Prologue

Book 1 – Wounds of the past

Prologue

It was a dark and cold night. Princess Luna had raised the moon and just in time Rainbow Dash and the weather team had finished their preparation for the monthly storm.
After a whole month of sunshine and sometimes a small rainy day it was again time for a storm that would even continue on the following day.

The earth ponies and the unicorns had already prepared the trees, cleaned up the ground, and had brought the smaller and lighter items into their houses. Fluttershy, a shy and caring yellow Pegasus with a pink mane and tail, and some other ponies took care of the animals so that they wouldn't be in danger.

Perfect. Looks like everypony is finished thought the blue Pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail. Rainbow Dash, the leader of the weather team in Ponyville, made a last inspection fly to check if everything was in order and everypony had finished their work. After she finished her inspection she made her way to the dark cloud over the town and with a kick thunder sounded and the first raindrops began to fall. With every blow the wind became stronger and after a view moments the storm was unleashed.

A strong wind blew through the trees, flashes illuminated the night and rain started coming down. Yes, Rainbow Dash was very proud of the storm she made but one thing was still missing. Every time, after she unleashed the storms she made, Rainbow Dash couldn't resist taming her storm.

She was the best young flyer in Equestria and she had won the Best Young Flyer competition some months ago but to make her dream come true and become a member of the Wonderbolts, a group with the best flyer in all of Equestria, she was training every day and created new fly tricks. Taming a storm with its strong wind and instance rain was a perfect training and Rainbow loved the feeling when she flew through a storm.

While she was flying through her storm Rainbow Dash's mind traveled back to the first time she had tamed a storm.
It was two weeks after she had left Cloudsdale and had moved to Ponyville. Cloudsdale had been her home and she had loved the competition with other members of the Junior Speedsters but after the incident with Silverwing she had decided to start a new life and Ponyville had been perfect.
Fluttershy had moved there after she had gotten her cutie mark and her parents had even bought her a cottage near Ponyville where she was taking care of her animal friends.

Rainbow Dash had visited her from time to time and during her visits she had met two of Fluttershy's new friends, a crazy party pony named Pinkie Pie and a farm pony named Applejack.
The first day she had met the farm pony had ended with hoof wrestling to decide who the stronger pony was. Although Rainbow couldn't remember who had won, she remembered the day they had met had been the beginning of their friendship. It had also been the beginning of Rainbow's never-ending competition with Applejack.

However on one of her visits Fluttershy had told her that the weather ponies had been searching for new members. She had also told Rainbow Dash that the pay was good and that from time to time weather ponies even had the chance to join the Wonderbolts. This job had been the perfect chance to make her dream come true.
Some days later Rainbow Dash had moved into her new cloud castle her parents had rented for her and which she had bought one year later.

During her time as member of the Junior Speedsters Rainbow Dash had become very fast and skilled. Therefore the examination had been very easy for her and Rainbow Dash had become a member of the weather team.

The first two weeks had been way too boring for her. All she had to do was to clear the sky with some other new members, move some clouds or create a little rain for small gardens. During most of her free time she had explored and had furnished her new home, she had traveled trough Ponyville where she had met many new friends like a unicorn named Rarity or she had just napped on a cloud or in an apple tree.

During one of her meetings with Fluttershy and her new friends Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity, the leader of the weather ponies, a Pegasus pony names Stormchaser, had appeared. At first Rainbow Dash had feared the worst but when Stormchaser had told her that she was allowed to create a big storm, Rainbow Dash hadn't been able to hide her excitement and had started to say ohmygosh again and again. She had been awake all night to learn everything about storms and then her great day had come.

Stormchaser had been sitting on a cloud while Rainbow Dash had told the other weather ponies what they had to do. The thunderclouds, the rain clouds and the wind clouds were brought and soon they had been in perfect order. After two more hours of preparations the storm was finished and the only thing that had been missing had been to kick the big storm cloud to unleash the storm.
With a nervous look Rainbow Dash had waited and had watched as Stormchaser had checked everything. After some minutes that had been like an eternity for Rainbow Dash, Stormchaser had flown back to her.

With a pleased nod and a smile she had said "Very good job. Now you can unleash your very first storm."

Rainbow Dash had never been as happy as this time. After Rainbow had unleashed her storm Stormchaser had told her that she was very pleased with Rainbow's abilities. However Stormchaser had also told her that Rainbow wasn't as good as she could be. At first Rainbow Dash had been disappointed but then Stormchaser had told her a new way to train. "A storm is strong and wild and only the best ponies can fly through a storm. If you can tame it you will not only test your own abilities, you will also become a better flyer."

At first Rainbow Dash had been nervous because she had never flown in a storm before, but after some moments the feeling had been beyond description. She had been able to feel every wind gust. Together with the wind and the rain it had been like she was surfing on a wave. She had known all gusts and she had used them to fly faster than she had ever flown, except the time when she had done the Sonic Rainboom.

When she had landed next to Stormchaser the storm had already unleashed its true power and had begun to become weaker. Without even knowing she had flown for some hours and because of the awesome feeling she had even lost the track of time. "I'm proud of you Rainbow Dash. Only the best Pegasus ponies are able to tame a storm,” Stormchaser had told her.
During the next months Stormchaser had taught her many new things and tricks before the day of parting had come.

Every time she flew through a storm like she did it now, Rainbow Dash could hear Stormchaser's voice "I taught you everything I know my friend. From the first day I saw you I knew that you would someday become the leader of the weather ponies. Today is this day and now you are the new leader but I'm sure some day we will once again fly together. One day, Rainbow Dash, you will become a member of the Wonderbolts." Then she had left Ponyville as a new member of the Wonderbolts but Rainbow Dash had never given up her dream.

She loved Stormchaser like the big sister she never had and one day they would again fly together trough the sky.
Rainbow Dash smiled when she realized that she and Scootaloo shared almost the same bond she had with Stormchaser. Both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo didn't have any siblings and if Scootaloo would ever ask her, Rainbow Dash would gladly become the big sister and mentor Stormchaser was for her.

She almost flew an hour through the storm and rode every wind gust she found. Yeah, this is so awesome! This time I surpassed myself with the storm. When Rainbow Dash realized that she was already at the edge of the Everfree Forest, she knew that she even tamed this storm. Hehehe. Another storm was tamed by the incredible Rainbow Dash. When the Wonderbolts see me like this, they'll beg me to join them as their new leader.

Satisfied with her skills Rainbow Dash prepared herself to fly back to her house when she heard something. At first she thought that her ears played a trick on her but then she heard it again. It sounded like someone was singing. She closed her eyes and focused on the sound. It took some time before she heard the sound again. It was indeed a voice and the voice was also singing. Although she couldn't hear any words she could hear that the song wasn't like the happy and cheerful songs she is use to hearing from her friend Pinkie Pie. It was a slow and almost sad melody.

Rainbow Dash had her eyes still closed and turn herself in the direction of the voice. When she opened her eyes again she couldn't believe it. The source of the voice came from the Everfree Forest. She knew that Zecora was the only one who lived in the Everfree Forest, so she must be the one who was singing. Is this girl crazy? Why is she outside when there is a storm?

Rainbow Dash flew into the Everfree Forest but when she was close to the source of the voice, it suddenly disappeared. "Zecora. Where are you?" Rainbow Dash shouted for Zecora but the voice was still missing. Maybe she is going back to her house she thought to herself. Well, it's time to fly home. I hope Zecora is safe.

Rainbow Dash started to fly back to Ponyville when she saw that a tree was hit by a flash. She tried to avoid the falling branches but it was too late. One of the branches hit her and she began to fall. She tried to get back the control but could only manage to slow down her falling tempo. Come on Dash, you can do it she tried to cheer to herself. Using all her strength she could at least manage some wing beats so that she wouldn’t, at least, crash into a tree or against a rock and avoid serious injuries. Some moments later Rainbow Dash crashed hard on the ground.

Ouch! After the pain started to fade Rainbow Dash stood up but when she looked at the sky she froze. Dark clouds were covering the sky, a strong wind blew and it started to rain but this wasn't the reason why Rainbow Dash was shocked. The reason was that these clouds weren't part of her storm.

Everypony knew that the Everfree Forest wasn't natural. The animals cared for themselves, plants grew by their own and the worst part, the weather wasn't controlled by ponies. From one moment to another the weather could changed from sunny to stormy and nopony could predicted the weather.

Rainbow Dash coursed her bad luck. Only the best Pegasus ponies just like her were able to fly during a storm. Even during a natural storm it was risky but during an unnatural storm like this it was life endangering even for her.
Although the storm didn't move to Ponyville, which would be awful especially if this storm met her storm and created a way bigger storm, Rainbow Dash decided that she would walk back to Ponyville. The only problem was that she didn't know where exactly she was.

While she looked around and scanned the forest for something familiar like the Poison Joke flowers, Rainbow Dash couldn't escape the feeling that someone or something was watching her. The Everfree Forest was filled with all kinds of dangerous creature and although she tried not to think about them she couldn't ignore all the creepy sounds that filled the air and suddenly Rainbow Dash recalled the story that Scootaloo had told her.

During a sleepover of the Cutie Mark Crusaders at Fluttershy's home one of Fluttershy's chickens had escaped and had ran into the Everfree Forest. Scootaloo and her friends had followed it into the forest and they found it. However they also found Twilight Sparkle who was turned into stone by a creature called cockatrice. However thanks to Fluttershy and her stare the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Twilight and even the chicken were rescued.
The last thing Rainbow Dash wanted was to run into one of those creepy cockatrices and being turned to stone.

The creepy sounds became even louder and Rainbow Dash thought that they were surrounding her.
Rainbow Dash stood up and while she was standing on her hind legs, kicking her front legs into the air like a boxer, she bravely shouted, "Show yourself you creepy monsters." When the sounds became even louder she slowly added "but on a second thought…" Rainbow Dash nervously laughed "I don't want to hurt you so you …uhm…can stay where you are."

The sound of a deep growl filled the air and before Rainbow Dash could even react she realized that she already ran away from the growl. She hoped that she would find a way out of the Everfree Forest or maybe Zecora's house but Rainbow Dash would be even happy if she could find a good place to hide and wait out the storm.
While she was running she heard that something big was following her and it came closer.

After some time dashing through the forest, she had passed many densely wooded places. Rainbow Dash turned her head around to see if the creature still followed her. When she couldn't see nor hear anything behind her Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. However when she thought she was safe she turned her head again in the direction she was running but it was too late.
She tried to slow down but in the end she crashed straight into a tree. I hate trees she thought after she landed hard on her back.

Once again the growl filled the air and it came closer. Still unable to move from her crash Rainbow Dash thought about her options but she had no idea what to do.
The shadow of a big creature appeared behind a tree and she could only see its fangs and teeth in the light of the moon. Still hiding in the shadows the creature slowly came closer and closer. It opened its jaws and its saliva dribbled to the ground. The creature was already close enough for Rainbow Dash to smell its warm and foul breath.

With all her will power Rainbow Dash tried to escape but all she could manage was to crawl closer to the tree and take a lose branch off the ground with her mouth. If this monster was trying to eat her she would fight until the end.
Rainbow Dash could see the devilish yellow eyes of the creature, looking at its pray, but before the creature was able to attack Rainbow Dash a bright light illuminated the dark forest. The creature let out a painful cry and shielded its eyes with its hands before it turned away from Rainbow Dash.

After a last angry hiss the creature ran away, back into the darkness of the Everfree Forest. From the other direction Rainbow Dash could hear the sound of footsteps or maybe even hoofsteps. Although she didn't feel any serious injuries from the crash with the tree Rainbow Dash could feel that she would soon lose consciousness.
The last thing she saw before she fainted was someone who was coming closer to her. The person was wearing a cloak just like Zecora. Although Rainbow Dash couldn't see the face of person in front of her, one thing she knew for sure. This wasn't Zecora.
Then the world around her became dark.

Chapter 1: The unknown pony

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Chapter 1: The unknown pony

When Rainbow Dash awoke she found herself in a big cave. Where the hay am I? The last thing I know is this crazy monster chasing me. When she touched her head she quickly removed her hoof because of the pain. Ouch!, she thought, but she could feel bandages around her head. Somepony must have had treated her injuries and bandaged them.

Rainbow Dash was lying on a hay bed with a warm blanked over her body to keep her warm. Next to the bed were laying fruits, water and even some medicinal herbs, which were perfect to cure headache. Moreover the medical herbs were even able to increase the healing process.

She already knew these kinds of special medical herbs because of her training. Some years ago she had worked on a new trick but she had made a mistake while planning for the trick. The result had been that she had crashed into a tree close to Fluttershy's home and she had hurt herself. Although the injuries weren't serious, the pain had been still too intense when she tried to fly.

Luckily Fluttershy had heard Rainbow's crash and moments later Fluttershy had already sat next to her, trying to help her friend to stand up. The shy pegasus pony had known her friend too well and she had known that Rainbow Dash was too proud to go to the doctors in town. However she had tried to convince Rainbow to visit them but in the end Fluttershy had to take care of her friend's injuries herself.
Fluttershy only had helped her animal friends when they were injured and she hadn't known how to take care of the injuries of another pony. However all she had known was that her friend needed help and that had been enough for Fluttershy.

Fluttershy had treated Rainbow Dash's wounds like an expert and she had even given her some medical herbs. Fluttershy had told her that these herbs would increase the healing process and that they also were able to abate pain. After Rainbow Dash had taken the herbs she had realized that Fluttershy had been right. It had taken only a few moments until the pain had disappeared and only two days later her wings were back to their full awesomeness.

Since this day Rainbow Dash had crashed more than once into something or even worse somepony. Most of these crashes had been harmless but a few times she had ended up with some painful injuries or headache. Every time she had taken the medical herbs she had felt better only a few moments later and she had been able to fly and practice new tricks only a few days later.

Rainbow Dash knew that some of her tricks were risky but to make her dream come true and join the Wonderbolts she accepted these risks. Only the best pegasus ponies were able to join the Wonderbolts and someday her tricks would help her to become one of the best pegasi in Equestria's history.

When Rainbow Dash looked at the medical herbs she knew that whoever brought her to this cave must have known the effects of the herbs. However she still wondered who her savior was and if it was possible that it was Zecora.

Rainbow Dash stood up scanned the cave.
It was a big cave with three tunnels and a small entrance big enough for a pony. A small campfire was in the center of the cave and near enough to warm her up. Rainbow Dash could also see some self-made tables with candles and some books.

She walked to one of the tables and looked at the titles of the books. She took one of them in her hoofs and read the title "Frankenfilly". It was an old monster book about a crazy scientist, a unicorn named Frankenfilly, who used her magic and her knowledge to create a monster. She also had a humpback helper named Igor. Hehehe That unicorn reminds me a little of Twilight especially with Spike as her helper and her labor under the library Dash thought with a giggle.

After she briefly checked the other books, which were also books about monsters, Rainbow Dash looked if somepony else was in the cave but she was alone. Seeing that the storm was still raging she went back to the bed to eat some fruit and the medical herbs. It took only a couple of minutes until the pain disappeared and she felt like a new pony.

While she once again thought who might saved her she recalled a rumor she heard in Ponyville. Some ponies' especially young fillies and colts had heard about the Everfree Forest for the first time and went into it. These ponies had been either very curious like all young ponies or they had done it as a dare but all of them ignored the warning.

In all stories about the Everfree Forest it was told that anypony who went in had never come out. Rainbow Dash knew all those stories but when her new friend Twilight Sparkle had to go into the forest to find the Elements of Harmony to save Equestria from Nightmare Moon, Rainbow Dash had followed her together with her other friends. Rainbow Dash would never leave a friend hanging when he or she needs help. She would even risk her own safety for her friends.

Together the friends had defeated Nightmare Moon and had left the forest without any problems.
After this day she had visited the Everfree Forest more than once and she was still alive.
However although the tales about the Everfree Forest were exaggerated it was still a dangerous and unnatural place. Nevertheless those young ponies had entered the forest but surprisingly all of them had left it without running into trouble.

Even more mysterious was that all of them had told the same story that they had been able to leave the Everfree Forest because something or someone had saved them. None of them had seen their savior but all of them said that they had seen a light that guided them out of the forest without running into dangerous creatures.

