Getting settled down for me was difficult after getting my wings, to be honest the last thing I wanted to be was a 'princess'. Ponies started stopping me in the street, I got letters from ponies I never met and I felt swamped! Celestia had said to the public I was to be dubbed the princess of spirit, a fitting title to my talent. Things I kept to myself eventually got out soon everypony know about me, they knew my talent was my ability to connect with spirits and psychic magic, they knew the friends I hung out with, the gang, they even knew my club was where I lived. Although business there picked up a lot and I got more fans and publicity for my music hobby. It wasn't all bad.
I had to make appearances in Canterlot at times, I didn't like being in the spot light but I did enjoy seeing Luna. She and I talked quite often, it hadn't been a month when one night I was staying in the castle I had a strange dream. I was standing in the royal ball room, there was a thick green fog surrounding the room. I was standing with my friends with Celestia and Luna behind me. Each of them looked scared, my friends each had a glowing necklace each a different colour and in the shape of their cutie marks accept for Ghost who's was a circle, seeing as he didn't have one. I looked at my chest and I had one too in the shape of my pentagram cutie mark. I tried to look through the fog everyone was facing towards where the door should be. I narrowed my eyes and in the midst of the forest of thick air I see two turquoise eyes glare at me and the sound of wings beating fast much like an insect's. The thick mist all shot towards me and swirled around me, I couldn't see anyone and as fast as it came it was gone and so was the dream. I woke up sweating and panting my heart beating so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest. "My friend, are you ok?" Luna asked as she stepped inside my room. I opened my mouth but nothing came out but heavy breaths. She shook her head, "I saw it too dear. I see all dreams." I smiled, it felt like a bit of the weight was taken off my chest just by knowing that. She stepped even closer to me as she spoke, "What I don't understand is why did you and your friends have the elements of harmony?" I cock my head,
"What?"
"They are the..." I put up my hoof and shook my head,
"No,no, no I know what they are but I thought there were already other ponies that wield them." Luna bites her lip,
"Yes but they have not needed them in some time, perhaps the elements will need you to stop this evil instead of them."
"But why not them? What can we do that they can't?" Luna paused for a moment before she answered with a sigh,
"I don't know C.Rave... I don't know."
It took me some time, Luna told Celestia and I told my friends when I went home. I didn't know when it would happen only that it would, Luna and I both knew for sure it was one of those dreams that strange alicorn said she would send. Who was she I had to do some digging. The next few days were spent in the library, Twilight didn't mind me being in her castle reading her books in fact she was intrigued by my story and wanted to give me some aid in finding some answers. I think she also enjoyed a reading partner if you ask me. I buried myself in books about mythical creatures and ponies in history, ancient history, spiritual books you name it before I found one that would give me the link to find it. The book was called 'gateways' it had information about the spirit world and ponies involved in it. One pony had written that there was somepony who governed over this link between worlds and protected it from harm. Many legends told of ponies coming in contact with this pony and or dreaming of them, in these stories the writer noted that she could grant wishes but most of the time the price turned out to be greater than the wish itself often resulting in bad happenings. The sketch the book provided was accurate, this was indeed this pony I had met. She had been dubbed the wish granter. But it stated her name was Fox Fire. There was a spell inside the book to cross over and meet her back where we had before, it wasn't too hard but some of the items needed were scarce. I was glad to have at least found some connections to that mysterious mare.
The next morning I was woken from my slumber by Ghost, how he got inside I'll never know. I'm not sure if I even cared. "What?" I sighed slamming my face into my pillows. He laughed in reply,
"You need to come with me, it's Espresso he need's help." I rose as fast as I had plopped back down and leaped out of my bed and galloped down the stairs. Ghost followed close behind. He overtook me once outside and took me to his place near Sugarcube Corner. Espresso was outside kicking the dirt with an annoyed expression on his face. He looked up at us and growled.
"Oh...hi guys." I stamped my hoof on the ground and puffed as I spoke in a harsh tone,
"What happened? did anypony hurt you? I will hurt them twice as bad!" He chuckled half-heartedly,
"No I'm fine... I just lost my house." I froze for a moment,
"W....wha?"
"I was renting and my land lord said I can't have Tekit in the house anymore. It's not his fault he's just a kid."
"Come on explain it," Ghost insisted.
"He set fire to the curtains and burnt down the entire kitchen." I tried not to laugh, I knew he was a clumsy dragon but really. "So we are homeless." I shook my head,
"No harm I have a spare room you can live with me for a while." Espresso blushed,
"Really?" He beamed brightly, much to Ghost's annoyance. I was aware Ghost had a crush on me, but I didn't know about Espresso yet. No I found out that night when I found him looking at my photos on display blushing bright red. Doesn't take much for a lady to just 'get it' when something like that happens. On the other hoof Ghost made it clear he liked me, not that he said it. It was just the way he was always so close and loving with me like I said a lady just 'gets it' sometimes. I never asked for their affections, but now that I think about it maybe it was what they needed at that time to help me with what I was to face. We needed a strong bond of love and friendship, stronger than what the other 'mane six' could provide. Friendship is magic, but love is power.
So as fate would have it I was living with Espresso and his pet dragon Tekkit. Life wasn't too different in fact it was slightly less lonely. Espresso made the best coffees, no dah it was his talent. He had a red cup I got him that matched his cutie mark, when he moved in it became the cup he put my morning coffee in every day. I put up a strong fireproofing spell on most of the important things in the house just in case. Ghost came out of Everfree all the time to hang out with us as did the others, but something was off about Ghost, he was very sensitive to nature, living in Everfree must do that to you. He noticed that something was wrong, or at least it was going to be. I noticed it to but on a spiritual level different to how he noticed. We met one afternoon alone to discuss this and came to a conclusion it was time to visit Canterlot with the others. Perhaps what was to arise was the unknown villain I saw in my dream no more than a month ago. The trip I took that next morning was one I wish I had prepared for better, I didn't stop to think I couldn't handle it.