Tales of a Wandering Soul

Chapters

Chapter 1: The Basket
Chapter 2: The End of a Beginning
Chapter 4: The Revelation of Talent
Chapter 5: Encounter
Chapter 6: Escape
Chapter 7: The Hunt
Chapter 8: Hospitality with Trees
Chapter 9: Wither and Regrowth
Chapter 11: Magic is Born
Chapter 12: Roses of Azure
Chapter 3: The Beginning of a New Journey
Chapter 10: Back on the Road

Chapter 1: The Basket

It was a Friday night, the stars shine brightly, the wind was cold but at the same time I was warm from the neck down. There was a piece of paper stuck onto a wooden arc. I heard knocking on a door and I heard galloping, it dies and the wind whispers through the gap between me and that arc, the paper somehow didn't want to come off.

I heard the loud creaking of the door and somepony was looking over me. She looked left, then to the right, and then her tired eyes looked down a me. She looked like a giant from down here. She says to me, "My, my, aren't you adorable" She grabbed the arc and I some how remained with it. What was going on? Who is this pony? Where was she taking me? I started to see a wooden roof, it was moving. It eventually stopped and I saw some hooves digging into me, they were the same color as that pony from earlier. I was flying for a second but then I realized that this pony is holding me in one hoof and I saw her get a piece of paper.

She reads it out loud "Please take care of him, this special pony has potential. His name is Fret Notehooves. A brave one he is, intelligent too" Who is this Fret Notehooves she's talking about? Could that be me? She started talking again, "Fret Notehooves huh? Well, you might like it at the orphanage. My name is Airene Avenberry." Avenberry? I still don't know who she is and what's an orphanage? I couldn't help but cry in panic, what was she going to do to me? I'm scared! What was she going to do to me!? I felt something softly hit my back and whispering in my ear, "Shh...shh... Hush little Freter don't you cry, Averberry's going to make Apple Pie, something for Freters some really tasty mush. The orphanage looks like it could use some lush" Why...why am I feeling tired? I open my mouth and I hear a noise come out of my mouth. My eyes are getting very heavy. Everything went dark and I felt calm.

Saturday morning, I woke up somewhere else. This place didn't look like it did before. I heard other ponies making noise, where was that coming from? Where did it come from!? Why am I crying?! Somepony help! Some hooves dig into me again, the same colored hooves from before, then I heard a voice that sounded similar to yesterday. "Everypony say hello to..." I was picked up and I saw so many ponies here, ponies with horns on their heads and ponies with wing thingies. There was so many ponies of different colors of hair, and body color.

"...Fret Notehooves!" I hear loud noises, those ponies were making loud noises, what were they doing? Are they clapping? Why are they doing this!? Why can't I stop crying!? "Play nice with him!" The voice said, and then I was on the ground. I saw some colory bright blocks on the other side of the room, I gotta get to them some how. I begin to crawl on my four hooves and eventually I got to them. It was fun and not much else happened that day, I ate that same stuff from yesterday, and I played with the bright block. I was put in some sort of Basket that had that arc and a blanket in it that was colored blue. I went back to sleep and after that, I had a grand time at the Oaksville Orphanage...

2 Years ago I had already begun to speak words but I still didn't understand half the things that was going on. I was able to play with the other fillies and colts, most of them were old than I. I was curious about books and Ms. Avenberry had loads of them. One day I tugged on her skirt "Ms. Avenbewwy, when can I weed books?" Her reply, "Only if you can tell me where did you come from" That was my biggest question of all, how did I end up here, why was I here? I pointed to the small basket that remained on the table. She chuckles, "Alright, I guess it's time you learned how to read. It's really easy!"

She began to teach me, month after month I've been learning the alphabet, numbers, and other basic necessities like learning how to eat with you mouth closed and some easy vocabulary. Then I had begun to read my first book, "Through the Bog" If I last recalled it. Everyday I was reading this small book which was filled with colorful pictures that had really sucked me into it, the words were in rhymes and the book mainly talks about ponies that live in a nice and friendly swamp, even Zebras. The book explained a lot of what was going through my mind, What Zebras are, what are swamps and bogs, they didn't seem to be a bad place.

I never left the orphanage and I got to sleep in a very small bed, I was getting too big for my basket. A lot of the ponies here are really nice to me. At the same time, some of them dislike me and I don't know why Ms. Avenberry said "They're just sticks in the mud, don't let them hurt you" They pick on me at times and I just cried at how cruel they were to me, other ponies were there for me as well as Ms. Avenberry.

That night I was in my room, it didn't look too bad, all there was was a bed, mirror, window and a candle to protect me from the Dark. My caretaker would always light the candle and tell me a bedtime story or sing a lullaby just so I could go to sleep in peace but tonight was different. I couldn't sleep that night, the window was open and the candle is lit and I was stuck at the window watching the night sky. There were sparkly things in the sky and a big round white pie was something that had really looked beautiful. I stared at it for a while until Ms. Avenberry came in through the door "I guess somepony doesn't want to sleep..." I didn't know what those things were in the sky so I asked her, "Ms. Avenbewwy, what awe those?" A knowledgeable reply, "Those are stars Fret, and that big white one is the Moon. Do you know who takes care of the moon?" I had only read this in the books, "Pwincess Woona?" She nods and she put me back in my bed like I was still the size of my basket. "Gwood Night" I said to her, "Sleep Tight" she said to me, then I went to sleep, learning so much that day.

Chapter 2: The End of a Beginning

Two years later

There were no other foals and fillies here. All that's left was me and Ms. Avenberry. They were all taken by other ponies. Those fillies and foals now have families but where's my family? There used to be other ponies that helped with Ms. Avenberry but they all left, I don't know where they went. Is anypony going to be picking me up? To take me away from this place and put me in a home? The orphanage looks like it's really getting out of shape, the wood on the walls look rotten, the floors were unclean and every now and then I would see a rat skittering about and hiding in a hole somewhere in this place.

I asked Airene, "Airene...where's my family?" She sighs and she spoke in a sad tone, "I don't know Fret... I don't know..." This made me think my chances of actually getting adopted were dwindling. I've been reading books over the past year and there's still a lot I haven't read from the Orphanage. Airene spoke, "There's just not a lot of money right now... No pony's helping with the Orphanage, so it's just you, and me in this giant house." I was scared, I knew some day I had to leave the Orphanage but not with anypony, I was worried. I started seeing ponies come in less and less, me and Airene were left to fend for ourselves. I grew up here in this Orphanage and even though I'm four years old, it doesn't mean I'm not smart enough to already figure out what's going to happen.

I already figured out that no pony is going to adopt me and take in as one of their own. All I can do now is stay with Airene...until i'm ready to go, or until she's ready to go. Airene was getting old, old to the point where she would sometimes not even sleep at night and it would be hard for her to get out of bed. I had to help her with things that were too difficult for her to do, take out the trash, cook breakfast, take her to the park that's in town, even putting her to sleep. Poor Airene... I don't want to end up like her when i'm old, where I would need to rely on other ponies just to help me do my basic everyday things and fulfill my needs. I learned all of this from books, cook books and a few copies of journals from ponies that survived mostly on the land, those were the only books I haven't read.