When more and more ponies had told similar stories it had taken only some time until the creature was called "the guardian".
At first Rainbow Dash and her friends thought that Zecora was this heroic creature who saved all the ponies. They had been even more surprised and curious when Zecora had told them that she wasn't the guardian.

While she thought about the rumor and the tales of the guardian Rainbow Dash realized that it must have been the guardian who had saved her. The light that had fended the monster off as well as this cave and even her treated injuries began to make much more sense to her.
Once again Rainbow Dash scanned the cave especially the tunnels while she wondered who and what creature the guardian might be. He or she could be another zebra like Zecora, a griffon or maybe even a pony. For a few moments she thought that maybe Gilda or Trixie could be the guardian. However Trixie would never live here in the Everfree Forest.

Rainbow Dash knew that Gilda had once been a friendly, kind and helpful griffon and some years ago it had been possible that she was behind the mask of the guardian. However during the last years the friendly and helpful Gilda had turned into a bully and a jerk. Rainbow Dash could feel a pain in her chest and quickly she banished the thought of her ex-best friend from her mind although she still hoped that Gilda would someday be again the kind griffon she knew.

After some minutes she heard that someone was coming out of one of the tunnels. She looked at each tunnel until she saw a growing shadow. When the shadow left the cave she could see that it was the stranger who was still wearing the cloak, just like Zecora when she had come to Ponyville before she had any friends. The stranger looked at her.

"I'm glad to see that you finally woke up. I was worried that your injury was worse than I thought." The voice of the stranger was male and it does also sound like he was about the same age as Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah thanks for your help and don't worry. I had worse injury during my training. Hehehe Oh and by the way I'm Rainbow Dash the best flyer in all of Equestria. What's your name?" she said in her typical Rainbow Dash way.

The stranger was surely surprised by this cheerful young pegasus. "My name is Shiron." Shiron was going to the fire and after he checked the fire he sat near it. Rainbow Dash went also to the fire and sat next to Shiron.

"Nice to meet you. You are a pony, right?" A simple nod was the only answer from Shiron. For some time both ponies were silently sitting near the fire but then Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "Where do you come from and why do you live alone in a cave in the Everfree Forest instead of a town? Ponyville is only half an hour from here."

At first Shiron didn't answer and she thought that he may be asleep but when Rainbow Dash looked back into the flames Shiron suddenly began to speak. "I don't know where I'm from nor if Shiron is my real name. This place is everything I have"

"What do you mean by that?"

With an almost sad voice Shiron simply answered "It's a long story and I won't bother you with it."

However Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron with curiosity. "Come on. Spit it out. Maybe I can help you."

Once again this little blue pegasus surprised Shiron and he decided to tell her his story. "If you really want to know…" Shiron made a small brief sigh and looked up at Rainbow Dash "I have only memories of the last year and I can't remember anything that happened before."

Rainbow Dash was shocked when she heard that. She knew that some ponies lost some memories when they had an accident but after some days or weeks the missing memories would come back especially with the help of a unicorn doctor. Before she could say something Shiron started to speak again.

"My first memory is that I woke up in a meadow. It was a beautiful day but I neither knew where I was nor who I was. I stood up and tried to find somepony else but I was alone. I walked for some hours until I found a lake, then one my memories came back. It was the name Shiron. I decided to keep this name until I remember my own name."

Rainbow Dash thought about Shiron's words but she was confused. "If you lost your memories why didn't you talk to somepony? I'm sure somepony could help you."

With a sad voice Shiron answered her. "At first I planned to talk to somepony. A day after I awoke in the meadow I saw a group of ponies. I planned to talk to them but before I even had a chance I got another memory back and this memory kept me from it. Every time when I was close to anyone else it was this memory that kept me from talking to them"

"I still don't get it. How can a memory make you feel this bad? What is this memory?" When Shiron spoke again his voice became quieter but it was still sad.

"It was the sentence: Everyone who is different is a monster. You may not understand it but I'm different than all the other ponies. When I saw my reflection in the water I discovered it. I traveled though Equestria for some months and although I saw earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, griffons, zebras and even dragons, I hadn't been able to find another pony like me.
When I heard some ponies who talked about the dark and mysterious Everfree Forest I knew that this was the only place where I could live without the fear that others will see me as a monster. I don't know why but when I saw the Everfree Forest for the first time I had the odd feeling that it was like my home although I don't have any memories about it."

Rainbow Dash began to understand why Shiron lived in a cave in this unpleasant Everfree Forest and why he was still wearing the cloak to cover his body. She remembered back when Zecora had come to Ponyville for the first time. Everypony had been afraid of her even Rainbow Dash herself and it had taken some months before somepony had been brave enough to talk to Zecora. This brave pony had been Applejack's little sister, Applebloom. Now Zecora was welcome in Ponyville and she had many friends there. Rainbow Dash knew that she had to help Shiron.

She still didn't know how he looked but she knew that he was a nice and helpful pony and she couldn't stand the thought that he had to live in loneliness. He saved her and she even saw a friend in him although she knew him only for a short time.

Rainbow Dash jumped off, with a new power and a smile she turned to Shiron. "Don't worry. Some month ago we all learned that nopony should judge another pony by their look. You saved me and even took care of my injuries. I'll never see you as a monster but as a friend and I'm sure my friends will like you, too. When the storm is over we'll go back to Ponyville together."
Shiron was trying to say something but Rainbow Dash was faster. "I won't accept a 'no' as an answer. Now take off your cloak. I'm sure you don't look like a monster."

At first Shiron tried to convince her that he felt safe when he wore the cloak and that he didn't want to take it off. However in the short time he spent with Rainbow Dash he knew that, in the end, she would convince him. With a last hesitation Shiron took off the cloak so that Rainbow Dash could see his body.

Rainbow Dash scanned his body but all she saw was an ordinary pony. He had a white coat and a black colored mane and tail. His cutie mark shows dark clouds in front of the full moon and he had even white wings. I don't see anything strange. He's just a pegasus pony like me and compared to most of the colts I know he's even quite handsome she thought. However she still didn't see anything odd and for her Shiron was just an ordinary pegasus pony.

"See? I told you that you aren't a monster. You're just a pegasus pony like me and many other ponies in Eque…" Before she could finish her sentence she saw the reason why Shiron was different and why he hadn't been able to find other ponies like him.

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1 year earlier:

It was a beautiful day. Birds were singing, butterflies were dancing in the air and all kinds of critters were playing in the meadow. Two young squirrels were playing hide and seek until one of the squirrels found something strange lying in the meadow.

The squirrels didn't know what it was and out of curiosity they went closer to the strange thing. When they were close enough they saw that it was a white pony with wings and something else. The squirrels only knew the winged ponies that took care of them and their other furry friends and although they had once seen a group of ponies with horns on their heads they never saw a pony like this one.

The pony was lying in the meadow with its eyes closed and since they found it, it didn't move. However before they were able to take a closer look the pony began to move and the squirrels scurried away to their parents.

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Slowly the pony opened his eyes and stood up. He didn't know where he was and even worse he also didn't know who he was. He looked around in the hope to see something he recognized or someone he could talk to. Maybe even somepony who knew him but instead he found himself alone. Slowly he turned into one direction and started to walk. He didn't know where he was walking to but he hoped and wished that somewhere he could find some answers.

After some time the pony found a lake and before he looked at his reflection he drank some of its cool water. Then he looked at his reflection. For some time he just sat there and stared at his reflection lost in his own thoughts. He tried to figure out what had happened and why he had lying alone in a meadow but he couldn't find a reason.

When he prepared himself to leave the lake to search for anyone else he suddenly had a flashback. He couldn't see anything except fog but he could hear a voice whispering the name "Shiron". The pony didn't know the meaning of this flashback but he decided that this could be his name. Until the day he would get his memories back, the pony decided that he would keep the name Shiron for himself.

One day later Shiron had already trekked a long way but still he couldn't find anyone else. Although he had wings all his tries to fly hadn't been very successful and the few times when he had been able to leave the ground he had fallen back to it.

Suddenly he heard something. It was the happy laughter of at least two other creatures. Shiron ran in the direction where the laughter came from and when he reached the top of the hill he could see a group of ponies. There were two earth ponies, a unicorn and a pegasus pony. From his place he could only see the cutie mark from the pegasus pony, which looked like a flower.

Shiron hoped that these ponies could help him and maybe they even knew him or were his friends. The ponies were only 100 yards away and he would only need some minutes to reach the ponies but before he was able to go, Shiron had another odd flashback.

Once again he found himself in a world of fog. He was alone but once again the same mysterious voice spoke to him. Shiron tried to talk to the voice but nothing happened. Instead all his hopes were crushed when the voice whispered, "You are different than these ponies. They won't accept you because everyone who is different is a monster." Then he was back in the real world.

Without looking back to the group of ponies Shiron turned back and ran away before the ponies could even notice his presence. On this day Shiron's long search for other ponies like him began.

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The pegasus pony stopped and looked at the hill but she didn't see anything. For just a moment she thought she saw a pony but now she couldn't see anypony. Maybe her mind had played a trick on her.

When her friends saw that she had stopped the unicorn asked her friend "Is everything alright, Sunflower?"

Sunflower looked back to her friends and with a smile she said "Yes, I just thought I saw a … never mind. It's impossible that there are more ponies like her."

With this the happy little group of friends continued their way to the next town.

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Three month had passed since Shiron had started his long journey to find other ponies like him. He had passed forests, mountains and many other places but he was still alone. Although he had found many different creatures like zebras, dragons, griffins and even seaponies he couldn't find another pony like himself.

During the last months he had learned how to fly and although his first flights had been very clumsy he was training every day and soon he had become better and faster. It was almost like he was born to fly and the feeling to fly was beyond description. He felt like he was one with the sky and he felt free but also lonely. Every day he wished for someone to fly with, someone to share the sky with but his wishes had been unheard.

Thanks to his training he had been able to search more places and he was even able to escape a hydra that had attacked him a month earlier. However during the last months he also had became a creature of the night and most of the time he had traveled only when it was dark. If other creatures really saw everyone who was different as a monster then he couldn't allow them to see him.

When he had found places where ponies or other creatures could live he had watched them until he had known what kind of creature lived there. However every time he had found creatures or ponies that weren't like him and before they had even noticed him he had been long gone.

Three months he had searched but it looked like he was alone in this world. His search had been a failure and now he was standing at the entrance of a dark forest, which was called the Everfree Forest. Although it was a dark place, unloved and feared by others, Shiron felt an odd connection with this forest. He was unloved just like the Everfree Forest and Shiron was sure that if others would see him they would also fear him. He was a monster and monsters hadn't the right to live in the light were others could see them. They had to live in the darkness … alone and unloved.

After some more months had passed Shiron had become one with the Everfree Forest and he knew almost everything about it. The unpredictable weather and the trees close to each other had been the perfect training for Shiron and his flying skills and his stamina had become better and better. Shiron had even learned some tricks while he was practicing his flying skills but just like the months before he found that he still felt the pang of loneliness when he was flying through the sky.

The only other creature except of the animals that lived in the Everfree Forest was a zebra named Zecora. She was mysterious and always spoke in rhymes. Unlike him Zecora left the forest every week to go to the village close to the forest and from what Shiron heard the ponies saw her as an evil enchantress because of her appearance. She was different than the ponies of the village and as the result they hated and feared her.

One day Zecora somehow had found Shiron's cave. At first he had hide in the tunnels of his cave until she had left but every time she had left a basket with food, tea and sometimes even other things like a book or some candles. One time there had even been a cloak in the basket. However Shiron still hid when Zecora came with a new basket because he feared that she would also see him as a monster. It didn't make much sense because since the day he had awaken in the meadow nine months ago no one actually had seen him but Shiron could still hear the whispering voice in his head.

However the next two months were different. On one day he could see the shadows of a group of five or six ponies, which headed to the ruins of the old castle. Some hours later a rainbow colored light illuminated the Everfree Forest. On another day he saw a griffon flying in the direction of the village only to leave it two days later and some days later another group of ponies headed to Zecora's home.

Shiron feared that they would attack her although Shiron hadn't seen any kind of violence since he had awaken in the meadow. Luckily Zecora had told him the whole story with the poison joke and that the villagers had apologized for their behavior. Although Shiron had made the first step to talk to Zecora some weeks ago instead of hiding, he still wore the cloak she had given him. Zecora also told him that she was now welcome to the village named Ponyville. However unlike him Zecora had never been a monster because there were many other zebras in towns and villages but no other ponies like Shiron.

A week later an explosion caught Shiron's attention and when he looked at the sky he could see a beautiful rainbow colored wave in the sky. Its light illuminated the Everfree Forest and deep in his heart Shiron sent a wish to the rainbow. He hoped that one day other ponies like him would find him and save him from his loneliness but Shiron knew he was alone in this world. He was a lonely monster in his exile.

Another month had passed. It was a dark and stormy night when Shiron found a pegasus pony that was chased by one of the most dangerous creatures of the Everfree Forest. Although Shiron had been able to banish the monster the pony was unconscious. She had a pale cyan colored coat and a rainbow colored mane and tail and it looked like she was hurt.
Shiron already helped other ponies that had got lost in the forest but this was different because the other ponies hadn't been hurt. He didn't know where this pony came from and thus he brought her to his cave to treat her wounds.

This was ten hours ago and now he was standing in front of her without his cloak on. Shiron didn't know why he had taken if off when she asked him to but there was something in her eyes. Those big beautiful, eyes …

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Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron but she didn't believe her eyes. He was surely different than all the other ponies in Ponyville and Equestria.
"You also see me as a monster, don't you?" asked Shiron with sad eyes.

Instead of looking at him with fear Rainbow Dash burst into laughter, which confused Shiron even more. It took a while until she calmed down and spoke again. "Sorry, it's just that many ponies would do anything to be like you. You aren't a monster you are an alicorn." Rainbow Dash pointed at Shiron's wings and his horn.

"I'm an Alicorn?" he asked confused, hearing this term for the first time. "You mean there are other ponies like me?" With a smile and a nod Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron.

With a soft voice she said, "Yep, there are two more - Princess Celestia and Princess Luna the rulers of Equestria. Everypony looks up to them and admire them. However we always thought that there were no other Alicorns in Equestria."
Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron and wondered how he felt at this moment. From what she knew he lived all alone for almost one year with the idea that he was the only alicorn and that others would see him as something bad.

When Rainbow Dash saw that he was close to tears she didn't know what she should say and so she put a hoof around his neck to make him feel that he wasn't alone anymore.
"I… I still can't …believe it. I searched for months without finding other ponies like me and then I find you and you tell me that there are two more ponies like me and that these ponies are even the rulers of this land. Where can I find them?"

With his brown eyes he looked at Rainbow Dash and she could see the hope in his eyes. The hope that he would learn more about his origin and maybe Princess Celestia could even give him his memories back. Like all pegasus ponies, Rainbow Dash could sense the cardinal directions and with one hoof she pointed to the north.
"They are living in Canterlot, a town in the mountains. You can even see it from the sky. When we are in Ponyville I'll introduce you to my friends especially a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She is the student of Princess Celestia and she sends her a letter every week. I'm sure she will tell the Princess about you and enable an audience with her. Until we can go to Canterlot you can live in Ponyville."

Rainbow Dash thought that Shiron would be happy to hear those words but instead he looked back into the fire before he spoke in a low voice.
"I'm not sure. I mean, except of this cave I have nothing and I don't have any money for a home in Ponyville."

With a slap on Shiron's shoulder and her usual confident attitude she looked at Shiron
"Don't worry. You can stay with me in my cloud house. It's good-sized and there is no better bed than a cloud bed. Besides chilling with a friend sounds like fun not to mention the flying sessions." With a wink she added, "Maybe you even know some new tricks you can show me."

Shiron didn't know what he should say. Out of the nowhere he met this confident young pegasus pony that told him that he wasn't the only pony with a horn and wings. Now she even invited him to live with her and her friends in Ponyville. After almost a year Shiron had hope for better days.
"Thank you Rainbow Dash." said Shiron who wasn't only referring to her invitation to live with her in Ponyville but for everything she did for him.

