare knew something was bothering her, was it his fault?

"Is there something wrong?" Flare needed to know if he was causing this. Flare never liked causing any problem, and every time there was a problem he was always blaming himself first. Flare could never tell if this was really a good or a bad thing.

"Oh no, not really, I'm just thinking. You look really hurt, are you okay?" Clouded had asked, Flare wondered why she cared, but felt good that she did.

"I'm fine, I was just being stupid, I got what I deserved." Flare said, and then he looked for Arrow. he was sitting there minding his own business. It would appear as he didn't care about meeting any other ponies. "Well, is that all that was bothering you?" Flare asked.

"It wasn't really bothering me, I was just a bit worried." Clouded said, "Those cuts can become something major, if not treated properly." Flare was surprised at the last part. He had been bitten, beaten and thrown out windows, and this mare was saying that these cut were major.

"Well onto the next pony!" Pinkie said and started dragging them away. Flare waved, and Clouded did the same. Flare met all the other ponies, then the party had officially started. Pinkie grabbed the party cannon and shot it again. Flare wondered when did she reload that?

All the ponies began to do as they wanted, except for Flare and Arrow. They just looked around, and wondered what to do. "Just like old times," Arrow said, "right?" Flare didn't answer. "Flare?"

"Oh! Yeah, just like our last party, except we know every pony here." Flare stated. "So that makes it easier to go and do things." Flare still had to think what he wanted to do. He spotted Derpy, and he turned to Arrow..

"Go," Arrow said, "I'll find something else to do." Flare nodded and headed off towards Derpy.. She had two muffins, and she looked like she wanted help.

"Hey Derpy," Flare said, "Need any pony's help?" Derpy turned to Flare and gasped. She then made him sit down and she did the same.

"You'll play with me, right Flare?" Derpy asked, and Flare nodded. "Good! Now balance this on the tip of nose," Derpy placed one muffin on the tip and held it there. She did the same for her. "Now when I let go, we gotta balance the muffin for as long as we can. First to fall, loses and eats the floor fallen muffin." Flare got ready as Derpy began to count down. "Three, Two, One... Go!" Derpy said letting go of both muffins.

Flare had the muffin balanced for about one second, Derpy's hadn't moved since she let go. Flare's began to fall towards the floor. He tried to to catch it, but only succeeded in hitting it into the air. Flare was going to catch this muffin, so he jumped for it. This made Flare's shoulder's hurt really bad, in mid-air. Flare tensed up and watched himself and the muffin fall. He closed his eyes when he hit the ground, it hurt a little. When he reopened them, the muffin was no where to be found, nor was Derpy.

Derpy reappeared above him, flying with a muffin in her hoof, and another on her nose. She was amazing at this game. She landed and bounced the muffin from her nose and into her other hoof. "Here, you go Flare." She handed him his muffin. Flare took the muffin from her, and sat up.

"Thanks," Flare said, a little embarrassed, was he ever going to catch a muffin in need? "You are too good at this Derpy." Flare commented, and Derpy ate her muffin. Flare pulled the wrapping off his.

"I'm not that good," Derpy stated after finishing her muffin. "It is hard to beat Pinkie Pie with her cupcake balancing skills. She can balance a cupcake for about two hours with no problems." Flare was surprised to hear this.

"Okay then," Flare said, "That was fun, but I think I need some fresh air. See you later Derpy!" Flare waved and began his way outside. When he reached the door however, he got interrupt by three fillies in a wagon and one of a scooter. The one on the scooter came through the door at surprising speeds. Flare was right in the doorway, this caused a head on collision.

This caused the three fillies in the wagon to go flying. The one on the scooter flew off and hit Flare, they flew back another foot. There Flare was again, on the floor. "Are you okay?" Flare asked, he looked at the orange filly. It was a pegasus, but it's wing were to weak to fly, Flare felt it's pain.

"Oh, yeah." The filly said "I'm fine, I'm sorry I didn't see you there, are you okay?" Flare also felt pain in his shoulder, he felt it. The patch was damp, he was bleeding. He hid it from the small filly.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just need some fresh air." Flare said getting up, still not showing many other ponies he was bleeding. Arrow saw this immediately, and so did Clouded. Flare got up and made his way outside. He took the patch off, and saw it was true. Arrow came out, he was levitating a cloth with his magic.

"Let me see it," Arrow said, Flare just sat down. Arrow began to get the blood off and around the cut. "I would usually call you stupid or something for reopening a cut. But no pony expected to get run over by a filly on a scooter. You didn't expect that, did you?" Arrow wasn't joking, Flare had seen stuff coming like this before.

"Not this time, Arrow." Flare said. Clouded also walked out of Sugarcube Corner. She has a very concerned look on her.

"Please let me see your wound." Clouded begged, Flare nods and Arrow steps aside."It looks like this hurt terribly at the time, here I will fix it for you." Her unicorn horn begin to light up with a light green aura, and the cut soon follows. Flare then feels a stinging feeling, almost as bad as Arrow's knife.

After a second, Flare felt for the wound. It was completely gone. "What did you just do?" Flare was amazed he didn't know magic like that existed.

"I told you I would fix it." Clouded said, and smiled. That smile then became something serious. "Let me see the rest of your wounds." This time she sounded demanding. Arrow looked at Flare, did Flare trust her? Flare then began to take off the patches and bandages. Clouded begins to examine all the wounds. "Flare, who did this to you?"

"What do you mean?" Flare asked, was it that obvious that some other pony did this? She looked him in the eye Flare hid his worry, just in time. Clouded didn't by it though.

"I mean these are from some other pony trying to hurt you." Clouded explained, "I have spent years of my life studying wounds, healing magics, and everything like that. I can tell that some other pony did this to you!" Flare hung his head, she knew this wasn't natural.

"It was me," Arrow said, "I did this to him." Flare and Clouded looked over. Clouded had more of a surprised and confused face, Flare had a worried face. Flare would have to explain.

"He was making sure I was okay." Flare told Clouded, she went to talk and Flare hushed her. "I'll explain, Arrow is not really my blood related brother, but the closest thing I have to family anymore. My parents died when I was really young, you see and-"

"How did they die?" Clouded interrupted "Please tell me, If you don't mind."

"I don't, they were murdered right in front of me when I was really young. I escaped and ran away for a few days. At one point, I fell into a ditch, and decided my life was going to end there. I cried and cried remembering everything. I was cold, tired, and hungry, I was going to die. Arrow heard me and came to see what was wrong." Flare looked at Arrow, who nodded. "He had a little food for me, since I wasted all of mine in the first day or so. I told him my story and he told me his. We were going through the same things, except Arrow's had lost his a year earlier." Clouded looked up at Arrow, then back at Flare. "He taught me how to take care of myself, and then one day we split up, but he promised he would return. He did and he fought me to see if I was still holding strong. We have done this multiple times now, last time this happened was last night."

"I don't really understand why you guys would do that." Clouded said, "But you seem to be holding on tight, so why stop. Would you like me to heel the rest of these? It isn't a problem at all" Clouded offered to heal Flare all the way.

"If you want to, I don't care." Flare said, and Clouded began to heal all his wounds.It didn't seem to affect her one bit, casting that spell for a few minutes steady. Behind this little mare's figure, would lie a very strong magical source. "Thank you, Clouded." Flare said.

She just nodded, and the three trotted back inside. Flare spotted Derpy, with what would appear like Dinky. He headed towards that way. Arrow spotted the refreshments and headed that way. Clouded headed into a corner of the room.She glanced at Flare, her thoughts began to take over again.

"Hey Derpy," Flare said as he walked over "Is this the legendary Dinky, I have heard of?" Dinky looked up, surprised to hear her name then smiled. Dinky know that Derpy told Flare about her, that made Dinky happy.

"Yeah," Derpy stated proudly, "This is my little muffin." Dinky smiled at Derpy calling her that. "I caught Dinky, when she went flying earlier."

"Did you now? That's great," Flare looked at Dinky, "Hey Dinky," Dinky looked at Flare with confusion. "I'm sorry I flipped you and your friends out of that wagon, I didn't see you guys coming. Oh, I should tell you my name. My name is Flare."

Dinky smiled,"It's okay, Flare. Besides mommy caught me before I hit the ground." Flare enjoyed Dinky's happy attitude, and the fact he was forgiven easily. Maybe she knew it would probably never happen again. Then Flare saw Arrow by the refreshments, he needed to check this out.

"Thanks, Dinky. I have to go find something out now. I'll see you two later though." Flare waved to them and started heading towards the refreshment table.

"He is nice, mom." Flare heard Dinky say that, he smiled and continued towards Arrow. When he reached Arrow he had begin to he a cupcake.

"Hey, Arrow," Flare said, "How is that cupcake?" He waited to try and smell alcohol on Arrow's breath. Arrow turned to him, and smiled.

"Hey Flare!" Arrow said, "These cupcakes are really good. No, I'm not lying these are really good!" Flare smelled for alcohol, and smelt none. Arrow had been keeping his promise. Flare took a cupcake and bit it, and it was good.

"Your right, Arrow, this is really good!" Flare said after swallowing, making sure there was no crazy aftertaste.There was no aftertaste, that was good thing mostly. He finished and smiled. "That was really good, now time for something else." Flare began to walk away when three fillies appeared in front of him. One of them was the scooter filly, the others were in the wagon.

"Hey, I just came to say sorry for running you over earlier." The pegasus started, Flare shook his head.

"Guys, It's okay, I'm fine, no need to say sorry again." Flare said stopping them from continuing. "I was the one who caused you guys to go flying, I'm sorry about that. Anyway my name is Flare, and you are?"

"My name is Scootaloo!" The orange one stated. "I'm Sweetie Belle" The filly unicorn answered. She was almost pure white, but Flare noticed a hint of gray. "and I'm Applebloom!" The yellow skinned, red maned Earth-pony said. "And together, we are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" The three announced together.

"Well that is nice, I just got my mark last night. I could have gotten it a lot sooner, but I didn't notice until some pony said something." Flare told them, Flare didn't realize that he messed up. The Cutie mark Crusaders looked at his mark.

"That looks really cool! What does it mean?" Scootaloo asked.

"I can read dreams better than most, if it is meaningful. Ponies say you can control all dreams, but you can't control them all, some mean really important stuff." Flare told the three, "I can usually tell what it is saying."

"Oh, so like, once I had a dream that I was surrounded pony eating apples, and they tried to eat me. Does that mean anything?" Applebloom asked.

Flare thought for a second. "You are getting tired of apples, you are related to Applejack aren't you?" Flare asked.

"Yes, I am, AJ's little sister, and I am getting tired of apples, now that I think of it." Applebloom seemed surprisingly happy with Flare's answer. "You are really good at telling what dreams mean."

"Can you tell me what one of my dreams meant now?" Sweetie Belle asked, and gave the puppy eyes.

"There is no need for puppy eyes, I'll tell you each one right now. Scootaloo you don't mind being last, do you?" Flare said, and Scootaloo shook her head and began thinking of a dream to tell Flare.

"Okay, once I had a dream where, we were flying over the Everfree Forest, in a hot air balloon.We were trying to get our cutie marks. Suddenly, It popped and we went down into the forest, and it was really scary. We hit the ground and just ran, screaming! after about five minutes we ended up back in Ponyville where we started. Then I woke up."

"I'm guessing you guys try many thing to get your cutie marks?" Flare asked, and the crusaders all nodded. "Well, no offense but you guys don't seem to ever get them. What I see from this dream, is that you are worried you won't ever get your cutie marks.The balloon going down represents hope of getting one, and the Everfree Forest represents fear of never getting a mark. Ending up back in Ponyville, possibly means that you seem to always end up where you started after you guys try whatever it is your trying." Flare was surprised he saw this dream like this, Sweetie Belle probably saw it as a nightmare. "Arriving back at Ponyville, might also be saying to keep trying, maybe both. Does it make sense to you?"

"Yes, it makes a lot of sense when you put it that way. Thanks, Flare!" Sweetie Belle said, seemingly quite happy, it didn't seem like a nightmare anymore.

"Not a problem, Scootaloo, do you have your dream?" Flare asked softly.

"I once had a dream where I was soaring through the air." Scootaloo said, "I was hopping on clouds and having the time of my life. I began to zoom around really fast, and it felt like I was flying in empty space, it felt so good. I flew high and low, but then all of a sudden, I fell. My wings wouldn't work and I fell. Right before I hit the ground, I wake up, confused of what went wrong."

"Scootaloo, you can't fly yet can you?" Flare asked, she hung her head and shook it, nope. "Don't worry, here is what I'm getting at. You want to fly really bad, other then trying to get cutie marks this is a passion. You feel like if you flew, you could do anything. You hop on clouds, to represent the joy it would bring to you. You fly low and you fly high, because once you can fly your going to wanna go everywhere you can, just cause you can. Then you start to zoom off, because you would want to be fast. But I have a feeling it isn't for the Wonderbolts. Scootaloo, do you look up to Rainbow Dash?" Flare asking this made Scootaloo so surprised. She nodded, and Flare continued. "You want to be like her, is why that happens. And your sudden plummet, is to say that your not ready to fly yet." Scootaloo's face saddened. "You waking up, says you will be ready some day." Scootaloo still was a little upset.

"Oh, at least I know what it's trying to tell me now." She said, Flare could feel her sadness.

"Scootaloo, don't feel down. At least you wake up." Flare said softly and Scootaloo looked up confused. "If I had that dream, I'd hit the ground. You see Scootaloo, I can't fly." All the crusaders gasped. "I have a really rare medical condition that make my wings unusable for flight." Flare said this with a smile, trying to cheer Scootaloo up. "There is nothing I can do about it, I was born this way. Trust me, Scootaloo, I know how you feel, I want the feel all the joy and everything else up there. But, for me there is no chance, so I wish you good luck. Tell me how it is when you get to feel it."

"Did you give up on flying?" Applebloom asked, she was worried. Scootaloo seemed to feel sorry for Flare, not knowing it didn't effect him as much as other things did. Sweetie Belle sat there, quietly, lost in thought.

"My mother told me when I was young, really young. I took it pretty hard." Flare explained, "Even after I heard I had this condition, I tried to fly for two more years, before accepting my fate." Scootaloo suddenly looked worried. "This is not the case with you, you are far past that point that I am halted at." Flare said, comforting Scootaloo.

"So you did quit?" Sweetie Belle said. Flare didn't really quit in his mind, but had accepted what happened, It was getting harder to explain. Suddenly, Dinky appeared.

"He didn't quit," Dinky said, had Dinky heard it all? "It is just what he is born with, you can't blame him for stopping." Dinky also understood it. "It took him two years to get over that fact, and feeling sorry isn't gonna help now. This happened years before we were born." Flare saw that Dinky was incredibly smart.

"Thanks, Dinky. Guys, I'ma do some other things okay? If you ever want help crusading for your marks, I'll do my best to help." Flare smiled as he stated that. "See you later."

"Bye!" All three crusaders said, Dinky just smiled and nodded. Flare headed off, and again found Derpy. She was at the refreshment table. Flare approached her, and Derpy saw him coming.

"Your daughter just saved me." Flare said and Derpy looked at him. "Your daughter really knows her stuff, doesn't she? She understood me perfectly, and knew how to explain it to all the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Derpy smiled.

"She has always been very understanding." Derpy told Flare, "She always understood, even when I told her, that I wasn't her real mother." Flare looked up.

"But, you raised her perfectly." Flare commented. "You know, you're her mother Derpy, Dinky and I also know this. She loves you with all her heart and you do the same for her. It's the way Arrow and I work, and the way Dinky and you work. That is how it should be." Flare didn't know he was talking to Derpy, or at least the mother side of her.

"Thanks, Flare," Derpy said and gave him a hug. Flare blushed and was a bit embarrassed, even more when he turned and saw Dinky, looking right at them. Deciding it, would be great if Dinky didn't hate Flare, he decided to break the hug.

"No problem, Derpy." Flare said with a smile, and a pretty well hid blush. "That is just what I see." Derpy just gave him a goofy grin, and she also spotted Dinky.

"I have to tell Dinky that this party will be over in a couple of minutes." Derpy said, Flare looked at a clock on the wall, it was ten minutes until it technical ended. Derpy then left Flare at the refreshment table. He sat down, and spotted a bottle of wine, and he took a small cup. Flare poured the wine until the cup was at it's halfway mark. Flare didn't see it half empty, or half full, it was just half. Flare was going o get lost in thought, when Scootaloo saved him.

"Did I miss something?" Scootaloo asked, Flare turned to her, it was only her. "Do you like Derpy?" Scootaloo asked and Flare smiled. Well, Scootaloo found out, too! Flare thought to himself.

"Are you gonna be disgusted if I say yes?" Flare asked, wondering if Scootaloo was a filly that thought love looked disgusting or cute.

"Usually I would, yes." She replied, "But you two seem right together, but I don't know if Dinky agrees. Anyway I have been thinking about you not being able to fly stuff." Flare looked over, I have been thinking too! I think all you fillies are gonna drive me to drink!, Flare chuckled and looked at the glass again.

"What part were you thinking about, Scootaloo?" Flare asked, "Your not still worried about yourself right? Both I and your dreams see that you will fly one day."

"No, It isn't that." Scootaloo said, shaking her head. "Flare, doesn't it bother you? Your a pegasus, that can't fly, that can't feel good seeing all of these other pegasus fly around without any worry."

'Except for you, you are are walking around worried about me, and that shouldn't be." Flare turned to Scootaloo. "I don't feel any negative feeling when pegasi ask me to fly, I feel good, and happy for them. Listen, Scootaloo, I won't be able to fly, that is something that I have to live with. But, when you learn to fly, I'll ask Rainbow Dash, if she can go with you on a flight, sound alright?" Flare asked and the filly's eyes began to light up. "That seems like a yes, now will you stop worrying about me? Please?"

Scootaloo nodded. "Okay, Flare you seem to be fine without flight. Also, thanks for asking Rainbow Dash to fly with me, well you will." Flare nodded, "Well, I have to go do some other crusading, I'll see you later Flare!" Flare said goodbye and waved Pinkie then opened the door and every pony began to leave. The party had ended.A few waved at Flare and Arrow as they left, they waved back. Flare noticed that Clouded was the last to leave, when she did she turned at looked at Flare for a second and smiled, then proceeded with her life.

Flare looked back at the glass of wine he poured, and poured it back into the bottle. He then went up to Arrow. "Hey dude, I'ma help Pinkie clean up around here, You just do whatever, maybe explore the town a little."

"I think I might." Arrow said and began to leave. "Catch up with you later Flare!" Arrow left and Flare turned to Pinkie.

'hey, Pinkie mind, if I have the wine, from the refreshment table?" Flare asked, it felt weird to ask that. Pinkie looked at him.

"If you had fun at the party, and you help me clean up," Pinkie began, "then it is all yours. Flare, I didn't know you drank alcohol." Flare stopped her right there.

"Pinkie, I don't," Flare never had the courage to try it. "I just need it because I feel like I owe some other pony, wine might be a good way to pay them back. Understand? I, myself, do not drink." Pinkie nodded and handed him a broom and dustpan.

"Okay, that makes sense." Pinkie said, "You just sweep up everything I'll get the rest!" She hopped off and soon returned and began cleaning tables. Flare just sweep up things, he noticed he hated sweeping for one reason. That little line of dirt that never went into the dustpan. Flare began to hate it the more and more it happened. Pinkie Pie just laughed when Flare began to talk to the dirt line.

"Now, we can do this the easy way, or not!" Flare told the dirt, how things were going to be.

After about ten minutes, they were done, and Flare did received the wine, as promised. Flare said goodbye to Pinkie and walked outside, there was Arrow just sitting there. "Hey, Flare, I explored all that I wanted to." Arrow said.

"Of course, you did," Flare said, "Anyway, you didn't drink at all during the party, so here." Flare held out the wine, and Arrow took it.

"Well, Flare," Arrow paused for a second, "This is nice of you, I'll save it for a bit later though. So what do you wanna do the rest of the day?" Flare thought to himself, and came up with the best answer ever!

"I don't know, but I'm guessing you don't either." Flare told Arrow, and suddenly Arrow seemed to have an idea.

"I have something, I'm going back to the Everfree Forest, just to have some fun. Then you can do whatever you want. You can take care of yourself, just don't get arrested okay?" Flare nodded and Arrow waved and headed towards the Everfree Forest. Flare started walking towards the middle of town, when some pony called his name.

"Flare, can I talk to you about something?"

Clouded Pasts

Flare turned around, and saw it was Clouded. "Oh, hey Clouded, you want to talk?" Flare had asked her; he figured it had to do with the injuries she had healed.

"Yes," Clouded said, "If you don't mind, come with me. We can talk more in private." Flare then didn't know what to think.

"What are we going to be talking about?" Flare asked her, wanting an explanation before he started following.

"Don't worry, not anything that will get us in trouble." Clouded smiled, although Flare knew she was serious. "It might just get a little personal, but only if we force it to be. Better safe that we only hear, you can tell Arrow afterward."

"Arrow might not remember," Flare said, remembered that he just gave Arrow a bottle of wine.

"Why wouldn't he remember?" Clouded asked, there didn't seem to be a problem with him at the party.

“Because he might be drunk when I meet up with him later." Flare explained, "But, he earned the right to drink, though." Clouded was unsure what Flare meant.

“Oh, well I hope he feels okay in the morning," Clouded said cheerfully, "If not, bring him to me. I can make something to make him feel better." Clouded offering to help Arrow would make Flare's life easier.

"Why do you care?" Flare asked; he needed to know. "No offense, I appreciate your kindness, but we just met. You healed my wounds completely and offer to help Arrow; why?"

"If you will just follow me," Clouded began, "I will explain everything and answer every question you have." Flare figured that this meant that this was going to be personal, but then agreed to follow.

Clouded then walked past and motioned Flare to follow. Flare let Clouded get a hoof or two ahead of him and follow Clouded, but he didn't pay attention to anything around him. Flare was a bit more worried about what Clouded was going to talk to him about.

After a few minutes, Flare's thoughts were interrupted by a click noise. After all the noise Flare heard on the walk over here, a click made him come back to reality.

"This is my house," Clouded said opening the door. "Are you hungry?" Flare then really felt uneasy.

"You aren't going to kill me, are you?" Flare asked, thinking of all those freaky stories he read in books of cases like this. "If I eat whatever you give me, I'm not going to wake up to you operating on me, right?" Flare had heard some pretty dark things. "I don't see you as one to do that, but you never know."