I needed Airene and she needed me. Airene is the only pony that could protect me and could take care of me, I wasn't ready to leave the Orphanage, not by a long shot. She needed me to help her with her everyday life, the strength she used to have was faded along with the color of her mane and the energy she used to have. Airene had gotten into an accident when she was hit by a carriage. She's having a hard time doing her every day needs after that accident last year and since she was growing older and older half the time she sleeps on the spot due to the fact that she's not as energized as she was before.

She came back from the hospital two days ago and while she was gone, everypony here was gone except for me. I was left all alone those two weeks to watch the house and to fend for myself, learning how to cook things and to occupy my time were easy but it wasn't easy being alone in this great big house. A white pony came in this morning and I saw Airene hanging onto her, she told me her name was Nurse Redheart. I asked her, "What happened to Ms. Avenberry? Is she okay?" I saw the look on the Nurses face, I could already tell that something happened, "She was hit by a carriage and she's not going to be as energetic as she used to be, do you know anypony that could take care of her?" I spoke softly, "Me...i'm all she has" "Doesn't she have anypony else, anypony not as young as you?" I shook my head, the Nurse replied, "She needs to rest in her bed for two weeks"

There's one thing I know about Airene is that she's stubborn when it comes to things bringing her down. I'm surprised that she's even up and about after what has happened, I even told her to get back to bed and I would take care of everything but that didn't stop her from being at my side and taking care of me. Regardless whether she was hit by a carriage and that she's getting old, she never stopped caring for me.

She spent two weeks at the hospital recovering and now she's supposed to spend two weeks in her bed. I thought that it would be boring just staying in your bed for weeks with nothing to do. Airene's stubbornness knows no bounds, she was trotting around like the accident didn't even happen, I was confused and concerned about her but at the same time I was glad that she decided not to leave me. I just wish she could be my Aunt or Grandma, then it would be alright to say that I love being with her but I know this isn't right. Airene always told me "Your family is out there somewhere Fret... I don't know where they are or who they are but I know they're out there looking for you..." She would tell me that every time I asked when I was going to be adopted or why i'm not getting adopted. Who knows, maybe she could be right.

Chapter 4: The Revelation of Talent

3 Years Later

Well, I've been following what Ms. Avenberry had told me, I looked around for libraries in every town that I've been coming in and out of, looking for my parents. I've slept plenty of times in the forest and the only thing that kept me warm was my blanket, which I still have. On somedays I had to go without eating, I even had to go weeks without eating. It drove me insane, but I'm still alive and wandering. I just wish I had a weapon or anything to capture an animal and... eat it. Oddly though, nothing tried to harm me in my sleep nor any animals tried to attack me. I didn't care about what day it was or what year it was, I lost track of that a long time ago. I was more focused on books than what new was actually going on. I grew more as a persistent pony, but I wasn't as persistent as Ms. Avenberry. I still remember the day I had to leave the Orphanage, I still shed tears every now and then but I learned to not dwell on the past.

That morning, I stopped to clean myself in this pond and for the first time in my life, I had saw my own reflection. I had a young face, green irises, and a clean ruffled silver mane that went down to a good length. It was amazing being able to see myself for the first time in my life. There weren't any mirrors in the Orphanage and I didn't see a clean body of water that I could see myself in for quite a long time!

I traded in my old basket for a two satchels two years ago. Recently, some ponies offered me food and sometimes I even had to beg to other ponies for food and money at times. Some of them have been telling me "Go home foal! Get away from me you filthy rat!" A lot of ponies were mean to me, a lot of them were generous to me. I've ran out of Apple Pies within 6 days of my travels and then I had to rely on what ponies have been giving me. Last time I had eaten was about 3 days ago and i'm starving.

I'm sitting here in the Library of, well. I didn't care much for the town name, I've seen too many signs that read so many names. I sit here reading about Musicians and Pianists. For some strange reason I kept reading about them and developed an interest. The Librarian said I could keep the book and I've taken a few other books along with me, "Music 101", "Tales of a Traveling Bard" and a few other books relative to the subject of Music. The Librarian was even kind enough to give me a few extra snacks that they've been selling at the book store, after I told them that I was traveling. I've been reading them on my way to some other town, the composition of notes and the ability how it can create sound seemed fascinating to me.

My next stop, it was a town called Haybale, it didn't look to bad of a town. I've looked around for my parents and asked for them, as usual no pony knew and I didn't see anypony that looked like me. I looked around for a "Music Store" as the book explains and there was only one very small store that looked like it was selling anything Music related at all. "Faldin's Fantastics" says on the store sign.

The door was left open and I saw a brown stallion that sits at the counter. He asks me, "What're you doing here little foal?", I replied to him, "I'm looking for a Piano" This was the instrument that intrigued me the most out of all the books I have read was the Piano. He told me with great delight, "Lucky you! I have one in the back, come with me" I followed him through a door and I trotted into a room. The room had shelves that were stacked with all sorts of things, a lot of it looked like junk though, and then there stood a beautiful black Piano in the far end of the room.

"Very light weight and it can even fold. I made sure it stayed in tune back here, no pony seemed to want this though." The lights that shine through the window make it look beautiful like an actress in the spot light. "It's beautiful!" I said, I still remember some things from the books I have read, the key names, the sharps and flats, scales, a lot of the basic things. "Do you want to try it out?" "Yeah yeah yeah!!" I said with excitement, I ran to the piano and I put up one of my books to a page that had sheet music, the song was called "Shining Star".

It sounded very simple but I've played it with the exception of a few stops and mishit keys, I played it well though since this is the first time I ever came in contact with an instrument in my lifetime. The stallion claps, "That's amazing! Hey, what's that on your flank?" He pulled out a mirror from one of the shelves near him and he blew it, dust flew everywhere. I looked into it and I saw that a small piano octave was on my flank. "What's this?" I asked, shortly, he was laughing hysterically, "You don't know what a cutie mark is? It's what makes ponies so special, it shows them their talent and you my little pony. You have the talent of a Pianist."

This is amazing! I was amazed at how beautiful the song went and amazed at the fact that I have the talent to become a Pianist. "I was going to charge ya but now that it's your future to be a pianist, I'm gonna give you this Piano for free." "For fr-fr-free!?!?" I jumped out of my seat and I embraced the stallions legs repeatedly thanking him. "Hey, hey, you're welcome. I'll show you how to fold this beauty." It looked very simple, it was able to fit inside one of my satchels but it looked very bulky, amazing though it felt very light if you compared the size of it before it was folded.