"You're welcome." she said with a grin.
Rainbow looked at the entrance of the cave and then back to Shiron "The storm will at least persist till dawn so I can tell you some things about Ponyville, my friends and me of course. You can tell me something about you like your hobbies or something else."

With a nod Shiron said, "That sounds good."

Rainbow Dash looked into the light of the fire and thought about her friends. She knew many stories about them, many adventures and all the good times she had with them. After she knew what would be the best way to talk about her best friends she began with her story.

"I think I will start with Applejack. Applejack is an earth pony and she was my first friend when I came to Ponyville. She is working on the apple farm named Sweet Apple Acres and just like me she is an athlete although I'm the better athlete. She is a helpful pony and sometimes she is very stubborn but she is one of my best friends.
The next pony is Pinkie Pie and like Applejack she is also an earth pony. She is the most cheerful pony I've ever met. You never know what she is going to do next and she loves sweets. Every week she throws at least one party especially when she meets someone she doesn't know." With a grin Rainbow added, "I'm sure when she sees you she will run away to make a welcome party."

A flash illuminated the cave and after some seconds the sound of thunder broke the silence of the night. With his magic Shiron put more firewood into the fire and both ponies enjoyed its warmth.
After some hot tea and food Rainbow Dash continued.
"Rarity is a unicorn and a fashion designer. She is generous but sometimes a bit too girly especially when there is mud or dirt.
I don't have a problem with mud or dirt and you can make some good pranks with it.

Fluttershy is a pegasus pony like me and she's my fillyhood friend. She also lived in my hometown Cloudsdale before she moved to Ponyville. She is a very shy pony but she can be very assertive when someone needs help. She tamed a manticore; a dragon and she even intimidated a cockatrice with her special power, "the stare". She really cares about all animals and ponies and she is a good friend. However she should be a little bit more assertive. I mean seriously, this pony is even afraid of her own shadow.

Well, the last one is a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She lives in a library together with Spike, a baby dragon who is also a good friend of mine. Twilight and Spike are almost like siblings.
Twilight really loves books and science but sometimes she is like an egghead. She has a book for everything you can imagine.
When she first came to Ponyville she wasn't interested in making friends, parties or anything funny. It took some time for her to warm up and make friends but now she has many good friends just like me and the pony gang."

"Sounds like you have many good friends" said Shiron before he offered her more fruits, which she gladly accepted.

"Yeah I'm really happy to have them. Every day with them is awesome and we have a lot of fun together.
What about you? What have you done in the last year except from hiding in a cave?"

While she watched Shiron she bit into a juicy pomegranate. Shiron started to chuckle and it took her some seconds before she realized that her face was full of the juices from the fruit. For some time both ponies just sit there and laughed.

After some time Shiron broke the silence
"Well, there isn't much that you can do in the Everfree Forest. In the daytime it's very boring but at night I usually read some books explore the Forest or" Shiron closed his eyes for a moment and with a smile he said "or I fly.

There is nothing better than a good breeze through my mane while I fly as high and fast as I can go. At night you can see the star-spattered sky and in the dawn you can see the sunrise and at dusk you can see the sunset. The feeling of the wind beneath my wings and in my face, the increasing speed and the feeling…"

"…And the feeling of freedom and peace." finished Rainbow Dash who was also smiling. "It looks like we both love to fly as fast and as high as we can. We have more similarities than I though."
After a brief look to the entrance and the discovery that the storm was almost over, Rainbow Dash stood up and removed the bandage.

She looked back to Shiron and with a wink she said, "The storm is almost over. How about some fun? Ponyville is only half an hour from here and I can't wait to see how good your flying skills really are."

"Sounds good to me." With this both ponies left the cave and took off. Together they flew towards Ponyville.

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Some minutes after the two ponies left the cave a cloaked creature left the shadows. The gold under her cloak glittered in the light of the sunrise and with her turquoise eyes she looked after the two flying ponies.
"Now Shiron you aren't alone anymore, because you found a friend and soon even more." With a smile Zecora went again into the shadows back to her house. She disappeared in the shadows and only a sad melody filled the air while Zecora sang her song.

Chapter 2: New day, new life

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Chapter 2: New day, new life

The sun slowly rose and its light reached Ponyville to wake its citizens. Smoke appeared over Sugarcube Corner where a cheerful, pink pony baked the first delicacies of the morning and like every morning a purple unicorn awoke in her library after a night full of studying.

The "closed" sign in the window of the boutique of a white unicorn with purple mane was switched to an "open" sign and at the edge of the Everfree Forest a shy, yellow pegasus pony brought her little animal friends their breakfast.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning and three little fillies with capes left Sweet Apple Acres to find their own cutie marks.
The sweet smell of apples and apple pie was in the air while an orange pony with a hat bucked another apple tree to get enough apples to fill her cart. Just like every Sunday she hoped that she would earn enough money for her family.
However just like her friends she didn't know that this morning would be different. This day was a special day that would change her life and the life of her best friends.

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Rainbow Dash was very pleased. Although she flew with half of her speed, Shiron was still close behind her and he was even able to do the same tricks she did during all her early flying sessions. Most of the pegasus ponies in Ponyville weren't able to fly as fast as Rainbow Dash was able to and even less could do tricks at this speed.

Now the athlete in her was awake and she wondered how good Shiron really was. "Not bad. Are you ready for the true race?" she asked Shiron with a look back at him.

"Sure" he answered with a grin.

Rainbow Dash was surprised because the shy and unconfident pony she had met in the cave was now strong and confident. I wish that flying would have had the same effect on Fluttershy like it had on Shiron, Rainbow Dash thought to herself.

"Awesome! Let's see if you can catch up to me when I fly at full speed" Rainbow said with a challenging grin.

Without wasting more time Rainbow Dash started to fly faster and faster but she still held back her true strength and power. For the moment she didn't want to make it too difficult for Shiron. If he still was able to keep up with her then she would try something special she had in mind for the race.

The wind was flowing trough Rainbow's mane as well as her wings and she loved this feeling. Only when she was flying as fast and as high as she could she actually felt free. Memories of the past, thoughts of the future and everything else left her mind. She was one with the sky and only the here and now was important.

All her life she had dreamed of someone she could share the sky with. In Cloudsdale it had been her best friends, the Junior Speedsters especially Gilda and … Silverwing. After she had left Cloudsdale because of a certain incident she had found in Stormchaser a new best friend and even a big sister. Rainbow had been able to share the sky with her new flying partner but it hadn't last very long.

After Stormchaser had left Ponyville Rainbow Dash had hoped to find a new flying partner but none the pegasi in Ponyville were as skilled as she was and after Gilda's last visit and the disastrous party she had even lost her old best friend and flying partner.

Since this day her flying sessions had been less interesting and weren't near as fun as they use to be. Worst of all, the feeling of freedom had changed into loneliness. Not even her friends in Ponyville have been able to see this change in her feelings and it didn't surprised Rainbow Dash. After the worst day in her life she had become an expert in hiding her feelings. However now it was possible that she finally found a new flying partner and someone to share the sky with.

When she looked back Shiron was missing. Although he was a better flyer than all the other pegasus ponies she knew he wasn't as good as she was. After letting out a sad sigh she was about to slow down and wait for him when she felt that something or better somepony fly past her.

"See you" Shiron said while Rainbow Dash was too surprised to respond.

Finally she thought to herself. She put on her goggles, which she had hid in her mane, and licked her lips. The next moment only a rainbow was left behind where Rainbow Dash had been only some seconds before and another moment later she already caught up with Shiron.

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Pinkie Pie happily bounced through Ponyville humming her favorite melody. It was a clear sky and the pink pony loved the feeling of the sun warming her coat. She also loved to jump into the puddles the storm had left behind. Beautiful little rainbows formed when the sun met the water drops and a big smile filled Pinkie's face.

"Speaking of rainbows" she said to herself "I haven't seen Dashie all day".

She was about to visit her rainbow colored friend at her home when she got three different, little feelings. Her ear starting to flop, following by twitchy knees and at last her eyes started to flutter. Knowing what her Pinkie Sense had told her Pinkie Pie looked at the sky.

Just in time she could see two flying ponies that were heading to Rainbow Dash's training course. Although both ponies were too fast for any other pony to be seen, Pinkie Pie hadn't any problems with it.

"Oh, there's Dashie" she cheerful said "but who is this stallion?" she asked herself aloud.

Although both ponies had only been visible for a second or two seconds Pinkie Pie hadn't any problems to recognize that one pony was her friend Rainbow Dash and that the other pony was an unknown alicorn stallion.

"Oh my gosh. A new pony comes to Ponyville and he's even a pony like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Maybe he's even related with our Princesses but that would mean that they would also come to Ponyville. I wonder if this will be a surprise but I'm sure they would be sad if no pony would be prepared but maybe they are planning a surprise party but a party without a cake isn't a party but if they're planning a surprise party I would already know that because I love parties and can feel when anypony is planning a party except the time when I forgot my own birthday and I had been so sad when I thought that my friends didn't like my parties and didn't want to be my friends anymore because they made up excuses to not come to Gummy's after birthday party but then I was happy again when I realized that they had planned a surprise party for me but now I can't feel a party coming anytime soon that means the Princesses aren't planning a party and they won't come to Ponyville what means that this alicorn will come to Ponyville without a party and that would make him so sad but I know what I have to do I will make a surprise party for him so he can meet everypony in Ponyville and he'll have lots and lots of friend just like Twilight when she was new in Ponyville" Pinkie Pie said without taking breath.

Forgetting the fact that she already had a party yesterday she happily bounced back to Sugarcube Corner to plan a party for this alicorn stallion she had seen.

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Rainbow Dash flew under Shiron. While she was flying she was lying on her back with her front hooves crossed behind her head. Shiron was still too surprised to see her flying in this position at this speed like it was still a warm-up for her.
Rainbow Dash on the other hoof began to love this race more and more. With a grin she just said "Later" before she overtake Shiron

Soon both ponies reached their maximum speed while they were heading to one of Rainbow Dash's practicing courses. Rainbow Dash was the first who reached the course and she began to fly in slalom through the trees of the course

Shiron was still close behind her but unlike Rainbow Dash he had to slow down while he was following her through the tree course. When he finally finished the course Rainbow Dash had already headed back to the sky in the direction of some clouds. Shiron was summoning all his strength to catch up with his new friend and step-by-step he came closer although he couldn't avoid the feeling that Rainbow Dash was waiting for him.

The next course was much bigger than the tree course and it consists of different clouds. Over the whole course were annular clouds distributed and by watching Rainbow Dash who was flying through them Shiron realize that this must been the route through the course. Without wasting time he passed the first circle as soon as he reached it.

Although the course started very easy it soon became much more difficult. Many clouds of different size where distributed all over the route. Shiron had some problems to follow the route and avoiding the other clouds without touching them with his wings or loosing speed. It looked like the clouds were randomly distributed and the circles didn't make it easier because Shiron realized that they became smaller after ten circles of the same size

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Rainbow Dash had already reached the second part of her course. After she had won the Best Young Flyer Competition, she had started to create a bigger and better training course. The first part was similar to the tree course which she had used to practice flying in slalom but unlike the tree curse there were much more obstacles to avoid. Moreover along the whole course were circles distributed to mark the way through the whole course.

It had taken her more than a month of planning but it was worth it. The first part was now much more difficult because she had to fly in different ways and not only slalom. Even Rainbow Dash had had some problems to finish the whole course without losing speed or touching clouds but now she was an expert and each time she used this training course she tried to break her own record.

The second part of her course consists of six clouds each of them in different sizes. The goal was to fly around the clouds to make them spin just like she had trained for in the Best Young Flyer Competition. At first she had arranged the clouds from the smallest to the biggest cloud but after some time she had rearranged them. Now the clouds were arbitrary distributed and it was more difficult to make them spin because of the arbitrary size of the clouds.

When she looked back, Rainbow Dash could see that Shiron was leaving the first part of her course and he was flying in the direction of the second part. She couldn't hide a happy grin because soon she would be able to see if he was able to finish the fourth and last part.

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After he finally finished the first part of Rainbow Dash's course, Shiron was able to see the second part. It consists of six clouds and he could see Rainbow Dash flying around the last one. At first Shiron was confused because flying around a cloud didn't seem as difficult as the last part but then the cloud began to spin.
Shiron almost forgot to flap his wings because of the surprise but after he quickly shook his head, to get his focus back, he headed for the first cloud.

It was much more difficult than it looked like and Shiron needed several circumnavigations until he figured out how to make the cloud start to spin. After half of the clouds were spinning, Shiron was able to concentrate on his speed and height to make the last three clouds spinning but he still wasn't as good as Rainbow Dash who had almost finished the third part of the course. With all his remaining strength Shiron tried to catch up with her.

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It's now or never Rainbow Dash thought to herself. She had the perfect speed and Ponyville was in save distance. The momentum she got from the third part of her course, the looping part, was perfect and she saw that Shiron almost finished the third part.

After her last flying session with Stormchaser, Rainbow Dash had never felt this good not even during the Best Young Flyers Competition. All her thoughts were focused and she flew as fast as she could. A vortex formed in front of her as she headed to the second last circle.

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Shiron had just finished the third part of the course when he headed to the last part. The circles of the third part had been positioned to create different kinds of loops each of them more difficult than the last and more than once Shiron had touched the cloud circles. However now he entered the fourth and last part of Rainbow Dash's training course.

When he entered the first circle of the last part Shiron could only see two more circles and the last one was marked with a finish line. Shiron scanned the course and he realized that the three circles had been positioned to create a "V". The first and the last circle of the fourth part were positioned almost at the same high while the second circle was close to the ground.

For Shiron it looked like the fourth part of the course was a challenge to decide who the faster pony was. Rainbow Dash was already heading to the ground faster than ever and once again Shiron summoned all his remaining energy to catch up with her but nothing had been able to prepare him for what happened next.

When Rainbow Dash reached the second last circle Shiron was too surprised to concentrate anymore and he was even forgetting the race. All he could do was to watch in awe as a loud explosion broke the silence before a big rainbow colored circle was formed. Just like waves the rainbow was spreading in all four cardinal directions.
Out of the middle of the rainbow circle Rainbow Dash flew with unbelievable speed to the finish line a big beautiful and glittering rainbow behind her.

Suddenly Shiron's mind traveled back to the day when he had seen a similar rainbow. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and while he had watched the rainbow he had wished that someone would save him from his loneliness.
Shiron couldn't believe that, from all creatures in all of Equestria, he had saved this special pony that was able to create this rainbow. Was it coincidence or was it maybe even fate?
Shiron didn't know it when he watched the beauty of Rainbow Dash and the rainbow she had created.

It took him some time until Shiron was able to move again and although it wasn't necessary anymore Shiron decided to finish the race. However although he flew as fast as he could he wasn't able to create a vortex in front of him

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Rainbow Dash watched Shiron while she was waiting on a cloud next to the finish line. She was surprised and even a bit impressed that Shiron was still finishing the course. She had thought that after seeing her amazing Sonic Rainboom he would just fly to her ignoring the second last circle. However instead of doing this Shiron was finishing the race like a true athlete.

He's even better than I hoped but he still needs more training to be as good as me she thought with a happy smile but I finally found a new flying partner.

After Shiron passed the finish line both ponies headed back to the ground. Rainbow Dash was the first who landed followed by an exhausted Shiron who was out of breath. Rainbow Dash waited some time until Shiron recovered a bit before she broke the silence.

"You're good. I only have a few other friends who are able to fly like this but sadly none of them living in Ponyville" she said with a warm smile. With a hoof-pump she added, "That was the best flying session I had in years."

"Same here" Shiron responded. "You're amazing and you're last trick was awesome."

"That was my Sonic Rainboom and I'm the only pony that's able to do it" Rainbow Dash said with a proud face. However she was hiding the fact that she still didn't master the Sonic Rainboom. In all her life she had only done three Sonic Rainbooms and she didn't know why she had been able to do one today.
"I'm sure you never saw something like this,” she added quickly when she realized that she had been lost in her thoughts for a few seconds.