Clouded smiled and looked at him. "Well, you’re just going to have to find out." Flare was rarely scared of anything, but this had put an effect on him.. Should I step inside? Flare thought to himself. Remaining calm on the outside, he simply nodded.

"Fair enough." He said as he entered Clouded’s home. "I'm not really hungry, though, but thanks for the offer!" Flare said, looking around the house. It was a bit bigger on the inside, as it looked small from the outside. Flare looked around, and began to feel safer, but didn't understand why.

"Come on, Flare," Clouded said closing the door behind Flare. "We can talk in living room." Clouded walked toward the doorway to the living room. Then she noticed Flare was stunned, just looking around. Flare broke free from whatever dazed him.

"What, oh yea, coming." Flare said realizing he was meant to follow. The feeling of safety made Flare feel uneasy. Flare was to never feel safe. It would weaken him, leave him open for attack. Flare wasn't falling for it; he pushed the sense of safety out, and turned it into a few crazy thoughts.

"Flare, are you okay?" Clouded asked, and Flare looked over at her. His thoughts were being quite judgmental to Clouded at the moment. It took him a second to realize he was blaming her magic for all this uneasiness.

"You tell me." Flare let that slip out as he thought it. Clouded looked at him then sat down in one of the chairs in the living room.

"Sit down, Flare," Clouded said, "and we can see if you are okay mentally, or physically, your choice."

"What do you mean?" Flare questioned, "I feel fine! After you patched me up at the party, I’ve been as good as new." Clouded told Flare to sit on her couch.

"Flare; there is something wrong with you." Clouded continued, she was now sitting in a chair across from her. "You hide it incredibly well; it’s a little scary how well. But, it is easier to seek than to hide. Something here is making you uncomfortable, I can feel it."

Flare looked downward; he didn't understand how she knew something was up. "Well, I really don't mean to rude, but you never said you weren't gonna kill me." Flare began, Clouded raised an eyebrow. "That could probably be the reason I feel a little on edge at the moment."

"But that isn't it Flare, I can tell you I won't kill you all I want, but you still will feel uneasy here." Clouded explained, "Flare, you are safe here, I am not going to kill you." She paused and Flare believed her, she seemed fine. "See, Flare, that wasn't it. Look around, what is bothering you?"

What? She still feels my uneasiness? Flare thought to himself. I don't understand how she can do this. Truth is I don't understand why I feel uneasy, but I also feel safe. Flare listened and began to let his eyes wander around the room. Clouded saw this as a good thing; at the least, he listened to her. I don't see anything... Flare looked completely around the room.

"Errr..." Flare all of a sudden felt as massive headache. He put his hooves on his head. It was terrible, every noise he heard hurt his head, worse and worse. Clouded didn't expect this, but she got up and left the room for a minute. Flare couldn't think; it would hurt.

Clouded returned with a cup; it was filled with something. Flare began to hate that he could hear hoof steps easily, because every step Clouded took hurt him. Clouded walked right up to him, and moved his hooves out of his face. Flare looked at her with blurry vision.

"Drink this." Clouded said putting the cup right to Flare mouth. Flare could smell it; it was going to taste terrible, but hopefully it would make him feel better. Flare took it and drank it. It was weird; this drink smelled terrible, but completely tasteless. Clouded then left again, and Flare's hooves found their way to his head again.

Flare sat there until Clouded returned with a couple cotton balls. Flare looked up; it was still a little blurry, but he could tell mostly what was happening all around him. Clouded walked up and without asking stuck a cotton ball in Flare's right ear. Clouded then layed Flare on his right side on the couch.

"I'm not going to force you, but it would be best to let the medicine take affect while you are asleep." She then put the other cotton ball into Flare left ear. She then sat across from him again, and put her hooves together and closed her eyes. Flare watched her for a minute, and then shut his eyes.

He couldn't seem to find sleep, but after what felt like days, his headache began to fade. Clouded noticed ten minutes went by, and Flare wasn't asleep. She decided to help him, and she walked up to him. She sat down, and her horn began to glow, putting it near Flare's head. Flare began to feel a little tired, and then felt a dream attack him. At first, he began to accept it, but then something was wrong. This dream was not natural, this was being controlled.

Clouded began to realize Flare was fighting off the dream. Afraid he was going to open his eyes, she stopped. She was confused; Flare was the only one who could block the dream out. It wasn't the headache, Clouded could have bypassed that. It was Flare, he was stopping it. Clouded didn't know Flare's talent was to do with dreams, understanding them, reliving them, and apparently, blocking 'fake' dreams.

Flare felt like he should open his eyes, but didn't. At first, He blamed the headache for that dream feeling unnatural. After a few seconds, Flare began to also blame the medicine. That had the weirdest side effect, Flare didn't know it was Clouded trying to get inside of his head.

Clouded waited a minute before trying again. As the dream began again, Flare wasn't going to accept. His eyes shot open, which surprised both of them. Clouded stumbled back, and Flare shot up to a sitting position. He looked around the room, seemingly terrified. Flare looked around for a second, until his eyes landed on Clouded. He opened his mouth to say something, and began to rub his eyes.

When he stopped and reopened his eyes, he sighed. He pulled the cotton balls out of his ears. He put his hooves on his head again. The headache faded quite a bit, somehow suddenly. It was still slightly there, but not that noticeable. "Flare, are you okay?" Clouded asked, worried that Flare didn't trust her.

Flare shushed her, "I'm sorry, but please, let me think." Clouded nodded, and Flare began to get lost in thought. What was that? What does it mean? Flare looked around, Why was I frightened? Flare had all these questions. Flare looked at Clouded. What was she doing to me? Better question is, why did see look like-...

"Oh!" Flare scanned the room once more. "Clouded, I understand. I understand my uneasiness, it’s this house." Clouded didn't understand, so she let Flare continue. "It’s a nice house, don't get me wrong. But, I’m willing to bet I know where everything is." Clouded was surprised, Flare really didn't show any signs of being unsure.

"What do you mean?" Clouded said, trying to sound simple, to cover up she got caught, "Do you want a tour of my house?"

"It would be pointless, I know where everything is. You’re lucky, yours is just a bit bigger in every room." Flare realized why the house looked small on the outside. "When I was younger, I lived in a house almost exactly like this." Flare finally admitted it.

"Do you mean, when your parents were alive?" Clouded just wanted to know. That could one of the reasons Flare's headache spiked so quickly.

"And after their deaths." Flare said, trying to decide what words to say next. "It was the only house I've ever lived in. It was where I had my best times, and my worst."

"Flare, if this is exactly how your house was built, can you show me your room, or maybe your parents?" Clouded asked Flare, hoping to learn just a bit more about his past, without directly asking. Flare felt his headache appear once more, but he was going to have to fight through it.

"Sure," Flare got up, and began to walk towards the way his room had been all those years. Clouded followed, and didn't like how silent Flare was being. As Flare entered a room down a hallway, he stopped. Flare seemed to tear up just a bit before speaking. "This was my room, and it appears to be a guest room here."

"You are right on that," Clouded told him. "Is it arranged like your room was?"

"Nope, not at all. I'm guessing you have the bigger room down the hall?" Clouded nodded after Flare asked her. "Well, you would have my parent's room." Flare got silent once more. "That would be the last room I saw, before I left."

"Were your parents...? I mean, did they die in that room?" Clouded asked, not realizing she was digging to deep.

"Yeah, they did, right in front of me." Flare said, and turned completely away from Clouded. "Clouded, I should get going."

"Flare, I understand." Clouded said with seemingly no emotion; nothing but a frown upon her face. Flare turned to her, tears were in his eyes.

"What? You understand what?" Flare didn't understand; what did she understand? "There isn't much to understand, Clouded."

"I understand," Clouded looked down, "what it's like to lose your parents." Flare eyes widened, did she really understand? "I lost them when I was just a filly" She started, but Flare shushed her, and explained why.

"We just met; no need to get all personal already." She smiled at him; he knew she didn't wanna talk about it. Not yet at the least. "What I told you isn't that personal; it sounds like you were just about to go into full detail. You can tell me later, when you fully trust me." Flare said that and surprised Clouded.

"You think I don't trust?" Clouded asked. Inside she asked herself if she truly did trust Flare. "Are you saying you shouldn't be trusted?"

"Not at all, I’m saying you haven't know me for even one day. Look, Clouded, I am your friend for sure, but do not take offense if I do not fully trust you on the first day we meet." Flare began to explain, "Remember how I hesitated on entering your house; you thought I was kidding when I asked those questions, didn't you?"

"You weren't?" Clouded was surprised to hear Flare was quite serious. She thought he was just messing around. "You were being serious about that, like the entire time?"

"Am I still am a bit concerned, I still do not know much about you. No offense if you aren't, but you telling me you lost your parents could be ..." Flare realized what he was saying at that point. "Clouded, I'm sorry."

"Flare, were you just going to say that I was using my parent’s death to lead you to trap?" Clouded asked sounding quite upset. "To drug you? Or kill you? Or something like that?"

"Yes, I should be punished for even thinking like that." Flare turned away and let a tear drop. He realized that he was a terrible pony, and that he deserved to be punished, quite terribly. "If you have anything against me now, please tell me or take out your anger now." Part of Clouded wanted to beat Flare with anything she found, until she found herself considering it.

When Clouded took a deep breath, she began to think for a reason why Flare would think that. She couldn't guess, so she was forced to ask. "Why would you think that?"

"I have only heard bad stories in my life, Clouded; ones of cheaters, liars, backstabbers and betrayals. I never want to be in one of those stories. So I really don't trust a lot of ponies, I have a fear that they would betray me. Arrow was the first, other than my parents, that I ever trusted." Flare said, feeling like he was a bad pony for not trusting Clouded. Explaining it only made him feel worse; he had to admit it, right in front of Clouded. It made it harder to admit, and accept that it was a fact.

"I understand, Flare, I'm not angry." Clouded now thought about the reasoning Flare had given. It was one of his biggest fears, admitting it seemed to leak fear around the room. Flare didn't really show it, but Clouded felt it. Flare smiled, he was glad she understood.

"You know, I shouldn't trust you, because you did put drugs in me." Flare smiled wider, trying hard to make it happy again.

"What? I didn't do anything!" Clouded hated being accused of things, she had never drugged ponies.

"Yeah you did," Flare said, on the brink of laughter at Clouded's confusion and rage. "What was that medicine you gave me? That wasn't a drug?"

Clouded suddenly smiled, "I guess you’re right, I did give you a drug," Clouded glared at him, "but you took it with your own will." She smirked and looked at Flare; it seemed to say something like 'Take that!'

Flare knew how to counter and accuse. "Or, you used your crazy unicorn magic on me and forced me to take it." Clouded's face showed surprised, and when she didn't fire after a few silent seconds, Flare got a bit worried. "Umm... You never did use any magic on me, right?"

"I did," Clouded admitted, "you seemed like you needed help sleeping, so I tried to force you to sleep. Somehow, you pushed back, and resisted it. It’s strange for a pegasus to be able to resist that type of magic." Clouded began to think how Flare did it.

"Lies," Flare stated, causing Clouded to look at him, "you tried to force a dream on me. I resisted it, since it was unnatural" Flare glanced at his mark. "I can't accept unnatural dreams and have a born immunity to them." Flare looked downwards, "I kinda don't have a choice to accept them or not, they will always get rejected."

"Your destiny involves dreams, doesn't it?" Clouded asked, and Flare nodded. "You’re not allowed to take fake dreams. You have to have actual dreams, so you can make meaning of them. So you can tell what each means, whether it’s a nightmare or a dream. Nightmares don't affect you as much, neither do dreams, because if they are meant to happen you figure out what it means, right?"

"You found the truth with a simple nod," Flare said smiling, "you are quite intelligent. I can also understand others dreams, or nightmares. Making them less scary, or much better. I am not allowed to dream fake dreams, because I need to really dream for others too." Clouded looked confused and looked like she was going ask something. "I'll explain," Flare got in before she did, "My last dream told Arrow if he left again something terrible would happen. He would die, and I couldn't be there to help him."

"Dramatic dreams." Clouded simply said. Flare nodded, agreeing with Clouded completely. But, Flare was glad he had these dreams. In his eyes, it was wonderful to have nightly warnings. The question in his head was, could he dream happily if there was nothing bad to come?

"Indeed dramatic," Flare looked outside the window, suddenly remembering something. "Clouded, I need to go. It was quite an, interesting visit." As he said that, they both looked down, knowing that is was true. "Well, like I said I have to be somewhere right now, and I totally forgot. If you have time, I can come back later."

"That won't be necessary, Flare." Clouded said, already turning out the door to leave. "I am sure you have other things to do." With that, Clouded walked out of room and back down the hallway. Is she upset with me? Flare thought for a moment. With one more look all across the room that looked similar to his as a young, he too exited the room.

As Flare opened the door to outside, he looked around for Clouded. She was nowhere near, so Flare simply yelled throughout the house "Bye Clouded, I'll see you later!" Flare heard no reply and stepped outside. Flare started heading towards Sugarcube Corner.

The only reason he was heading there because from there he could get to the library. He felt a little stupid admitting that to himself, that he couldn't navigate himself through a small town without checkpoints.When Sugarcube Corner was in view, he stopped.

Flare didn't mean to be rude, but he didn't want to be seen by Pinkie Pie again. It had been a long day, mostly full of confusion. The sun was now dropping slowly and Flare figured he should stop by before the sun dropped. Bumping into Pinkie would most likely stop that from happening. Flare had two options: run as fast as he could past Sugarcube Corner, or sneak around it by hiding behind anything he could. Both would draw attention to him.

Flare decided the first option. He could sprint pretty fast when he needed to. Flare spotted his target, the road that lead towards the library. With a look of determination he got ready. Only got one shot, let's make it count! Flare sprinted as fast as his body would let him towards the other street. Other ponies looked in his direction as he hurried as fast as he could down the path.

Flare didn't stop until he was halfway down the path that took him towards the library. He stood there looking at the ponies staring at him, and catch a little breath.

"Running from Pinkie?" A voice said from above, Flare looked up. It was Rainbow Dash.

"Is that normal to not want to run into her too much?" Flare asked almost having all his breath back. Rainbow Dash laughed at this question.

"For a newcomer like you, of course." Rainbow Dash replied. "I'm sure everypony understands why you did that." Flare was glad to hear that. "But I have a warning Flare, you cannot escape Pinkie if she needs you to do something, trust me I’ve tried." Flare didn't follow.

"What do you mean?" Flare questioned, and Rainbow Dash just smirked.

"You’ll see one day." And with that she flew off. She was fast, and couldn't escape Pinkie? Flare thought to himself. He looked around and all the ponies had continued what they were doing. Flare hoped Dash was right. He then walked down the road, towards the library.

After a couple of minutes, Flare was there. He knocked on the door. "Hold on" a voice came from inside, but it wasn’t Twilight's. As the door opened up, a purple and green baby dragon appeared. Flare was stunned for a second, but then realized staring was rude.

"Sorry, my name is Flare," He started, "and Twilight said if I needed a book that all I needed to do was ask." Flare stuck out his hoof for the dragon to shake.

"I'm Spike, Twilight's number one assistant." Spike stood proudly for a moment, the shook Flare's hoof. "Come on in, if you need a book, I can help you find it. Well, I'm going to need to, since Twilight isn't here right now." The baby dragon walked back inside, and Flare followed. Flare looked at all the books.

"Well Derpy hasn't been here again since the other day." Flare chuckled, it was kinda funny watching Derpy destroy more then to fix.

"I'm guessing you’re the one Twilight was leading to Sweet Apple Acres? She left a note explaining what happened and why she was gone." Spike told him, and Flare nodded and stood proudly for a moment, trying to imitate Spike.

"Indeed, I am that one." Flare said, dropping his proud pose. "So, you can help me find a book? Any book?"

"Yea, I know where most are because I have to clean them almost every time Twilight leaves them on the floor." Spike said, now sounding bored. Probably remembering all the time he did it.

"Well, when Derpy causes it, I'll be around; you can just find me." Flare said smiling. "Anyway," Flare paused and looked around for anypony else, and kicked the door closed." Look I need a book about love." Flare whispered. "Could you find one?"

"What about love, I need a bit more detail to get the right book." Spike said, "And why are you whispering?"

"Because, it needs to be our secret, and Twilight's too. I need a book about feelings of love; you know like what you feel like when you’re in love." Flare told Spike this, and Spike thought for a moment.

"Do you have a crush on another pony?" Spike said smiling, expecting Flare to deny. Flare shot him down immediately.

"Yes, I do. I have all these weird feelings around her, and I wanna know why." Flare said, And how to fight them.

Spike took his advantage again. "Who is it? If it is a secret I need full details before I can give you that book." Spike told Flare now whispering.

"Blackmailing? Quite an odd tactic for a book; look I'll tell you, but promise me you will not tell Twilight who, or tell the mare I like her. Agreed? "Flare asked, and Spike nodded and leaned in close.”It's, Derpy." Spiked gasped and covered his mouth trying to resist to laugh. That didn't affect Flare, he just wanted the book. "Spike, laugh all you want, on your way to that book and back, but please hurry."

"Okay, okay, I'll get you the book in a second." Spike started breathing to calm himself. He then walked towards the shelf and looked around it for a moment. He picked a book then walked over to a scroll. He began writing something. "Okay Flare, here is the book, keep it in good condition, or I'll get in trouble." Spike handed Flare the book. Flare put it in between his side and his wing.

Spike looked at him confused. "Um, won't you need that to fly?" Spike asked Flare.

"Nope, I would tell you why, but your cheap blackmail tactic will leave you guessing." Flare smiled and walked out. "Thanks, Spike!" he called out as he opened the door again. Flare walked out, the sun still falling. He began walking towards the way to the Everfree Forest. Flare began to think. This town is nice, but should I stay? Another question being do I want to live in the forest the whole time? Yes, yes I do. But what about Arrow? Oh no, Arrow! I need to go check on him!

Flare then sped up to high speeds once more. Please Arrow, don't hurt yourself... or others. Flare continued sprinting until he hit the edge of the forest. The book was slipping out from his wing, so he fixed it. Flare looked dead ahead and began walking into the forest.

He was panting from running, but he didn't want to stop moving until he found Arrow. Flare walked until he reached the spot where they slept the other night. What Flare saw scared him. Arrow's saddlebags were there, but no Arrow of alcohol. As Flare looked around he noticed that Arrow hadn't been here since this morning.

Flare began to scan his options finding only two once more. Okay, do I look for him? Or do I wait?" Flare thought for a solid minute before deciding. "I have to look for him, make sure he isn't getting himself into trouble." Flare said, only to himself. "Dang it Arrow, be good till I get wherever you are!" Flare talked to himself, and then starting heading back for Ponyville. He needed to find Arrow, fast.

Needle in a Haystack

Flare reached the edge of the Everfree Forest once more. He punched himself mentally for not getting rid of the book. It slipped his mind to maybe put it in Arrow's saddlebags that were laying on the ground. Flare didn't care enough to go back though, he wanted to find Arrow more than anything at this moment.

Flare began towards Ponyville, thinking about how hard this was going to be. Ponyville wasn't that big, but Flare didn't exactly know his way around. He knew only a few locations that he could get to without getting lost. Flare began to think, he was just at the library. Sugarcube Corner came to mind next.

Would it still be open? Flare didn't care if it was or wasn't. If Arrow was there, then he could go back. If not, Flare would have to begin a random hunt. Flare never liked having to hunt for Arrow. He knew it would always take forever to find him. Flare didn't know why he could never find Arrow, but it was always easy for Arrow to find Flare.

Then again Flare always tried to find Arrow solo. He never let himself be introduced to an entire town before. So he would ask around if necessary. With that thought in his mind, he begin to edge into Ponyville. Flare sighed, he knew the first spot he should check, Sugarcube Cube.

The place he had just avoided, would now hopefully be his savior. He would have to face Pinkie, but that was fine. If Arrow wasn't there, Pinkie just might know where he is. What time does that place close? Flare hoped he wouldn't be too late.

Flare continued onward until he saw Sugarcube Corner. He stopped, it seemed to still be open. He walked up to the front door, and knocked still unsure. Pinkie answered, and Flare expected the longest conversion in his life.

"Flare, what are you doing here? Oh wait, no, don't tell me I can guess." Pinkie put her hoof to her chin. "You want to get more muffins, no I know! You loved the muffins so much you came back to try some other foods, like cake! We have all sorts of cake, what kind would be good for you, though." Flare had to stop her before this got out of hoof.

"Uh, Pinkie I do not want any cake right now." Flare said hoping that would stop her for a few more seconds. It didn't stop Pinkie at all.

"Oh, you want it to go, okay! But we still need to figure out what cake to get you. Do you like chocolate?" Pinkie was about to unleash a horde of questions upon Flare. Flare didn't have the time.

"Pinkie, I do not want any cake, at all. Not right now, not any close in the future. Okay?" Flare gave her a questioning look.

"Do you like chocolate?" Pinkie repeated. Flare didn't know why she was still asking. Had he not explained it well enough?

"Why does that matter Pinkie?" Flare asked. He just wanted to get that question out of the way now.

"Because you didn't answer me, and you seem to be avoiding everything I'm saying." Pinkie now seemed a little upset. Flare messed up and had to waste more time fixing it.

Flare sighed, "Pinkie, I'm sorry." Flare looked away for a moment. "I'm just worried about thing something. I like chocolate, and when I want cake that will be fine. But I don't have time for games or cake, okay Pinkie?" Flare now looked into Pinkie's eyes. Does she understand?

"What are you worried about?" Pinkie asked, surprising Flare.

"Oh, I haven't seen Arrow since the party, and I wanna find him before something else does." Flare thought for a moment what would get Arrow in trouble here,

"Oh, I haven't seen him since the party. Come to think of it, why not? I mean, you come to visit after the party why hasn't he? That is a little rude." Pinkie was about to say more, but Flare stopped her.

"Heh heh. I don't think he means to be rude, Pinkie, can you forgive him?" Pinkie nodded, and Flare continued. "Thanks, I was going to ask you if you saw him, but you guessed it and told me before I asked." Pinkie smiled, she had guessed what Flare wanted, she was a professional after all. "Well, I guess I'm gonna go find him, bye Pinkie." Flare turned to go, but what stopped.

"Wait!" Pinkie said, and Flare looked back. She was no longer there. What the... Flare faced forward, and there Pinkie was looking right at him. "What is this book for?" Pinkie then showed Flare the book.