I almost left the store but Faldin stopped me, "Hey wait! You never told me your name!" I was so carried away I forgot my manners, "Oh, my name is Fret Notehooves and i'm looking for my family. Thanks a lot for the Piano though!" "Goodbye Fret! Good Luck!" yelled Faldin. Today was a special day, I had seen my own reflection and i've met somepony who was generous enough to give me my own Piano that can fold. I ventured into the forest not too far from town and I slept in a little clearing. I am proud to say that I have earned my cutie mark at the age of 9!

Chapter 5: Encounter

Two years later.

I've been going through town and town again looking for my parents and I even began looking through Resident Logs where ever they were available. No pony wanted me to stay in their homes, most of them thought I was some sort of homeless bum, in a way I am but i'm better than that. I've been traveling through hot sands, creepy forests, mountains, ice lands, a big majority of Equestria was covered in my hooves! You know any bums that do that? I didn't think so. I've been exploring and going through cities large and small, some of them even looked run down and the buildings looked damaged. I've seen some towns look like that but I wonder why that's been happening to these towns that used to have beauty. Recently i've been having strange dreams about a pony that wears a hood and a mask that looked like a cat. In my dreams she was always silent and watching me with those painted eyes.

Ever since I got my cutie mark and I started to perform in towns I've been getting less and less hungry since ponies would throw tips at me and buying food and water didn't seem to be much of a problem. It was a nice change, beats starving for weeks that's for sure.

I met a very young unicorn that looks maybe four years younger than me, her coat was as yellow as a lemon and her mane twisted around with colors of orange and brown, mixing. I met her at the park and she was just sitting there crying on a bench. I couldn't help but sit next to her and ask her "Shh...shh...What's wrong?". She said to me "I-I can't get to H-Haystake" She said with a quivering voice and tears falling off her chin. "What's your name little filly?"

Her name is Jinx, "I'm Fret... hey kid... What're you doing here anyways?" She told me her parents left her at the park and they lived in a different town. Poor thing, she reminds me of myself except I didn't just sit around and mope. Instinctively, I said I would accompany her and she looked up and smiled. I suspected that she knew her way to Haystake.

We both got off the bench and we went down the road to what could possibly lead to Haystake. I was in front of her and she was very close behind me. The path led through a forest of very tall trees, I was always unsure about places like these. Forests always seemed dark and creepy to me. I would always feel something following and watching me, and even at nights I couldn't sleep peacefully. The crawling feeling that goes up my spine just tells me something is going to attack me in my sleep or unsuspectingly.

I tried to distract my fear with normal conversation, "So, what's it like being a unicorn?" Jinx replied, "It's not too bad, we have magic and we can do some amazing things". She doesn't have her cutie mark yet; maybe she's still looking for her special place in life, or maybe she's waiting until she finds the opportunity. I see why she didn't want to go on her own, these forests are pretty creepy...

I heard some rustling around the forest and humming "Wait d-did you hear that?" Jinx replied in confusion, "Hear what?" "Voices! I can hear voices echoing through these woods!" "I don't hear anything, you're probably scared. I thought big ponies like you weren't supposed to be scared!" The only difference is the fact that i'm slightly older. When I was a foal and even I was like this when I was young. Well, I guess you could say i'm still a foal, being eleven doesn't exactly make you a grown up.

I keep hearing voices in these woods, I know i'm not imagining this, I can feel my eardrums vibrating from how loud some of these voices talked. The voices were getting louder and louder, eventually I heard Jinx say to me, "Hey, Fret" "What is it?" I felt something jump on my back and I felt something smash against the back of my head with such power and fury. It felt like the back of my head was about to peel off, I screamed in pain and anguish.

I fell to the ground and I began to lose my vision, "AGGHH!!" I continued to scream. I heard everything inside my satchels fall out onto the dirt road. Then, I saw that unicorn stand in front of me as I lay here about to pass out from the pain. "Good Night" she said. I heard the voices of the forest get very loud, almost an roaring . I reached out to her then my body just gave out. My body felt as stiff as a board. I closed my eyes to try and let the pain flow and exit my body but before I knew it, I was unconscious.

Chapter 6: Escape

I wake up and my head still felt like it was about to split into two pieces, I try to open my eyes and my vision was almost black but I knew I was awake. I was on some sort of dirt ground but it didn't feel like dirt, it felt more like the rough texture of burnt wood and ash. I try to move my hooves but I couldn't and they were behind me, what is this some sort of capture?

"Hey! The worm's waking up" I hear off in the distance behind me, where am I? It looks like i'm inside some sort of dark tent but my vision couldn't quite make out the surroundings. "What should we do with him?" "Just leave him to the dogs, i'm sure he'll be as tasty as the last pony we took." Oh no, just hearing that I didn't want to be bound any long. I couldn't even more my forelegs as they were bound as well, I felt like a caterpillar. I hear another voice off in the distance, "Kidnap those who have good purpose? Why must you heathens do this on the surface. I shall sendeth thee to the pits of hell, and maybe this pony will be able to free himself." That voice sounded familiar but I just couldn't say who it was. Is this my guardian angel, is this who was protecting me in my sleep this whole time?

I heard some heavy beating of flesh and it sounded very unpleasant against my eardrums. I heard something slice against what was binding me and I could move again, I looked around and all I saw were two ponies bleeding on the ground and a clean blade next to me inside a sheathe. I believe it was a machete, the kind that Jungle explorers use. I didn't want to think of having to kill anypony for me to leave this place but I'm left with no choice, I gotta try and not hurt anypony in my escape.

I shook my head and I rubbed my face to try and return to my senses and after a while I could see clearly again but my head still felt like it was about to explode. Who was that stallion that passed by? Why is he helping me and better yet, Why does he sound so familiar? The tent around me was covered in pictures drawn in blood and I didn't want to look at any of these any longer, much less the two corpses that are beaten to death. I put on my sheathe and I begun to sneak my way out of where ever I am. How long was I out? A few days? A few months? Years? I didn't feel any different from the day Jinx had told me "Good Night", I just hope it wasn't long.

I stepped out and I saw these ponies dressed up in furs and some even wore pony skin... Just looking at how dangerous and how disgusting these ponies were dressed I nearly made a noise in fear. There were ponies everywhere, I recalled what they were called in books, "Bandits" are what they're called. How horrible these Bandits are to be wearing these things and killing innocent ponies, worst of all using small innocent fillies like Jinx to lure ponies in. It was night and I could hear the crickets chirping and the bandits talking about how they were going to use me and what they were going to do to me.

It didn't help with keeping calm, I kept my breaths quiet and my hooves silent, I was sneaking past a patrol of two ponies. Snap! What was that? Did I step on a twig? "Hey! Who's there?" Oh no! Oh no! They've found me, I gotta run! I ran in a direction away from the voices and I heard Bandits yelling, "Hey! What's he doing?! Don't let him get away!! Stop him!! Our sacrifice is escaping!!"