"Well, actually I had seen something similar some months ago. When I had been in my cave I had heard a loud explosion before I had seen a rainbow colored wave that had been filling the sky over the Everfree Forest.
Until this day I had never seen something as beautiful as that and today you showed me its true beauty" Shiron said to a surprised Rainbow Dash.

"You looked amazing with the rainbow behind you" he added before Shiron realized that he had said the last part aloud. I hope she didn't hear the last part Shiron thought to himself hiding a soft blush.

A Sonic Rainboom some months ago Rainbow Dash thought to herself. "Oh, that must be the Sonic Rainboom I had done during the Best Young Flyer Competition" she proudly stated. "…And thank you" she added while she was also hiding a blush.

For some time both ponies just stood there blushing and trying to avoid eye contact.
"Let's go see Twilight" Rainbow Dash broke the silence after a few more moments. "I'm sure you can't wait to meet the Princesses"

Shiron just nodded and together the two friends started to walk to Twilight's library.

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Rainbow Dash and Shiron were about half way there and in the distance Twilight's tree was already visible. However Shiron hadn't any time to focus on the way before him because of all the other ponies. No matter where Shiron looked he could see ponies that watched him and he could even hear them whispering.

Maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave my cave without my cloak Shiron nervously thought to himself when he suddenly felt a wing on his shoulder. When he looked to his side he could see Rainbow Dash with a warm smile.

"Don't worry,” she said with a soft voice as if she was able to read is mind. "It's just very rare that an alicorn pony comes to Ponyville and it's the first time that this alicorn is not Princess Celestia or her sister."

Rainbow Dash smiled at Shiron before she removed her wing from his shoulder and both ponies continued their way to Twilight. Thanks to Rainbow's word Shiron felt much calmer and as long as she was by his side he also felt safe.

Trying to ignore the glances of the other ponies and their whispering Shiron began to scan the village. Ponyville was a beautiful and peaceful looking village. Each house had little gardens with flowers or other plants. There were also many other houses like a spa, a boutique, a hospital and even a big building that looked like a candy shop or a bakery.

In the distance he could see some bigger clouds that didn’t looked like weather clouds. Shiron assumed that these clouds could be the homes of pegasus ponies but he wasn't sure. He had already seen a very big cloud castle when he had followed Rainbow Dash to the training course and he still wondered what kind of building it was and who might be living there.

Shiron looked back to the street and he could see several ponies with carts selling strawberries, flowers, pears, apples and all kinds of food a pony's heart could wish for. Most of these carts were in the center of the town and Shiron thought that this could be something like a marketplace he had seen in other towns and villages.

When Shiron looked back to Rainbow Dash he realized that she was heading to an earth pony with orange coat, a blond mane and tail and who was wearing a cowboy hat while she was selling apples.

"Hey Applejack" Rainbow Dash friendly said to the orange pony.

Shiron remembered that Rainbow Dash had mentioned this name before. Applejack was one of Rainbow Dash's best friends and once again Shiron became nervous. How would she reacting and would she really like him like Rainbow Dash had promised him?

"Howdy, Sugarcube" the farm pony was happily greeting her friend. "Whatcha ya' doin' and who's ya friend? "

"That's my new friend Shiron. He saved me when I crashed into the Everfree Forest" Rainbow Dash answered.

Applejack lowered her voice and while she was friendly nudging Rainbow Dash she whispered, "Ah didn't know ya had such a cute coltfriend Sugarcube,” pointing at a confused Shiron.

Rainbow Dash heavily blushed "W-what? No he isn't…" she tried to correct her friend but Applejack had already turned to Shiron shaking his hoof.

"Howdy partner. I'm Applejack and all friends of Rainbow Dash are my friends, too" Applejack said still shaking Shiron's hoof.

A nervous "uh Hello? Nice to meet you" was the only respond while Shiron helpless looked at Rainbow Dash who already recovered from the shock Applejack had given her.

There he is again Rainbow Dash thought with a sigh and was putting a hoof to her face when she saw that Shiron had turned again into the shy pony she had met in the cave. Looks like I also have to teach him to be as cool as I am.

"Hey AJ. Do you know if Twilight is still in her library?" she tried to get Applejack's attention.

"Ah think so. She studied all night and I'm sure she has to clean up the library again. Why do ya ask?" Applejack asked after she let go of Shiron's hoof.

"It's a very long story. I just need to ask her for a favor" the pegasus pony answered. She hadn't all day and she didn't want to let Shiron wait any longer. One year of waiting and loneliness was already too long. Shiron deserved to get some answers and Rainbow Dash was determined to help him to find these answers as fast as possible.

Rainbow Dash was about to leave Applejack and continue the way to Twilight's tree library but once again Applejack was next to her whispering, "Ya don't have to bother Twilight with it Sugarcube. If ya two need some time alone I know the perfect place. It's a quiet and romantic spot at Sweet Apple Acres and …"

Applejack couldn't finish her sentence because Rainbow Dash gave her a very annoyed look. Once again Applejack was friendly nudging Rainbow Dash. "I'm just kiddin’,” she said with a wink.

"Let's go" Rainbow Dash said with an almost commanding voice to Shiron who didn't know what just had happened.

With a giggle Applejack shouted, "Have fun ya two."

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Some minutes afterwards Rainbow Dash and Shiron had left Applejack who tried to get her concentration back to sell more apples. She couldn't hide a giggle when she thought about Rainbow Dash's reaction when Applejack called Shiron Rainbow's coltfriend.
Applejack was sure that her old friend knew that she had been joking.

It was almost the same conversation the two friends had already had some years ago. Coconut, an old school friend of Applejack, had moved back to Ponyville after he had lived for some years in Fillydelphia with his family. Applejack had introduced him to Rainbow Dash and she had made several jokes of him being Applejack's coltfriend.

However unlike Applejack Rainbow Dash had said the jokes aloud and she had made the colt feel very uncomfortable. For almost a whole week Rainbow Dash had made similar jokes but luckily she had apologized to him before the whole situation had been able to become an even bigger disaster.

Thinking of Shiron, Applejack thought that he was a nice pony although he seemed too shy. With his white coat and wings, his black mane and tail and his brown eyes he was handsome and Applejack was sure if he wouldn't be that shy he wouldn't have any problems to find a fillyfriend.

Maybe she should introduce him to Fluttershy Applejack thought because she knew Rainbow Dash had locked her heart long ago. After the big disaster many years ago Rainbow Dash had lost any interests in relationships. Many colts including Caramel had tried to ask Rainbow Dash out but in the end all of them had to give up.

Applejack knew all too well how a broken heart felt but she also knew that Rainbow Dash's heart wasn't only broken. Cloudburst, this smug jerk of a colt, had shattered Rainbow's heart into thousand pieces and it hurt Applejack to see that Rainbow's injuries still weren't healed. Applejack became angry when she thought about the jerk and although she hated thoughts like this she wished she could make Cloudburst pay for what he had done to her friend.

With a sigh Applejack knew that not even the magic of Shiron's horn would be strong enough to heal Rainbow Dash's heart.
Suddenly Applejack's eyes widened

His wing AND his horn?! She thought with big eyes.

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"Come on Spike. We have to clean up the library,” said a purple unicorn using her magic to levitate some books to put them back into their bookshelves'.

After a whole night of studying the whole floor was filled with books and the unicorn and her dragon assistant had to clean up for the fourth time this week, not counting the times she had to clean up after Rainbow Dash crashed into her library.

"Why do you always read so many books, Twi?" Spike asked his unicorn friend while he carried a staple of books that was twice as big as he was. During all the years he was spending with Twilight he hadn't any problems to carry things that were bigger or heavier as he was.

"Spike I have to do important studies. Although I'm living in Ponyville I'm still Princess Celestia's student and there are so many things to learn." Twilight said hugging one of her favorite books before she levitated it into a bookshelf.

"Now hurry up Spike. This is a library after all and maybe somepony wants to borrow a book today" Twilight added ignoring Spike who let out a bored sigh.

Only ten minutes later the library was already cleaned up and Spike ate some of the gems Twilight bought him this morning. Both Twilight and Spike thought that it would be just another day without any great surprises. Usually every Sunday was more or less a day without any special happenings but this day was about to be different.

Twilight was still in the kitchen and cleaning up the mess of the breakfast when Spike heard a knock on the door. Spike quickly ran to the door and opened it before Rainbow Dash and a second pony entered the library.

"Who is it Spike?" Twilight asked while she was still in the kitchen. It was still too early for any ponies to borrow books and Applejack already gave her a basket with apples earlier this morning.

"It's Rainbow Dash with another pony." Spike said back to Twilight.

"I'm coming" Twilight said with a surprised voice.

"Morning Spike. How are you" Rainbow Dash asked the baby dragon.

"I'm fine and you? Who is your friend?" Spike asked her before he turned to Shiron. "Hi, I'm Spike and who are you?" Spike said offering a hand.

"My name is Shiron. Nice to meet you." Shiron answered shaking Spike's hand much to Rainbow's surprising that Shiron wasn't as shy as he was when they had seen Applejack. Was it because Spike was also a boy or was it because Shiron was attracted to Applejack? Rainbow Dash quickly banned the thought out of her mind.

Shiron isn't attracted to AJ Rainbow Dash thought. That's not possible, is it? she mentally asked herself.

"Good morning Rainbow Dash" Twilight Sparkle friendly greeting her friend who had been lost in her thoughts again and didn't even hear Twilight enter the room.

After Rainbow Dash had greeted her Twilight turned to the new pony. "Hello, my name is Twilight Sparkle" she greeted him but before he had any chance to respond something Twilight noticed his wings. When she had entered the room she only saw his horn but now she almost jumped into the air.

"Oh my god you are an alicorn. What's your name and where do you come from? Do you know Princess Celestia and Princess Luna? Are related to them? What can you do with your horn?" Twilight started to ask Shiron one question after another and Shiron hadn't even the chance to answer one of them.

"Are you also immortal? And what about…" Twilight tried to continue in her excitement already levitated a tapeline trying to measure the length of Shiron's horn before Rainbow Dash blocked the way to Shiron with her wing.

"Wait a second" Rainbow Dash said to Twilight who didn't realized that she made Shiron feel very uncomfortable. Twilight wondered if she had said something wrong.

"He has lost his memories and we are here to ask you for a favor" Rainbow Dash continued. "I wanted to ask you to write a letter to Princess Celestia and ask her for a meeting. She's an alicorn pony like Shiron and she's also the most powerful pony in Equestria. If anypony is able help Shiron then she."

"You have lost your memories?" Twilight asked with a quiet voice looking at Shiron who nod with a sad face. When she saw this she suddenly felt bad for all her questions and she didn't know what she should do.

"If it is ok for you I'll tell them the whole story" Rainbow Dash asked Shiron who agreed with another nod.
With this Rainbow Dash began to tell Twilight and Spike how she crashed into the Everfree Forest, the monster and the whole story with Shiron.

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Almost half an hour later the three ponies and Spike were sitting at one of Twilight's tables when Rainbow Dash finished the story. During most of the story Shiron had just answered some questions or nod. He was glad that Rainbow Dash had told the story. It had already taken all his strength to tell Rainbow Dash the story.
After a year of loneliness and isolation he was a bit afraid and nervous around Twilight and Spike and he wasn't sure if he would have found the strength to tell the story himself. However he trusted Rainbow Dash and he was glad that she was by his side since they had left the Everfree Forest.

"I see" Twilight said after Rainbow Dash finished. "I'll write a letter to the Princess. I'm sure when she hears about you she'll enable an audience as quickly as possible"

Without another word Twilight began to dictate a letter to Spike who had already prepared everything. The letter was about Rainbow Dash being saved by Shiron and about Shiron being an alicorn with amnesia. To keep the letter short Twilight only mentioned the most important parts and not the whole story Rainbow Dash had told her.

"What kind of pony is Princess Celestia" Shiron asked Rainbow Dash while Twilight and Spike were still working in the letter.

"Princess Celestia is a beautiful, white alicorn pony with white wings and a magical, rainbow colored mane and tail" Rainbow Dash answered. "She's almost twice as big as I am and her wings and horn are bigger than the wings and horns of any other pony.

She's also the kindest and nicest pony I ever met and she's always there to support her subjects and I'm not talking about ponies alone. Princess Celestia cares about every creature in all of Equestria and she would never hurt anyone. I mean I haven't even seen her get angry or heard that she had ever been angry." Rainbow Dash continued and she meant every word.

She had never met another pony like Princess Celestia and she doubted that there could be ever a better ruler than Celestia. She wasn't like all the other noble or royal ponies that were smug and self-involved like Prince Blueblood. Celestia was more like all the hard working ponies.

She cared for others and helped anypony in need. She protected others and more than once she had fought against evil creatures to save Equestria without killing the villains. Thanks to her magic and the Elements of Harmony she had turned many of the villains into kindhearted creatures.
However the few villains she hadn't been able to turn to kind hearted creatures she had reluctantly banished them by turning them into stone until she would find a way to erase the evilness in their hearts. In Princess Celestia's eyes everypony deserved a second chance and for her there didn't exist a creature that had a pure evil soul.

Princess Celestia also didn't liked boring events like the Grand Galloping Gala although she participated at them for the aristocrat ponies. The Princess preferred parties just like Pinkie Pie's parties but other ponies' sill acted different and sometimes even afraid when Celestia was close to them. Although she tried to relax their mood by harmless pranks or jokes it were most of the time less successful. Rainbow Dash was sure it made Celestia sad when she saw that other ponies were less calm and sometimes even afraid of her although she just wanted to be treated as any other pony when she was participate at a party.

After the disaster at the Grand Galloping Gala Celestia had followed Rainbow Dash and her five friends to Pony Joe's and she wasn't even mad at the friends. She had hoped that the friends would be able to liven things up but because of the stubbornness of the aristocrat ponies it had ended in a disaster.

However after the friends and even Celestia had left the Gala they had spent several hours together. They had laughed, they had told stories and the seven friends had been able to see a different Celestia. For the rest of the night Princess Celestia had been able to enjoy a night with her friends without the title of princess or ruler of all of Equestria and even without the guards that were always by her side although Celestia thought it wasn't necessary.

It had been a wonderful night and by watching Celestia, Rainbow Dash had been able to see that the Princess had enjoyed every second of it. Although the Princess was political and magical the most powerful creature in Equestria it seemed that peaceful meetings like that were very rare for her. However before the night had been over Celestia had asked Pinkie Pie to work out a plan for a new big event similar to the Grand Galloping Gala but less formal, an event like a big party with tons of sweets, laughing foals, games and fun just like Pinkie Pie's parties. At this night the Winter Moon Festival had been born.

Rainbow Dash smiled by the thought that it were only two months to the Winter Moon Festival. She would be able to party all night and the event would be also a great way for Shiron to have fun without thinking about his amnesia. Not to mention all the sweets and the games. Pinkie even promised there would be rollercoaster.

"She sounds like an amazing pony" Shiron said pulling Rainbow out of her thoughts.

"Yeah but soon you'll meet her yourself" she responded with a smile.

"The letter is finished and on its way" Twilight said watching the green cloud disappearing. "I'm sure we won't have to wait very long for Princess Celestia's answer"
With a proud smile she added "I'm her most faithful student and…" before she was able to continue she was interrupted

*Burp*

Everypony looked at Spike who just let out a green flame, which transformed into a letter. The letter was a parchment with a red ribbon and a golden seal. On the top of the seal was a big "C".
Twilight immediately took Celestia's letter in her hooves and opened it. After she read the letter Twilight turned to the waiting ponies.

"That was fast,” she said. "The Princess is surprised to hear that another alicorn appeared and she wants to meet you as soon as possible" Twilight added with a proud smile.

"See? I told you Twilight could do it" Rainbow said to Shiron who was too surprised to respond anything.

"Oh, if it's ok I would like to come with you." Twilight stopped the two ponies before they were able to leave. "Princess Luna wants to see me and give me some last ideas for the Winter Moon Festival"

"Sure, but I think we should take your hot air balloon" Rainbow responded and together the three ponies left the library.

"Spike, you'll stay here if anypony needs a book" Twilight called back to the library before she closed the door.

"Oki Dokie" he answered and waited until the door was completely closed.