"What?" Flare looked under his wing, the book wasn't there. Flare laughed a little. "Pinkie, you are incredible, I don't know how you did it, but you got the book. I'll tell you what it's for, just because you took it from right under my wing." Flare lowered his voice, "I kinda have a crush on a mare." Pinkie looked like she should have gasped, but no noise came from her.

"Who?" Pinkie asked the dreaded question. Flare sighed and gave in.

"I'll tell you, if you don't tell any other pony, okay?" Flare knew he was leaking this out to too many ponies, and dragons...

"Cross my heart, and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Pinkie said this with much motion. Starting with crossing her heart with her hoof, followed by sticking her hooves high in the air. To finish, she stuck her right hoof in her left eye.

"That means yes, doesn't it?" Flare was pretty sure. Pinkie only nodded, it seemed a little weird, but then again it was Pinkie Pie. "Alright," Flare leaned close to Pinkie, and lowered his voice. "It's Derpy."

Pinkie looked at him, and Flare had no idea what she was thinking. "Okay." Pinkie said. Really? Okay, I kinda expected a bit more but I guess I shouldn't be wasting time. Flare thought, and Pinkie seemed to read it. "Tell me more! Oh! Do you think she is cute? Oh, I have so many questions!" I knew she would be...

"Sorry, but I really need to go. I need to find Arrow, so may I have that book back?" Flare asked hoping she would just give it back to him.

"Okay, but when you whenever you have time, you need to tell me more." She said, as she gave the book back. She seemed a bit less jumpy after Flare said that. Flare knew how to fix it. He sat and put his hand over his heart.

"Cross my heart and hope to fly," His wings shot outwards. "stick a cupcake in my eye." He put his other hoof other one of his eyes. Then, he laughed just a bit. I must look stupid like this.

"Okay! Don't break a pinkie promise, nopony breaks a pinkie promise." She warned very serious like. Then happiness returned. "Good luck finding Arrow!" She turned back and walked back into Sugarcube Corner. Flare dropped the pose. His wings, however, stay extended.

"That is kinda funny." Flare said to himself, he flapped his wings a couple times. "I really do hope to fly." Flare dropped his wings, and stuck the book back in between his body and wing once more. "No, I gave that up." He started walking away from Sugarcube Corner.

The "hope to fly" part of a pinkie promise stuck with him. It somewhat blocked him from thinking where else to check. He could not get the thought of flight out of his head. From Rainbow Dash asking, Scootaloo's dream, and the pinkie promise, thoughts of flight began to haunt Flare once more. It has been a few years since I have tried...

Flare tried to focus on finding Arrow, with little success. He needed to think of somepony that might have a clue where Arrow is. Then a certain pony popped into his head. There would be a small chance Clouded would know.

Flare began really looking at his surroundings. He wasn't far from Sugarcube Corner. Flare looked towards the way he was going. It was the same route to Clouded's house. He was glad he didn't forgot already, something Flare would usually do in a panic. Stay calm, Arrow is probably fine. He started towards Clouded's house.

By the time he reached her house, the sun had fallen. Flare wondered if Clouded was still even awake. He didn't want to wake her, but he needed to find Arrow. Flare lifted his hoof to knock, but thought one last time to not. He shook off the feeling and knocked.

The door was opened almost immediately, which surprised Flare. "Flare, what are you doing here?" Clouded asked. She was concerned, she didn't think Flare would return within a few hours. "Is Arrow okay?"

"That is what I came to ask about, I'm guessing you haven't seen him then?" Flare asked disappointed since he already knew the answer.

"No I haven't. Do you know anywhere he would go in Ponyville?" Clouded asked, trying to have even a clue where Arrow would go.

"I think he knows less about Ponyville than I do. I only know a few places myself." Flare thought about Arrow getting lost, as well as a possible intoxication. He had no idea how Arrow would act.

"Do you know if he has been to Ponyville?" Clouded asked, as she remembered that Flare and Arrow were not always together.

"Not that I know of." Flare thought hard for a second. "No, even Pinkie Pie said he was a new pony."

" What about when he was young? Pinkie may just not remember him." Clouded suggested, hoping that Arrow was not truthfully lost. If Arrow knew where he was, finding him would most likely be easier.

Flare couldn't be sure, Arrow rarely talked about his blood family, never had he spoken of good times. "I don't know, he could have, before I met him. Maybe Pinkie didn't realize it was him." Maybe Arrow isn't lost...

If Arrow did visit Ponyville before that would explain a few things. However, Flare would still need to find Arrow.

"Flare, do you want me to help look for him?" Flare thought about Clouded's question. Having an extra pair of eyes would help, but he shouldn't waste anymore of Clouded's time.

"No, I can find him myself." Flare told her. Clouded seemed to want to argue, but didn't. Instead, she only nodded.

"Okay, but you'd better make sure he is fine when you find him. Bring him to me if anything happens." Flare was a little confused at that statement.

"Why not Ponyville Hospital?" Flare asked. Not trying to be rude to Clouded, he believed she could fix Arrow up. Wouldn't the hospital have better equipment? And, maybe just a bit more experience...

"Well, you wouldn't have to explain, I would work on him right away, and I'm sure Arrow would prefer right here then over there." Clouded brought up some really good reasons. Flare would agree with them all.He knew she was right on the final reason, Arrow hates hospitals. Almost to the point where it would be more dangerous for Arrow at the hospital. "And, I bet you don't even know where it is." Clouded had Flare on that one, he didn't have a clue.

Wow, she is really smart, she makes me looks really dumb... "Alright, Clouded, I will bring Arrow here if there is any problems. Thank you for the help." Flare turned to go.

"Good luck, Flare, you better find him by tonight." Clouded warned Flare, he nodded.

"I plan to." Flare said and he began to trot off. He didn't really know where to go. He needed to know where things were to have a clue where Arrow would go. Think... um... Oh! Town hall might have something of use!

The town hall could help Flare out. There might be a map there, and if there was, everything would work out just fine. The only problem is that Flare had no idea where town hall was. Flare decided to pick a random direction and run. Flare knew it was a terrible plan, he didn't care though.

Flare started running down a road, and spotted a turn up ahead. He began to turn into the other road, when he met with a filly on a scooter. This filly was going quite fast, and slammed into Flare as he turned into the road.

Flare got knocked back a couple feet and had the air knocked out of him. The filly landed about a foot away from Flare.

"Owww..." The filly said, while Flare was trying to get air into his lungs. The filly sat up holding her head. "Are you okay?" she asked, not looking at Flare at all.

Flare tried to answer, but only ended up coughing, losing the little air he just obtained. The filly looked over at him worried. "Flare? Is that you?" Flare nodded and his lungs once more began to fill up with air.

"Scootaloo..." Flare took a small breath "We need... to stop... meeting like this." Flare said the best he could.

"No kidding. Sorry for running you over, again." Scootaloo said. Flare just nodded and began to fully get his breath back."So, what are you doing out here?"

"Looking for Arrow, how about you?" Flare asked.

"I'm going home from Sweetie Belle's. Where is Arrow? Isn't he your brother?" Scootaloo asked. If I knew, Scootaloo, I wouldn't be looking for him...

"Yes, he is and I haven't seen him since you ran me over the first time." Flare told her, Scootaloo just lowered her head. "But, that really isn't the point. I need to find Arrow and you want to go home. Is scooter still okay?" Flare asked glancing at it, Scootaloo looked at it as well.

"It looks fine. Do you want any help finding him? I could be.." Scootaloo gasped. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS FRIEND FINDERS!" Scootaloo yelled. Yeah, or Cutie Mark Crusaders Alarm Clocks...

"Well, there were a few problems with that sentence. But, anyway, won't your parents mind?" Flare asked, he hoped he wasn't getting Scootaloo in trouble. She thought for a moment.

"No, they wouldn't mind." Scootaloo said, with a little haste. Flare looked down at her, but decided not to question her.

"Alright, you will be careful right? If you get hurt, lost, or anything of the sort, I am responsible for you." Flare told her. He really did not want to deal with any extra drama because Scootaloo got hurt.

"When I am not careful? And, what was wrong with what I said earlier?" Scootaloo asked, getting annoyed with all of Flare's questions.

Well, for one, you have run me over twice in one day." Flare looked at Scootaloo, who realized he was correct. "The second time was both our faults really, so don't think too much on that one." Flare tried to make sure Scootaloo wasn't still feeling sorry. "Also, when you said 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' you were wrong. There is only one filly crusading for cutie marks around." Scootaloo then noticed that Flare was right.

"And, for the next part, I should have said friend finder." Scootaloo asked.

"Not exactly, if you wanted to be completely right, you could have said family finder. Well, that really doesn't matter really." Flare said, realizing he was wasting time. "What matters is finding Arrow, and getting you that cutie mark."

"Yeah!" Scootaloo agreed. "Okay, where do you think we should begin?" She asked. Flare sighed, he should of figured that the filly wouldn't know of any where to go.

"Well, I was going to the town hall before we crashed. I checked Sugarcube Corner already, he wasn't there." Clouded's house wouldn't be important to Scootaloo.

"Why would he be at town hall?" Scootaloo wondered, she didn't think Arrow would want to go to some place so boring.

"I don't think he is. I hope to find some leads.and maybe get a map." Flare needed some sort of clue, or else he would just wander everywhere and never find Arrow.

"That is actually a really good idea." Scootaloo commented. "But do you know when Town Hall closes?" I was kind of hoping you would know...

"The question really is, do I care? We need to go there, time is wasting away." Flare looked ready to go. Scootaloo picked up her scooter.

"Um, Flare, what is that over there?" Scootaloo pointed and Flare looked. Oh, it is only the book... Flare walked over and picked it up off the book. Scootaloo trotted up beside him. "What is that book for?" Scootaloo asked.

"Nothing too important, at least not at this moment." Flare said tucking it under his wing once more. "Well, are you ready to to town hall?"

"You know it."Scootaloo hopped on her scooter. "I don't have my wagon, so you'll just need to keep up." Scootaloo told him.

"Shouldn't be too hard." Flare said, and that forced Scootaloo to glare at him. What did I do?

"Is that a challenge?" Scootaloo asked as she grinned. Oh great, she is one of these ponies, I should have guessed... Scootaloo appeared to want to race, and Flare used this to his full advantage.

"You know what, let's just see how fast you can get to town hall, I will be right here the whole time." Flare said as he moved to the left of Scootaloo.

Scootaloo continued to grin. "Alright, it won't be easy to keep up, but you really asked for it." Scootaloo said, and then with a burst, went off in the direction Flare had just came from.

Of course... Flare raced off after her, and the book slipped a little. First, I bring this dumb book, then I head completely in the wrong direction. He looked towards Scootaloo, who was two to three scooter lengths ahead of him.Wow, I must admit, she is pretty quick on that thing.

After a few minutes, they were at town hall. The book somehow managed to stay under Flare's wing. "We are here! And you even kept up with me the whole time." Scootaloo said.

"That we are, and that I did." Flare replied. He then walked up to the door and pushed slightly on it. "Locked, of course." Flare said as he pushed the door slightly harder.

"What are you going to do now?" Scootaloo asked, and Flare needed a second to think.

"You go wait over there." Flare said, as he pointed towards a bench. "I'm going to go get a map." Scootaloo gave Flare her questioning look. "Please? I'm just going to be five minutes." Scootaloo sighed and proceeded toward the bench. Flare started walking around the building.

Flare continued around the building until he saw a slightly opened window. I'm going to get that map. Flare trotted over to the window. This shouldn't be too hard... Flare opened the window and gulped, and continued to climb in.

He hit the floor with a small 'thud'. "Owww..." Flare whispered, realizing the book made the small fall really uncomfortable. Flare rose off the floor. He looked around the dark room. Flare didn't spot anything to do with maps. He did see a desk and walked up to it.

Flare began to search the top of the desk. He had to pick up things to see what they were. He still found no maps. Come on, I'm going to be in deep trouble if I am caught. Flare began searching the drawers.

At the last drawer Flare checked, he found a map. "Finally." He whispered to himself and turned around. He then got blinded by a light.

"Who are you?" A voice yelled. Flare looked towards the window as best as he could. He quickly slipped the map next to the book, under his wing. Flare ran for the window.

"Ahh! I'm sorry!" Flare yelled and jumped out of the window. He ran towards Scootaloo. "We need to go, come on!" He said with great haste as Scootaloo got on her scooter. Flare then heard whoever caught him calling for help. Scootaloo heard too, and tried to get going. Flare started running down the nearest path, Scootaloo followed.

After a few minutes, they stopped. "Flare, what did you do?" Scootaloo asked. Flare panted slightly, and gave himself a second before answering. He took the map from under his wing.

"I got the map." Flare said and smiled.

"Flare, this isn't funny. You just broke into town hall, didn't you?" Scootaloo stared down Flare.

"Yes, I did." Flare said and then sighed. "Look, Scootaloo, finding Arrow is a bit more important to me then not going to jail. Listen, Scootaloo, you need to choose. Your safety or my comfort. If you stay with me and help me find Arrow, I will owe you more then just one. But, that comes with the risk of you possibly getting in trouble being with me." Flare told her,

"But, what if I go?" Scootaloo asked, concerned Flare wouldn't like her afterward.

"It is understandable. It will be okay, you will be safer away from me, and you have already done a lot for me. I don't mind if you want out of this before it gets bad." Flare told her, Scootaloo needed a moment to think.

"This is hard, why don't you pick?" Scootaloo asked, unsure of which to choose. Flare shook his head.

"It is your choice, you are big enough to make this decision." Flare said to her, his voice was calm.

Okay, I'll try." Scootaloo said, and looked towards the ground. She thought really hard for a few moments. Her head soon rose again. No, Flare, I'm staying with you!" Scootaloo blurted out. "We need to find Arrow!"

"Thank you Scootaloo. I will try my best to make sure your parents blame me for your being so late." Flare said, and Scootaloo's eyes returned to the ground.

"Flare, I need to tell you something about my parents." Scootaloo said, and Flare looked at her. He trotted up beside her, and put his hoof on her shoulder.

"Is it, that you don't have any?" Flare asked softly and Scootaloo's eyes widened slightly. She looked at Flare.

"How did you know?" she asked. Scootaloo was slightly tearing up. Flare took his hoof and put it now on Scootaloo's other shoulder. He pulled her close.

"I could feel it. I know that look, that sadness, and loneliness. To not have anypony to come home and understand you everyday. To have only yourself to turn to, it begins to hurt and slowly kills you inside. You begin to care less and less about anything." Flare paused for a moment. "I was maybe a little younger than you when I lost mine." Flare admitted.

"But, what happened to them?" Scootaloo asked, Flare took a deep breath. He was being to relive it in head.

"They were murdered, right in front of me." Scootaloo's eyes widened and she quietly gasped. "I should have died too, but instead I ran. I couldn't do much of anything else." Flare closed his eyes.

"I'm so sorry." Scootaloo began, but Flare would not allow her to feel sorry.

"No, don't be. I'm fine, and you will be too." Flare opened his eyes. "If you what, we can talk later about this. But, I doubt you want to at this moment."

"Yeah, sure, we need to find Arrow." Scootaloo said. Flare nodded and took his hoof off Scootaloo. He began to open the map.

"Alright, now with this, it should be easier to find him." Flare said as he began to look over the map.

"Any guesses on where Arrow might have gone?" Scootaloo asked as Flare was looking over the map.

"Yeah, maybe here." Flare put the map down on the ground so Scootaloo could see. Flare then put his hoof down on the point of interest.

"Flare, that is a bar."Scootaloo told Flare. He gave Scootaloo the map.

"Exactly, and you are gonna show me where it is exactly." Flare answered back.

"Flare, I can't go in there, I'm underage." Scootaloo said, and Flare laughed.

"Really? I thought you were like, what twenty? Ahh well, just show me where it is. I can do the rest." Flare said smiling.

"Alright fine, but we are going through alleys and such. It'll be quicker, and now I guess you have to avoid anypony." Scootaloo sighed as she realized how troublesome helping Flare would be.

Yeah, sorry about that." Flare apologized "I didn't think I'd get caught."

"Well, tell that to the police. Let's just go." Scootaloo gave the map back to Flare and got onto her scooter.

Flare tucked the map under his wing, and they were off. They made their way through alleys and quickly got off any roads or paths. After a little while, they had arrived.

"Alright this place still looks open." Flare sighed in relief. "Okay, I'll go see if he is there. Want anything when I come back?" Flare said, still joking about Scootaloo's age.

"No! Just be sure not to get in anymore trouble." Scootaloo warned. Flare nodded and headed into the bar.

As Flare entered he looked around the room for Arrow, who was nowhere to be found. Hmm, I wonder where else he would be. Just then Flare had a voice aimed at him, slightly slurred.

"Hey, aren't you a little young to drink?" A female pony asked.

"I'm of legal age." Flare replied. "But, I'm not here to drink." Flare turned to look at her. This pony had a purple-like coat and a cerise mane. Her mark was grapes and a strawberry..

"Then why are you here?" She asked.

"I'm looking for somepony." Flare went on describing Arrow. "Have you seen him?" Flare asked.

"I did, in fact he gave me something. Let me show you what is left." She pulled out an empty bottle from behind her. Well, that is the same bottle I gave Arrow earlier.

"Did you drink all of that?" Flare asked, slightly concerned at this point.

"Yeah, don't judge me for it." She said, looking straight at him.

"Don't worry I won't. I just wanted to know, you must be pretty strong to down the whole bottle." Flare commented. Well, Arrow isn't drunk. I don't know how she isn't completely smashed... "Well, thank you for your help, umm..."

"Berry Punch, and no problem. You just be sure to tell him thanks when you find him." She told Flare.

"Will do." Flare said leaving leaving the bar. He looked for Scootaloo, who wasn't nearby. Flare had no clue where she would've gone.

"Hey!" A voice came out towards Flare. He jumped a little bit to it. "Your coming with me." Flare realized he had been caught. Well, this is a downer...

" Alright, don't worry, I will." Flare took the map and book from under his wing. Here is everything I have on me." Flare held it out. The officer pony, who yelled, took it and lead Flare back to town hall. There was an older pony waiting for him there.

"You found him?" She asked as they approached.

"That he did." Flare answered for the officer.

"What do you want me to do with him?" The officer asked.

I'm going to ask him a few questions, be sure he cooperates." The older pony said.

"Alright, Miss Mayor." The officer said. Mayor? I'm screwed...

"My first question, what were you thinking?" Miss Mayor asked, now directed at Flare.

"I needed a map, and town hall was closed. Well, except for the window. I really needed one, so I went a got one." Flare explained.

"Is that all you took?" She continued.

"Yes, there was no desire to break in at all. I'm really sorry I had to do so." Flare told her the truth.

"And what about this book?" Miss Mayor now had it in her hooves. "Where did you get it?"

"That is borrowed from Twilight's library. I just borrowed it this night." Flare told her.

"Well, I would love to completely believe you, but we must go verify this with Miss Sparkle." Miss Mayor said already going the direction of the library.

"I understand entirely." Flare said, and began to follow by choice, instead of by force, This can't be happening... Is she mad at me or not? The officer still stayed at Flare's side. They pasted by Clouded's house on the way to the library. Flare frowned. I hope Arrow is okay... Flare remembered he said he would tell Clouded if he was or not.

They got to the library, and the officer knocked on the door. About a minute later Twilight appeared. She noticed Flare, and he waved with a silly grin. Hi Twilight, please get me out of this. Flare thought, and then realized how correct his thoughts were.

"What is going on here?" Twilight asked.

"This individual was reported breaking into town hall. When we caught hum, he had two things, a map from town hall, and a book." The officer got the book from Miss Mayor and gave it to Twilight. "Did you lend this book to him?" He asked.

Twilight thought for a second. Oh no, did Spike not tell you? Oh no... "Spike said he had lent out a book to him, but he didn't say which. But yes, he was lent this book." Thank you Spike. I'll pay you back, somehow...

"Alright," Miss Mayor turned to Flare. "I'll give you a warning this time."

"Thank you, Miss Mayor, it will not happen again." She nodded and the officer gave the map back to Flare. They then, took their leave.

"Would you like to explain?" Twilight asked. Flare grinned again and shrugged.

"Not really..." Twilight glared at Flare. "But, I guess I owe you it, don't I?"

"You kinda do, and why are you so happy? You were almost imprisoned." Twilight said, Flare caught a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"That's it right there. I'm not going to jail!" Flare's grin turned into a smile. He did a small happy hop.

"Well, that's just great, but you still need to tell me why you did what you did." Twilight said, and his smile faded.

"Fine, but you need to answer one question." Flare said and Twilight nodded. "Have you seen Arrow since the party?"

"Well, no." Twilight began, but Flare interrupted her.

"Exactly, no pony has. I have been searching for him, and I plan to find him." Flare explained.

"And that involved breaking into town hall?" Twilight asked in her 'are you crazy1?' voice.

"Yes, apparently so." Flare told her. "And, yes, I am crazy and understand how much trouble I should be in."

"Do you really?" Twilight continued asking questions.

"Yes, I do Twilight." Flare looked at her. "Twilight, do you think you could hold onto that book for the night? It has just been an annoyance since I got it. I am going to look for Arrow some more"

Alright, fine, just don't break into any other place." Twilight warned, and took the book inside. Good, now that ,that is over, I can get back to finding Arrow. Flare took off in the direction of town hall.

"Flare, wait up!" Flare stopped and turned around. Oh no...

Once more, Scootaloo rammed right into Flare. Scootaloo went flying a few feet past Flare, who hit the hard hard.

"Scootaloo, what was that about?" Flare asked as he began to stand.

"Flare! I think I saw Arrow!" Scootaloo announced.

Memories the Good, Bad and Ugly

Flare's ear perked up. "Are you serious?" Flare asked.

"Why would I not be?" Scootaloo said answering a question with a question. She got up and flinched for a second. She felt her arm, she could feel blood.

"Yes! Alright let us... uh, Scootaloo, are you alright?" Flare asked, noticed Scootaloo holding her arm.

"What, oh, I'm fine. It is just a scratch." Scootaloo said trying to be reassuring, but Flare saw she was hurt.

"Scootaloo, can I maybe see that cut for a quick second?" Flare asked as he moved closer to remove her hoof from her arm. Scootaloo, however, moved closer to her scooter.

"There isn't anytime for that Flare! We need to make sure Arrow doesn't go anywhere." Scootaloo said, getting onto her scooter, and angled herself so Flare could not see her still bleeding shoulder.

Alright, fine, somepony is going to see the doctor after this. Flare sighed. "Okay then, just lead the way."