Bandits were trying to stop me by means of making themselves obstacles, shooting arrows at me, throwing things at me. Some of these rocks and objects hit me, and an arrow went through my right hindleg, near my hoof. It felt as painful as having a fallen tree fall on your hoof or jumping off a cliff into a pool of ice. I was galloping on 3 hooves, they still continued with their rock and arrow throwing. I saw a spiky wooden wall and I burnt it with a torch I had snatched out of the hooves of a bandit. The fire was beginning to form on the wall as I let the flames hit the wall. The spikes and wood were burning quickly but it wasn't weak enough for me to break through. "He's at the wall! Nothing can let him out now! What's he doing to our precious wall!?" The voices are getting closer and closer and I saw the arrows hitting the wall more and more rapidly, I pulled out my machete in hopes of blocking some of these. I've been able to fend off the arrows and rocks being thrown at me but the Bandits were getting really close, I turned around and the wall continued to burn, there was just a small section that looked completely burnt.

I charged through it and it broke off successfully but my body was covered in splinters and I was breathing in charcoal. My entire body felt like it was about to collapse from waking up after such pain and having to endure more pain but I kept forcing myself awake. I ran away from the camp through the forest and I have finally escaped from captivity, but I knew they weren't going to give up the hunt.

Chapter 7: The Hunt

It was very dark out. I couldn't see 5 feet in front of me! I was scared, I was injured, and I kept stumbling on whatever roots were in my way. Crickets continued to chirp, Bandits continued to follow me, and fear continued to possess me. I galloped awkwardly away from the light that the bandits carry with their torches. I've made many turns to try and throw them off track. "Somepony help me, I don't know where I am, I don't know where I'm going, I don't know if i'm going to make it...Guardian Angel please help me!" I begged quietly as I continued to get away from those corrupted ponies. I made plenty of lefts, rights, circles, I wasn't sure if I confused them or if my scent was getting weaker but I kept going.

I moved my hooves in front of me to feel the trees around, the more I ran the more closer I began to feel the trees. The more I begin to feel like i'm running into someponys trap. The pain surging through my hoof was becoming unbearable, I left the arrow in there. I've read of ponies who took them out and have died from the loss of blood, I just don't know how much longer I can go on with this... My body was feeling very weak and I stopped behind a black tree. I held my injured back hoof, the pain was intense, I could feel it burning, my muscles feel like they were on fire but my coat felt like it was able to freeze. I kept hearing howling, hooting, chirping, even growling, but no grumbling of killer and possibly ravenous ponies.

I felt vulnerable, like I was the prey and something out there in the forest is just waiting to pounce on me. Something out there is waiting for me to give into the darkness, waiting for me to sleep or to be off guard. I whipped out my machete and I kept it in my mouth, something to bite on to fight the pain. I hugged myself trying to bring whatever warmth from inside of me to the outside of my coat, my teeth were chattering. I looked up at the treetops. The leaves weren't very dense, at least the night can watch over me and I can watch the night. Sitting here, leaving my body and letting it ascend to become a star.

The howling began to die down, and the crickets were chirping even louder I had to direct my attention to my surroundings. They were surrounding me and owls flew down to me. Is this my mind playing tricks on me? Has the pain really driven me insane like the stories of psychopaths and ponies that live in mental hospitals? I really hope not but I humored myself, talking to animals that don't understand me. "Hey there little fella..." I brushed my hoof onto the owl head, it hoots at me. "You don't mind, if you could show me a place to stay...Do ya?" It hooted at me again and I saw it fly off. Did it really understand me? Is it just going to fly off to its tree to sleep in or is it really going to take me to a safe place?

There's no use sitting here for all eternity waiting until the bandits find me. I put my machete back in the sheathe and I began to follow the continuous hooting of the owl. I forgot how dark it was in the forest, I still couldn't see a single thing! I ran into something hard and I fell onto the ground. "Ow! Agh..." I heard it hoot but I didn't know if there was another way around it, so I crawled towards the owl like a snake.

I don't know where I am anymore. I could be hiding under roots or inside a tree, it's cramped in here that's for sure. I heard the owl hoot again and and something nibbling at my ear. It began to chatter and it turns out it was a squirrel. "Thank you, Mister Owl..." Then a voice comes from in front of me "Y-You're welcome..." I heard a feminine voice come out of some place in front of me, but where... "H-hello? Who's there? Are you my guardian angel?" Her soft voice replied, "N-no... I'm not... The animals told me you were coming and that you looked hurt" Animals can talk? I must have really gone insane... "Who are you?" and then sweet words came from the invisible voice "...Fluttershy"

Chapter 8: Hospitality with Trees

I heard it, it was as soft as any summer wind. I couldn't believe my ears, is this really Fluttershy from the stories I've read about the Elements of Harmony? "Where am I?" I heard her sing a song that was soothing to me ears, it reminded me of the lullabies of the Orphanage. I closed my eyes to take sweet comfort, the pain I could no longer feel. "Wake up sleepy head..." My eyelids lifted and I saw the place illuminated by fireflies that glow a warm shade of green and yellow. I was inside a tree and Fluttershy was right here, sitting in front of me. "Is... is this all real?" She shoots me a look of confusion "What do you mean by that?" My mind spoke aloud "Have I gone insane from the darkness, from the pain, from the bandits?" I heard her gasp, oh no... "W-well, you're not insane, I know this is all happening too... Did you say bandits?"

I looked around at the interior of the hollowed tree, I saw the owl flying about and the squirrels just sitting there giving me dumbfounded looks. "Yes...they really...they really got me... I ran away as fast and as far as I could and I don't know if I could go much longer." I saw her eyes look down at my injury "Oh my goodness! I-is that..." "I'm afraid so... I don't know what to do about it either..." I knew I was feeling weaker by the minute, I heard my voice beginning to die out and I saw my blood staining the ground underneath me. "Please Fluttershy...you gotta help me..." "B-but what if you're one of those bandits? What if you're somepony that's evil?" I could tell she's encountered these ponies herself... Poor thing... They must have butchered her animals as well... I feel sorry for her but in my condition I didn't have the time to feel these things. "Fluttershy... Please help me... I'm looking for my parents and... I trusted somepony who knocked me out... she put me in those of those camps... I'm probably the only pony who got away" "What about anypony else?"

I looked down at the bloody ground and my ears fell... I didn't see anypony else there and I was probably next in line to be fed to the dogs... "I'm sorry Fluttershy... there wasn't anything I could do... Please Fluttershy... help... me..." "Oh my goodness... Uh! Uh! Uh!" She was panicking, you didn't have to be a genius to figure that out. I would too if I had a dying pony sitting in my home. "What about...tree...leaves..." Then I remembered about creating a sap that can block wounds. Learning from medical books and recipes I figured out that if you were to crush the tree leaves and mix it with tree sap. "I need those...and some sap...could use them for... a bandage" She nodded and I saw her fly out from the hollowed tree above me in which she disappeared into the dark.