"Finally" Spike said relieved. After a last look out of the window to make sure Twilight and the other ponies were out of sight Spike ran back to his room to do what he always did when he was alone.

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The three friends already reached Twilight's hot air balloon and made their preparations for their journey to Canterlot. It would still take some more time until the hot air balloon was ready and they could leave.

"Oh, silly me" Twilight suddenly looked up and put a hoof to her face. "I totally forgot my notes for Princess Luna. Please wait here. I'll be back before the hot air balloon is ready" she said and left before Shiron or Rainbow had any chance to react.
Seeing her friend running back to the library Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and rolled her eyes.

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Only five minutes later Twilight was back at the library and opened the door. To her surprise Spike still haven't removed the "closed" sign.

"Spike? Where are you?" the purple unicorn called but Spike didn't answered. Without waiting for her assistant to respond Twilight began to search for her notes but she couldn't find them. I'm sure I left them here. Maybe they are in our bedroom she thought.

A strange sound caught Twilight's attention and she scanned the room. When she couldn't find anypony else in the room Twilight closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. Once again she heard the odd sound and she realized that it came from her own room. Was somepony in her room? Maybe Spike?

Carefully not to making any sounds Twilight sneaked through the library and climbed the stairs. Putting an ear on the door she once again heard odd sounds inside the room. Using her magic to open the door Twilight was about to enter when she saw Spike. With gaping mouth she watched the dragon until he turned around and saw her.

"T-twilight!? What are you…?" Spike said blushing. "It's not what it looks like"

Are these Rainbow's sunglasses was everything the blushing unicorn was able to think still with gaping mouth.

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Spike was still too surprised and shocked to say or do anything except of blushing. For more than a month he was able to hide his secret although Rainbow Dash had looked like she knew what Spike was planning when he had borrowed her sunglasses.

He was wearing a white t-shirt, socks and even boxers. In one of his hands he was holding a feather duster while in the background his radio was still playing the CD he had also borrowed from Rainbow Dash some weeks ago. The song was called "Old Times Rock & Roll" and it was one of his favorite songs.
Every time when he was alone he put on his outfit and turned the volume of the radio at its limit. He loved to clean the library with a mix of dancing and cleaning and the socks were perfect to slide through the library. Sometimes like today he was so pored over in the rhythm of the music so that he started to join in singing while he used the feather duster as a microphone or a guitar.
Still looking at Twilight who had already turned off the radio Spike was able to see her typical "Are you serious?" look.

Before Spike was able to say something Twilight broke the awkward silence. "We'll talk about this later…"

She briefly scanned the bedroom before her horn started to glow. Some scrolls where flying in her direction and Twilight quickly put them into her saddlebags. Ready to leave the library to meet Rainbow Dash and Shiron Twilight looked once again back to Spike.

"…Or maybe not" she added unable to hide a giggle leaving a blushing Spike behind her. As soon as she closed the door Spike blushed even harder when he heard that Twilight broke out into laughter.

After he heard the front door was closed Spike was once more alone. He waited some minutes until he shrugged and went back to his favorite music.

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One hour later Rainbow Dash, Shiron and Twilight had already reached Canterlot. Shiron had watched in awe as the hot air balloon had come closer and closer to the castle carved into the side of the mountain. A big waterfall was next to Canterlot and created a beautiful rainbow. Together with some clouds and the light of the sun it was an amazing look although Shiron had to admit it was nothing compared to the Sonic Rainboom he had seen earlier this morning.

As soon as the hot air balloon had landed, the palace guard had guided the three ponies through into the castle. Twilight had become a living history book and told Shiron and Rainbow everything she knew about Canterlot, its history and of course Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

The three ponies were walking through a long corridor with many colorful windows. This corridor was one of the four corridors that were connected with the big hall, which leaded to the throne room. Twilight told the ponies that the windows were telling many different stories about the past of Equestria.

One of the windows showed a dark mare in front of a red moon. She had the wings and horn of an alicorn but Shiron could feel something odd and somehow … familiar. The following windows showed the same mare until the second last window of this story. It showed six ponies using some kind of magic against the mare.

Shiron was to absent and didn't hear Twilights voice anymore when she told them about Nightmare Moon. Twilight told them how Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had ruled Equestria until something evil had taken control over Luna.

After almost a year the voice in Shiron's reappeared and it was changing the world around him. He was in a big room. It looked like some kind of old throne room but the whole building was nothing more than a ruin.
A blue cloud made of dust and stars. A sun darkens by the moon. The glowing silhouette of a pony darkens the world. A path leading to …

"Shiron? Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash asked worried Shiron and pulled him out of his thoughts before the voice was finished.

"…Yes "he answered still looking at the window with the six ponies. When he took a closer look at the ponies he saw that one of the six ponies looked like Rainbow Dash. Two other ponies looked like Applejack he had met this morning and a unicorn that looked like Twilight. However Shiron thought it was just a coincidence.

Rainbow Dash followed his look and with a knowing smile she said, "These are the Elements of Harmony. When Nightmare Moon had reappeared, we six had to find the Elements to defeat her. Twilight had just arrived in Ponyville but we had been able to defeat Nightmare Moon nevertheless and turn her back to Princess Luna."

Shiron was speechless but Twilight confirmed what Rainbow had just told him. Shiron already knew that Rainbow Dash was a very special pony especially after he had seen her Sonic Rainboom but he didn't expected that she was also one of the great heroes of Equestria.

Before Shiron and Rainbow Dash were able to say more Twilight showed them the last window of the Nightmare Moon story. In the center it showed both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sitting next to each other on the throne. All kinds of ponies peacefully played together or bowed before both sisters. Above the two sisters the window showed the sun and the moon. Both sisters were smiling because after thousand years they were together again .

The friends continued their way to Princess Celestia and soon they arrived in the big hall. Now the only thing between Princess Celestia and the three ponies was a gigantic door with two royal guards guarding the door. The two guards slowly opened the door and together the three ponies entered the throne room.

It was a big room with a balcony, pictures of many different important ponies or heroes and a big throne. Fresh flowers like roses filled the air with a sweet scent and the light of the sun filled the room in a beautiful light. Above the throne was a big picture with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sitting next to each other with smiling faces. A big white wing was behind Princess Luna and it seemed as if Princess Celestia hugged her sister with her wing.

Shiron looked at the throne and a beautiful, white mare was sitting in it. She had beautiful, big wings and a long horn. Her magical rainbow colored mane and tail seemed as if they were dancing in the air. She was wearing golden shoes, a golden necklace with a purple sapphire and a golden crown with another purple sapphire.
With her magenta eyes and a warm smile she looked at them.

A warm and soft voice filled the air "Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash. I'm glad you were able to come this soon" Then Princess Celestia looked at him. "And you must be Shiron"

After the three ponies bowed before her Shiron looked at Princess Celestia "Yes Princess…uhm your highness" he said vainly trying to hide how nervous he was.

"You don't have to be nervous,” Princess Celestia said sensing his tension. With a sweet giggle she added, "I'm not biting" as a joke hoping to calm him a bit.

"Twilight. My sister is waiting for you in the garden. When she saw your hot air balloon she went there to wait for you." The princess said to her faithful student before she turned to Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash. Would you be so kind and wait outside. I would like to talk to Shiron in private."

Princess Celestia had already left her throne and looked back to her two guards before she gave them a nod. Although they seemed unsure what to do and were trying to protest, the guards left the room.

"I'm waiting outside for you" Rainbow Dash said with a smile before she also left the room. Then Shiron was alone with Princess Celestia.

"Twilight wrote me that you had lost your memories" Princess Celestia said to Shiron looking him in the eyes.

"…Yes" he responded even more nervous than before.

"I don't know why you hide the truth before your friends" she said with a warm and understanding voice "but you can tell me the truth" she finished.
"You didn't lose your memories, did you?" she said still looking him in his eyes.

How did she… Shiron thought with a shock.

Chapter 3: The fate of the alicorns

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Chapter 3: The fate of the alicorns

“I don’t know what you are talking about” Shiron said trying to avoid Princess Celestia’s eyes.

“You are an alicorn just like my sister and me. Our bodies are different than the bodies of all other creatures and not matter how bad an injury is, amnesia of an alicorn will only last a few days, a week at most” she explained.

Princess Celestia tried to keep a soft and calming voice although it became more and more difficult. She didn’t want to make Shiron feel uncomfortable but she felt something strange. The way Shiron acted, the sound of his voice and most important the look in his eyes was somehow familiar to Celestia. She knew she had seen those eyes somewhere but it was difficult for her to remember.

“Even if this is the truth” Shiron responded “why would it be wrong if I’ll try to forget about my past?”

Princess Celestia realized that the sound of Shiron’s voice had changed. This wasn’t the voice of a nervous pony anymore. It was the voice of a hurt pony. The voice of a pony that wasn’t physical hurt but something even worse. Celestia became even more worried about Shiron because she realized that something had happened to him in the past, something bad.

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Some minutes after Twilight had left the throne room she reached the royal garden. She had asked Rainbow Dash to join her but her pegasus friend wanted to wait for Shiron. Her loyalty was one of the attributes Twilight loved about Rainbow Dash. No matter if it was a close friend, a new friend or even a pony she didn’t know, Rainbow Dash always cared for anypony who needed help. Twilight was very glad to have such a good friend.

While she walked through the garden she felt happy. The smell of the beautiful flowers filled the air and birds were singing. Twilight didn’t love the nature as much as Fluttershy, no pony did, but she also loved peacefully places like this garden. There was nothing better than a quiet and peacefully place and a good book.
While she stopped to smell some roses, one of Princess Celestia’s favorite flowers, her mind traveled back to the day she saw the royal garden for the first time.

It had been some days after she had entered Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. She had really love books and learning, just like now, but she had always been alone except for Spike. Although he had been raised and trained by Celestia, they lived together like siblings and now Twilight wasn’t able to think about a life without him. However, during the first days Twilight had felt lost, she had missed her family and the bully in her class had made it even worse.

One night she had decided to leave the school and go home. However she had gotten lost in the castle. It had been dark and she hadn’t seen anypony. Then she suddenly had heard an odd sound almost as if somepony was crying. Although she had been scared she also had been very curios. Twilight had followed the sound until she reached a big door. The source of the sound had come from a room behind the big door.

Twilight had never entered this room before but she had been too curious to go away. Luckily the door had been ajar. Slowly the filly had entered the room and too her surprise she had found herself in the throne room. Although she had read about the throne room she had never believed that she would someday see it with her own eyes.

The throne room had been dark and only the light of the moon had illuminated it. The throne where Princess Celestia sat everyday was empty and for a short time Twilight had thought about to sit down just to see how it felt. However before she had been able to do it she had heard the sound again and Twilight had realized that she hadn’t been alone. She had followed the sound to the big balcony.

Alone and with her look focused on the moon, Princess Celestia had been sitting there. Although she had looked as proud and beautiful as ever it had seemed as if she was crying. I miss you Luna she had said but soon I’ll be able to save you.

Twilight hadn’t been sure what to do. Maybe the princess is sad and need somepony to cheer her up she had thought. But what if she doesn’t want any company now? Will she be upset? Twilight had decided to leave the princess alone but when she had tried to leave the room she had accidently made a sound.

Who is there, Twilight had heard Celestia’s voice. When the princess had caught sight of Twilight the filly had been paralyzed. In her head she had seen the worst possibilities of what might happen. It had started with Celestia being mad at her and it had ended with Celestia banishing her and her parents into the Everfree Forest. Twilight had known that Princess Celestia was a kind princess and would never do something like this but it had been, and still was, in Twilight’s nature to overreact.
However instead of something bad Celestia had just said Oh, it’s you Twilight. Can’t you sleep?, with a soft and worried voice.

Twilight smiled when she thought back. For the rest of that special night she and Princess Celestia had just sat on the balcony and had talked. She had talked about the bully in her class, her homesickness and that she missed her parents and brother. To Twilights surprise, Celestia had seemed calmer around Twilight. Maybe because the princess had known that the filly wouldn’t use any words against her. Celestia had told her about her past and her loneliness.
Twilight had found it hard to believe that Princess Celestia had also felt lonely especially with all the ponies around her and her friends. It had taken Twilight some years until she had realized that many ponies, mostly the aristocrat ponies, just tried to get advantages when they talked with Celestia. Behind her title Celestia had just been a lonely pony with only a few real friends.

Later that night Twilight had also told Princess Celestia about her book fortress and when Celestia had started to laugh Twilight hadn’t been able to resist and she had joined Celestia with her laughter. They had talked and laughed all night until it had been time for the sunrise.
For the first time Twilight had been able to see Celestia raising the sun in private. Unlike the Summer Sun Celebration this had been much more spectacular and special for Twilight. It had been as if Celestia had raised the sun just for her student.

Slowly the sun had raised and when the first rays of dawn had illuminated Canterlot, Twilight had been able to see the light of thousand rainbows awaken in the royal garden. It had been the most beautiful thing Twilight had ever seen. She had been caught by surprise when Celestia had levitated her on her back before she had taken off. The filly had watched in awe when she was able to see Canterlot from above.

Celestia had shown her all of Canterlot and after some time they had landed in the centre of the royal garden. The usually shy animals had appeared, happy to see Celestia. A bird had landed on Celestia’s head and had cheerfully sung its song for the princess while Celestia had closed her eyes. She had smiled while she had listened to the song and Twilight was able to see a part of Princess Celestia’s personality she hadn’t expected. It had been one of the best days in Twilight’s life and Twilight had even made a little crown of flowers for Celestia.

Over the time, Twilight and Princess Celestia had created a special relationship. Princess Celestia had become more than just a teacher to Twilight. She had become a very good friend and in a special way she had even become alike a big sister for Twilight. Twilight and her parents had gotten invitations to events and had even been invited to more personal events like Celestia’s birthday. Celestia on the other hoof had been invited to parties of the Sparkle family like Twilight's birthday.

At first it had been a bit awkward. Twilight’s parents had felt uncomfortable because of Celestia’s status but slowly Celestia had become a member of the Sparkle family. Celestia had even shared some personal stories with Twilight and her parents, stories she hadn’t told anypony for more than five hundred years. Sometimes Twilight had even heard that some ponies had secretly said the name Celestia Sparkle when they had talked about Princess Celestia. Although the aristocrat ponies hadn’t been able to understand that her princess had spent time with common ponies, most of the other ponies had realized something that the aristocrat ponies had never understand.
Celestia had been happy because she had finally found something she had lost long ago, a family.

When Twilight reached the centre of the royal garden she saw a dark blue mare that was sitting next to some animals. A group of playful animals had surrounded the princess of the night and some birds sang a song for Luna. She’s just like Celestia when we had been here Twilight thought. Carefully not to scare the animals Twilight walked toward Luna.

When Luna noticed Twilight she stood up. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE” she began before she realized that she once again used her royal voice. “I mean I’m glad that thou were able to visit us this quickly” she finished with her normal voice.

“I came as quick as possible, Princess Luna” Twilight responded after she bowed before the princess.

“Thou don’t have to bow before us…me” Luna said. Although she had tried her best to learn the modern way of speaking she still was unused to it.

Thousand years and they’re still bowing before us the moon princess thought with a sigh. She had never liked all the fuss with bowing just like Celestia but somehow their subjects felt it was necessary and expected by them. Celestia had given up the fight to tell her subjects that they don’t need to bow before her and although Luna had agreed not to complain when her subjects bowed before her, she didn’t want her friends to bow. After Nightmare Night, Twilight Sparkle had become a friend to Luna just like some other ponies.

“…and please call me Luna” she added with a smile.

“As you wish Prince…I mean Luna” It felt strange to Twilight to call Princess Luna just Luna. She didn’t want to sound disrespectful. However if this was what the princess wanted, Twilight couldn’t just say no.
Twilight sat next to Luna, her notes already levitated in front of the two mares. Soon they were too focused in their conservation that they didn’t see the dark clouds that formed above Canterlot

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Since Princess Celestia had received Twilight Sparkle’s letter she had wondered why Shiron would prefer a life alone in a dark forest without any other ponies. She had already known that his amnesia was just an excuse. His amnesia was nothing more than an armor that protected him from questions about his past. It had worked on Rainbow Dash and even on Twilight Sparkle because they didn’t know the secrets of how the body of an alicorn works. However, now this armor was broken and Celestia knew that Shiron also realized it. She saw it when she looked him in his eyes.