Flare followed Scootaloo the streets. He was just glad that the two could travel freely without being wanted.

After quite a few road turns, Flare began to think Scootaloo had no idea what she was doing.

"Scootaloo!" Flare called her, and they both slowed to a stop.

"What Flare? We are almost there." Scootaloo said. She sounded slightly tired.

"Are you sure?" Flare questioned while panting slightly. "You seem to just be running around like a chicken with it's head cut off."

"What?" Scootaloo was a little surprised at that comment. Oops, I guess that is a bit too graphic for her.

Flare sighed. "It just means you seem lost, or you just don't know what you're doing." Scootaloo didn't like to hear this at all.

"Okay, I admit it, I made a couple of wrong turns!" Scootaloo said with haste. Flare drew back a bit.

"Look, Scootaloo, chill." Flare stuttered. "I didn't think you would get mad at me. Look, if we are lost, let me just check the map." Flare reached for the map. What the? Where is... uh oh...

"Flare, why are you making that face?" She got worried, seeing that Flare had a confused and worried look on his face. This was soon replaced with a lying smile.

"Oh, nothing. Here it is." He held out an empty hoof. "Let's take a look, shall we?"

"You lost the map, didn't you?" Scootaloo said, not surprised in the least. Flare just continued his 'innocent' smile.

"What? No, silly Scootaloo. It is right here, I just turned it invisible." He chuckled slightly. "You thought I lost it, that is funny."

Scootaloo did not seem amused at all. "Whatever, let's just go." She said and turned around to get going again. Well, it seems I have pushed her nerves too much. At this point, I'm an annoyance to her.

After a few more minutes, the two got back on track. Flare stay silent through this, he didn't want to make Scootaloo anymore annoyed.

After the next few turns, they started towards a pond. There was a unicorn sitting on the edge of the water. Flare realized it was indeed Arrow.

"Alright, there he is." Scootaloo announced. "I did it." She turned and looked at her flank. Disappointment appeared on her face.

"Flank still blank?" Flare asked and only got a depressed sigh in return. "Hey, don't be sad. Think, you helped me a lot more than a lot of ponies have or ever will." He looked at her directly. "I will get you your mark, or at least assist you in getting it."

Scootaloo smiled, but before she could say anything, Flare spoke. "Hey, do you wanna see something that is hopefully funny?"

"Sure" Scootaloo said as Flare turned to look at Arrow. Flare dashed at Arrow.

"Arrow!" Flare yelled, completely unconcerned that ponies could be sleeping at the moment. Arrow turned and saw Flare coming in fast. "Come at me bro!" He yelled and leap towards Arrow.

Arrow ducked just enough to dodge Flare. Flare ended up gliding straight into the pond. He hit the water with a mighty splash. Scootaloo busted out laughing.

"What the hay is going on?"Arrow asked. Scootaloo tried to answer, but couldn't get the answer out right away due to laughter. Scootaloo rode over to Arrow. Flare reappeared from the water.

"Ah, This is cold! Arrow help!" He said as he began to swim to the shore.

"You!" Arrow replied and levitated a rock. Using his magic, he shot the rock at Flare. The rock glided through the air, and it struck Flare in between the eyes.

Scootaloo's slight laughs turned to small gasps. Flare went under the surface of the water.

"Arrow, what was that about?" Scootaloo turned to Arrow. He was watching the area where Flare went under.

Here it is...

Flare's upper body shot out of the water. He had the exact rock that Arrow hit him with in his hoof. He launched the rock straight towards Arrow.

"Nope." Arrow said as he stopped the rock inches from his face with magic. Arrow then shot the rock at Flare again.

This time, Arrow hit right above Flare's right eye. Flare went under again. Oww... Okay, that one hurt...

Flare sunk to the bottom of the pond. Flare began to try to swim upward, however it was becoming very difficult to so. His wings were getting weighted down by the water. Crap...

"Flare." Scootaloo called out. Arrow was scanning the water for movement.

Where is he? Arrow thought to himself.

"Arrow you have got to help him!" Scootaloo commanded, her voice full of worry.

"He'll be fine." Arrow replied, but was slightly starting to believe that Scootaloo could be right.

Scootaloo glanced back and forth, unsure what to do. She found herself jumping for the water. "Flare!"

Arrow stopped the filly with his magic. "Woah, wait and calm down." He told her.

"He is going to drown!" Scootaloo exclaimed. As if on cue, an great amount of bubbles arose from the water.

Come on... Almost there... Flare had almost no air left in his lungs. His wings were heavy. He could feel that his last strength was fading fast. No... I-I'm going to die here... Even in Flare's situation, he managed to smile. Flare finally gave in and quit struggling. He gradually sunk deeper.

I guess it isn't such a bad thing... dying down here... I'm actually okay with this... Sorry Scootaloo, I guess I can't help you with that mark... poor filly... Flare closed his eyes. He could feel himself drifting through the water.

Flare heard very mumbled voices above the water, they were also quite loud. He couldn't make out a single thing, but what really was the point? He was out of air and couldn't answer if he wanted to. He slightly opened his eyes, that is all he really could do at this point.

He couldn't see a thing really, it was dark outside with only the moon and stars for light. That and he was about to pass out due to oxygen. Even though he was close to unconsciousness, he could feel something was weird.

What surprised him, was the fact he was now drifting upward at a bit faster pace then before. How am I... Arrow..? It was going to be really close. Either he was going to drift out of consciousness or he might have a chance to breathe. Which one? That was the question that haunted him.

To Flare's luck, he could feel that he was free from that water's grip. He started coughing up water, it was painful but he was okay with it. At least he could slightly breathe once more. Arrow levitated him over to the shore and set him down. All he could do is continue to cough and try to breathe.

"Flare, are you alright?" Scootaloo asked hastily. Flare was still coughing pretty bad, and all he could do was nod slightly.

Arrow came over and began to examine Flare. Over Flare's right eye was a small cut. Flare was soaked, and it was difficult to tell if he was bleeding or not.

"Well, it looks as if you are fine." Arrow commented. Scootaloo turned to him.

"Fine!? He almost just drowned! Why would you throw a rock at him anyway?" Scootaloo questioned. Flare wheezed trying to answer for Arrow, but nothing came out. "Well?" Scootaloo continued.

"He almost tackled me into a pond." Arrow responded calmly.

"So you almost drown him?" Scootaloo said, almost to the point of yelling.

"Scootaloo..." The two turned to Flare. "You need... to calm... yourself..." Flare managed to say with small breaths. He was still coughing little bits of water out.

"Flare, you almost died." Scootaloo told him. Oh really? I would of never guessed.

"But... I'm fine..." Flare explained. Arrow looked down at Flare.

"Regain your breath, she is right, I almost killed you." Arrow admitted. He looked as if he had more to say, but he didn't. He glanced at Scootaloo, who was sitting next to Flare. Then turned his gaze to the pond.

Flare turned his gaze as well. He tried to calm his breathing. He also noticed that Scootaloo was staring right at him. Poor filly, I really messed up. She is still shaking, I'm gonna have to apologize. This is my fault anyway...

Scootaloo still was a bit shaky. She was almost crying. It was painful to see Scootaloo like this.

After gaining enough breath to talk clearly, Flare spoke. "Scootaloo, I'm sorry I scared you."

"But it isn't-"

"Yes, Scootaloo, it is my fault." Flare turned to Arrow. "What was your rock launching problem?" He asked.

"Well, why were you trying to knock us into the water?" Arrow questioned. Well, for starters, both of us had really no chance in dying.

"Well, for one, we both would be soaked , and cold." Flare replied, giving 'cold' a greater volume then the rest of the sentence.

"You wouldn't be cold if you didn't decide to take an underwater swim." Arrow shot back. Flare glared at Arrow.

Scootaloo looked as if she wasn't going to deal with these two fighting. She was really surprised when she heard Flare laughing.

"Arrow, you could be a soulless monster if you tried." Flare paused and turned away. "Thank Celestia that you're not."

"You should be more thankful that you're alive." Arrow commented. Flare chuckled.

"You have saved me like four times now right?" Flare laughed. Scootaloo didn't understand, why was it funny that Flare has almost died multiple times?

"Yeah, and what have you done to repay it?" Arrow asked. Flare had to think of something he had to suffer through because of Arrow.

"I gave you a piggyback ride and let you vomit on me. I didn't say anything about that." The two laughed while Scootaloo looked a bit more disgusted then anything.

"Yeah, I don't know who that was worse for. I'm surprised that you are laughing about too." Arrow added in.

"Yeah," Flare's attitude made a swift change. "Arrow, thanks"

Arrow looked towards Flare. "No problem." The moment after was silent, nopony seemed to know what to say next. Thanks you Arrow, a lot. You don't know what that actually means to me...

"Flare." He turned to Scootaloo. "Are you okay now?" She asked. Flare admired her for a second. She really is cute, even though she looks a bit scared and shaky still.

"I'm fine, thank you." He replied and turned back to Arrow. "As for you, I have a question."

"Is that so?" Arrow asked, and Flare just confirmed with a simple nod.

"Have you been in Ponyville before? Or is this your first time?" He asked. Arrow stayed silent for a moment before answering. His eyes closed.

"Yes, when I was very young. It was a family vacation and one of the few memories of my father." Arrow looked towards Flare and opened his eyes.

"Pinkie didn't recognize you?" Flare asked.

"No, I was different back then. You see I had a light green mane, almost lime. My coat wasn't blue, it was a shade of purple." Arrow paused, as he thought of the way he used to look. "That is why nopony recognized me."

"What happened?" Scootaloo asked. Arrow turned his gaze towards her.

"My father didn't like the way I looked. Said I looked ugly and poor." Arrow looked downward at his hooves. "I liked the way I looked, but it wasn't like that for him. One day, my father woke me up and took me away from the house. When I asked him where we were headed, he told me that we were going to fix something." Arrow answered. Each breath that Arrow took was suddenly easy to hear.

"So he took you, to change you." Flare whispered.

"Yes, he took me to a group of unicorns. We were in the middle of nowhere, and even if it was the middle of the night they hid with hoods and masks. I was already afraid, and then they chained me to the ground. I looked towards my father for an explanation, he said nothing. Instead, he nodded to the unicorns and they all circled around me. They were whispering something. Something I couldn't make out, my only guess is that it was pure evil. Chants or insults, something like that." Arrow gritted his teeth together, reliving the moment in his head. Flare was frozen in spot. What happened to him? Scootaloo was scared of what happened next, and didn't really want to know.

"Then they began casting the spell, or at least the first part of it. The first step was to burn everything that they wanted changed. For me, that was everything." Arrow said, immediately afterward he put his hoof up to his forehead. Flare was shocked. Scootaloo was about to start crying. Tears of sorrow or fear, Flare couldn't guess. Arrow took a breath.

"My entire body was set ablaze. It hurt more than anything I can even imagine. It was maybe like if somepony had stabbed you thousands of times and you lived through it. They needed to make sure there was no trace left, so I was left there to burn for a minute. My screams were loud, screams that begged for mercy. As my coat and mane burned into nothing, my father just sat by and watched me scream for them to stop. He was getting what he wanted, why would he stop it?" Arrow continued.

Flare's mind was racing. His specialty was dreams, and memories are linked to dreams. Flare could pick out memories from dreams, and form dreams with memories. He was absorbing Arrow's memory and his mind was putting every detail into a daydream. Mentally, He was watching his brother burn and yell in pain. Flare began to have a hard time breathing.

Scootaloo had tears running down her face now. This was the worst thing she had ever heard. The fact she wasn't asking Arrow to stop was unbelievable.

"He was happy to watch me burn. Right after everything was burnt off, they could continue. I was bare and my body was weak. Anything that touched me hurt, even if it was a slight breeze. If I shifted in the slightest, I would feel unbearable pain." Arrow paused, it was painful to remember this. "The next part was even worse. They needed to change my DNA." Scootaloo gasped.

"What suffering did your father make you go through?" Flare asked. He was truthfully scared to hear the answer. He wanted to cover his ears and scream. Narration was just worsening Flare's nightmare.

"They began to force magic through my bare burnt skin. I could begin to feel it in my bloodstream. It was spreading out through my inner body. Soon, I couldn't control my body, it locked up due to the magic. It began to burn worse than the step before. I went to scream, but couldn't." Arrow paused and looked at Scootaloo. "Never mind."

"No, what happened?" Scootaloo asked through a very shaky voice. She was strong, but scared. Flare wasn't ready for what was next.

"Alright, if you really wanna know" Arrow closed his eyes again. "I went to scream, but the burning blood and their magic cut off any attempts to scream. Blood began to fill my mouth. I coughed painfully as the blood tried to make it down my throat. No matter how much I coughed up, it got down and into my lungs. I started having trouble breathing, and my coughing became worse. Each cough brought more flying blood. My body lost faith in air at that point, so I couldn't do anything. My mouth was filling with blood and soon it began dripping from my nose too. I had no control of my body, and there was no way to stop it." Arrow heard slight sobs, so he opened his eyes. To his surprise it wasn't Scootaloo, it was Flare. He was on the ground, holding his forehead with both front hooves. Other than those small sobs, he was silent. "Flare, are you okay?"

Flare didn't change. "Flare?" Scootaloo repeated. He was gone, trapped in his bloody nightmare. "Flare!" Scootaloo shook him a little. When he didn't respond, Arrow just sighed.

"Alright, let's just continue shall we? It is the only thing we can do to help him." Arrow knew. Arrow was the only one to know that stories of memories could mentally affect Flare. He didn't think about it, and Flare was suffering for it. Scootaloo was panicking, but agreed.

"Blood was everywhere, it was disgusting to see. But I didn't see it for too long, my vision began to burn and blur. It wasn't because they were being changed, I had something in them." Arrow said, watching me intently.

"Blood, you had blood in your eyes. It was causing both the burning and blurring." Scootaloo interrupted, and Arrow confirmed with a nod.

"Yes, it was the blood burning and blinding me. My eyesight was blurring and it was slowly becoming a tint of red. I was forced to close my eyes due to the pain. I was burning, hurt, and now blind, and there was no escaping it. It took another moment to lose my hearing. I couldn't see it, but could free blood coming from my ears and running down the side of my head." Arrow took a moment to make sure Flare was alright still. "I must of looked pitiful. I was covered in my own blood, too weak to scream or cry. I imagine I was pitch black from being burned for so long. Eventually the pain was just too unbearable. I passed out, and couldn't feel anything. Surrounded by only darkness, I thought I was dead."

"But you weren't, because you're still alive." Scootaloo said, tears running down her face.

"That I am, and I'm thankful I am now. A lot of things would have been different if I had died. Flare would have-" Arrow was interrupted in the middle of his sentence.

"What happened afterward?" Flare asked in a shaky voice. He wasn't back, he was still trapped in the nightmare of his mind. He didn't know he asked Arrow to continue. Arrow turned to Scootaloo, who nodded with fearful eyes.

Arrow sighed. "If you insist Flare. When I came to, I was in my bed at home. I felt sick and extremely sore. I could see mostly clearly, and could hear birds outside. I thought about everything that happened. As if to ensure what happened, a small spike of a white mane fell in front of my eyes. I went to look at my hooves and a huge surge of pain flowed through my body. I had to lay there limb or else I would feel the pain again. I thought the pain was mostly over, but I was wrong. Turns out when they remade my DNA, it wasn't allowed to mix with my blood. No, they were forming separate blood. That is why I lost so much blood and was still alive the next morning. But they didn't get all the blood out, so for another six weeks I had to cough or vomit up blood. I wasn't allowed to go to school afterward, and was forced to be home schooled." Arrow paused.

"I-I'm sorry..." Flare whispered. His body became less tense, but a bit more shaky in return. He shifted on the ground, but not in a relaxing manner. He was exhausted and didn't want anything holding him up. He didn't wanna move, so he let his body go completely limb.

"Hey don't be, bad memories suck. That is why I'm here, for happy memories." Arrow explained. "Come on Flare, you gotta have something to say."

"I have a funny story." Scootaloo spoke up, still recovering from Arrow's story.

"Care to share?" Arrow asked. Scootaloo nodded and began. The story was about the Cutie Mark Crusaders and some other stuff. Flare, however, was unintentionally not listening. Flare's mind started to drift around.

Flare thought about Arrow's story, and how he might have died because of his father. He then slowly drifted into the thought of him almost dying right in that pond. He thought about why he gave in.

Every good memory begins with a little unhappiness. This one began with Flare's mother being sad about something when she was young. By the end of the night, she had met someone she would never forget.

"Why were you sad mom?" Flare asked.

"That really isn't important. It was just me being overdramatic." His mother answered him.

"Ohh, you mean like that time I was crying and screaming about how I couldn't fly?" Flare asked, and his mother shushed him.

"No Flare, that was understandable. You had something taken from you that every pegasus has." His mother told him, and all he did was nod.

"Oh, okay, then what happened?" Flare asked, turning his attention back to his mother's story.

"Well, I was sad and crying slightly. It was a bit late for a filly of my age, but I didn't care. You see, the moon had risen and I was running. Running from my problems. I kept running until I couldn't really do it anymore. I began to look where I was, and then I saw something truly beautiful." His mother told him.

"What was it?" Flare asked, slightly excited to hear what it was. His mother only chuckled at his enthusiasm.

"Well I can tell you faster if you wouldn't interrupt." She smiled.

"Oh, sorry. But you need to tell me, I wanna know!" Flare exclaimed.

"Alright, the thing I saw was Ponyville's pond." She told him.

"Ponyville's pond?" He questioned.

"Yes, it was the middle of the night, and it was beautiful. The water was completely even, not a single disturbance. The moon was reflecting onto it. It really is hard to describe."

"It was really that beautiful?" Flare asked.

"It had enough beauty to stop and calm me down." His mother answered back.

"Oh..." Flare replied, trying not to interrupt his mom anymore.

"It was so calming, I didn't notice that there was any other pony there. It was a colt, he was lying on the edge of the water. He was a pegasus, and he seemed really depressed. He was just poking the water lightly with his hoof. It was quite difficult to watch this so I went to talk to him." His mother paused, expecting Flare to have questions. Flare just sat there.

"He didn't notice me until I was right next to him. He didn't jump, move or shift at all. He didn't even seem surprised. I sat down and he glanced at me, then right back at the pond. I got a simple 'hey' out of him. It was unemotional, and quite depressing."

Flare was quite interested at this point, many questions ran though his head. He decided it was best not to ask.

"I asked him what he was doing." Flare's mother continued. "He gave me a 'meh' and then returned the question. Unlike him, I told him everything. I don't know why, but he just asked and it all came out. I didn't seem to have a care in the world."

"What did he do?" Flare asked.

"He walked away." His mother answered. Flare was surprised, this was supposed to be happy and it was not at all.

"He just left?" Flare questioned. "Without saying a word?"

"At first, I thought I annoyed him or something." His mother answered. "But after a few steps away he stopped. He shifted his head towards me and asked me if I started school soon. I told him the answer and he followed up with 'see you there'. He then took his leave."

"So, he didn't say goodbye?" Flare asked.

His mother chuckled. "Believe it or not, your father was quite shy back then."

"That was dad?" Flare asked, quite surprised to hear this. All his mother did was nod. "But, why was he so shy?" He wasn't that shy, neither was his mother. Why was his father?

"I don't know, some people are just born that way. Most can't change that, so you have to change slightly to get them to feel alright around you." His mother concluded.

"Can you change how you're born?" Flare asked. His mother looked at him and saw hope. She knew what he wanted to change and she wanted to tell the truth. It would be to painful to tell Flare that he'll never fly though.

"Yes, of course. Sometimes you have to." She told him. It hurt to lie, but she couldn't tell him that he was earthbound forever.

"Really? Do you think I'll ever have to change?" Flare asked.

"Yes, you will need to one day. Everypony does." His mother answered. Flare then got up and began walking away. "Flare, where are you going?"

Flare opened the door to outside. "Preparing for the change." He said and walked out the door, leaving it wide open.

"Flare!" His mother called out.

"Yes mom?" He said, his head popping out from around the side of the door. His mother was smiling, so he wasn't in trouble.

"You can start by remembering to close the doors you walk through." She said.

"Oh, sorry." Flare said. His head disappeared and the door closed.

"Good Luck."

Well, you didn't lie mom. I have had to change a lot, way more then I got ready for...

"And then Applebloom crashed right into the ice cream cart!" Scootaloo was just finishing her story.

"I bet you didn't let them try to use your scooter again." Arrow said chuckling.

"Yeah, I'm the only one allowed to touch this thing." Scootaloo said, looking at her scooter.

"I don't think they wanna try again." Flare said, trying to cover the fact that he didn't listen one bit.

"Yeah, well I got to drive them around tomorrow. I guess that means I should be going." Scootaloo said, yawning slightly right after.

"You're probably right." Arrow said getting up. "Flare, you can walk right?"

"Of course." Flare stood up.

"Well, I'll see you later." Scootaloo said. She was about to ride off until Flare asked her to wait up.

"What is it?" Scootaloo asked. Flare looked at Arrow and sighed. Oh well, I'll deal with his questions later.

"Hey, I need to thank you for helping today." Flare said.

"Oh yeah, no problem." Scootaloo said and turned to leave.

"Mind if I go with you?" Flare asked. He felt everypony around him questioning him.

"Why?" Scootaloo asked.

"It is the least I could do after making you deal with what I did." Flare told her.

"What did you do?" Arrow asked from behind Flare. Flare turned to him with his 'innocent' smile.

"Just ran into some trouble with the local authorities." He told him.

"Oh." Arrow said and after a second of letting it sink in, he continued. "Wait, what did you do?"

"Oh you know me, just being a little thief is all." Flare replied.

"Great, what did you steal this time?" Arrow asked.

Flare laughed. "Don't you wish you knew?"

"Yes, I do. But I'll find out when you're locked up and I refuse to help." Arrow answered with a smirk. Is that so?

"Ahh, come on don't be a playa hater." Flare said. Scootaloo giggled slightly, she never thought she would hear Flare say something like that. Arrow trotted up to him and hit him on the head.

"Don't talk like that, you know how much I hate it." Arrow said.

"Well sorry I offended you so severely." Flare said with great sarcasm.

Arrow smacked him again. "Do you wanna continue this?" Arrow asked.

"Yes!" Flare smirked and put his face right into Arrow's. Arrow hit him hard enough to make him lose his footing. (hoofing?) Flare caught himself before hitting the ground.

"Alright, stop it!" Scootaloo jumped between the two. "What is wrong with you two?"