Hopefully she was getting what I asked her, I would have gotten them myself but I just felt too weak to do anything. All I could do now is just sit in here... and let the animals watch me die. "Mister Owl..." I whispered, he looks at me and hooted with his head twisting in confusion. "Thank you... for taking... me to her..." I saw the fireflies dimming their lights, or was that my vision? It was getting very cold in here and my eyes felt heavy and the pain no longer felt painful... I was getting tired, but I didn't want to sleep. I can't sleep, ponies in those survival biographies close their eyes and that's when the story ends but mine hasn't ended yet. I'm not going to die in this tree... not while i'm still young... not while Fluttershy is trying to help!

A sweet innocent bunny hopped through the hole and it stood there giving me an impatient look and tapping its foot. "You just...can't wait for me to die...can you? Haha...ha..." He puts his paw to his head and he hopped onto my body. He hit my cheek with his paw and I heard his skittering. If only I was an animal whisperer like Fluttershy maybe I could understand what he was saying, "I'm not going to die bunny...i'm not dying yet" I yawned and I felt him shove a carrot between my teeth, it was soft like one too. I couldn't talk with this getting in the way so I just ate it. "Thank you Bunny..." I saw the other animals look at him shamefully, did he do something with the carrot? "Didn't you need that for Winter, mister Bunny?"

It was the Fall season, and since the air was getting cold I could tell Winter was coming sometime soon. "Thank you Mister Bunny... maybe I could repay you someday..." My body felt like it was about to give in, not to the pain, but to the darkness that is sleep. "I'm...g-getting...sleepy... Somepony... hit me" For once I had begged for something to smack me awake, it turns out it was the bunny again. He looked at me with a bright smile, something happy in which I haven't seen at all these past few days. "Fluttershy must love...having you around Mister Bunny... Hahaha..." The fireflies were zipping around the tree and I tried my hardest not to accidentally catch one in my mouth.

There was the arrow in my hoof with it's head facing upwards. I forced myself to move it on the ground, the pain came back "Hrrnnngg..." I pushed the arrow to the ground in a direction and now it fell flat against the ground. I wouldn't want any animals to jump on and accidentally turn into a shishkabob. "I wouldn't want any of you to get hurt..." I felt soft winds hitting my face but I didn't see a hole that the wind could possible come out of, "Fluttershy? Is that you?" I called out. I saw some butterflies of various colors make their entrance from above the tree, which was strange. Not all trees are this hollowed out.

They were resting on my body, and some were flying around "Flutter by, butterflies..." I whispered. As strange as I thought, it was actually entertaining watching these bugs fly around me. The ponies in the other survival books mostly killed animals to survive and feed themselves but now I guess I can't do that. Fluttershy would know and how could I do this to the kind and sweet pony that's helping me get back on my hooves? I've watched the bugs crawling and flying about for a good amount of time.

I saw the bright yellow coat of Fluttershy come in shortly after the butterflies. She was carrying leaves in her mouth and tree sap in a bowl... My question is where did the bowl come from? All of this would be something a madpony would imagine but if Fluttershy tells me i'm not insane then I would have to believe her. I cleared my throat, she descended in front of me and sits, "Alright... Fluttershy... you have to... crush the leaves and... mix them with... the sap." Who would've know this would help me now? "I need...the arrow out Fluttershy..." She looks up at me while she was breaking the leaves, I heard her make an innocent noise, she was scared... I don't know if she can bring herself to do this nor if she can ask her animals to do the same...

I would have to muster up the strength to pull it out myself! "Fluttershy... don't look" I saw her wings covering her eyes as she was breaking the leaves, she was shaking. Alright... I just hope this doesn't make this pass out, I put both my hooves together on the arrowhead and I forcefully begin to pull the arrow out of my hoof "HUUURRRRGGHHH!!!" I was pulling as hard as I could and screaming from the pain. It felt like I was being thrown into a sun or a giant rock was crushing my entire body! I pulled it out and I threw it onto the ground. It was completely covered in my blood and I even got some on my hooves.

"Hurry...Fluttershy...cover the wounds..." I couldn't feel anything anymore, the feeling in my hooves was gone and I could feel my very being pouring out into the soil. My head couldn't move and I was forced to watch Fluttershy shake in fear, "Please... Fluttershy... you have to... be brave to protect... the ones you care for..." I was feeling drowsy, I saw her eyes peek out of her wings and tears coming from her eyes... I wouldn't want her to do this for me but she knows as well as I do that she has to do this. For my own sake and for the sake of my parents.

She continued to make those fearful noises, a lot of it was humming. She shakily approached me and her hooves were completely covered in that leafy muck. She was spreading that medical goop on my hoof that had a hole coming in and out, after she was done her hoof was completely covered in my thick black blood. "Thank you... Flutter...shy... You're....so brave... and kind..." I was amazed she was able to bring herself to spread it on me, the animals around were watching her. I felt like a grave and Fluttershy was like a friend that would come over and leave flowers or grieve.

"I'm...Fret... Noteh-...hooves" I just remembered not introducing myself, "Fret..." she whispered to me "Hm?" "I'm so scared..." If I was in her place, I would be too, but I've always learned about how to not be scared and how to be brave from the stories of other ponies. "Don't be scared...Fluttershy... I'll be okay... You did a... brave thing... a lot of us are... scared to do what we have to... even I would be scared... if I were you... But Flutter...shy... Thank you... without you... I would've... been another star... in the sky...and my parents... wouldn't see their son..."

She embraced me, I couldn't feel it, I wish I could though. She was crying though, I could hear her muffled cries and even hear her tears fall onto the very soil. I heard the animals skitter and fly away. My back is probably covered in my own blood but I didn't care, I felt close to Fluttershy in such a short amount of time, she felt like she was an older sister of mine, who knows maybe I could be related to her but I didn't want to think too far into this. I put my hoof over her hair and I pet her like the sister I would watch over... "Mom... Dad... someday... your son is coming home..." I quietly said to myself, "Good Night... Fluttershy..." The buzzing fireflies have stopped, and I closed my eyes. I don't know if I was lucky to encounter her, or if this was being set up for me to be with her... I could always ask her in the next morning... that is if I make it...

Chapter 9: Wither and Regrowth

I felt something brush against my face as I sleep. I was dreaming of flying, supported by thousands and thousands of butterflies. I felt so free. Something continued to brush against my face, I could feel it and it sure wasn't the butterflies that are in my dream. Eventually I had woken up to find myself outside of the tree, but it was hard to wake up. Why? I opened my eyes, the ground still looked dark and I looked up to find that it's the early dawn. The soil under me wasn't covered too much blood, I just want to see Fluttershy one last time before I leave, or maybe I can rest here but I have to find Fluttershy. I need to find her "Flutter...shy?" I look around, but she was no where to be found from where I lied down. It was difficult for me to get up, why is this happening? Why does my body feel heavier? Better yet why do I feel so exhausted? I got up and I looked around, I was searching in the west direction and she wasn't found. Trotting became difficult for me, not just because my hoof was bleeding but because my entire body felt like it was under a rock or a house. I continuously called out to her "Fluttershy... Fluttershy?" but not a single bright part of her was seen, no animals were seen either, scurrying or flying. I felt completely alone.

