A Lonely Feather

Ember Catcher trotted down the castle hallway, headphones in, listening to music. He was known around the kingdom not only for his musical talent, but how he could just spend hours playing and listening to music. Ember was stopped by a pale orange pegasus guard galloping in front of him. The guard paused, bowed, and Ember pulled his headphones out.

"Your highness, I regret to inform you that your parents and Talon Strike are dead." the guard said, and rose from his bow. Ember felt his jaw drop. His parents, Sandstorm and Fire Blitz, were the rulers of his kingdom, Dartmoor. His older brother was Talon Strike. He was the only pony Ember had ever had to even look up to.

"What happened?" Ember asked, straining to keep his tears back.

"I think you might want to just see for yourself." The guard said, and turned around. Ember followed him, dreading what could be awaiting him.

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When Ember and the guard arrived at the scene, it was lined with police officers and caution tape. He trotted up to the police chief, Silver Star.

"What happened?" he asked, and the pale gray unicorn turned his head, amber eyes glittering with grief.

"Nopony knows. Some say they saw a Pegasus whip up a sandstorm and murder them with a knife, others say it was an unicorn's doing." he said. Ember looked past Silver to see a few other unicorns crowded around a small sand pile. One, a black mare with a orange mane and tail, levitated a small golden tiara. In the center was a ruby. Ember felt a tear stream down his cheek. That had been his mother's tiara. Silver touched Ember gently.

"I'm sorry, your highness." he said, and the black unicorn trotted up to him, levitating the tiara.

"Thank you, Night Whisper." Ember chocked, taking the tiara from the mare. She nodded and walked off to finish investigating the crime scene. Ember held the golden tiara in his sandy-colored hoof. He put it on his head and turned around, head down, and walked away. He began to trot, and then galloped away.

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When Ember figured he was far enough away, he spread his wings and flew into the sky. He sat on a nearby cloud and took the tiara off his head.

Mother...Father...Talon... he thought, and saw his tears land in the cloud. He laid down, crossed his hooves and began to cry.

Of course, this caused the first rain that Dartmoor had seen in six months.

Ember cried like this, holding the tiara in one hoof, until he felt the gentle touch of another Pegasus on his shoulder. He  looked up, expecting to see a guard, but instead saw a cerulean Pegasus mare with a hooded cape covering her face, mane, and cutie mark.

"Wh-who are you?" he asked.

"Me? Oh, I'm just a traveler. A trader. I come from a faraway place called Cloudsdale, and I was on my way to the castle of Dartmoor until I saw you here. I'm assuming you're the prince, Ember Catcher?" she said. He nodded.

"I-I'm up here because my parents and brother just...just died this morning." Ember said, and looked at the tiara once more.

"I know how you feel. My best friend...my best friend died a few months ago. She was all I ever had going for me. she was all I ever had..." the mare paused, and lifted her head, making her hood fall back enough so that he could see a pair of rosy red eyes.

"She-she was killed by a falling rock. I miss her so much..." she sobbed, and a tear slid down her cheek. She lowered her head, used a hoof to re-position her hood, and let her wings out.

"Before you go...can I have your name?" Ember asked, knowing the mare probably had to leave.

"They call me Dash. I'll be seein' you around, Ember." she said, and Ember watched her fly off into the sunset.