Flare and Arrow stared blankly at Scootaloo. Neither knew a good idea on what to say.

"What do you mean?" Flare asked.

"What do I mean? You two are constantly fighting!" Scootaloo said. Her voice had anger in it once more.

You're lucky you are so young or else I would drag this on for hours. Flare sighed at all the things he could say to drag this on. "No, we really don't. Tonight is just apparently fight night. Why that is, I have no idea."

"Instincts." Arrow said. Both of them looked at him. "It makes sense really. Flare and I fight every time one finds the other. He has began to get used to me being here. The only reason he hasn't left Ponyville already is because of the extremely pink pony and now knowing everypony. There might be more, but that is all I can guess." Flare knew he was lying, he knew if Flare ever made it to Ponyville it would change him. Those changes were slowly creeping into Flare's head.

"Scootaloo." Flare called. Scootaloo clicked instantly where he was. "He is correct. There is no doubt in my mind." Flare paused and took a small breath. "Let's get you home, shall we?"

Scootaloo seemed a little unsure, but agreed."Oh, right." She said.

"Arrow, I'll see you in a bit alright?" Flare said.

"Right." Arrow said. He went back to the pond and sat down. Flare stared for a second.

Huh, you were always right mom. It really is a beautiful sight... Flare turned to Scootaloo.

"Lead the way." Flare said, and the two began their way back into and through town.

They were going slow through town. It felt a little weird to Flare, but he just passed it off as the filly being tired. She went through so much today, I owe her a lot. Maybe I can help her get that mark, hopefully...

All of a sudden Flare noticed where they were passing through. "Scootaloo, mind if I do something really quick?" He asked.

Scootaloo stopped and turned around. "What is it?"

"It's just right over there, come on." He told her as he made his way to a nearby house.

"Do you know who lives here?" Scootaloo asked and Flare knocked on the door.

"Of course I do. I promised I would stop by and say hi." Flare replied.

"You know it is like, really late, right?" She asked.

"Better late than never, right?" He said.

"Right." The two slightly jumped at the third voice.

Flare chuckled. "Clouded, how are you this evening?"

"I'm good, but I have a couple questions for you. Do you both mind coming in for a second?" Clouded asked.

"Ummm..." Scootaloo began. Flare stepped into the doorway and turned to her.

"Come on, it's safe. She didn't kill me when she had the chance." Flare said and continued walking into the house. Scootaloo felt very unsure, but ended up stepping into the house.

"So Flare, I'm guessing you found him?" Clouded asked, and Flare heard concern in her voice.

"Nope, she did." Flare said and turned to Scootaloo, who had finally made her way inside.

"Oh, so that is why she is with you." Clouded responded.

"Wait, what is happening?" Scootaloo asked when she realized they were talking about her.

"Nothing really." Flare said, "But I brought you here for a reason actually." He told them.

"Why?" The two said synchronized. Scootaloo was concerned and a bit panicked, while Clouded was calm and ready to hear why.

"Your cut." Flare answered. Scootaloo looked at it like it was nothing. "We can't let it get infected."

"It isn't that bad..." Scootaloo began, but was cut off by Clouded.

"Well, let me see it. I can fix it." She said. Scootaloo resisted at first, but after a moment she held the cut out for Clouded to see.

"It can be fixed easily." Clouded said.

"But it'll sting won't it?" Scootaloo asked, Flare just nodded.

"Yes, but if close your eyes and think happy, it'll help" Clouded said. Scootaloo listened and closed could feel intense stinging.

"It's going to sting for a moment longer." Flare said.

"I'm fine." Scootaloo lied. It was obvious that she was lying. No, it is stinging. I know it is.

"It's almost over." Clouded reassured, as the last of the cut began to close. "And... done!"

"Is it going to be alright?" Scootaloo asked.

"Is what?" Flare asked.

"The cut..." Scootaloo paused as she looked at where the cut was. "...is gone." Scootaloo said in amazement.

"Yeap." Flare said.

"How?" Scootaloo asked.

"Magic." Flare responded.

"Well, no duh, but what kind of magic?" Scootaloo continued.

"The good non-lethal happy healing magic, obviously." Flare answered as he continued to smirk.

Scootaloo was silent, thinking of what to say. Clouded knew exactly what to say.

"Well, I'm beginning to see why Arrow needs to smack you around." She stated and Flare looked at her

"You really think that?" Flare asked. Clouded nodded. "Well, you're probably correct." He said agreeing.

Scootaloo looked in between the two. She just didn't understand. Sure, she and the other crusaders had scruffles every now and again, but it never seemed as bad as when Flare and Arrow fought.

"Huh? What is that?" Clouded asked walking towards Flare.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"You're cut too." She said pointing to the cut on his forehead.

"Oh, well it was just a scratch." Flare told her. She knew he was lying, but she wasn't going to ask. Instead her horn start glowing again.

"This might sting." Scootaloo said and smiled. Flare glared at her. I think I know that...

Without warning, Flare's cut started burning. Flare didn't like it one bit, but arguing was pointless. He just sat there, flinching slightly as the cut closed.

After about a minute of burning pain, Flare's cut was gone. "There all better." Clouded told him.

"Thanks, you didn't have to." Flare told her.

"But Flare, we wouldn't want it to become infected." Scootaloo said.

Flare chuckled. "Well, you're not wrong. But, I believe we should get going before I get in serious trouble." Flare said, half sarcastic.

"Yes, don't want to keep her up too late." Clouded commented.

"Well, come on Scootaloo." Flare said. Scootaloo got up and nodded. The two walked to the door before saying goodbye. Scootaloo also thanked Clouded.

"Not a problem, and goodnight you two." Clouded said as they walked outside.

Once they got outside, Scootaloo seemed actually tired. Well, her energy actually fades eventually. Scootaloo yawned slightly, which confirmed Flare's thoughts.

"You tired?" Flare asked.

"Maybe a bit, but it doesn't really matter." She answered him.

"Are you sure?" Flare thought for a second on how to help her. "I'm willing to carry you if you want. All you would have to do is point me directions." Flare offered and smiled.

"No, it's fine, really. Besides it shouldn't be that much longer till we're there." Scootaloo said.

"Alright then, but the offer is there if you decide to take it, okay?" He told her and she nodded in response.

"Okay, are you ready to go?" She asked.

"I guess so." Flare said. They began down the road again. After a few more turns, but not twists just turns, Scootaloo stopped.

"Okay, wait here a second. I have to do something." She said before running into an alleyway. Flare was left to sit and think, again.

I wonder what she is doing in there. The question is should I go check? I feel like I should, but there is the chance she is going to the bathroom... Flare thought about that for a moment. I'm sure she is fine. There is no need to get arrested for peeping... I may be a thief but I would never-

Scootaloo then appeared out of the alleyway. "Alright this should work, come on." She said.

"What should work?" Flare asked her following her back into the alley.

"This will." Scootaloo said as she unfolded a box just big enough to fit her. Flare was stunned.

"Scootaloo, you aren't saying what I think you are, right?" Flare asked. When she didn't answer and just started removing things from the box, he knew the answer. "Why?" Flare was confused. Scootaloo stopped and looked away.

"Why are you so surprised? You know I don't have parents." She said. Flare had never heard Scootaloo talk like this. Her voice was filled with hatred, but for who?

"But, I thought you were staying somewhere. I didn't think you were completely alone." Flare answered.

"Well, I have been." She said. Hatred... There is so much of it, I can almost feel it... Why..?

"Scoot..." Flare paused. "What happened to your parents?"

"They abandoned me." She told him and finally turned to him. "They left me to die!" Her voice was full of emotions, but not a single good one.

"I'm sorry Scootaloo." Flare said. "How? How have you been living like this?"

"They lied to me, I don't know what I did wrong!" Scootaloo was now crying. "It seemed so good, and then they just left!" Flare sat down, he extended and wing and held out a hoof. Scootaloo ran over and embraced him.

"You can tell me what happened." Flare whispered to her. He wrapped his hoof and wing around her, protecting her from anything on the outside.

"It was all okay at one point. We had just gotten back from a vacation, and everypony seemed happy. But after a few days my mom woke me up in the middle of the night. She brought me downstairs and dad was sitting at the dinner table. Him and mom sat on one side and they sat me at the other..." Scootaloo began.

"Scootaloo."

"Yeah, dad?" Scootaloo answered. She yawned slightly, still a bit tired.

"We can't do this anymore." Her father stated.

"Do what?" Scootaloo asked.

"Me and your mother are leaving."

"Oh, where are you going?" She asked.

"Away." Her father answered.

"Away?" She was confused.

"Yes, and you cannot go with us."

"Wait, what? You are leaving me?" Scootaloo asked, now panicked.

"We have to." He told her.

"But, there isn't a way you could stay, or at least take me with you?" Scootaloo pleaded. Tears were rolling down her face.

"No, we can't!" Her father shouted. Scootaloo was scared and stunned by her father's sudden rage. "There is no way you can come and no way we can stay!" With that, her father got up and stomped out. Scootaloo turned to her mother, who was slightly crying. Scootaloo ran over to her.

"Mom, what's happening?" Scootaloo asked through many tears and sobs.

"Your dad and I have to leave. But Scootaloo, look into my eyes." Scootaloo did what her mother told her to do, even if she couldn't see her really. Her eyes were too watery. "I'm going to come back for you, do you understand me?"

"Why do you have to go?" Scootaloo asked.

"I can't tell you, but I can promise that I'm coming back for you." Her mother told her. She wrapped herself around Scootaloo. "I love you, and I just want you to be happy, and..." Her mother began crying so much, it became hard to speak.

After a few minutes and possibly hundreds of tears, her mother spoke again. "Just try to go to bed, I'll be here in the morning."

"But, when I woke up the next morning, they were already gone." Scootaloo said, still slightly crying. "No note, no nothing, they just left."

"Scootaloo, how have you hid this?" Flare asked.

"I sleep somewhere different every night, In an alley, a ditch, under a bridge, wherever really." She answered him.

"Every night..."

"Yeah, sometimes I get cold or hungry. I don't have a blanket or anything to keep me warm. I have Sweetie Belle hold onto my crusader cape. I usually only eat with Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. I feel really bad about it too, they never seem to mind spending their bits on me when I have nothing in return. And every time I get the chance, I spend the night at one of their houses. I eat, bathe, and sleep there and they ask nothing in return." Scootaloo said, still sniffling.

"Scootaloo, that means that they are true friends." He explained. "They are willing to take care of without thinking twice. You should feel grateful, not useless."

"I guess." Scootaloo said. There was a moment of silence before Flare spoke up again.

"Scootaloo."

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna promise you something. I promise that as long as I'm still alive, that I will help you and take care of you. If you need help finding a place to sleep, I will have room reserved. I'll keep you fed, dry and generally alive." Flare promised.

"You don't need to..." Scootaloo began, but was interrupted.

"Yes, I do. I owe you so much, and nopony should ever suffer like this. I definitely don't want you to." He told her.

"I'm fine." She said, being protective of herself.

"For now, but what if some other pony finds you. They'll report you and you will be taken away." Flare said. Scootaloo heard this and began to cry again.

"I don't wanna go..." Flare heard the saddest, most innocent voice come from the filly. She didn't deserve this, she shouldn't suffer. I scared her... What was I thinking?

"Hey, hey, it'll be alright. Do you know why? Because I'll make sure they can't take you away. I'll protect you, I swear." Flare said, his voice calm and convincing.

"Why do you care so much?" Scootaloo asked, and caused Flare to think.

"I went through what you are going through, and almost died. I'm scared it might happen to you. I'm not willing to find out or fail anypony I care for." Anypony that I love...

There was silence between the two. Neither had an idea on what to say next. Flare released Scootaloo and walked up to the box. He circled around it and examined every piece.

"Flare, what are you doing?" Scootaloo asked. Flare then tore the box a little.

"Trying to make more a bit comfortable." He answered. After a couple a tears, he looked a bit more satisfied. "There, try it."

Scootaloo did what she was told. The box was able to fit her quite easily. It was torn so she wouldn't have to crunch up. "Well, it is a lot better than I normally sleep."

"Well, at the least it is better." Flare said.. "You will be alright tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine." She told him.

"Alright." Flare turned away. "Well, If you are okay I guess I need to make sure Arrow is still inline."

Scootaloo nodded. "Yeah. Well, I guess this is goodnight then?"

"By now, it might be morning technically." When Flare looked at her, she was giving him a face that read 'Wow, are you serious?'. He just chuckled at this. "Alright fine. Goodnight Scootaloo, maybe we'll try and get you that mark tomorrow."

"Goodnight Flare, that would be awesome." Scootaloo yawned. Flare couldn't help but smile a bit. She is so cute, but I'd never tell her that... She'd kill me.

"Alright, maybe we'll even try today." Flare said. "See you, Scoot." He said as he started trotting away.

I'm sorry Scootaloo. I'll make sure you have a roof over you're head... or at least something... some day. Soon, it needs to be real soon. I need to make sure she is going to be safe until then. But... Flare began his way towards the pond he almost drowned in.

It took him a while, but he got there. He sat at the edge of the pond.

What am i going to do? Flare started speaking out loud without realizing it. "I am no where close to a good legal guardian. I can barely provide for myself..." Flare began to tear up. "I can't provide anything I promised. She can do better on her own, I almost died if it wasn't for Arrow. Arrow..." Tears began to fall.

"How was everypony able to cover for me? Arrow took care of me, Mom and Dad were killing themselves for me..." Flare flinched slightly. "Mom... Dad... I wish you guys were still here sometimes. I don't know what to do. I need help, I can't let this happen..." Flare went into a begging position towards the water. "I miss you Mom... and I miss you just as much Dad..." Flare became silent and he closed his eyes. Tears were frequent, and hope of success was fading rapidly. "I... I can't do this..."

"Flare." His eyes shot open. He heard hooves hit the ground from flight. Slowly the hoofsteps got closer and louder. Flare turned to where the hoofsteps came from. He was surprised from what he saw. One final tear fell.

It's her...

Accepting the facts

“Derpy? What are you doing here?” Flare asked her. He turned away to wipe any last tears.

“That doesn’t matter. Flare, what is wrong?” She asked him concerned. Flare was trying to hide it, but she could tell he was crying right away.

“I’m fine, Derpy.” Even to him it sounded insincere.

“Don’t lie to me.” Derpy warned. “I know something is wrong. You don’t have to tell me what it is but you’ll never get better if you don’t admit there is a problem.” Despite her words, it was more of a demand than an offer.

“It’s nothing really-” Flare began but Derpy would have nothing of it.

“Flare, I can see that there is something wrong, something that you’re hiding.” She trotted up to him. “Let me see your eyes.” He resisted at first but after a second of Derpy’s staring he turned to her.

It was obvious Flare could use some sleep, anypony could see that. Derpy gave his eyes a good stare before closing hers.

“Derpy?” Flare asked confused by her antics.

“Hold on a second.” Derpy said before her eyes shot back open. This time they were straight. She looked back at Flare, who was slightly surprised. It felt as if she was looking right through him. Her eyes...

“Flare, there is a reason you are out here by yourself. You were crying when I found you, you can’t deny that.” Derpy said sternly. Her hoof raised to his face and she wiped a tear off. I missed one..?

“But, I-” He began once more. It was bad enough he troubled his loved ones in the past, he didn't want to add Derpy to that list.

Derpy shushed him. “Whatever happened, it will be okay. I’m here for you.” Flare looked at the ground. He couldn’t hide his grief any longer. He was too tired to try, his moral defenses giving in.

“How much did you hear?” He asked. His voice was scratchy.

“I heard enough.” She answered. “Flare, I can only help if you tell me what is wrong.”

“I miss my family. Recently all I can think about is them, and it always concludes with the fact that they’re gone.” Flare began, his eyes once more tearing up. No, no more crying. It is the past, you have to get over it...

“What happened to them?” Derpy asked. She knew she may have been crossing a line or two but she felt it was necessary in order to help him.

“They... didn’t leave this world peacefully.” He answered her evasively.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Derpy apologized. “If you want to talk about it a little...”

“It’s just not fair!” Flare cried out. “It just isn’t! I mean, what have I done to deserve this?”

“What do you mean?” Derpy questioned, taken aback by his sudden outburst.

“What I mean is that life hates me.” Flare said, calming down slightly.

“Don’t be silly, if life truly hated you, then you wouldn’t have been born at all” Derpy told him.

“Maybe everything would be better that way.” Flare commented, turning Derpy's words against their intended meaning.

Derpy stared at him. She couldn’t stand when somepony said things like that. “What would be better? Name one thing.” It would seem as if she was taunting him to prove her wrong.

“Well, for one my parents would have been better off if they never had to care for me.” Flare dared to say.

“You know that isn’t true!” Derpy said, now slightly frustrated.

“I can’t be too sure anymore, they probably would be alive now if it wasn’t for me. They would have the strength to defend themselves, if they weren’t starving because of me. And how did I pay them back? I failed them!” Flare shot back.

Derpy knew that what she was about to say could be painful for Flare but sometimes she needed to take risks. “Or they could’ve died way before they did!” Flare turned to her, shocked. Derpy took a moment to calm down. “You may have been the only reason they lived for as long as they did.”

“What?” He was confused. What is she talking about? I caused them so much trouble... how could I be the reason...?

“Maybe you gave them a reason to continue. You gave them happiness in life. I can guarantee they didn’t regret having you.” Derpy answered with a smile.

“Are you saying that they might have been...” Flare didn’t want to finish the sentence. The implications scared him.

“Suicidal, yes.” The smile faded as fast as it had appeared. “I’m saying that they could’ve been in a terrible situation before you came along. You might have been the reason that they even tried to protect themselves from something terrible.” Derpy looked away.

Flare was caught off guard by Derpy’s words. Derpy would be the last pony Flare would expect to suggest something so serious. She always seemed so happy before as if the bad things avoided her. “Derpy, where is this coming from?”

“From experience...” She answered, shaking Flare’s illusions about her happy life even more. “Look, your parents loved you and you never did anything to hurt them.”

“I didn’t exactly save them from any pain either.” He said dejectedly.

“Flare, you have to let go of the past. It’ll only cause you more pain the more you think about it.” Derpy reasoned with him. “What’s done is done, we can’t do anything to fix it. I know you want to, but it’s not possible.” She didn’t like that fact at all either but he would have to accept that there was nothing he could do anymore, just like she did.

Flare sat there, deep in thoughts. He remembered his parents’ death, all the memories hurt him more and more. Derpy’s voice slowly began to dig into his head. But I couldn’t save them…

“I’m sorry Flare, but it may be time to let go.” She said, her voice filled with care and concern. “You can’t let this hurt you anymore.”

Flare’s memories slowly began to fade. He knew that it was time to forget. Not his parents, but vengeance. His pain was slightly fading. He understood that they could never come back but still didn’t want to accept it.

“You know Flare...” Derpy continued, “You aren’t the only one who lost their family...”

Flare turned to her, his train of memories disrupted. “What?”

“I too lost everypony I loved.” She told him, turning away slightly. “It was all a big accident, and well...” She stopped. Her breathing picked up slightly.

Her family... is gone too... Flare looked at her. He could see the pain in her eyes, which still remained straight. She was slumped, and her head hung slightly. It was apparent to Flare that she had gone through something quite similar. She looks so sad... and it’s my fault. His guilty conscience started to catch a second breath.

“Derpy, I-” He began, but was cut off once more.

“Flare, you need to continue on and be strong.” She said, her body sat straight up and her head was suddenly held high. One second she looked so sad and the very next she looked confident and ready to challenge the world. How fast she shifted surprised Flare greatly.

“Look, I know it is truly hard to let go but there is a time to live and let die. You still have family, you have Arrow. You need to be strong, Flare, because there will be a time you’ll need to help what family you have and if your mind is still full of pain, you may not be able to protect them.” She explained.

“What do you mean?” Flare asked, slightly worried about what she was getting at.

“I mean you have to be ready for anything. Thoughts like those will only hold you back in life. I’m not saying to forget everything, just what’s painful.” She paused, and raised her hoof to place it on Flare’s chest. “Besides, they’ll always be in your heart.” She closed her eyes and smiled at him.

Flare was stunned. Flashbacks of Flare’s dream appeared. The thought of Arrow in trouble filled his mind. That dream… Flare slowly put pieces of the mental puzzle together. It showed Arrow dying, and I couldn’t save him... I was held back from saving him, was it really… avenging of my parents’ death that stopped me?

“In my heart...” Flare repeated. He raised his hoof and placed it directly over his heart. It was beating faster than normal. This didn’t surprise him.

“Yeap, right there.” Derpy commented, lightly patting Flare’s hoof. She opened her eyes again and they were no longer straight. They were back to Derpy’s ‘normal’ eye positions. He couldn’t help but look over.

She looks so... happy. Flare sighed, and turned to stare at the moonlight, Derpy’s words ringing in his head. “Yeah...” Flare agreed. Mom, Dad, if you could somehow hear my mind, I wanna let you know I love you... He smiled, as what would appear to be their spirits faded into existence. He could see his Mother and Father smiling back in front of him, holding each other, a tear slowly sliding down his mother’s cheek. I always will love you and will never forget you, but I guess I need to give up on revenge… A tear slid down his own cheek as he raised his hoof from his heart towards his parents, his father nodding, acknowledging his son as a stallion to be proud of. I guess I should’ve listened to that lesson too. They slowly sparkled, starting to get hazy, dissipating with the breeze. You taught me so much… His tear hit the ground as they were finally gone, a warmth spreading from his chest. He returned his hoof to his heart, and stared down at the ground. He could feel his mother kiss his cheek one final time, his father rustling his mane like he used to do so many years ago. Thank you, and farewell…

As it all began to fade, Flare looked at Derpy. “Thank you Derpy. You’ve done so much for me.” He whispered. She was the one who truly saved Arrow in Flare’s mind and finally let Flare’s parents rest happily. “I would’ve never let go of what I thought I needed to do.”

“But now you did and you’re stronger for that. You can live your life free, without one of the biggest burdens clouding your mind. You can be at peace.” She said, the smile adorning her face. “It feels great, doesn’t it?”

“It... It really does.” Flare agreed. Derpy just giggled at him. He looked at her with confusion. “What?”

“Oh, just how happy you look. I mean, you usually seem happy when you are around me anyway, but I’ve never seen you like this.” Flare blushed slightly.

“Oh, uhh, yeah... I guess I haven’t been truly happy in a long while...” He commented.