I wandered around the forest looking for her, I doubt the bandits would be looking for me anyhow and if they were they would be very far ahead of me. "Excuse me... Squirrels?... Owls?" Maybe I was delusional yesterday and it was all a hallucination, I was sure though that Fluttershy was there to help me. I still have that sap on my wound but what was brushing my face when I was sleeping? Maybe it was a squirrel, maybe it was Fluttershys mane, I had to go back to check. I stumbled over large roots and miniature saplings that sometimes littered the ground. Here's where I was, I can tell from how much blood still remains there, "Fluttershy?" I called out but still no answer.

Where could she have gone? "Mr. Squirrel? Mr. Bunny?" Still nothing, I felt alone but I know Fluttershy wouldn't just leave me here, she's the bearer of the Element of Kindness and she takes care of things, i'm sure she's around here somewhere. I'd have to climb the trees though... to find her... All of these trees look very tall and it would be idiotic for me to actually try and climb one. I hear voices but it doesn't sound like Fluttershy, who is this? Maybe it's one of those bandits, maybe it's my guardian angel. I hid behind a tree and I closely listened to the voice as it passes by and gets louder and closer. I could hear the voice talking about the weather and talking about my escape "How could we let a little whelp like that escape?" I saw him pass by the tree and I remained to be un-noticed. He's probably a bandit, he still wears those animal furs like the other bandits do.

I snuck behind him and I grabbed my from the neck and I unsheathed my machete. I began to interrogate him, "Alright... who are you?" "I could ask you the same thing you damned bastard!" "I'm that whelp that you let escape" I never thought approaches like these would actually work like how it did in those books. "Now tell me! Who are you!!" Continuing to threaten him, "Hah, I don't have to tell you. You're going to die here" "Well, look who has the weapon and the other ponies neck! Where am I!! Where's Fluttershy!!" "Oh, you mean that bitch? Hah, hell if I know but her animals are tasty"

What...did he just say? "What did you just say!?!" I was furious and I grabbed his neck with such power at times I could hear him choke but I eased. "Alright, you have one last chance. Where is the nearest road" "What, just so you can run away like another animal? Waiting to be skinned and ki-" I had enough with him, he threw my mind over the edge and I had done something I wish I would have never done. I cut his throat and I ran away as I hear him gargling on his own blood.

I ran away in anger but at the same time, in pain. Pain from having killed one of my own kind. I continued to run, I didn't care where but away from what had just happened, away from the pony I had just killed and away from my own murderous self. Why did I murder him, why did I threaten him? This pain slowly began to consume me and I cried as I ran to the direction of no where. Fluttershy has left me, the animals are gone, and I had just killed somepony. I'm so horrible.

I don't think my parents would've wanted me to do that in the first place, or want their son to grow up like this. "I just want to go home. I just want to go home" I repeatedly say under my breath, my machete having the blood of some other pony. My eyes were covered in tears I didn't know where I was going, I hit tree after tree I felt like I was going to pass out from a concussion. I stopped. What was the point in running? Why was I hitting my head on those trees? I felt like a complete idiot, killing somepony and running away in anger.

I've had enough of it, enough of the anger, enough of the murder, but one thing continued to stay on my mind and that was Fluttershy. "Fluttershy!!" I yelled out crying, "Where are you!" then I broke down crying to myself from what awful things that have happened. I sat there crying for what felt like an eternity. Then I felt something brush against my face again. It felt familiar to what had woken me up this morning, I open my eyes to see that it's a yellow hoof wiping my tears gently.

I look to my right to find that there is a pegasus, a pegasus with pink hair, a yellow coat and her kindness so strong it even warmed my suffering heart. "Fluttershy..." I embraced her and I felt her hooves on my back, "Do you forgive me?" "Yes Fret... I forgive you..." I hear from her sweetly calming voice. So this is what is feels like? This is what Home feels like?

Chapter 11: Magic is Born

2 years later.

I'm back to the old starve one day and eat the next routine since I lost my Piano and my satchels, my hair was getting long and I cut it down to my shoulders with my trusty machete... It's sucks how I've lost my possessions two years ago and it's very difficult to get by but on certain nights I wake up with a bag of bits in front of me. This must be the work of my Guardian Angel, I've mostly been living off him.

I've developed my niceness after hanging around cafes and parks, talking to ponies and asking about my parents. Unfortunately it didn't get me anywhere. I've been venturing through towns as I usually do and as I had hoped would not happen, I didn't find my parents yet. I ask the local ponyfolk around towns and they have been telling me some things that really made me feel down. "Why bother lookin' for 'em? They're dead I bet" "Hah, I can tell why they left ya" "Beat it kid, you're just another foal" "So you know Piano? So what? Nopony cares!" These words, these voices haunted my mind. At times I even wanted to cry and so I do. Why are ponies so mean? I didn't do anything wrong, is it the Machete I carry around?

I try to forget the day I killed that bandit but it still haunts me like a vengeful ghost. The blood, the gurgling, the body... I continued to search through the libraries for answers on my parents or my bloodline but no news but I stumbled upon something that intrigued me. I looked at the spine of a book to see that it's very dusty and colored to look like it's made of spiky steel or maybe rock. I put my hoof on the spine to find it felt very rough. I looked closely at the cover but It wasn't written in any language I could understand.

You'd think books like this would scare ponies, the strange writing, the texture of the book but I was too curious to really think if things would go wrong. I take it out and the book cover had a glowing blue purplish circle in the middle. The pages look like they are tearing apart and I heard a quiet deep humming coming from the book, this didn't seem like no regular book. I set it down on one of the library reading tables. No pony was really at the library that day, so no pony would be weirded out if I read something different, this ancient looking book. I open it, the index was written in that strange language, these don't even look like letters more like scratches. Every time I turn the page, the glowing circle would always appear through the turned over pages, this wasn't any ordinary book. I flipped pages and the more I looked at the letters the more I could see it turning into my normal English language. I was able to read it near the end of the book, there were maybe ten or fifteen pages left. I read the page I'm on.

"For the magics of the arcane is not something to be fooled with, for those with the strong heart, strong body, and ponies with strong purpose may be able to conjure and learn of such things. The cold hearts of those who shun others and cause harm are invaluable to those who teach the arcane arts of any form of wizardry. Unicorns are an exception, Unicorns naturally have the ability to conjure and manipulate reality to their own through spells such as simple teleportation or telekinetic spells. Ponies would be shunned if they knew anypony could cast magic regardless whether they are of the pegasi or the pony race. All that the pony would seek to be valuable and for the lessons to be valuable is if the pony has a strong heart, strong will, strong body, and a strong destiny. The lessons would not be learned, the magic would not be granted, and the incantations would be nothing but mumbling to those that are not great. I have written these books in hopes that somepony will learn from them and to not wield their magic for evil murder and abuse but to wield it for the protection and assistance of others."