I have to help him somehow Princess Celestia thought to herself. She couldn’t just stand there when anypony suffered and she always tried to help her subjects when they needed her. In her long life she had helped hundreds, maybe even thousands of ponies personally and she would also try to help Shiron. She would never allow that her biggest mistake would happen again.

Shiron’s emotions were strong and Celestia didn’t even need her empathic abilities to sense his feelings. Although she didn’t know what had happened to him she could feel that he had the worse injury a creature could ever have, an injured soul, and she would try anything to help this injury to heal.

“Shiron” Princess Celestia slowly began, making a step toward Shiron. “I don’t know what had happened to you or why you are trying to hide you past but…”

“That’s right! You know nothing about me” Shiron interrupted Celestia with an almost angry voice. “Ponies like you don’t understand anything. You’re just living in your big palace with your guards and your employees and all ponies loving and adoring you” he continued with growing anger.

Princess Celestia was standing a few feet away from Shiron. She wasn’t really surprised by his outburst of fury. Since he had arrived she had already felt his true feelings, buried deep inside his heart. She assumed that he had buried all his feelings for several years and not just the one year he lived in the Everfree Forest. However what she didn’t expect was that his horn would be starting to glow.

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“..and thou think the ponies will like this…how did thou call it? Rollercoaster?” Luna asked still not used to all the new terms.

“Of course they will. Rollercoaster are fun” Twilight said. With a grin she added “I think you’ll also like it”

Only a few minutes had passed since Luna and Twilight had started to talk about the Winter Moon Festival and Twilight had done her best to explain Luna all her ideas. Although Luna had learned more about this fun Twilight and the farmpony had shown her, Luna was too confused when she had heard all the new terms like cotton candy, rollercoaster, House of Mirrors, Nightmare Ride or Tunnel of Love. How can a mirror be fun Luna asked herself. However she trusted the unicorn and Luna was sure her ideas would work well.

“Maybe thou can show me some of the things thou mentioned. I would like to know what this cotton candy is” Luna said with a soft and almost nervous voice. Although Nightmare Night had been a success, there were still many ponies that feared her and that didn’t trust her. Luna hoped that their fear would fade when they would see the Winter Moon Festival.

“It would be an honor to me” the lavender unicorn said trying her best not to bow. Twilight wanted to add something when she realized that it had become darker. It had become oddly quiet and Twilight saw that the animals had left the garden. When Twilight looked to the sky she froze.

A gigantic, black cloud had formed above Canterlot. The cloud was different than any other clouds Twilight had ever seen. It was moving almost like a slow vortex and by the look of the cloud it seemed that its centre was the royal castle.

“That can’t be good” Twilight heard Luna’s voice. Princess Luna had followed Twilights eyes and now she was also looking at the odd cloud that was still growing.

“Why? What kind of cloud is it?” the unicorn asked with a worried voice, her eyes now focused on Luna. When Luna looked Twilight into her eyes Twilight became even more worried.

“This cloud isn’t natural. It’s full of strong magic and I believe somepony had created it.” Luna responded.

Some parts of the cloud began to glow and soon the sound of thunder filled the air. Raindrops were falling from the sky and soon it rained heavily. The two ponies hurried back to the castle while flashes illuminated the sky. Twilight saw many ponies searching for a place to hide from the rain and even Canterlot’s weather ponies were unsure what to do.

“Twilight, thou have to wait here. I’ll go to my sister. We have to stop this storm before something happens or anypony gets hurt” Without another word Luna ran into the castle and to the throne room.

I have to find Rainbow Dash. Maybe Princess Celestia needs our help to stop this storm Twilight decided and also hurried to the throne room where her pegasus friend was waiting. While she ran she wondered if another villain like Discord had appeared and if they would once more need the Elements of Harmony.

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Stop it, his brain tried to scream in Shiron’s head. She is a princess and the ruler of this land but the wall that had kept his emotions back for all the years had already broken and his heart wouldn’t hold back anymore.

“Ponies like you don’t know how it feels when the own kind fearing and hating you because of your differences” Shiron continued. How dare she, his mind shouted angry.

Unaware that his horn started to use magic to create a growing storm above Canterlot Shiron looked back to Celestia. He looked her straight into her eyes.

All the years he had buried all his emotions no matter what they had done to him. He had buried his emotions behind a wall to erase the pain but now this wall was broken and all the emotions came back. Shiron had already forgotten who Celestia was and how powerful she was. His emotions had already taken over the control and they didn’t care if Celestia was a princess, the ruler of this land or maybe even a goddess.

His emotions had taken him back to his home and the pain had fully returned. “I had never given them any reason to fear me. I never used my abilities for my own advantages and I had never used them to harm them. The opposite is true. I had tried to help them and make their life better.”

His horn glowed more and more while the storm became stronger. Tears’ formed in Shiron’s eyes and his pain was almost unbearable. “And what had they done? They had started to hate and fear me. They had said that I was a monster. That I had been sent to destroy them!”

A magic wave escaped his horn. The windows in the room became flaws and even the stone columns started to get chapped. An ice-blue aura of magic surrounded Shiron’s body while his magic was out of control. However, he didn’t even realized it. Shiron just looked Celestia into her magenta eyes while his own eyes were filled with tears.

“So don’t even try to say that you understand me because you have no idea how I feel!” Shiron shouted at Celestia.

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All the time Princess Celestia had stood still and listened to Shiron. She had assumed that something bad had happened to Shiron but she didn’t expect this. His emotions had gone wild together with his magic. He had completely lost the control and Princess Celestia felt his pain as strong as it was her own pain.
Celestia was about to go to Shiron trying to calm him, making him feel that he was save but then he said something that made her feel even worse.

“If they really want to fear me then I’ll give them a reason to fear me” Shiron said still looking Celestia in her eyes while his own eyes starting to glow.

When Celestia looked into Shiron’s eyes she was able to see sadness, anger and bitterness. Suddenly she remembered when she had seen those eyes. It was the same look Luna had had more than thousand years ago. In her head Celestia still heard Luna’s words. Remember my words Celestia. If these ponies can’t accept me and my night, then they’ll fear me. Soon my night will last forever!

Thanks to Twilight Sparkle and her friends Celestia had finally gotten her beloved sister after thousand years back but now Shiron was standing in front of her. He had the same look in his eyes as Luna and he had even said almost the same words. For a moment she felt as weak as she was after this fateful night but then she remembered the vow she had given herself all this years ago. No, this time I’ll prevent it. I’ll save him from his sorrow.

Slowly without saying a word Celestia walked toward Shiron.

“Don’t come any closer” he warned her. He moved his horn in Celestia’s direction ready to fight her while he slowly walked backwards like a hurt animal.

However, Princess Celestia already reached him and Shiron wasn’t prepared for what she did.

Princess Celestia was holding Shiron in her forelegs while she rubbed his back with one hoof. “Everything is ok. You are save here” she whispered to Shiron.

“Stop it” he tried to break free from her. In his mind everypony had become an enemy who wanted to hurt him but Celestia still hold him in her forelegs like a caring mother. Slowly his eyes stopped to glow together with his horn.

“I’m here for you and no one will ever hurt you again” Celestia said with her soft voice. Unable to hold back Shiron broke out in tears while he hugged Princess Celestia.

“It wasn’t fair of them” he said in tears.

“No, it wasn’t” she agreed while she was holding the crying alicorn in her forelegs.

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Luna hurried to the throne room. She didn’t know what was happening but she felt that it was something big. The magic that created this storm was too strong to be unicorn magic. Luna knows that only a few creatures were able to control this kind of magic like Celestia and herself …and Discord. Was he behind this? Did he somehow escape his prison again or was somepony else responsible for this storm?

When she almost reached the second entrance to the throne room Luna realized that the magic she had felt all the time started to fade. Confused she looked out of a window. The rain had stopped and sun rays started to break through the cloud. As quick as this cloud had formed it had started to disappear. Only a few parts of the cloud were still visible while a shining rainbow filled the sky. What is going on?

Finding no answer Luna continued to run to the throne room and soon she reached the royal entrance to the throne room. Only a few ponies knew this entrance and even less were allowed to go through the golden door. Big red curtains hide the door in the throne room and along the way Luna had used royal guards guarded all doors. The most important rooms where along this corridor just like Celestia’s bedroom, Luna’s bedroom or the room where Celestia kept the Elements of Harmony. These and many other important rooms were along this corridor that was connected with the throne room. Although there weren’t any evil forces that would try to attack the princesses while they sleep or that would steal anything, the leader of the royal guards had insisted to guard all these important rooms.

When Luna was in front of the golden door she heard voices from the other side. Carefully she opened the door and entered the room. Hidden by the curtains, Luna tried to look to whom Celestia was talking to. Her big sister was sitting next to another pony, one of her wings on the shoulder of the other pony.

“I’m sorry princess” the pony said. It was a male voice and it looks like he was a unicorn. Luna still felt a bit of the magic she felt when the cloud had formed and it seemed that this pony was its source. Luna wondered if all unicorns had become this strong during the last thousand years but then Celestia removed her wing and Luna saw that the pony also had wings. Suddenly she remembered the letter Celestia had gotten earlier this morning about another alicorn.

“It’s ok. What happened to you was awful” Celestia said with a calming and caring voice. “We all make mistakes when we’re sad or angry. I know it each time when I look into the innocent eyes of my little sister, Luna”.

Celestia let her had hung and continued with a sad voice. “I try to forget and forgive what happened but when she looks at me I know that I can’t forgive.”

Tears formed in Luna’s eyes. Why sister? I thought you forgave me. Luna decided to leave. If not even her own sister was able to forgive her how could her subjects ever forgive her. However before she was able to open the door again she head Celestia’s voce again and more tears formed in Luna’s eyes.

“I will never be able to forgive myself” Celestia said.

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“I was an awful big sister. It had been my duty to protect her but I had been too weak. “Celestia’s voice was filled with sadness and guilt. “If I had been stronger I might had save her before Nightmare Moon took over the control but I had failed. Everything that had happened had been my fault and because of me, Luna had to suffer for thousand years.”

“That’s not true” a voice suddenly said. Celestia and Shiron turned their heads to the source of the voice. Princess Luna slowly walked toward her big sister her eyes wet from tears. “It wasn’t your fault” she said before Celestia had the chance to say something.

“Thou art the best sister a pony can ever ask for and thou were always there for me and helped me. However” Luna looked her sister into her eyes “not even thou have the ability to protect me from life itself. We artn’t perfect and just like any other ponies we also make mistakes. The only difference between our mistakes and the mistakes of our subjects is that our alicorn abilities can turn our mistakes into problems for others.

Letting Nightmare Moon get the control over us had been our worst mistake but it wasn’t our last. Making mistakes is a part of growing up and a part of life.” Luna looked at the ground before she continued with a sad voice.

“Deep in our heart we had known that our subjects hadn’t hated us or our night. However the more time had passed the stronger the other side of us had become. All the time we had seen how thou had tried to help us but Nightmare Moon had been too strong.” Luna wasn’t able to hold back her tears anymore.

Since the day she had returned she and Celestia had tried to avoid this subject. Luna blamed herself for letting Nightmare Moon free and Celestia on the other hoof blamed herself for not being able to save Luna when she had needed her. However none of them had mentioned how they truly felt. Seeing that her sister suffered broke Luna’s heart and she wouldn’t allow this. Celestia had always been kind, understanding and caring. Luna knew that this subject might hurt both of them for some time but in the end it would help them to rebuild the special relationship they had shared before the Nightmare Moon incident.

Celestia saw the tears in Luna’s eyes and she felt that tears formed in her own eyes. Without another word she hugged her little sister who gladly returned her sisters hug. For some time the sister hold each other while tears were flowing over their faces. At this moment they didn’t need any more words. They both had blamed themselves too long and they had apologized too often. Nightmare Moon was now nothing more than a sad memory and now Celestia and Luna were finally able to rebuild their sisterly relationship.

“Luna” Celestia said after both of them felt better. “You’re right. I can neither protect you from life nor from making own mistakes. However I’ll always be there for you and I’ll help you when you need me.” She turned her head back to Shiron. “The same goes for you Shiron. Don’t be afraid to come to us if you need help or if you just need somepony to talk to. We may not be related to each other but as alicorn ponies we are a family.” Both Celestia and Luna looked at him with a warm smile as if they wanted to welcome him to his new family.

“Thank you Princess Celestia and Princess Luna” Shiron said. Only some hours ago he was alone in his cave without any hope to find someone who understands or like him. He had had nothing but now he had friends and even a family. Everything happened thanks to the help of his new friend Rainbow Dash and he was sure he would never find a proper way to thank her for everything.

Princess Celestia thought for a while if she should tell Shiron more about alicorn ponies. She knew better than everypony else what that means. She lived for thousand years as the only alicorn and she knew how other ponies saw alicorn ponies. Knowing that Shiron would learn it as soon as he would return to Ponyville Celestia spoke again, hoping that it might help Shiron for his future in Ponyville.

“Sooner or later you will see that many ponies say that they also what to be like us. However they don’t know the truth of being an alicorn.” Celestia said to Shiron. Sadly we have to pay a high price for being alicorns she sadly thought.
“It’s true that we are gifted with wings, the most powerfully magic and immortally but that’s only the bright side. In exchange we alicorns know the true meaning of sorrow unlike mortal creatures. We are gifted and cursed at the same time. That’s our fate.”

“Does this mean that we are the only immortal creatures in Equestria?” Shiron asked not sure if he liked or hated the idea of immortally or powerful magic. He never wanted power, he just wanted true friends and a home.

“Well, there is a Draconequus that is also immortal like us. His name is Discord and once he was our best friend. However when he had grown up is heart had been corrupted by darkness and he had become our nemesis. We had hoped that he would become good again but he had crowned himself as Equestria’s new leader. It took more than two years until Luna and I had found the Elements of Harmony and in the end we sadly had to turn our friend to stone.“ For some time both sisters seemed very sad when they thought about Discord.

“I hope that I’ll someday find a way to save him from his evilness.” Celestia said and Shiron realized that Rainbow Dash was right. Princess Celestia saw in every creature something good and she would never give up to find a way to save them.

During the time in Canterlot Shiron had learned more about himself and what he is than he had ever dreamed of. However, there was still one question left and he hoped to find an answer to it. “Princess Celestia, there is still one thing I don’t really understand. I had searched for months to find other ponies like me but I couldn’t find other alicorns. Moreover, Rainbow Dash and many other ponies seemed very surprised to see a third alicorn. If there should only be two alicorns why am I an alicorn?”

Celestia had already expected this question and to be honest with herself she didn’t really know it. There were only supposed to be the alicorn representing the day and the sun and the alicorn representing the night and the moon. “I’m not sure but there is an ancient pony-tale.

Long ago before the three kingdoms of Equestria were made there had existed darkness darker than anything a pony can image. To create a better world the creatures all over our world had joined forces to fight the darkness. This new formed unity had been headed by three powerful creatures – the first alicorn ponies. After the final confrontation with the darkness only two of the three alicorns had come back. The third alicorn however had given his life to protect the others. Over the time the two alicorns had passed on but each time when one of them died a new alicorn had been born. However the legacy of the first alicorns had survived until today.

Until today many ponies had tried to interpret this tale. Some ponies are claiming that the three alicorn ponies are a metaphor for the three kinds of ponies: earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns. Other ponies interpret the tale as the birth of our world where the alicorns are standing for the sun, the moon and Equestria. Another interpretation is that the three alicorns are standing for the three kingdoms: Equestria, the Griffin-Kingdom and the Dragon-Kingdom.
However, I think that the tale was exactly what it sounds like: Three real alicorn ponies fighting the darkness to create peace and harmony. Maybe you are connected with the third alicorn of this story.” Celestia loved mysteries and she had researched many of the ancient pony-tales but none of them had her fascinated as the story of the first alicorns.

However this wasn’t the time to think about ancient pony-tales. There were still many things to talk about. Shiron was new in Equestria and he didn’t know how to live as an alicorn or how to live with the curse of being an alicorn. Before Shiron could live a happy life in his new home he needed to learn more especially how to tame his abilities.