“Well, you look better when you smile. You should do it more often.” Derpy instructed him. He blushed a bit more. Derpy, however, seemed completely oblivious to it.

“Heh, I can try.” He answered and chuckled a little.

Derpy yawned cutely. “That’s good. But I need to get going, it is really late and Dinky can’t make her own breakfast yet.” Derpy stood up and hovered just off the ground “Well, see you later Flare.” She said.

“Alright, goodbye Derpy.” Flare waved slightly. Derpy turned around to fly away. Wait… She started to fly away. “Derpy wait!” Flare called and chased after her.

She stopped and turned around. “What is it?” Oh no, what did I just do… Flare’s mind finally caught up with his actions.

“Umm... Derpy... would you... maybe...” Flare began, stuttering nervously. What in Celestia’s name am I doing?

“Would I what?” Derpy asked cocking her head to the left. Think! Quickly!! Flare took a split second to look everywhere except at Derpy.

“Would you... maybe wanna... go for some muffins?” Flare finished the last half quite fast. I am so doomed…

“Sure!” Derpy replied smiling. I knew... wait, what!? Did she just say “sure”? “When?” She asked innocently.

“Oh, ummm... How about two days from now, when the sun is in the middle of the sky.” Flare offered.

“Noon?” Derpy questioned.

“Yes! Noon... and we could have them... here, at the lake...” Flare smiled and no matter how he tried, couldn’t hide the fact he was nervous and desperately improvising.

“So have muffins here at noon in two days?” Derpy asked, pretending that she didn’t notice anything.

“Ummm, yeah...” Flare said. Please…

“Sounds like a good date to me!” She smiled. Yea- Wait, what?

“Date?” Flare acted as if he didn’t know what she meant by that.

“Yeah, it is really obvious that you are asking me out.” She said happily.

“Uhhh...” Flare was at loss for words to sneak himself out of the situation he got himself into.

“It’s a date then.” Derpy turned to leave once more. “Oh, and Flare, there is no reason to be so nervous around me.” She said with her face turned back at Flare.

“Nervous? I don’t know what you mean...” Flare defended, and failed terribly. Derpy just ended up giggling at him a little.

It is kinda cute though… Derpy thought to herself. “Well alright, I really need to go now. Bye Flare, see you soon.”

“Yeah... I’ll see you soon...” Flare stuttered. Did I really just do that? With that, Derpy turned her head and resumed her flight towards home. Flare was left there to think about what he had just done.

How did I mess that up so badly? Flare scolded himself. Why? I am usually good at hiding those sort of things... Flare fell backward on the ground, and yawned. She saw right through me, not just right now but this entire time… Flare’s stomach felt a bit weird. Am... Am I hungry? I-I don’t think so... huh.

Flare ignored the feeling inside him and stared at the stars. Well, look what I’m getting myself into. He chuckled slightly. I wonder what else I could do to make my life harder... Hmmm... Flare looked into the night sky, admiring every single star. Well, I still need to think of a way to make sure Scootaloo gets some better living conditions... Doing so alone may take some time but I promised I wouldn’t tell a soul... He looked towards the moon. And then there’s Arrow. I need to make sure he’ll be okay. My dream said I wouldn’t be strong enough to protect him while I still was limiting myself to revenge... But now, I can... I just wish I knew what is gonna happen, so I knew what to do when the time comes… Flare let some time go by before he sat up, and yawned once more.Maybe I should sleep on these issues… Flare slowly got himself off the ground and shook slightly.

Once he was on all four hooves, he started back towards the Everfree forest. He noticed that the sky behind the mountains in the distance was changing into a slight yellowish orange shade and first morning birds could be heard as they slowly awoke from their sleep. Flare’s eyes shot back to the moon. It was slowly descending into the forest. Uh oh… He started trotting faster, he couldn’t exactly run. He was already quite tired and if Arrow noticed he hadn’t slept at all, he’d be forced to.

He got into the Everfree Forest and the sun reign over the sky was growing in glory with every passing minute. Go back down! Flare was getting upset with the sun. He could see far down into the forest where he and Arrow had been staying.

Come on! Just a bit further… Flare was keeping his pace and the target area was getting bigger.Please don’t be awake... Please... Just be asleep, it’s good for you… Flare didn’t slow down when he got close, he couldn’t afford to waste any time.

As he got closer, the terrain got harder to navigate through. Rocks and roots of trees weren’t helping much either. Flare snaked through the remaining distance with admirable agility. However, as soon as he reached the area in which they were staying he miscalculated a step and one rock sent Flare tumbling.

“Oww...” Flare whispered. He didn’t get up, he didn’t want to. He just closed his eyes and took a slight breath. He made it before Arrow found him awake.

“Well, I’m glad you finally showed up.” Or maybe not...

The Flaw of Sleep

"Where have you been all night?” Arrow asked pointing a hoof at Flare accusingly. Flare opened his eyes and strained to get up. Arrow could easily see that Flare hadn’t slept.

“I had to make sure that she got home safely,” Flare replied as he got on all hooves. He hoped that answer would cover him somehow. Arrow just looked at him, obviously not buying it.

“Taking her home took all night? Sounds a little suspicious to me.” Arrow inquired sternly.

“How so?” Flare questioned. Arrow peeked a small grin.

“Flare, are you sure you aren’t somepony that she needs protection from?” Arrow asked. Flare didn’t understand what Arrow meant.

“What are you-” What Arrow had said clicked inside Flare’s mind suddenly. “Are you saying that I’m a freak for fillies?” He asked, slightly withdrawn by being accused of such hideous perversion.

“Well, you did admit that to me just yesterday.” Arrow reminded him, seeming to mock Flare. Flare narrowed his eyes down on Arrow.

“That isn’t true. I’m not a filly freak.” Flare said, seriously upset with Arrow now.

“Then explain what you were doing,” Arrow said, taunting information out of Flare but Flare didn’t want him to know that he had broken down again.

“I was at the lake.” Flare admitted.

“Doing what?” Arrow pressed on, not convinced that he was hearing the whole truth.

“Just stargazing.” Flare answered. “What’s it to you anyway? Just drop it already. I’m old enough to not have you as my babysitter!” Flare shot towards Arrow.

“Of course you are old enough not to be babysat. However, when left with young foals you apparently need to be kept in line.” Arrow said, approaching Flare step by step.

“I didn’t do anything!” Flare defended, gritting his teeth and stepping towards Arrow.

“How can I be sure you were just out stargazing? You realize it would have been a really long time for somepony to be doing that.” Arrow said, not even attempting to hide the grin on his face anymore. “I feel as if you were hiding something.”

“Don’t believe me all you want, but don’t bring Scootaloo into this either.” Flare said, defending Scootaloo more than himself this time.

“Oh, already getting protective over your victims, hmm?” Arrow tormented. Flare snapped, launching himself towards Arrow and tackling him to the ground.

“I didn’t do anything!” Flare shouted enraged. Arrow easily pushed exhausted Flare off of him, and rolled over to pin Flare to the ground.

“Flare, you need to calm down!” Arrow commanded, after successfully securing Flare to the ground. Flare wiggled and shook trying to escape, but Arrow held him like a vice. After realizing that resistance was pointless, he shot back at Arrow.

“Why should I? You are accusing me of terrible things!” Flare screamed and continued fighting. Arrow shook his head in response.

“Flare, this isn’t you, you need to sleep!” Arrow said, completely disregarding Flare’s question. “If I let you up, will you promise me you’ll get some?” Arrow offered.

“No, if you let me up I’ll beat your flank!” he replied with rage. Arrow shook his head once more.

“Alright then, I’m sorry but you don’t leave me other choice.” Flare knew what Arrow was about to do, and so the resistance returned. He tried his hardest to escape. “Why do you make me do this?” Arrow asked before a hoof came hard across Flare’s face.

The struggle stopped and Flare laid there, completely silent. Arrow slowly arose from Flare, making sure he was deeply unconscious. “Why do you make me do that?” He asked again as he examined Flare. There was a small amount of blood running from his nose.

Arrow rolled his eyes, unsurprised. “Why do you have to get so violent when you are sleep deprived?” he said as he turned to the bushes nearby. After retrieving the concealed medical saddlebags, he returned to Flare and removed a couple napkins with his magic from them.

As he wiped Flare’s nose clean, Arrow began to think about how angry Flare got from Arrow’s joke. I had to knock him out, I couldn’t let him stay up. He would have just ended up hurting himself, or worse somepony else.

When he finished getting all the blood off Flare’s snout, Arrow examined his friend’s body. He questioned how comfortably Flare was lying on the ground. The answer that came to him was “not very comfortably”. Arrow’s horn lit up as he used his magic to reposition Flare into a more natural sleeping position.

Arrow noticed that Flare had a small smile in his sleep, despite being knocked out. At least he sleeps peacefully now. Just a few minutes ago he was threatening me, nopony would guess that if they saw him sleeping like that. He thought to himself. Arrow moved over and sat down next to Flare.

From time to time, I could believe you’re bipolar. You shift moods so quickly sometimes. Arrow’s thoughts were addressing Flare, as if he could hear them or reply. Sometimes I wish you could stop that, I can guarantee that. Arrow closed his eyes, allowing himself to visualize old memories.

Light was dimming in the streets that Flare and Arrow progressed down. They were traveling in the downtown area of the city. Flare hadn’t slept in at least eighteen hours. Arrow didn’t think anything of it at the time.

“Arrow, where are we going?” Flare asked in a complained voice. “It’s getting dark.”

“Just somewhere.” Arrow replied, refusing to tell him. He wasn’t lying either, they truthfully were just wandering the city.

They proceeded down the street as Flare continued to whine. Due to the lack of light the two didn’t notice the three other colts heading towards them.

“Get out of our way!” one of the three said and pushed Arrow aside as they went by. Arrow sidestepped, not wanting anything to do with the three ponies who had appeared before them. He expected Flare to do the same. However when one of the three purposely pushed Flare, he acted the complete opposite from what Arrow had anticipated.

“What’s your problem?” Flare asked in a rather rude tone, causing the pony in front to turn around and confront Flare.

“It’s you not moving when I order you to!” He spat. His coat was a dark green, and his mane was a pure black. This earth pony appeared to be the leader of the three. “Are you gonna cause any more problems? If so, I’ll fix it right here.”

“Flare, let’s just go.” Arrow recommended, but Flare wasn’t listening. Instead, he stood straight up and didn’t move an inch.

“You should listen to your friend there, Flare.” The word “Flare” was spat out as if he had eaten something rotten. “I don’t want to send you crying to your mother.” He said, insulting and challenging Flare.

Arrow looked at Flare, now with worry. He was grinning and Arrow could tell that Flare had accepted the challenge. “Flare, let’s just-” Arrow tried to stop the inevitable.

“My mom, eh?” Flare said, his voice dripping with venom. His smirk washed away in action. He pounced towards the earth pony, charging him and planting his right hoof across the earth pony’s face, knocking him onto the ground.

“Flare, stop!” Arrow called. Flare ignored him once again, and jumped on top of the fallen ringleader’s body.

“We’ll see who is crying after this.” Flare said, raising his hoof to strike again. The other two ponies went to remove Flare from their comrade, alas, both of them got a hoof directed towards them. While Flare fended off the others, the earth pony went to move out from under him. Flare noticed this and swung fast at escapist’s face to stop him.

Arrow decided now was time for action. As Flare went for another attack, Arrow piled him off of his victim and onto the ground. Flare struggled and almost hit him in the face. Arrow had no choice, he headbutted Flare right above his snout knocking him almost completely unconscious.

The other two helped the earth pony up. “You might want to control your friend, because next time-”

Arrow didn’t care to listen. “Go, or else I’ll finish what he just started.” Arrow said, turning to glare at the three. Flare fought for wrong reasons, but he obviously won. If I hadn’t stopped him, he would have done something worse. “I could honestly care less for your petty threats, now get lost.”

“Hmph.” The three turned and continued down the street, leaving Arrow to deal with Flare. Arrow gazed down at Flare’s half-conscious form.

“Really Flare?” Arrow asked, levitating Flare onto his back. “You really need your sleep, don’t you?” Arrow started back down the road.

I can’t help but wonder how far he would have gone if I didn’t stop him… Arrow felt Flare shift slightly. He began to move a bit more once Arrow looked over at him.

Flare opened his eyes slightly and began to get up. Arrow held a hoof out to stop him. “Flare, you need to sleep. You slept for maybe ten minutes.” Arrow commanded. Flare pushed the hoof out of the way and proceeded to stand.

Arrow let him get up, but watched closely to where he was going. Flare stumbled over to the nearest tree and slumped up against it. He looked towards Arrow.

“Good morning and goodnight,” he said before sliding down the tree’s trunk and curling into a small ball.

Arrow was quite confused. “Flare, you are a very odd pegasus.” He commented and trotted over to him. “Now, go back to bed before I make you again.” He jokingly said.

Flare’s response was to rise a hoof and try to pull Arrow down to sleep next to him. With the help of Arrow, he was successful.

“Very odd pegasus.” Arrow repeated. Flare shifted closer to him and rolled up.

“Go to sleep.” He quietly whispered, his eyes closed as he was already following his own advice. Arrow just smiled at him.

“You’re also a lucky pegasus.” Arrow said getting comfortable and closing his eyes. Lucky I didn’t sleep too much either. Slowly the two crept into the realm of dreams.

Flare couldn’t feel anything. His vision was blurred to the extent that he could not make out anything around him either. All he saw was a gray blur surrounding him. The silence was deafening.

“Hello? Anypony?” He managed to call out. He could faintly hear his voice echo into the nothingness. His call never got a direct answer though. Flare covered his eyes with his hooves. What is going on? Why can’t I see or hear that well?

Suddenly Flare heard a very distinctive giggle. He moved his hooves and looked straight ahead of him. Clear as day, Scootaloo was there smiling right at him.

“Scootaloo, what are you-” he started to ask before she turned around and ran away, giggling happily. “Hey, wait!” She ran away from him, down what appeared to be a small stone hallway. There was barely any room for more than two ponies next to each other. He took a step to begin following her, but flinched back when he noticed water rising about an inch around his hooves.

Flare took a moment to learn his surroundings. The only piece of the hallway that was lit was the small section Flare stood in. Scootaloo had already disappeared into the darkness and her giggles faded too. The water was at rest and flowing neither with or against Flare.

“What is this place?” He asked aloud.

“What’s wrong, Flare?” Flare spun around, the other direction of the hallway looking completely the same. However, this time he saw Derpy. She was smiling and seemed not to have a care in the world or where she was.

“Derpy, what are you doing here? Why am I here?” Flare questioned. Derpy looked at him in a confused manner.

“What do you mean? Do you not want me here?” Her smile dropped as she took the wrong meaning of Flare’s words. Her eyes became sad and she looked as if she was going to cry.

“That’s not what I-” Flare began to explain, but was interrupted. A tear fell from Derpy and she turned away from him.

“No.” She stated firmly. “If you don’t want me here then I will just leave.” She began to sob and ran off into the darkness, the opposite direction than Scootaloo had ran. Each one of Derpy’s tears that hit the water seemed to speed it up slightly against Flare.

“Derpy, wait!” Flare called as she ran away. He wanted to chase her, but a loud crash came from the opposite direction.

“Flare, help!” Scootaloo’s voice echoed throughout the hallway. Flare gasped in shock, realizing something must have happened to her.

“Hold on Scoot, I’m on my way!” he said, dashing into the darkness. With every step the water grew colder but Flare didn’t allow it to slow him down.

After what seemed to be hours of running, the water temperature now so low it seemed to burn him, Flare spotted a dim light. As he ran towards the light, he recognized Scootaloo’s figure hanging off the edge. Water ran over her, making it difficult to maintain her hold.

“Flare…” Scootaloo wailed, grasping the edge for her life. Flare saw her begin to lose her grip. He tried his hardest to run faster. As he reached the light, Scootaloo gasped.

“Scootaloo!” Flare went to grab her but she slipped just before their hooves would touch. He saw the fear in her eyes as she fell into a pit of nothingness.

“Flare!” Scootaloo screamed before she faded. Flare hung halfway off the edge, looking at where she had fallen. He closed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.

Scootaloo… A tear fell, the speed of the water slowed to a stop. Flare didn’t seem to notice. His mind was locked on what had just happened. There were a couple water splashes that came from behind Flare. He opened his eyes and looked to his side, preparing for anything.

“Well, it appears you have failed.” A female voice said from the unlit hallway behind him.

Doubtful thinking

Flare stood up tall and turned to where the voice had come from.

“Show yourself.” He demanded firmly. “I won’t play any games with you and you are going to answer all my questions.”

“It wouldn’t change anything if you were to see, but I will show you anyway.” The female voice said. Seconds later, an almost completely shrouded pony stepped out. The only thing that Flare could see was that her muzzle was white.

“Who are you?” Flare asked and glared towards where the eyes would be located behind the hood.

“That doesn’t matter. What really matters is that you failed and lost them both.” She answered, her voice having close to no emotion in it.

“What do you mean?” Flare asked, confusion substituting anger. His body stiffened as he saw a small smile form on the pony’s face.

“That is a good question. I mean that if this had been real, she would’ve died,” She stated and pointed at the cliff Flare himself was on the edge of. “and the other would never want to see you again. You would have lost about everything.” She finished putting her hoof back into the water.

“That isn’t true, I wouldn’t allow this to happen.” Flare said with frustration in his voice.

“That is why I tested you on it. Your words mean nothing, Flare, your actions just proved you let it happen. You allowed it to happen, not to just one, but to both.” The small frown returned to her face. Even in Flare’s unnerved state, he could sense her disappointment.

“Shut up! I don’t care to hear what you have to say if you want to tell me I’m a failure.” He told her. “I care for why you had to ‘test’ me in this in the first place.”

“It’s simple really. In one day, you made a promise you aren’t sure you can keep and planned to keep a mare, whose emotions and words can change you, around. And now you saw how trying to protect the filly made the mare hate you and in turn her words stopped you from protecting the filly. In the end, you lost them both.” The hooded pony explained.

Flare looked down towards the water and was surprised to see a small ripple effect happening below him. He watched a tear fall from his face, producing another ripple in the water. “No, no I can do both. I can protect her and make sure Derpy doesn’t hate me!” His voice grew louder with each word. He looked towards the mare and gritted his teeth.

“There is no reason to shout. I’m not calling you a failure, I’m only showing you that you can’t handle it all.” The mare told him calmly. “You don’t want this to happen, and the best thing you may be able to do is for-”

“Shut up!” Flare yelled, interrupting her. “You are warning me, telling me to give up on one of the two. That it would be better for everypony. I strongly disagree.” He stated, holding back the urge to yell again.

“Then explain what you plan to do to make sure this doesn’t happen.” The mare said.

“I will make sure Scootaloo eats and gets a place to sleep every night.” Flare began.

“How do you plan to do that?” The mare asked.

“I’ll convince her she is safer with me. I can watch over her then when she isn’t out crusading.” Flare smiled a small smile when he said those words. “I care for her and will protect her from anything she needs to be protected from.”

“You do realize that you sleep in the Everfree forest, right? That place is more dangerous than it would seem. You could never convince her to stay there.” She questioned Flare’s tactic for protecting the younger one.

“I realize this perfectly. Do you think I would just let her stay with me without an idea about what’s around us? She would be next to me the whole time, I’d show her she had nothing to fear.” Flare explained. “And if by the chance we were attacked by something, I’d protect her from it.”

“What about the everyday issues she has to deal with?” The mare asked. “What are you going to do about those things?”

Flare thought for a moment. “I believe she can protect herself from anything she has already faced.” Flare’s small smile grew to a more confident one. “Any risks I could put her in, I will teach her how to deal with.”

“You aren’t going to teach her anything violent, are you?” She asked. Flare, now more calm and concentrated, heard small worry in her.

“I said, I would teach her how to deal with anything that could harm her there. Calmly asking timber wolves to leave won’t work and if she is attacked, she will know what to do.” Flare said. “I believe she will only ever use it if she is required to.”

“You put a lot of trust into her.” The mare announced. “Too much can be a bad thing, so can be too little. You must understand this.”

“I do, but she has been through enough to understand what and when something is required. I will explain that what I teach her is purely a self-defense, and trust that she will listen.” Flare said.

“You don’t use violence for self-defense half the time though.” She pointed out.

“I know.” Flare admitted. “But I’m not teaching her to do what I do. I’m teaching her to do what I say instead. She’ll be the better pony that way.”

“You really want to keep your promise to her.” She stated. Flare looked at her, confused by the statement she had just made.

“Of course I do. She deserves better than what she has or has had. If I can give her happiness, care and love, then maybe she won’t end up homeless and useless.” Flare said. He really wanted to see Scootaloo truly happy. “Maybe then, I won’t be so useless myself.” He whispered to himself.

“You’re useless you say? We can address that problem later.” The mare said.

“What are you talking about?” Flare asked.

“Your sense of self isn’t what we’re are dealing with at this very moment. Now, I guess you have some plan to keep your promise to the filly. I feel like you are never going to discard that.” She said.

“I promised I’d protect her, from anything. No cost will stop me from doing such… Never again.” Flare said, remembering what had just happened.

“I see you are coming to terms with what the test results were. You don’t seem angry about them.” The mare brought up.

“I failed, but thankfully this time it wasn’t real. This showed me that I need to make sure that nothing should stop me from protecting her.” Flare told her.

“Even if the mare you have a crush on announces she hates you?” She asked.

“I would hate that, but I would never forgive myself if Scootaloo suffered because I felt hurt. She fell off a cliff and neither of us can fly. If this had been real, she would… would have just died…” Flare managed to say.

“I see. I hate to bring this to your attention, but what if Arrow was in trouble as well as Scootaloo?” She continued.

“Arrow and Scootaloo?” Flare’s mind began processing what he would do. If they were both in life threatening trouble at the same time, would I be able to help both? Would I be able to save even one? I wouldn’t be able to pick between them… would I? Flare laid on the ground, uncaring of the water, and put his hooves behind his head. “In all honesty… nothing.” Flare said.

“They would both suffer, but that is why I didn’t bring Arrow into this test. I knew that it would be too much.” The mare said. “You need to realize what exactly you are getting yourself into, Flare, or you’ll just hurt the ones you care for.”

She’s right, I believe Arrow could handle himself. But everypony needs assistance at some points. If it happened right at the same time Scootaloo needed help… “I... I would help Scootaloo.” Flare said, slowly rising again.

“Hmm?” The mare wasn’t sure what he meant.

“I would help Scootaloo first, and together we would save Arrow!” Flare exclaimed. “We three would be there for each other and would make sure we would be never alone!”