I stop there, so, this isn't some book that would be for an average reader but for a reader like me? I can hear a voice in my head speaking to me, it sounds as deep as the murmuring. "You are indeed worthy to learn the lessons of arcane, for you heart shines brighter than any gold and your fate glows stronger than any sun. Regardless what anypony else thinks, you know you have these properties that make you unique and for that is how I learned of you. Do not be shy, do not be scared, turn the pages and learn the magic of ancient mares."

That was freaky... I looked around to see if anypony was here but I was just by myself in this sector of the library. I whispered to the book closely I nearly kissed it, "Are you speaking to me?" It replies in my mind, "Indeed I am young one, I've watched your actions ever since you embarked on your road to your destiny. The destiny to come back to the warming embrace of your family. This journey is not a very easy journey to venture for many obstacles will block your path, and certain obstacles will seem impossible to pass. I grant you the permission to read from my tome young colt, but only the pages that you can read with your eyes and heart. To not use this magic for the betterment of yourself but for others." This didn't seem like something I can turn back on. I continued to read through the pages. The voice was reading the book to me, "But for apprentices they may only know magic of two elements Fire and Earth, one element containing destruction and the other contain creation. These elements are not simple to learn for the feeble minded but it can be comprehended to those unique."

There's a diagram of a pony throwing a large rock without using her hooves, and she wasn't a unicorn. "The element of Earth is one of strong and protective power. Learning such element would grant you the ability to shield your friends from harm with walls as strong as any rock or steel but at the same time the ability to crush foes that hurt the ones you care and love. Earth is one of the simplest elements in apprentice conjuration. To conjure and create structures in which you create with your mind and to your incantation. This tome cover is made of the very stone created by the ancient magi within the age and era of Magic."

The voice speaks to me out of book context, "Go ahead... move your hoof in the direction of the book" I set it down and I stretch my hoof out to the book, "You may be able to move stone objects or even extract them from the very Earth you walk on, you must say an incantation if you wish to gradually learn the ability to perform such acts of magic towards this Element. Nos ful makal" I whisper, "Nos ful makal!" The book itself floated from the table and into the straight direction my hoof was stretching too. I waved it up and down and the book followed. "Ah, I was right about your unique abilities. Please learn from these books and use their lessons and abilities to protect the ones you love, I bestow upon you the power of the Magi, for in your past there were even Magi in the Notehooves bloodline. I leave now but pick up another tome of my creation and the lessons will continue, you have learned as much as you can comprehend from this tome."

I put it down on the table and I closed it, the bright circle was still there, "If you wish to truly learn more of the magic of the ancient Magi, then say the Earth incantation and place your hoof in the dual-arc." I don't know if this will get me into any trouble, usually swearing into things unknown will end up biting you back. "Do not be afraid, this is what your great great grandfather would want" I do as the voice tells me and I say out loud "Nos ful makal" I felt a strong power surging from the book and my hoof was attached to it like glue, strong winds are blowing from the covers. "I bestow upon you the comprehension and the ability to learn from the lessons of the Magi. You possess much knowledge of nature and so I shall grant you the knowledge of Magi".

My vision was getting blurry and the wind blowing from the pages of the book were powerful but I remained in my chair with my hoof on the cover. "Protect those you love and never put the Magi bloodline in any shame. Farewell..." "Wait!" I tried recalling to the voice but it was no use, he had left me. Many questions fogged my mind, i'm sure i'll see him again once I find another tome. It isn't going to be easy but it gives me enough a reason to completely search libraries from bottom to top shelf. I placed the book back in its spot and I left the library. I didn't learn much of my family but I've learned of magic which surprises me. I still had a small around of bits with me so I bought what food I could then I departed to where the wind takes me. I'm so hungry I could eat a bear...

Within a few days I figured out that from swearing to that magic circle it left a blue purplish streak of color in my silver hair. I must say I like the way it shines from the dead grey color of my mane but putting fashion aside I continue to lead my path and the Angel follows.

Chapter 12: Roses of Azure

Two years later.

I've arrived at a little humble town of Hay Hollow. I've been trying to remember the town names in my mind as I thought they may serve a purpose later. I've been trying to earn what money I can and learning what I can, I'm fifteen years of age and I continue to search for my parents. I had recently bought my satchels again but to afford a Piano would take a miracle even greater than the existence of my Guardian Angel. Equestria must be completely littered with my hoof prints as they were on books, doors, buildings, the road, everywhere.

I've been trying to earn what I can from the Pianos that Cafes and Bars had provided, I even begun renting Pianos from Music Stores to try and make profit, which wasn't very difficult to do compared to pushing a Piano to the playing location. I've been eating more lately and trying to prevent myself from starving, I just couldn't take the starvation anymore so I decided to stay here in Hay Hollow for a while until I start making some bits.

It was a Saturday Night, the wind was blowing warmly to my face and I stand outside of a cafe called "MoonBucks" its neon sign shined brightly. I looked through the windows to see the place was packed and there it was, a Piano on a small stage and no pony seemed to be occupying it. I entered the Cafe, it was a lot warmer on the inside and it smelt of Coffee. It was something I haven't had in a long time. The taste and smell of it was something I had missed so much. Crowds were filling the tables and I hear conversation left and right, stories about the "Mane 6" or about their personal lives. Some of it was even news but it mattered not to me, I didn't pay much attention to it. I make my way to the Piano which had a spot light on it. From here I could see everypony sipping their coffee and eating what snacks the Cafe had served. I played some musical and jazzy tunes to mix in with the sweet taste of Java, ponies whistled, clapped, and even left bits for me on the edge of the Piano as tips.

One hour later.