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Half an hour later Celestia realized that it was time to end the conversation for now. The three of them had talked about many things and Celestia was sure Shiron needed some time to fully understand what he had learned today.

“Shiron, you have learned many things today but I’m sure your friends are already waiting. Maybe we should stop for today and continue another day. There are still many things you need know about alicorns but for now it’s more important that you enjoy your new life in Ponyville” Princess Celestia said with a warm smile. She knew Shiron’s life had just begun and after what happened to him he deserved a happy life.

“Thank you for everything Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

“You’re welcome Shiron. I’ll promise you that you’ll be fine. Your friends and I will help you to heal your wounds” Celestia said hoping to make him feel a bit better.

“I don’t think if that’s possible” was everything the young alicorn said

“Why do you say this?” Celestia said not quite sure what Shiron was referring to.

“’Cause there’s nothing left. I’ve searched in my heart for something, anything, but there is nothing left. No happiness, no dreams, not even loneliness or sadness. My heart is empty.” He already felt less and less good during the last months. He assumed that it was because of his loneliness and his sadness. During his time with Rainbow Dash and their race he had felt a gleam of hope and happiness. However since his earlier emotional outburst he had felt nothing anymore. It was as if his heart was frozen.
Shiron let has head hung. “I can’t feel anything.”

Both Celestia and Luna didn’t know how to respond. Although Celestia had felt his true emotions and even saw the sorrow in Shiron’s heart she hadn’t expected anything like this to happen. It seemed that his past had an even bigger influence than Celestia had feared but she knew a way how to break this influence. A life in Ponyville was just what Shiron needed. Everything Princess Celestia had to do was to get the ball rolling and everything else would just be a matter of time.

“Trust me Shiron, everything will turn out well and this will help you.” Celestia stepped closer to Shiron and moved her head toward his chest.

She knew not even she could heal a wounded heart but Shiron didn’t know it. Maybe if he would think she would use a spell to help him it would help him just like the placebo effect could help ill ponies. Princess Celestia’s horn started to glow and a ring of magic formed around Shiron’s neck. The magic grew stronger and soon it changed its form. The ring became a bigger and on Shiron’s chest it formed a crystal. Some moments later the magic faded and the ring of magic had turned into a silver necklace similar to Celestia’s and Luna’s necklaces. On Shiron’s chest the necklace had an oval-shaped ruby.

“This is a traditional alicorn necklace. Over the time the necklace and its gem will create a deep connection with the alicorn who is wearing it. The necklace and its crystal are helping and supporting its wearer magically, physically and even mentally. Long go the necklaces had been created to make the life as an alicorn easier.” Celestia explained. Although it was the truth Celestia knew this effect would not be enough help Shiron to heal his wounded heart.

Her necklace and more important the amethyst on her necklace had a special effect on her and more than once its inner magic had helped her. Luna had also a necklace with her personal gem and although Luna didn’t talk about it Princess Celestia knew that she also had the same connection with her necklace. Unlike all other gems in Equestria these gems were artifacts from a time long ago and a pony-tale said they had been made from a fallen star.

“Moreover these necklaces are connected with each other. I want you to give you this necklace as a welcome gift to our family. We can use its inner magic to talk with each other and to help each other even from distance. Whenever you need any help you can use it to talk to me or Luna.”

“I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much Princess Celestia.”

“You’re very welcome. As alicorns we are a family and we always help each other.” Celestia said and both Celestia and Luna smiled to show that they really meant it and that he now was part of their family.

“However I think we should really stop now. I’m sure Miss Pinkie Pie is already eagerly waiting for you and your friends.” Celestia said with a giggle knowing that the pink earth pony loved to throw parties. Celestia was sure the party pony honored her Element of Harmony by throwing a big welcome party back in Ponyville.

Princess Celestia’s horn started to glow and the big door opened. After Shiron said a last goodbye to both princesses he walked toward Rainbow Dash who already waited for him and who saw his new necklace. Although Celestia didn’t know what they were talking about she saw that Shiron acted like he felt happy. She was sure it wasn’t the first time that he had put on a happy mask to hide his true feelings.

With a nod Princess Celestia called her faithful student who quickly appeared. “My faithful student, I want you to keep an eye on Shiron” she said to her protégé.

Princess Celestia had seen Shiron’s sorrow and she knew that only true friendship would heal the wounds of his soul. In the background she saw Shiron talking Rainbow Dash and she knew there was only one way to help him. “His heart bears deep scars, large wounds that even I cannot heal. Only the magic friendship can heal wounds of the heart. I wish you to help him without letting him know what I told you. I know I can count on you, my faithful student.”

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Once the three ponies had left Luna went closer to her sister. “Are you sure he’ll be alright?”

“I’m sure about this. Everything it needs is a spark and I’m sure his new friends will help him to ignite the spark” Celestia said while she put one wing on Luna’s back.

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Two hours later Shiron, Rainbow Dash and Twilight had been back in Ponyville. Just like Rainbow had predicted it Pinkie Pie had thrown a big welcome party for Shiron with all ponies of Ponyville. They had eaten cake and other sweets, had played games and many other things. However although Shiron had smiled and had laughed like it had been normal for a party, deep inside he had felt nothing but emptiness.

Chapter 4: A day at the beach

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Chapter 4: A day at the beach

Being a member of the weather ponies wasn’t an easy job although most of the ponies didn’t realize it. For most citizens it was only natural that the sky was already prepared for the daily weather when the sun announced the beginning of a new day. Moreover, pushing fluffy and light clouds or bringing little rain clouds didn’t look difficult either to them. It seemed trivial and so most ponies didn’t even pay much attention to the sky and when they saw Rainbow Dash napping, they just thought the pegasus mare was being lazy again. The truth however, was the completely opposite.

Although the main weather for all of Equestria was planned by the weather factory in Cloudsdale, each country had to made their own plans of how to organize the weather of their country. Sunny days, a little storm and even rainbows had to be planned and organized by the captain of each country’s weather team. For Ponyville, this task was part of Rainbow Dash’s job. At the beginning of each week a new plan had to be made to organize the weather of the upcoming week and the tasks of the weather teams.

Since the weather ponies of Ponyville are usually divided in groups of five ponies with one leader, it was easier to send them to their fields of application. Ponyville and its adjoining areas were divided in many little areas, so each team of weather ponies could prepare the weather for their own area without interfere in the work of the other teams. Moreover, the teams were also divided in four different shifts, each one six hours long starting with the morning shift, that worked from midnight to 6Am, and ending with the night shift, that worked from 6PM to midnight. In other words, 24 hours the day, the weather was under the watchful eyes of the weather ponies. The only exception of this was Rainbow Dash herself.

Although she always organized the weather for Ponyville and its adjoining areas, she always had to inspect the work of her weather teams. It wasn’t rare that her day started one or two hours before the citizens of Ponyville awoke. While everypony else was still in a peaceful slumber, Rainbow Dash usually flew over Ponyville, inspected the work of the weather ponies and also helping them when they had problem with the weather or their schedule. So it was only natural that Rainbow was taking several naps every day although most ponies didn’t see all the hard work she did. However, today it was different and Rainbow Dash was still hugging her pillows while she dreamed heroic dreams of her being a member of the Wonderbolts.

Quietly, not to wake Rainbow Dash, Shiron sneaked out of their home. It hadn’t been easy but seeing all the hard work Rainbow Dash was always doing, Shiron had convinced her to sleep in while he would do the first inspection fly of the day. As soon as he left the cloud castle, Shiron took off and started the first inspection fly of the day. Although he was a member of the weather ponies for only two weeks, he had quickly learned the basic skills from Rainbow Dash who taught him everything he needed to know.

Of course he still was learning a lot about the weather and wasn't as skilled as the other weather ponies, but Rainbow Dash agreed to give Shiron a chance. However, he was only allowed to do the inspection fly when the planned weather wasn't complicated or when there were no events planned in Ponyville.

Today was just a sunny day so the weather teams didn’t have any problems with organizing the weather and, except of a misplaced rain cloud, the first of many inspection flies of the day was finished and so Shiron was able to fly to his new favorite spot around Ponyville.

The two weeks since he had left his cave and moved to Ponyville had been wonderful. It still was hard to believe that the big cloud castle, Shiron had seen during his race with Rainbow Dash, was actually her home. The cloud castle was huge and had everything a pony could ask for; two bedrooms with the most comfortable bed Shiron had ever seen, a guestroom, a big room with a flat-screen, a hi-fi system and some different games. The whole building was made of special clouds which won’t just disappear after some time and each of the cloud was enchanted so that solid items like the flat-screen wouldn’t just fall through the cloud. However, the spell wasn’t strong enough to keep earth ponies or unicorns from falling through the clouds.

When Shiron and Rainbow Dash had left the party two weeks ago, Rainbow had shown him her home and had even given him his own room. It was huge and although he had said that the smaller guest room would have been more than enough for him, Dash had somehow convinced him to accept the bigger room. During the last year, Shiron had only had what Zecora had given him or what he had found. He had eaten fruits and berries he had gathered and instead of a shower or bathtub, he had had lakes or waterfalls. Everything Rainbow Dash had offered him was a luxury he wasn’t used to.

Shiron had almost reached his favorite spot and it were only twenty more minutes until sunrise. Unlike other ponies, Shiron didn’t need a watch or something else to know how long it takes until sunrise or sunset. He couldn’t explain why but deep inside he felt how much time was left before the dawn of a new day or the beginning of the night. While he slowed down and prepared to land he thought back of the changes of the last two weeks.

The day after the welcome party Rainbow Dash had introduced him to the weather ponies of Ponyville. They had met at a place next to Ponyville’s main bridge and Dash had offered him a job as a member of the weather ponies. As their leader, Rainbow Dash knew her team and their abilities better than they knew themselves and after their race Rainbow Dash had quickly found the best job for Shiron’s flying skills. She was one of the best ponies to see the potential of other pegasi even if they didn’t know their own skills. Of course Shiron had accepted Rainbow Dash’s offer and for him it was a good way to thank her for everything she had done for him. Although Shiron had to convince her to accept it, Shiron even gave her some of his money for staying with her.

Quietly, Shiron landed and went on the top of the little hill. The sweet smell of apples filled the air and the stars still filled the sky for the remaining minutes of the night. Soon the sun would raise and a new day would begin. Even after living in Ponyville for two weeks now Shiron still got more attention than he hoped.

Although the citizens of Ponyville seemed to be nice, Shiron rarely walked through the streets because the look in their eyes still made feel him very uncomfortable. It wasn’t the looks of hate or fear he had seen in his home but the ponies looked at him like as if he was some kind of important pony. Shiron knew that it was because he was an alicorn and the only other alicorns, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, were the rulers of Equestria but he was just a normal pony and he didn’t like this kind of attention. He just wished that others would see him as a common pony and not someone special. Moreover, he knew all too well how admiration could quickly turn into fear and ultimately hate.

At least Rainbow Dash and her friends treated him like everypony else and although Shiron really liked them, he hadn’t spent much time with them after the party. During the party he had seen the farm ponies Applejack, who he had met earlier that day, together with her big brother Big Macintosh and Twilight Sparkle together with her dragon friend Spike. During the last two weeks he and Shiron had become good friends and Spike was really happy to finally have a stallion to talk to. Being the only male member of the pony gang of Rainbow Dash and her friends wasn’t very easy for the young dragon.

Shiron had also met the white unicorn Rarity who loved all kinds of fashion. The last member of Rainbow’s friends who had been able to join the party was the ever-happy, pink party pony Pinkie Pie. She was the most cheerful pony Shiron had ever seen and she knew how to though a big party. All of them had had a good time but although Shiron knew he should have been happy, he had felt nothing. Nevertheless, he was a master of hiding his true feeling, so he had forced a smile to act like he had actually been happy. All of the ponies had seemed to believe his forced smile but there had been something in Pinkie Pie’s eyes, almost as if she had known that something was wrong.

Shiron hadn’t had a chance to meet the pegasus pony Fluttershy during the party, so he and Rainbow Dash had visited her the following day. Fluttershy owned a cottage at the edge of the Everfree Forest and she took care of many animals. She was a very shy pony and being shy himself, the first conservation between him and Fluttershy had been more than just a bit awkward.

For the first minutes both ponies had been too shy, so that the conservation had been a disaster in Rainbow Dash’s eyes. Between short sentences about unimportant subjects like the weather, there had only been an awkward silence except of Rainbow Dash slamming her hooves against her face. It seemed that a simple facehoof wasn’t enough but thanks to Dash, the rest of the conservation had ended much better. At least a little bit.

The only pony Shiron saw every day was Pinkie Pie. Somehow she actually had been able to see behind his happy mask and it seemed as if she had taken over the responsibility to make him happy. She always appeared out of the nowhere, she was doing all kinds of silly but funny things and even when Shiron was flying there was no way to escape Pinkie. With her hoof made helicopter, stilts or a trampoline she could even find him when he was on a cloud. It doesn’t matter how fast Shiron was flying because Pinkie always waited at his hideout, even when Shiron thought he found the perfect hideout. However, there was something else he had realized.

The cheerful pink pony seemed as if she had a song for everything. No matter if it was a song for making cupcakes or a song for making her friends happy, Pinkie always had a song prepared. However, she wasn’t the only pony that loved to sing. All ponies of Ponyville seemed to have something to sing about and it wasn’t rare that some ponies joined in as a choir or background singer. Even the invincible orchestra seemed to be completely natural to them, not to mention that they knew the lyrics of every song even if they never heard the song before.

Shiron on the other hoof had nothing to sing about, nothing worth living for. He had finally learned what he was and he had even found some friends but the big change he had hoped for didn’t happen. His heart was as silent as if he had never left his cave but this time there wasn’t even hope left.

Shiron levitated the red ruby Celestia had given him before his eyes. He didn’t know what kind of magic the ruby and the necklace had but he felt something strange. The longer he looked at the ruby the more it seemed as if there was some sort of energy in it. It was hard to explain but Shiron felt that this ruby wasn’t an ordinary gemstone like all the others he had seen laying on the ground.

“What do you think? What shall I do?” he asked the magic ruby not expecting an answer. The ruby stayed silent just like expected and Shiron levitated it back into the necklace. The sound of the awaking animals started to fill the air and Shiron looked at the sky.

“Ah didn’t know ya are an early bird” a voice said suddenly behind Shiron. He quickly put on his usual face and turned his head to the source of the voice.

“Good morning Applejack” he said, remembering that he was at Sweet Apple Acres. “I hope you don’t mind me being here.”

“Of course not. Ah’m always happy to see a friendly face. Rainbow also comes here very often. She loves to nap on mah apple trees” Applejack happily responded.

The first time Applejack had caught Rainbow Dash sleeping on an apple tree, Applejack had accidently bucked not only apples from the tree but also her pegasus friend. Rainbow’s surprised and confused face had been priceless.

Applejack went closer to Shiron and sat down next to him. “Most of the ponies in Ponyville are still asleep this early but Ah’m not. Ah love to watch the sunrise and the sweet smell of apples in the mornin’” the farmpony said, taking a deep breath of the morning air. “What about you?”

“I was able to convince Rainbow Dash to sleep in while I handle the early inspection flies today” Shiron answered. “Usually this is one of Rainbow Dash’s tasks as the captain of the weather team. However, even a strong pony like her needs to recover from all the hard work and waking up earlier than anypony else.” With a chuckle he added “Not that Rainbow would ever admit that she is tired or exhaust.”

“That’s mighty nice of ya” Applejack said with a warm smile.

“It's the least I can do after everything she did for me” he responded before he turned his look back to the horizon.

Silence fell between the two ponies when the first rays of sunshine appeared. The dark of the night slowly changed into a beautiful morning sky and the nearly lake sparkled when the light of sun met the water while the sun let the morning dew in the meadow glitter like an ocean of diamonds. The first songs of the birds started to fill the air, just like the sweet smell of apples. Both ponies quietly watched the beautiful sunrise Princess Celestia had just given her subjects but when Applejack looked at Shiron she noticed that there was the hint of sadness in his look.