“You believe that the three of you could watch out for each other?” The mare asked.

“Of course. Arrow is older and can hold his own in almost all cases. If he needed help, it wouldn’t be immediate. Scootaloo would though, making her the right choice to help first. After that, we could make sure Arrow was fine. We’d have his back to the end.” Flare said, his smirk of confidence reappearing upon his face.

“Well then, I guess I can’t change your mind. I can only show you what you’d be up against.” She said.

“What do you mean? I am getting really tired of asking that, so explain everything. Who are you?” Flare asked in a serious and no longer cocky tone.

“I’ll answer what I am, if you can tell me what you are going to do about the mare now. You seem to be happy with what you want from Scootaloo, but what are you going to do to balance the mare in this?” She asked.

“By ‘the mare’ you mean Derpy, correct?” Flare asked.

“Indeed.” She confirmed.

“That’s a good question actually. If I avoid her too much, she’ll stop caring. If I give her too much attention, she might think I’m a creep or something.” Flare thought aloud. “Not only that, but making sure I can balance her in with everything is risking my friends at some times.”

“Family.” The mare said.

“Huh, family?” Flare didn’t know what she meant.

“You mean family. You and Arrow aren’t blood related, but the bond between you is strong enough to be. You also love and care for Scootaloo and plan to protect her, even if your life is ended in the process. You don’t have friends, you have family.” The mare explained calmly.

Flare was taken aback by what she said, but it was true. He loved Arrow like a brother, and wanted to protect and care for Scootaloo like a younger sibling. He seemed to have trusted Clouded enough to follow her into her house. Even after that, he took Scootaloo to get her cut healed. His trust in her was enough. Derpy, with just a few words, had helped him many times already. All the ponies he had met since he arrived in Ponyville had been so nice to him. Too nice to consider only friends.

“I do. I have family, and I wish to include Derpy in it.” Flare stated solemnly. “May I ask you a quick question?”

“You may ask, you may not like the answer.” The mare stated.

“Why are you helping me realize somethings, but not others?” Flare asked. “It’s come to my attention that you warn me, and then do nothing.”

“I can’t pave your path or plan your future, that’s up to you. I warn you of what you must watch out for, that is all.” She answered.

“As I thought. So I guess I need to think how to balance Derpy in this by myself.” Flare concluded.

“Yes, you do.”

“Alright.” Flare sat down and closed his eyes, trying to focus only on his thoughts. This is going to be difficult. I’m sure I can do it. How, that is the only thing stopping me.

“You love her, right?” The mare asked, causing Flare to open his eyes.

“Of course I do. I just got to prove it, without all those gifts, nicknames, and other things.” Flare said.

The mare walked up to Flare and put a hoof on his chest. Flare looked at her in confusion, but didn’t question. “Do you trust your heart?” She asked.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Flare informed her.

“Do you or not.” She repeated.

Flare closed his eyes again, trying to figure out what antic this mare was doing now. “Yes, I trust it.” His eyes reopened. “Why?”

“If you trust it, then why don’t you believe in it?” The mare asked as she took her hoof off where Flare’s heart would be beating.

“What?” Flare was completely lost.

“Your mind can’t always find the answer. You have to learn to sometimes go with what your heart says.” The mare told him. “Otherwise, your heart will become cold and hateful as you grow older. It would appear this mare has revived it, but it’s up to you to make sure it is cared for.” Her words made him realize what was right in front of his eyes the whole time.

I must believe in my heart and leave my mind to sit this one out. If I follow my heart, I should be fine. Flare smiled slightly. “I understand, I will use and care for my heart.”

“Flare, you truly are a smart stallion. I can’t do more than provide warnings, but you seem to have figured out almost everything.” The mare commented.

“Almost?” Flare asked.

“I’m afraid I have to ask one more question.” She told him. Her emotionless voice worried Flare.

“Ask it, there is no use holding it back.” He replied.

“What would happen if Arrow died?” She asked. Flare felt his breath leave him at the thought, even if just a dreamed one. He suddenly felt cold and it was hard to breathe.

“Arrow dying...” Flare said. “No, no it won’t happen. He won’t die, nopony will. I’m sure he will live till he is an elder. Arrow won’t die!” Flare was panicking, he was worried about the mere idea she suggested.

“It’ll happen someday.” The mare stated.

“No! No, it won’t! Scootaloo, Derpy, Arrow, they will live on happily!” He told her, his voice growing with panic and worry.

“Flare, did you listen to my question?” She asked him. “I didn’t ask if it would happen. I asked what would happen if he was to die. What would you do afterward? Would you still remain strong enough to care for your family?”

“Why would Arrow die, huh? Tell me why!” Flare retorted and refused to answer.

“Because you weren’t there to help. You weren’t there and he died. His goals unfulfilled and dreams never accomplished.” The mare said.

I wasn’t there… That was all of yesterday… I wasn’t there, if he had been in trouble, I wouldn’t have been there. I’m not even the one who found him, Scootaloo did. Flare’s breathing slowly began to calm. If he were to die, would I be able to carry out what promises I’ve made?

“If Arrow were to die, I’d avenge him. I’d carry out his hopes, his dreams through me. They may only seem like words now, but I carry and have carried the same hatred, blood and determination as he has. We, with no doubt, are brothers even after the end!” Flare said. He didn’t smile or act cocky in any manner. He was completely serious.

“That’s good for Arrow. So, you would throw away the rest of your family for revenge?” The mare concluded.

“I wouldn’t throw them away, but it would be better if they didn’t follow. I wouldn’t dare endanger any other pony in my quest for vengeance. They would be better if I left.” Flare stated. “Of course, I would still love them, but sometimes you must say goodbye to the ones you love. It would be better than having to say goodbye because they tried to help me and were harmed in the process.”

“You would leave in order to protect them.” She said.

“Yes. And it would hurt to do so. In the end, they would probably never forgive me for leaving, but I’d have to anyway.” He elaborated.

“Why are you so sure about you having to avenge him?” The mare asked quizzically.

“Because I couldn’t do it with my blood-related family. I was small and weak then. Not anymore.” Flare said.

“I see, you still can’t fully accept what happened to your parents. You let them go, but want to make sure you never have to again.” The mare said.

Flare sat down and closed his eyes once again. His head faced towards the ground. “I let them rest, I was the only burden holding them to this world. It was better I gave up any thoughts of vengeance for them. They got to move on, and in the end I feel better about myself.”

“You say you let them move on, then why make Arrow suffer?” She asked.

Flare let a tear fall. “I don’t know… I just don’t know what I’d do if Arrow died.” He admitted.

“You said you’d leave what family you had left behind for revenge, what would happen if you failed?” The mare continued to question.

Flare felt more tears fall, the water absorbing them. “I… I don’t know… I would lose everything for nothing… That’s what would happen.” Flare was crying and sniffling at this point. He didn’t want to fail again, nor did he want Arrow to die. Those are all possibilities… They can and might happen…

“Flare, you are a strong stallion. However, you alone cannot handle this. Maybe if you let somepony help you, everything you want will come true. You can’t be so stubborn all the time.” She told him. “Allow your family to help, that’s what they are there for.”

Family is there to help… Flare tried to calm down, and after a bit he did.

“I think I need time to think about some of my answers and your questions.” Flare said.

“I expected as much. Flare, you have great potential. Do not waste it, and do not throw away your family.” The mare warned. An order and a plea mixed in her voice. “I will leave you to your thoughts now.”

Flare felt numb, and when he opened his eyes everything was blurred again. This time it was also fading, leaving Flare to sit there in nothing but darkness. He sighed.

Scootaloo, I swear I will protect you. Derpy, I will care for you. Arrow, I’ll have your back till the end of time. Clouded, I will repay the favors I owe you. I promise this, to all of you…

The sun was near the middle of its journey when Flare began to shift around. He didn’t want to wake up, but it was better than sitting in complete darkness that his dream had become. He opened his eyes and saw a small red bug sitting upon the tip of his snout.

“Ahh!!” Flare shouted as he shot up and tried to swat the ladybug away. “Get away!”

Arrow awoke to Flare shouting and looked around worriedly. He spotted Flare with his back against a tree breathing heavily to the point of hyperventilation.

“Flare, what is the matter?” Arrow asked, getting up. Flare pointed to the ground near his hooves.

“Get rid of it, Arrow!” He shouted in a voice decidedly higher than usually, his breath not slowing a single bit. Arrow looked over; there was a patch of dirt and in the middle sat a ladybug. Arrow walked over and smiled. He allowed it to climb onto his hoof.

“Come on, Flare, it’s just a ladybug.” Arrow said with a sly grin.

“Arrow, get it off you and out of here.” Flare commanded. Arrow turned around and slowly crept towards Flare.

“It’s only a little bug, it won’t hurt you.” Arrow’s smile grew as he got closer. Flare’s ears fell and his eyes focused on the ladybug climbing on Arrow as he was approaching.

“Arrow, don’t. Please do not.” Flare pleaded, his heart beginning to beat faster and panic resonating in his voice. Arrow continued to make his way towards Flare. “Arrow seriously, please don’t come any closer with that.” He begged.

Arrow stopped about 2 pony-lengths away and extended his ladybug-bearing hoof towards Flare. Flare looked horribly scared and was staring at the bug on Arrow’s hoof like it could open enormous jaws full of pointy teeth and gobble him up at any moment.

“Well, little guy, it would appear you have driven fear into Flare.” Arrow spoke to the ladybug. The pause effect he used was great torment to Flare. Suddenly, Arrow flinched his hoof upward and the ladybug flew off. “So shoo.”

The ladybug seemed to tease Flare by flying right next to his face. Flare dove in the opposite direction and covered his head with his hooves. He gave himself a moment before speaking.

“Is it gone?” He asked from under his hooves. Arrow rolled his eyes and walked over to Flare.

“Yes, it’s gone.” He said.

Flare rested his hooves and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. “Thanks.” He said as he began to calm down.

“You really are afraid of them, aren’t you?” Arrow asked with compassion. Flare’s body shook and it seemed to relieve him the last bit of fear.

“Yeah, I am. I can’t stand them and that one even touched me.” Flare complained, relaxing his body once again.

“Well it’s gone now.” Arrow said. He bent down and began to drag Flare up from the back of his mane. Flare’s natural reaction was to push him off.

“What the hay!” Flare said, as he was forced off the ground. Arrow dragged him up to a sitting position, then released.

“You woke me up with your screaming. Therefore you are getting breakfast for us.” Arrow stated. Flare shook his head in a joking manner.

“Fine, but you are stuck with what I get.” Flare pointed out, standing up.

“Fine with me, just wake me up when you get back. I’m going back to sleep now.” Arrow said, laying back on the ground.

Flare chuckled at him and stretched once before heading towards Ponyville. I hope he realizes I don’t have any bits. Flare smiled at this thought.

False Assumptions

Flare made his way back through the Everfree towards Ponyville. The sun was bright enough that he could easily see what was in front of him. He emerged from the Everfree and took a moment to stop and get some fresh open air.

I really hope he was kidding. I don’t know where to get any food, other than the farm. I don’t wanna buck apples though… Flare thought to himself. He disregarded it as joke with the conclusion that if it wasn’t, Arrow would just need to get some food himself.

He continued towards Ponyville using the path near Fluttershy’s cottage. Flare began to think about his dream from last night. There were few questions that still needed to be answered, mostly revolving around who that mare actually was.

I don’t know… Who or what was that? I couldn’t control anything and it all happened so fast. Then the questions… How did she know about some of those things? Flare became so lost in thought that he didn’t realize what was happening around him, or how far he had walked, so the first houses of Ponyville took him by surprise. He shook his head to clear it from troubling thoughts and entered the town proper.

The ponies of Ponyville were out and about. Flare didn’t recognize any that he had met so far. He had no idea why he was trying to spot anypony in particular, nor did he know why he even went to Ponyville. He was there though and didn’t feel like leaving.

“Flare.” A voice came from behind him. It sounded familiar so he turned around to see who it was without warning. Clouded was behind him. “What are you doing?” She asked.

“Taking a walk.” Flare replied. Clouded only looked at him.

“I don’t think that’s the truth.”

Flare looked at her confused after she said that. I’m just wandering around aimlessly, how would I be lying?

“Why?” Flare asked.

“Because, just walking around doesn’t seem like you.” Clouded responded. “You don’t seem like one of those who just take walks.”

Flare was withdrawn. “What is that supposed to mean?” he asked.

“All I’m saying is that you seem more like the actionable type. Always charging head on. I’m not saying you don’t think, just saying you seem to get yourself in trouble a lot for not thinking enough.” Clouded told him.

“Yeah, well, I can’t afford to do that anymore.” Flare replied, reliving last night’s dream. He shook it off. “What about you? What are you doing right now?” he asked, changing the subject.

“I’m out on a walk.” Clouded stated.

Flare just looked at her. Really? Is that so? After a moment, Clouded laughed at Flare.

“What?” Flare asked, not realizing what was funny.

“Just your reaction to my answer.” Clouded told him. “Anyway, if you’re not busy right now I’d like to talk to you.” Flare knew she was serious, even though she seemed at peace.

No doubt about it. This ‘talk’ is about last night…

“Yeah, I can talk right now.” Flare said. His stomach growled at him. Clouded gave a questioning look at him as he nervously smiled. She sighed.

“Come on.” she said, heading down the road.

“Where are we going?” Flare asked as he followed.

“To my house, to talk in private and feed you it seems.” Clouded answered him.

“Or to try and pry your way into my head again.” Flare whispered to himself. Clouded turned to him right after and Flare thought he had been heard. All Clouded did was smile in his face. Yeah, she definitely heard that…

It was a short walk of complete awkward silence the rest of the way, both ponies lost in thought. Clouded opened the door and walked in, Flare followed.

“So, you just don’t lock your door?” Flare asked. “Aren’t you afraid of getting robbed?”

“No, this area is generally safe.” Clouded replied, as Flare closed the door behind him. “Make yourself at home in the living room. I’ll get something for us to eat.” she said, going towards the kitchen before Flare could stop her.

Flare followed his orders and found a spot comfortable for sitting. Clouded entered the room levitating two plates with hay sandwiches on them. Setting one in front of Flare, she immediately began interrogating him.

“I’m going to get right to the questions. Who was she?” Clouded asked. Flare took a small bite and smiled.

“Well then, I didn’t realize how serious this relationship was to you.” Flare commented. Clouded glared at his with dagger eyes.

“Flare, this is serious. I would like it if you took it as such.” Clouded told him. Flare’s smile wore off.

“Alright, ask away then.” Flare responded.

“You came to my house twice last night. Once looking for Arrow, the other claiming you found Arrow with that foal. You said that she helped you find him. How did she help you?” Clouded asked. Flare thought for a moment about what to say.

“She was the one who found him. I followed her to where she said Arrow was, and it turned out he was.” he responded.

“Okay, so she was involved in all of this the whole time. You must know her from somewhere.” Clouded inferred.

“Not exactly, she just kinda slipped into the whole mess.” Flare admitted.

“Oh, and how did that happen?” Clouded asked.

Flare realized he had been set up. She’s playing games with me… He thought for a moment on how to answer her. “She crashed into me.” Flare stated.

“She got involved by crashing into you?” Clouded asked.

“Affirmative. She was going home when she crashed into me. She asked what I was doing and after I told her, she asked if I wanted help.” Flare told her and took another bite from his sandwich.

“And you declined, right?” Clouded assumed.

“Not exactly. If I did, I wouldn’t be here right now.” Flare said, bringing up a valid point.

“Right. So you’re to blame for everything that happened to her last night.” Clouded said.

“Yeah..? What’s so bad about that?” Flare asked.

“If I were to report you, you could get into a lot of trouble.” Clouded said, taking the first bite from her sandwich. Flare became very serious at this point. I see where she is going with this. I can’t afford to get into trouble with the law. Especially not after last night…

“Yes, this is true. However, what would that do for you?” Flare asked in response.

“That would fulfill my duty as a pony of Ponyville. Reporting suspicious actions and with evidence, you could be in deep trouble.” Flare flinched, she had him trapped in a corner. “Instead of doing that immediately, I decided to give you a chance. I’m sorry Flare, but a grown colt randomly appearing with a young filly just raises some red flags.”

Errgh, she is doing this to protect Scootaloo. If I get locked away, I can’t keep my promise and Scootaloo will be taken to an orphanage. But if I break and tell her everything, not only will Scootaloo never trust me again, but she’ll still be taken if Clouded reports it.

“I understand Clouded, thank you for the chance to prove my innocence.” Flare said. If you didn’t, nothing good would happen…

“It’s only fair. Now she was on her way home? Alone?” Clouded continued. Yeah… That’ll be bad to say though… I shouldn’t, but...

“Yes.” Flare simply answered, fearful to give anymore information.

“Why?” Clouded asked. “You know why, I’m sure of it.” I know you’re sure… That’s my problem.

“Because it wasn’t that late when I found her.” Flare told her.

“Oh, how long did you have her with you then?” Clouded asked. Flare wanted to facehoof because of what he said. What’s done is done, now let’s work with it…

“Soon after I left your house.” Flare explained. That’s a large time frame though…

“That’s quite a long time. You didn’t find Arrow right away then, did you?” Clouded suggested.

“No, we didn’t.” Flare admitted. And before you use this… “As I said before, it took a good while to find him, even with the two of us. However, even with the extended amount of time I got her home, safely too.”

“You never left her side?” Clouded asked. I did…

“No, she was always around me.” Flare lied. Sorry Clouded, but I can’t afford to mess up.

“Okay, then how did she get that cut on her shoulder?” Clouded asked.

“She crashed into me. When she did, she kinda flipped over and hurt herself. I tried to make her let me see it, she wouldn’t though.” Flare answered.

“Do you know why?” She pushed.

“It’s because she was too excited when she found Arrow.” Flare said without a second thought.

“I see, so how did she do it?” Clouded asked.

“Do what? Find Arrow? She did that when…” Flare drifted off. No, I just didn’t…

“When?” Clouded pushed Flare for an answer. “If she was near you the whole time, how did she find him first? Why would she have to crash into you instead of just pointing him out?”

...I don’t know… Scootaloo… “It’s because, she left my side at one point…” Flare admitted.

“For how long?” Clouded asked.

“Enough for me to get a bit of info on Arrow, then almost get arrested.” Flare told her.

“Arrested?”

“I broke into town hall. The mayor caught me. I stole a map of Ponyville. I was later caught by them and was almost arrested on the spot.” Flare told her.

“What stopped them from doing so?” She asked.

“I only stole a map, nothing serious.” Flare told her.

“I see… So you left her alone for quite a while. In the middle of the night?” Clouded continued. I’m sorry Scootaloo…

“Yes.” Flare admitted. He stared down at the floor. He had failed, again.

“You put her in a lot of danger Flare.” Clouded commented. Flare stamped his hoof in frustration.

“Clouded. I don’t want her hurt. I would never endanger her.” He stated firmly. I would never put her in danger…

“Flare…” Clouded started, but was interrupted.

“No, just give me a moment.” Flare said.

I failed her again… Dangit! I admitted almost everything and Clouded won’t chance it. I’m getting arrested and she’s going to an orphanage… He thought hard on anything he could do. Memories of his dream from the previous night appeared. I’m overwhelmed. Scootaloo… I’m not going to let you go. Flare’s head clicked as something came together in his mind. No, I won’t let you go. In fact, I choose you. Over anypony else, you are the one!

“Clouded. You can’t just accuse me of endangering her.” Flare said.

“What do you mean?” Clouded asked.

“You can’t say she was in danger.” He stated again. “You can’t prove she ever was.”

“You left her alone long enough to find Arrow.” Clouded brought up. “That’s a large amount of time.”

“Ponyville is safe. I know it is. She’s fast and found Arrow. If she was ever in any danger, she’d be fine.” Flare told her.

“You can’t ensure Ponyville’s safety.” Clouded replied. “It’s illogical to think this place is safe just because it seems that way.”

“Clouded, please don’t be a hypocrite.” Flare said. Clouded looked at him in confusion.

“What are you talking about?” Clouded asked.

“Remember? You don’t lock your door because Ponyville is ‘safe’.” Flare commented. Clouded’s eyes slightly widened.

“Leaving your door unlocked and letting a young one roam around in the middle of the night is completely different.” Clouded said, defending herself.

“Yes, but they lead to the same conclusion. That Ponyville is safe.” Flare shot back, reversing who was on the offensive. “If she would have screamed, all the ponies here would have awoken and helped her. I wouldn’t care where I was, what I was doing, nothing would stop me from getting to her. It was my job to protect her, and she got home with only a scratch.” He added up. Scootaloo, I will not fail you. Right now, you’re my everything.

“Even so, what if she didn’t have time to scream? What if she never returned home?” Clouded asked. Flare went silent for a moment.

“Clouded, I wouldn’t dare let anypony die because of me. I trust she knew what she was doing and look at that, she did.” Flare sighed. “Clouded this may be difficult to understand, but I knew she could handle herself.”

“How can you be so sure you didn’t endanger her?” Clouded asked.

“You can learn a lot about somepony just by how they talk, how they move, how they act. When I was her age, I was fighting to survive. I know when somepony has the qualities to stand up to challenges that endanger them. She meets them.” Flare told her. I can’t tell her everything though… “I don’t know where she got it from, maybe chasing her cutie mark or after Rainbow Dash made her see how quickly life can end. I’m sure they’ve been harmed by that much worse than a scratch.”

“You can tell how a pony would fare in a life dangering situation. Is that so? What about me?” Clouded asked.

“You’d be fine. You have healing magic and your quick wits would help you avoid as much trouble as possible. If anything happened to you, you could easily counter it. But, I feel you learned to be careful like that the hard way. I can’t help but to feel you can relate to me in a way.” Flare explained. Clouded opened her mouth, but then closed it back shut. “She is more like me. She is able to move, even if at the last second. That scooter she has can provide decent practice. However, she lacks the ability to stop. In some situations, this could be a downfall or your best advantage. It all depends. Speed won’t get you through everything though, that too is true. Neither me nor her are as smart or quick witted as you, but give us just a bit of time and we can form a good plan.” Flare thought about what he said. I’m sure, she is as talented as I was at that age… Maybe better even… The room went silent, a weighting feeling hung over the room. Scootaloo, I think I kept my promise… I think I did it…

“Flare, you’re smarter than you think. You say I can relate to you, how did you know?” She asked.