I continued to play at the Cafe with it's smooth red walls and wooden floor. I've been here for the past hour hungry and playing the Piano until every pony had left. I continued to play until one beautiful mare has emerged from the doors, her mane showed as violet as the ripest of grapes and her coat as pink as the midnight neon signs. Out of the multiples of ponies in the diner she was the only one I had really saw and payed attention to. The tune I was playing seemed mellow and jazzy but I begun to speed up the tempo and little bit and threw extra chords and notes here and there. She looks at me and she's all alone and the only thing to accompany her was her rose red bonnet which help most of her mane. She starts to trot in my direction and my heart began to race. The closer she was the more jumpy the tune began to sound. What seemed like an eternity she finally emerged from the crowd and she was standing in front of me, I had to break silence. "O-oh H-hey there" I sounded really anxious and I could feel my cheeks burning, is this what love feels like? I've forgotten after so many years on the road going through rough times I didn't even know what love felt. My heart started to pound even more and I continued to play and eventually some words began to emerge from her mouth "Hello...um...you...you play really well" "Wh-why thank you!" I was too taken by her to even care about how messy and dirty I looked but then I remember how I didn't look nice enough to really talk to any pony as gorgeous as her "O-oh sorry i-if I look a little dirty I-I'm not from around here" She giggles a little "That's okay...you're not from here are you? What's your name" "Oh uh M-my name is F-Fret Notehooves" my heart began to race at a faster rate and I played nervously but I tried to control myself along with the tunes tempo. "It's nice to meet you..." she took off her bonnet and her violet graciously curled mane emerged and unfurled from the red prison that is her bonnet. "My name is Azure Winterfield..." Azure Winterfield huh... I had room on my bench for another pony to sit and she decided to sit next to me. What a great time for my stomach to growl like a crazy beast. "Oh, you must be hungry. You poor, poor stallion" I guess I wasn't fooling anypony with how dirty I look...but I began to jester her with responses and replies I thought would be funny. She laughed and I laughed and I was having a great time with her and I felt more comfortable around her until eventually for some reason I had asked what I was trying to avoid asking. "Is it alright if this poor stallion can stay with you?" and the way I put it too just makes me want to...Argh...she blushed at me and well, I blushed too but guess what she had said. "Wh-why of course!" she sounded excited and within the next hour I stopped playing and I headed to her place. I earned a good amount of bits and I even earned a bonus. My first love. She lives with her parents and she's around my age judging from her complexion. Her parents were very welcoming. Azure and I took turns talking about me and how I was found. Her parents were fine with me staying. I stayed on the couch downstairs she stayed in her bedroom upstairs. I stayed in town for the next 3 weeks making what I could and I had even begun to date Azure after I had begun telling her stories of my past but not all of it, not the one where I killed the bandit... I took her out to dinners with what I had earned and then I found out what true love was like. Then that one Saturday had came... I had to break it out to her and I couldn't think of any other way to do it easily. "Look Azure...I...I like you and all but, remember my journey? I...I'm sorry but I gotta go..." tears formed in her eyes...the one thing I didn't want to do to her and the only thing that couldn't be avoided. She put her hooves in her face and I caressed her tears and her beautiful long mane. I tried to hold back the tears but my voice began to quake instead. "But, that doesn't mean i'm gonna be gone forever...when I find my parents baby... I swear... I'll come back here in Hay Hollow... and we can be together..." She was also always with me every time I played in front of the public for money and I saved up enough for a gift. She got her hooves out of her face and she embraced me, I put a necklace on her that has a small blue tourmaline jewel in it and behind it was engraved, "Forever with you - Fret Notehooves". Then I whispered in her ear, "Merry Christmas baby..." she was my first love, and I was her first too.

Chapter 3: The Beginning of a New Journey

Two years later, I've been seeing stallions coming in and out of this Orphanage but they're taking the furniture. "Airene, who are these ponies? What are they doing with our stuff?" "Fret... I don't know if you understand this but Celestias Taxes are taking this Orphanage, I can't make anymore money and so they're taking it away" Wait, they're taking the Orphanage away? But what am I supposed to do? I'm only six years old and I don't have anywhere to go!

Airene looks at me, "Don't be so scared Fret... Remember what I've been telling you? About your parents?" I can feel my face getting wet, I nod. "Fret... there's nothing else you can do about the Orphanage, or about my health. As much as I don't want to let you go, i'm not your mother or your Aunt. You have to go and find them Fret..." I kept stumbling on my words, "B-but where am-am I supposed to go?"

She kneels down to me and says straight to my face, "Remember those things you did that just felt right Fret? Those are called Instincts... when you look for your parents, you're going to be using your instincts a lot. Help anypony that needs help, save anypony that needs to be saved. Helped them like you helped me Fret..." What about her though? "What about you Airene? Who's going to take care of you?" She laughs softly, "This stubborn unicorn isn't going to kick the bucket yet..."

She pats my head and she leads me outside. She gives me my old basket, back when I was just a little foal, it still had my blanket and strangely, it had some of my favorite Apple Pies in there. "I'm sorry it has to be this way Fret but... you have to leave me. Leave Oaksville. Go to the Library's and read what you think will help Fret... i've been to many and it's amazing what you can find in them. Be careful Fret... I doubt i'm going to see you again... All I can hope for is that you find your family Fret" She turns me around, "Fight for what you believe in Fret... you're a brave colt, and i'm sure your parents are waiting for you to come home" She pushes me and her voice died with the wind "Go Fret... Find your parents" I looked back and the Orphanage looked like it was boarded up with Wood and it looked completely abandoned. I looked forward and I saw a path that lead into a beautiful open field, the sun shining on the horizon. "Alright... Mom... Dad... I'm coming Home..." I spoke to myself as I walked the road that could lead me in the right direction.

Chapter 10: Back on the Road

I felt strong winds coming from under me, I opened my eyes and I see that Fluttershy was flying me somewhere, I looked over the treetops which appeared to be a big sea of green. I was frightened but I trusted Fluttershy, she wasn't going to let me fall. The strong winds hit my face not the ones coming from her wings but the ones coming from high into the air. I looked around, I saw the clouds that are so near me, the birds that fly around me, and the wind that blows me. It felt amazing being up here, I even saw a small area with houses north of here. I guess that'll be where i'm headed next, who knows maybe my family is there waiting for me, or looking for me.

I felt myself being lowered slowly and gently, passing through the treetops and the leaves poking and brushing at my sides. I saw a dirt road under me and Fluttershy had gently put my down there. "Thank you Fluttershy... thank you" "Thank you Fret... for being the only other pony to protect my little ones" I guess killing that stallion was a good thing, but at the same time bad, but I was happy to see Fluttershy smile again. "Will you ever come and see my again Fret?..." She asked... this was difficult for me to answer. I don't know where I am, which forest i'm in, better yet I don't even know if I'll ever see her again "I don't know Fluttershy... I just don't know... I'll remember this Fluttershy... I'll remember what you've done for me, and what brave actions you have done..."

She embraced me and I did the same, this lasted for a long time. "Goodbye Fluttershy..." It was hard leaving her but I knew that I would have to eventually, I still needed to find my parents regardless of what friendships I make or what bonds I create. Her animals need her and she needs her animals, who knows maybe I killed the leader of the bandit pack and the rest had ran away to some place far away. Some place to where they can't kill Fluttershy's animals ever again. I trotted north to where I had last seen that town from the sky, This certainly was an experience and a favor that I will truly remember, and out of the eleven years of being taken in by random strangers, I can certainly say that this was the best hospitality I've ever felt in my life. I never looked back.

Maybe this could influence me to be more kind to ponies, maybe I could be as generous as Fluttershy. In my past I look back and I saw myself being so aggressive and impatient about things but seeing as how Fluttershy wasn't like that to me, maybe I can learn to be calm, smooth, and patient. I guess it would be a nice change, maybe ponies would actually like me better. Strange though, I didn't feel hungry at all. Did those bandits feed me while I was knocked out?