“I can tell when others have had it rough. For a pony to go this far to protect somepony they don’t know. It seems like you want to protect everypony around you dearly. I’m a newcomer and then this happens. It screams I’m dangerous; you don’t want anypony hurt, so you try to protect them by getting rid of me. For some reason, you didn’t report me immediately. Why? Because you also felt I could relate and so you gave me a chance.” Flare explained more in depth. “Am I wrong?” He asked.

“No. You figured me out. When I met you, I had a strange feeling that you knew what I’ve been through.” Clouded admitted.

“I don’t exactly know, but I can empathize with you.” Flare said. “My parents were murdered in front of my eyes.” Clouded looked into Flare’s eyes. “I couldn’t do a thing to stop it. I tried and almost lost my life for it.”

“I killed mine…”

Everypony's Biting

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Perfume and Rainbows

Flare enjoyed his stroll down to Sugarcube Corner. He wondered what a muffin would taste like. He’d forgotten how muffins tasted, he forgot how even apples tasted. Flare hadn’t really eaten stuff that was considered food, so anything that was meant to be eaten was pretty special for Flare. He realized that the closer he got to Sugarcube Corner, the more memories of his mother's cooking he could remember.

At one moment, Flare was so lost in the past, he had tripped on nothing. He had gotten up, not bothering to wipe any dirt off, and continued toward his destination.

When he had gotten to Sugarcube Corner, he bumped into a white unicorn coming out as he went in. Her cutie mark was three blue diamonds; her mane was purple and perfected in just the right way where you could see her whole face. Whoever she was, she wasn't hiding anything. She was definitely showing off her beauty. She was as clean as could be, until Flare had got a bit of dirt on her coat.

"Oops, I'm sorry," Flare apologized, dropping his little bag of bits. "I got a little dirt on your coat." Flare didn't expect her to freak out over this; compared to Flare she was still a masterpiece. After a few moments of freaking out, she simply wiped the dirt off with a cloth in one of her saddlebags.

After that, she finally looked at Flare and gasped. To her, she saw a pegasus with one of the dirtiest coats, messiest manes and a couple terribly ruffled wing feathers. "Darling, please tell that's how you want to look." she asked, pulling out a mirror for Flare to see himself. Flare looked in and saw a wrecked pegasus; he hadn't combed his mane, washed his coat, or pulled the feathers out of wings for a few weeks now.

"I didn't plan myself to look like I've been homeless for weeks." Flare confessed frowning, and staring deep into the mirror. He hated how terrible he looked.

"Well, this simply will not do!" the pretty pony announced, "Follow me, we will have you fixed up and spotless." She picked up his money bag and put it in one of her saddle bags. "I can carry this for you." she said.

Flare was then levitated into the air with the unicorn's magic and was forced to follow. He waved goodbye to Sugarcube Corner. Flare was so close to tasting one delicious muffin. He was kinda depressed that he couldn't have a muffin.

"Ummm... My name is Flare," He said "Yours might be..." Flare waited a moment to hear a reply.

"Rarity." She said and posed for a moment. She then continued, still refusing to let Flare hit the ground. He didn't mind at all really, he felt like he was just drifting in the air. It was quite relaxing and peaceful, when Flare just blocked out everything and looked skybound.

"So Flare, where are you from?" Rarity questioned. She then noticed his hesitation. She looked over to see Flare lost in thought, and a face with no emotion whatever.

"I'm from..." Flare's voice had darkened, "far away..." He knew she would not like his answer. "I'm sorry Rarity, but I’d rather not talk about the past. It's more about today and the future, you know?"

Flare didn't even want to say the name of even the city where he had previously lived in. Then Flare had easily picked up on Rarity's worry. "I'm really sorry Rarity, but my life before now wasn't really that well."

Rarity respected Flare's answer and she didn't want to make him think of anything that would hurt him. Flare could see right into Rarity, who was concerned about his past.

After a few minutes, Flare was finally lowered onto the ground. Rarity had dragged him to a spa, and he wasn't so sure he was okay with this. As they entered, the smell of what he believed was perfume struck him. Flare almost gagged as they approached the main desk. The smell had been doubled!

"Two, for the usual." The ponies lead then Flare and Rarity to, what Flare saw it as, two buckets of perfectly warm water. After seeing them into the water, Flare closed his eyes. Other than the smell, it was really relaxing. He then felt something hit his face. Flare had saw that the weird mud stuff was being rubbed on his face.

"Uh... What's the mud for?" Flare asked, glancing at Rarity hoping she would answer him, instead one of the ponies rubbing it in his face.

"To clear up any facial problems" Rarity answered "and the cucumber slices are to erase puffiness around your eyes." She already knew his next question.

Flare simply shrugged and watched the mud be spread across all of his face. He knew any normal colt wouldn't like this, but he figured he was always a bit different. A few seconds later, he felt something he had not felt in forever; a comb began to run through his mane.

It ripped out a lot of knots for the first ten minutes, at one point they asked him if they should stop because they found a huge knot and just yanked it as hard as they could. Flare had said no, but he asked to see how much hair was ripped from his mane. They removed the slices of cucumbers for a minute and handed Flare a bundle of hair. Flare held it in his hoof for a second and laughed. Then after his mane had been combed, he decided his time there was up.

He thanked Rarity and got his little bag of bits back, and headed outside the spa. Flare then met a very special pony, just as much as Pinkie Pie. He may have never met her if he didn't forget everything on his way here.

"Umm, excuse me, could you point me toward Sugarcube Corner?” Flare asked a pegasus resting on a cloud. When the pegasus turned around to look at him, His eye's grew wide. "Wait! Your name is Rainbow Dash, Isn’t it?"

"Rainbow Dash is my name," the pegasus said, "and speed’s my game." The pegasus was sky blue with a rainbow mane and tail. Her mark was a cloud with a lighting striking with three different colors. Flare felt tears form in his eyes; he held them back as much as he could. This was the other story his mother had told him. Flare was so happy to see Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah, could you point me towards Sugarcube Corner?" Flare asked, "I have to try some of their sweets."

"Are you crying?" Rainbow Dash asked Flare, who shook his head no. But a second later, confessed with a nod. "Well, yeah," Rainbow pointed towards the direction, "It’s that way, but are you gonna be okay?"

"I'm sorry, you just were a star in one of my mother's stories she told me as a foal." Flare told her. "Those stories are really precious to me; I want to thank you for giving my mother a chance to see the sonic rainboom.” Flare saw her smile as he retold his mother's story, surprised that she even cared to listen.

"That's a cool story, colt. What's your name?" Rainbow asked him, Flare took a moment to remember his own name.

"My name is Flare, at your service Rainbow Dash," Flare bowed, making Dash laugh. He thought he was funny, he was glad some other pony did too.

"You’re not that bad, come on we’ll go to Sugarcube Corner," Rainbow Dash said, lifting herself into the air. She wondered why Flare had not done the same. "You coming?" She asked impatiently.

"I have some terrible news." Flare glanced down and frowned "I c-can't fly." Rainbow Dash gasped, but before any words could come out, Flare continued to explain. "I have a medical problem with my wings; I haven't been able to fly since I was young. My mother was told by the doctors when I think I was three. Most mothers would let their fillies try before telling them. My mother told me at 6 years old, just old enough to understand. I tried my heart out until I was ten, until four years of never getting an inch off the ground told me, the doctors were right." Flare still had dreams of flying; just an inch would make him go crazy. "But my wings are still put to good use." Flare said with a smile. "My wings have saved my life a few times, I don't know how to explain it, but I can try if you want."

"I’ve never heard of a pegasus that wasn't able to fly at all." Rainbow Dash said sounded a bit shocked. She then hoped she hadn't offended him.

"Well you see one now, you don't need to hear it." Flare told her, and then began his explanation of how he uses his wings. "Well I felt like if I wasn't allowed to fly, I could at least use my wings for something on the ground." Flare smiled, "So I found my wings made me as agile as can be, this has helped me dodge a lot of trouble in my life."

"What do you mean?” Rainbow Dash asked, "Could you show me?" Flare was happy to show off his skills to one of his idols.

"Sure," Flare began by jumping almost twenty feet into the air, then dove towards the hard ground as if he was going to land safely in water. When he hit the ground, he turned into a cartwheel. Landing on his hind hooves then flipped backwards, and was standing on his front hooves. He pushed off the ground ten feet into the air, doing a few 360s before landing safely on his two hind hooves. "Ta-da!" Flare said; he didn't even break a sweat.

"There’s more to you than what you can see." Rainbow Dash commented, "But, I don't like how you can't fly still..." Dash thought for a few seconds, she never thought any pony couldn’t fly.

"We can agree on something," Flare stated, "But there’s nothing we can do about it. I asked doctors about surgeries, even if it was too late; I wanted to know if I ever stood a chance at flying." Flare had to remember when he was six, when he learned about this. Then, after telling him, a few weeks later he made him do all sorts of exercises. This made him realize wings could help his balance a lot if he used his wings correctly. That’s when Flare started practicing flips and stunts when he wasn't trying to fly. This saved his life a few months later.

"The answer was no, wasn't it?" Dash knew that she was right; she just didn't know what else to say. Flare felt himself almost collapse, when he thought about what doctors had said.

Flare just lay down on the ground. He had done too much thinking today about his past, he couldn't do much more. He rubbed his head; he was getting a massive headache. All he wanted was to eat a muffin, was it too hard? He figured he wouldn't meet any pony else before the end of the day, and if he did he would act as shy a possible. Flare arose, "Let's get to Sugarcube Corner, shall we?" Flare just wanted his muffin, and then he could find somewhere to rest. He thought how hyper Pinkie was; not knowing how much or how fast she could talk might affect his stay at Sugarcube Corner. Too much would make him require medicines or some other treatment, he wouldn't be okay with that.

All Flare needed to know was that he wanted that muffin, and he was getting it. Rainbow Dash lowered herself towards the ground and started towards Sugar Cube Corner. Flare took a second to find his tiny bag, and then he was right behind Dash.

"So, is the food at Sugarcube Corner good?" Flare asked, he still hadn’t gotten to try it. Flare knew there was no way he could get a bad answer.

"Yea!" Rainbow Dash replied; she should a bit excited to be going there. "They have fantastic sweets, like, their cupcakes are so good. What were you planning to get there?" Flare realized something; Dash didn't have any bits with her. Was she going to ask him to pay? He knew he will if he has enough.

"A muffin," Flare said, glancing at his bag. "Haven't had a muffin in forever." Flare thought about it, how expensive could a muffin be really? It shouldn't be too much, and if Dash wants to get something cheap too, he can pay for it. Flare knew he was really losing all his bits in the next few minutes or so.

"You’re going what to hide it if you take it on the go," Dash warned him, "or eat it as soon as you get your hooves on it."

"Why is that?" Flare asked, wondering what could possibly be so bad about saving a muffin for later.

"Because," Dash said leaning towards his into his ear, looking in every direction before starting. "If a certain Pegasus sees you with a muffin, she'll be your best friend. If you share it with her, your day will never end. Either way, you have a locked fate, unless you be as rude as can be to her. In the end, you'll never be free again."

Flare just laughed; well whoever this pony was, she must really love muffins. "What’s her name?" He was going to need to know if he stood even a chance of avoiding her.

"Derpy Hooves," Dash said, instantly bringing Flare to earlier today. Derpy seemed like a nice Pegasus. "She isn't really bad company, but her obsession for muffins can get a little annoying."

"Well, it's too late then," Flare announced, "I've already met her. So, I'll take my chances; if she finds me, I'll share." Flare made this a game, possibly a more dangerous one than he was thinking. Rainbow Dash thought he was out of his mind. If he could deal with Derpy all day and still stay sane and in one piece, she would owe his a congratulations.

"Good luck," Dash said, "You're gonna need it." The more Rainbow Dash talked, the more Flare wanted his muffin on the go. If Derpy found Flare before he found a peaceful spot to eat it, it was hers.

When they finally reached Sugarcube Corner, Rainbow said she had some things to take care of, but they could talk again later. Flare walked in and saw a few ponies at tables eating. Cupcakes, his first idea of what to get.

"Welcome!" Pinkie said. "I'm so glad you decided to visit us. Are you having anything?" She appeared from nowhere; that startled Flare so he took a second to answer.

"Yes, do you have muffins? And if yes, how much is one?" Flare asked, opening his bit bag.

"Of course we have muffins, silly filly, five bits each." Pinkie stopped for a moment. "But, I have a super serious warning about the muffins." Flare dumped out his bit bag.

"I'll take two then and I know about Derpy. Trust me Pinkie, I have a good plan." Flare said, but the plan wasn't for avoiding Derpy, but to get her to find him. Flare planned to find a nice spot and eat the muffins.

Flare made his purchase and skipped outside, but not before waving a Pinkie. He then headed towards Ponyville Park. He sat down on a bench and looked at what he was holding. A paper bag, inside containing two things: One friend-finder and one dream of taste in reality. Flare thought those were good names for each one. He opened the bag and took a whiff of the smell. He nearly fainted, Flare got worried. Was it possible that the muffin's smell was getting him high? He took one out.

"Is that a muffin you have there?" a voice said from behind him. Flare smirked.

The Cruelty of Magic

The room went silent after Clouded’s announcement. Flare refused to look Clouded in the eyes.

“I don’t think that’s just it.” Flare said. Clouded looked at him.

“It was all a big accident. I caused it. That means that I killed them.” Clouded explained. “It may have been an accident and thus indirect. But murder is still murder. I’ve had to live with it my entire life.” She told Flare. He sat there a moment, wondering what would be the best thing to do.

“What happened?” Flare looked up and asked. “I don’t think it was just a simple accident. What caused it?”

“I told you, I did.” Clouded answered.

“Come on, Clouded, you know what I mean.” Flare said. “Please tell me.” Clouded looked at him. Her eyes showed concern while Flare’s compassion.

“Why do you care so much?” Clouded asked. “Why does it matter to you?”

“I care because that is what my mother taught me to do.” Flare said. “It matters because I care. I want you to be happy, Clouded. So please, Clouded, please tell me what happened.” He begged.

“I killed them after my experiments went all wrong.” Clouded said, trusting Flare.

“Experiments?” Flare asked.

“They were supposed to be healing potions. If I ever created them successfully, I could have potions to heal many illnesses and even physical injuries.” Clouded explained.

“Why isn’t this researched by Canterlot professionals? It seems like it could help a lot of ponies.” Flare said.

“It is illegal.” Clouded admitted. Flare looked at her in confusion.

“How? It seems to be helpful.” He asked.

“Because if not prepared just right, the one the potion is used on will die.” Clouded explained. “There were many ‘what if’s in making these potions.”

“Then why were you making them?” Flare asked curiously.

“My brother’s death.” Clouded said quietly. She looked towards the ground, holding back a few tears. Flare looked at her.

Man… She really lost everypony… Flare sighed. “Clouded, I don’t want to force you-”

“No!” Clouded interrupted. “Allow me to finish.” Clouded looked back towards Flare. “I’ve lived with this all my life, it is about time I finally accept that they are gone.” Flare knew how she felt. His response was only a nod to continue. “My younger brother had died from an illness. Doctors said that by the time they found out, it was too late. They didn’t even try to save him.”

“What was his name?” Flare asked. She looked at him, surprised at the question.

“Aurora Draft. Why do you ask?” Clouded wanted to know.

“It’s better to remember loved ones by their names. I never fully learned my parent’s names to tell you the truth. I only have Mom and Dad.” Flare admitted. Clouded thought about what he had said. A tear fell before she continued.

“You’re right. Well, he passed away at a young age. That is when I began to study first-aid and other healing matters. But one day, a few years after my brother’s death, I found this group of ponies.” Clouded said. Flare was confused.

“Who exactly?” He asked.

“It was a group of ponies who were secret to many, except those who seeked out their assistance in something. They were always robed, and all seemingly unicorns.” She told him. Flare’s mind clicked. No way… She isn’t talking about the same group that did that to Arrow… right?

“This is where you began messing with potions, isn’t it?” Flare asked.

“Yes, not with them however. I paid them for supplies. They seemed desperate for bits, so I could get a larger amount for cheaper.” Clouded said. “I’m not sure how they got them, but at that time it didn’t matter to me. Neither did the fact that what I was buying was obviously banned.”

“You had what you thought you needed in your hooves.” He commented.

“Yes. I began brewing potions in the basement of where I lived. At the time, it was still with my parents. But something seemed off, the potions didn’t have any effect when made. It seemed like they were only colored water.” She said.

“So what were they missing?” Flare asked.

“Magic. When I asked the group about it, they said everything they have done had magic involved. I had to fuse my magic into the potions while brewing the ingredients together.” She explained. “It was a very precise procedure. I practiced for months before attempting it.”

“What happened when you did?” Flare asked.

“The first couple times were successful. But the 3rd one I made with magic something went wrong. I rushed it, causing an explosion that knocked me into the wall. The explosion focused more upwards then anything so the upper levels in the house shattered and crumbled. I was hurt, but I knew I had to get out of there.” She explained.

“The house was on fire and the explosion destroyed most of its support; you had no time to waste before the house came down on top of you.” Flare commented.

“Yes, the fire eating away at whatever was left holding up the house. I was shaken, barely able to stand. I was able to limp my way out from under the house through the cellar door… I barely escaped alive that is.” Clouded stated.

“Was it locked or something?”

“No, but I was able to get about 10 hoofsteps away before the house slowly began to fall inwards, my parents still inside.” Clouded took a moment to think.

“The house fell.” Flare said as he imagined how she must have felt. Knowing her family was inside, just died before her eyes. He knew how it felt.

“It did. As it collapsed, I too fell to the ground. My senses started fading, I only remember thinking about how my mother and father needed help, but I couldn’t move to help them. I blacked out, everything becoming numb.” Clouded paused, trying to remember any more detail, but she couldn’t. “I woke up later in the nearest hospital. Bandages covered a good portion of my body.”

“You almost died yourself. All of this because you never wanted to see anypony around you hurt.” Flare commented.

“I wish I hadn’t. Now everypony I loved is dead.” Clouded admitted.

“But yet you are a master at healing magic.” Flare said. “You continued to study healing ways. Most would quit afterwards, so didn’t you?”

“I had nothing more to lose.” She answered. “I worked so hard at it, and it cost me so much. If I were to just drop it, I would have no reason to be alive.”

“I see…” Flare thought for a moment, taking in all of what he had just heard. Clouded acted strong, but he could easily see she was at the brink of crying the entire time. Flare knew that. “You continued studying healing methods and such, but my question is, how come you can heal using magic while everypony in the hospital cannot?”

“As I said, this kind of healing is precise. Any imperfection in casting the spell and the results could either be completely the opposite effect or can directly kill the one who you’re trying to heal.” She explained again. “It was outlawed for that reason. The reason I can do it with ease is the amount of time I’ve studied it for so long, first working with potions even. It’s true, magic took some adjusting to, but once you understand it, you’ve only got to work on how much magic is getting casted what way.”

“It would probably be easier to explain this to a unicorn. I don’t know the first about magic casting and such.” Flare said. “But you never really answered my question. You explained the magic part, but not how you got there. How do you know it can kill somepony?”

Clouded looked away, not wanting to answer. “Medical science has a dark history. Go back far enough and with some experiments on smaller animals, you can learn a lot.”

“You tested on small creatures?” He asked, surprised at that fact.

“Science has never been pretty. But I wasn’t going to use full grown ponies. I did it for the better.”

“I know, it just seems…” Flare began

“So wrong?” Clouded finished. “I understand how you feel. I didn’t like testing on innocent creatures, but the end result was worth it. Each failure was another step to success.” Flare thought about what she had said, comparing it to himself.

Every failure was another step to success… I won’t argue on that. “I see. This is why you chance getting in serious trouble. You just don’t want anypony hurt around you anymore.” Flare said. “At the party, I never had been to the hospital and you could easily see that. So you took it into your own hooves to fix me up. Now, I randomly appear with a young filly that’s hurt. It definitely flew some red flags. You were trying to protect her and I thank you for that, but please trust me.”

Clouded looked at Flare. The whole reason Flare had been here. Both were trying to defend Scootaloo, but in completely different ways.

“I trust you enough to be careful with her, if you answer one question.” Clouded said.

“Ask away.” Flare said, prepared to answer about anything.

“Where were her parents that entire night?” She asked. Flare’s heart skipped a beat. Her parents… He thought of many reasons on why they could be away, the only problem was that he wouldn’t be able to lie to her anymore.

“They are gone. She doesn’t know where they are and neither do I. That is why I was with her, of course I didn’t know that until after we left. She broke down and told me everything.” Flare answered honestly. He knew he shouldn’t tell, but it was the only thing he felt okay with telling Clouded.

“I see…” Clouded said, seemingly going into a world of pure thought.

“Look, Clouded, please don’t tell anypony.” Flare began to beg, his head hung and his hooves raised together. “Please Clouded, I’d rather you report me than to make her uncomfortable.” He was powerless, everything now depended on Clouded.

“I trust you to take care of her. I won’t report her nor you. You both seem to have a good understanding of what to do.” Clouded said. “Not telling anypony else would be the first thing for you to learn though, Flare.”

“Trust me, I didn’t and don’t plan to. But I had to now… for her.” Flare stated.

“Yes. I forced you into telling me. Don’t let anypony do that to you in the future.” Clouded warned.

“I won’t, I promise.” Flare said then glanced around the room. He saw the sandwiches Clouded had prepared. What a waste… He thought and chuckled a bit.

“What?” Clouded asked.

“We didn’t eat really at all.” Flare pointed out. Clouded looked and smiled.

“No, we were too busy with other matters. Do you even want yours still? I was never really hungry in the first place.” Clouded asked.

Flare’s eyes widened. Arrow… he kinda asked me to get him some food… “So you aren’t gonna eat yours?”

“I’ll probably save it, why?” Clouded asked.

“If you don’t really want it… Maybe I could get it in a bag, for Arrow.” Flare said innocently. Clouded just shook her head and trotted out. Returning from the kitchen with a bag, she put both hers and Flare’s sandwich in the bag and hoofed it to Flare.

“There, you had better not keep him waiting too long.” Flare took the bag in his mouth and nodded.

“Thanks Clouded.” Flare managed to say. They walked to the door, Clouded opening it for Flare. Flare walked out and looked back for a moment. Clouded smiled slyly.

“Have fun at school Flare.” She said and waved. Flare was confused and just stood there looking at her. “I just wanted to see how it felt to say that. Goodbye Flare.” She said and waved. Flare waved back before Clouded closed the door.

Alright, back to Arrow.