Applejack wasn’t sure if it was because of his amnesia or because of something else but she knew she had to cheer him up and Applejack knew one of the best ways. “Ya know, mah big brother went to Canterlot earlier this mornin’ to deliver some of our best apples and apple cider to the castle, so Ah’m all alone at the orchard today. Do ya think ya can help me a bit by bucking some apples? “.

Although Big Macintosh really was on his way to deliver apples and cider to Canterlot, Applejack didn’t really need help. Applebuck season was almost over and the remaining apples were the opal apples but bucking apples always helped her when she was sad and maybe it would have the same effect on Shiron. It was also a good way to talk and to come to know each other better.

“What is apple bucking? “ Shiron asked confused.

“Don’t worry, Ah show ya” Applejack said with a smile.

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With a powerful kick, the apples fall from the tree right into the baskets Applejack had placed under the apple tree. Her front legs crossed and with a satisfied smile, Applejack as standing next to the apple tree.

“…and that’s everything you need to know about apple bucking” she finished her explanation. “Now it’s your turn” she said to Shiron while she pointed at a nearby apple tree.

Slowly, Shiron walked toward the apple tree and went into position. He put his weight to his front legs before he kicked the tree with his hind legs, the apples began to shake a little but none of them fall. Shiron kicked the tree again and then a third time but the apples refused to fall.

“Yar kicks are strong but your hind legs aren’t in sync” Applejack said after Shiron’s third unsuccessful try. “Ya have to make sure that both for your hooves meet the tree at the same time” she explained.

Shiron nodded and prepared another kick. He concentrated and then unleashed another strong kick, this time Shiron made sure both hooves were in synch, which actually caused some apples to fall into the baskets below the tree. With a pat on the back, Applejack congratulated Shiron for his first successful apple buck. Some minutes later the two ponies continued to buck apples and although Shiron needed at least three bucks to harvest all apples from a tree, Applejack was happy to see that Shiron began to relax. There’s nothing better than bucking some apples to relax Applejack thought while she bucked another tree with one of her powerful kicks that causes all apples to fell into the baskets. Applejack decided that now was the best chance to find out what burdened her new friend.

“It has been two weeks since you moved to Ponyville.” Applejack said after some time of silent apple bucking. “How do you like our little village?”

“Ponyville really is a nice village” Shiron said, trying to sound as convincing as possible but with little success.

“That doesn’t sound very convincin’” she said with a raised an eyebrow. “If somethin’ had happened ya can tell me and Ah’ll help ya. Ah promise that ya can trust me”

“It’s nothing” … but the look Applejack gave him seems honest and somehow calming, almost like the first time he talked to Rainbow Dash. Maybe these ponies really are different than them, Shiron thought before he continued,“… well, most of the ponies in Ponyville are still giving me that odd look as if I’m something special or even related to Princess Celestia.”

"Hmm....." Applejack said to her herself "Ah think I might understand a grasp of how you feel Shiron. You see, these ponies need some time to realize that an alicorn lives in Ponyville now. For a very long time, there only had been one alicorn in Equestria and that was Celestia. She always was kind, understanding and the best ruler we could wish for. Princess Celestia was like a goddess to us ponies since she was the only known alicorn for a long time. Then, one year ago, Princess Luna appeared and we all learned that she was Celestia’s younger sister” Applejack said before she made a little break.

After all the work, the country pony thought that it would be nice to have a little drink together so that they can talk a bit more. Applejack leaded Shiron to bench next to Sweet Apple Acres biggest barn and after she brought some apple pie and something to drink for them, both ponies sat down before Applejack continued. “When the ponies saw that the second know alicorn also was a royal princess with godlike powers, they started to think that all alicorns must be royal ponies with this kind of magic. You’re also an alicorn, so it’s natural that the ponies think that you’re also a member of the royal family. After some time passes, most ponies will treat ya like all other ponies, so ya shouldn't worry that much "Applejack said with a convincing smile.

“Thank you” Shiron said. He really hoped that she was right and that the ponies would soon treat him like all the other ponies. However, there was still one thing Shiron didn’t understand. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, ask away” the farm pony said before she had a sip from her drink.

“Why do you, Rainbow and the others don’t treat me like the other ponies?” Shiron asked hesitantly.

“That’s easy, ya’re our friend and ya saved Rainbow Dash’s life, sugarcube.” For Applejack it was only natural that they treated Shiron like one of them.

“Thank you very much Applejack.”

“Ya’re very welcome” the country pony recommended happily. “Ah’m always happy to help mah friends. “

…friends, Shiron thought. Are they really my friends? After everything that happened, he wasn’t sure if he could really trust these ponies and it was difficult to trust them after everything that happened during the last years. As much as he tried it, was still too difficult to trust anyone else, no matter how nice they were.

For some more time Shiron and Applejack just sat at Sweet Apple Acres and talked about different subjects like how Applejack and the other girls had met. After Shiron had left to make his second inspection fly, Applejack knew that she had to do something to make Shiron feel welcome. She was sure that her friends would know a good way, so she trotted to meet with Twilight.

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The sweet scent of fresh made pancakes woke up Rainbow Dash, who was peaceful lying in her comfortable bed. With only one eye open she checked her clock and almost fell out of her bed when she realized that it was already after 10Am. Ponyfeathers, I overslept, she thought while she was flying out of her warm bed. Why didn’t Shiron wake me…, still flying above her bed, Dash started to calm down when she remembered that Shiron had convinced her to sleep in while he was doing the inspection flies today.

With a yawn, she considered to go back to bed, watching the Wonderbolts movie last night had kept her awake long past midnight, but the sweet scent was too tempting. One of the pros of living in the sky was, that the wind always leaded the sweet scent of fresh made food and sweets from Sugar Cube Corner to Rainbow’s home. Pinkie Pie made the best breakfast and Rainbow was visiting her pink friend almost every morning.

It wasn’t like Dash couldn’t cook, in fact her mother had thought her everything about cooking and Dash also made the best and most awesome cookies in Equestria, but between her job as the captain of the weather team, saving Equestria from crazy villains and practicing for the Wonderbolts, Rainbow rarely had time for cooking. Of course she would never ever tell anypony that she knew how to cook and luckily Fluttershy, the only pony that knew almost everything about her, had pinkie promised to never tell anypony about the side of her ,that Rainbow had hid since the worst day of her life all those years ago.

Dash took some towels and flew toward her shower; there was nothing better than a good shower in the morning except of a hot bath. Warm water ran down her head and washed away her weariness when it ran down her body. After she was clean from any weariness and dirt, she grabbed her favorite shampoo. Dash wasn’t as focused on fashion or appearance as Rarity but Rainbow also used some beauty products. After all, she didn’t get her awesome look for nothing; her almost glittering mane and tail, which would make even the brightest rainbows made look colorless, and her sky blue coat had given her many fans, not to mention that a good shampoo made the rainbow trail she left behind looking even more awesome.

After she washed away the remaining shampoo, Rainbow dried herself off before she walked to her bathroom cabinet and looked at her mirror reflection. Satisfied with the awesome and beautiful mare she saw in the mirror, Rainbow Dash left her bathroom. She never understood how Rarity needed more than two hours to get ready for the day while she needed less than half an hour, except for special events like the birthdays of her best friends or the upcoming Winter Moon Festival. Although Rainbow would never confess it to anypony, she even owned a perfume which she had secretly bought on her last trip to Canterlot, a smell like a rare and mystic flower, but she only used it for the most important events. Despite everything that happened, she was a mare and sometimes it was nice to be treated like one.

Rainbow Dash left her bathroom and followed the resistless smell of fresh pancakes to her living room. To her surprise, the sweet scent wasn’t coming from Sugar Cube Corner today but from her own kitchen where Shiron had made breakfast.

“I didn’t know you can cook” Rainbow said when she entered the kitchen. Having a housemate really seemed to be one of the best ideas she ever had especially if the pancakes tasted as good as they smelled.

The kitchen of Rainbow Dash’s cloud house had everything a pony could ask for and with a table and some chairs it was also big enough for a little party with her best friends. Sure, having wingless friends made a slumber party more difficult but with a little egghead magic from Twilight, there weren’t any problems her unicorn friend couldn’t solve. Moreover, the enchanted clouds Rainbow’s home was made of also had enough magic inside to prevent all none-living objects to fall though the clouds, so Twilight only needed to use the cloud spell on herself and the rest of the gang.

“Good morning, Rainbow” Shiron greeted Dash when she entered the kitchen. “I can’t cook anything complicated but my mother taught me some things when I was younger”.

“Awesome, it seems your memories slowly return” Dash said with a smile. After she heard for the first time that Shiron lost his memories she hoped that he would remember about his past and she was happy to see that his memories slowly returned.

“Yes, it seems so” he said with a forced smile. As much as he hated to lie about his amnesia, Shiron was convinced that a lie was better than the truth, especially after he had almost lost the control when he was in Canterlot. Only Princess Celestia knew the truth and she had promised him to keep it a secret.

“I hope you didn’t have any problems with the inspection flies” Rainbow asked while taking a seat at the table. “It can be a very hard job sometimes” Dash added, trying to hide that she was worried that waking up that early might had been too much for Shiron since he wasn’t used to it.

“Today’s weather wasn’t that difficult, so there weren’t any real problems” Shiron said after he placed some pancakes on the well-laid table.

With these words Rainbow’s worries disappeared and both ponies started to eat their pancakes. While they were eating, the two ponies talked about many different subjects like pranks, Pinkie’s latest party or just the latest news of Ponyville. After some time, Rainbow noticed some big and boring looking books on the small table in the corner of the kitchen.

“Hey Shiron” Dash said with her mouth full, “what’s with these old books?”

“I borrowed them from Twilight some days ago” Shiron replied while using his magic to levitate some books closer to Rainbow Dash. While she was looking at the books she read titles like Welcome to Equestria – The guide to live in Equestria, Living as a true pony or Rules and History of Equestria. “Since I’m new in Equestria I thought it could help to read some guides”, he added after Rainbow was looking back at him.

Rainbow couldn’t hide a giggle. “Oh come on. That almost sounds as if you’re a star pony.” She put a hoof under her chin thought about her words for a moment before she shrugged “Nah, if you would be one then you would have said something like ‘Take me to your leader’.”

“That’s true” Shiron said but couldn’t resist to play along,” but you nevertheless brought me to your leader.”

Both ponies laughed at this and while Rainbow played the scared mare “Somepony help me” she laughed “a space pony tries to eat my brain.” After some more giggles she added “but hey, as long as you don't try to impregnate me with one of those little monsters that escape through the chest, I don't see a problem.”

When Shiron gave her a confused look Rainbow spoke with an unbelieving voice. “What?!? You don’t know the famous space pony movies with these aliens?”

“I don't think I ever saw them” Shiron answered.

“Then we should do something about that” Dash said smiling. “I have all the movies and even the special editions. I think we should make a movie night soon.” Grinning she added “I’m sure you’ll love these movies and once we finished them I already have some other movies in mind.”

“Sounds good, I guess” Shiron said not sure what to expect from the things Rainbow mentioned about the movies. After the two ponies finished their breakfast they put the used dishes into a rain cloud; even the dirtiest dishes looked like new after a little time in a rain cloud.

“I think it’s time for a little flying session” Rainbow said while stretching her wings. A good sleep, a hot shower and an awesome breakfast were the best way to start a new day. Only one thing was still missing to make this morning perfect; a fast flying session. Rainbow Dash looked back to Shiron and with a smile she said “Thanks for the awesome breakfast.” With a wink she added “next time I’ll prepare the breakfast”.

With that the cyan mare left the cloud house, a little flying session after a delicious breakfast was always good. With the day off, Dash hadn’t a real plan for today, usually she would be napping by now but since Shiron took care of the first inspection flies today, she didn’t need a nap anytime soon.

After half an hour of flying, Rainbow noticed that she was close to Twilight’s library, so she decided to visit her friend. Some minutes later she was standing in front of the door and after knocking the door opened. To Dash’s surprise, it wasn’t Twilight who opened the door but Applejack.

“Hi, AJ. What are you doing here?” Rainbow greeted her earth pony friend.

“Howdy Rainbow. Ah talked with Twilight about Shiron” Applejack answered. “Ah talked to him this mornin’ and he seemed a bit upset.” AJ continued, not trying to hide that she was a worried about the well being of her new friend. “So Ah thought Twilight might have any ideas to cheer him up”.

“Do you think I didn’t notice it?” Rainbow said with a sigh. “He’s trying to hide it but it’s not that hard to see behind his mask if you know him long enough.” Rainbow flew past Applejack and then landed onto Twilight’s couch. “Being alone for a whole year in a dark forest while thinking that other’s will see you as a monster is one of the saddest things I have ever heard and I think it’ll take much more time to show him that we really care for him and that he’s our friend.”

Rainbow let her head hung. She was used to hide her feelings when it came to her own life and except Fluttershy, none of her friends knew how she really felt. However, when it was about her friends, then Rainbow showed how she really felt and how much she cared about her friends. It broke her heart to see how Shiron tried to hide how he felt but sadly Dash didn’t know what to do. What they needed was an expert, someone who was able to make even the saddest ponies happy and there was only one pony that could do that.

Out of the nowhere Pinkie Pie suddenly appeared with her basket hat on. “Hi everypony” she said while looking at her three friends. Not waiting for her friends to respond she happily continued “I noticed that Shiron still isn’t as happy as he said he is, being alone for a year really would depress everypony, and since all my attempts to make him happy really failed I planned a super-duper-making-Shiron-happy-party.” With the big smile Pinkie gave the three ponies an invitation.

“Pinkie, you’re right” Twilight began “but we already had a party and it didn’t work.”

The pink party pony happily bounced up and down “Yep, and usually parties are better the more guests they have. However, this time I think Granny Pie’s idea is better ‘Sometimes a party with just the best friends is the best party’ so I’ll only invite you five, Spike and of course Shiron.”

Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight looked at each other and then back to Pinkie Pie. They didn’t know if this idea would work but since none of them had a better idea, they agreed that it was worth a try. After all, Pinkie Pie was famous for making everypony happy and if Pinkie planned a party it usually was a success.

According to Pinkie’s invitation the party was at the beach of the Ponyville Lake at 4PM, so they still had enough time for planning the party and for inviting the missing guests. Rainbow prayed to Celestia and Luna that Pinkie’s plan would work because she hated to see a friend suffer without a way to help him. Dash wouldn’t give up until they would make him smile a real smile.

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Saying that Pinkie Pie was an expert at planning and throwing a party would have been understated. Not only that she somehow had been able to find a good place for a private party, which was almost impossible on a warm and sunny day like today, but with the help of her friends, she had also decorated the place in less than four hours. There were tables with all kinds of sweets like a cake, different drinks and juices, towels on the sand, some beach chairs and all kinds of games for every beach party.

It wasn’t difficult to get Rarity and Fluttershy to attend the party, most ponies enjoyed the sunny day and since Rarity only had two customers, she closed her shop earlier. Just like the ponies, Fluttershy’s animal friends were also enjoying the day and were either playing or napping. Since today’s weather wasn’t a problem, Rainbow Dash was able to convince Shiron that he should also take the rest of the day off, especially after all the work he had already done today.

While the two weather ponies were on their way to the party, Pinkie and the others made the last preparations. Fluttershy, Twilight and Spike had helped her to prepare the food and to transport it to the lake while Applejack and Rarity had prepared the games and the decoration. The most important task however was Rainbow Dash’s. She had to distract Shiron until everything was ready and then had to convince him to take the rest of the day off before bringing him to the Ponyville lake.

“I think everything is ready.” Twilight walked to the rest of her friends who nodded in agreement. “Don’t forget the plan. Officially this party was Pinkie’s idea to just to celebrate a beautiful day. If we really want to help Shiron feel happy and secure, then he has to think that his acted happiness worked.”

“Ah ya sure that’s the best way” Applejack asked Twilight. “Ah mean can't we just tell him the truth that we know that he’s faking his happiness?”

“No, if we would do that then, in the worst case, he might just isolate himself even more.” Twilight explained. She knew that it really could happen since she had been in a similar situation back in Canterlot. “Trust me, if we’re going by the plan then everything will be fine.”

“Here they come” Spike said when he saw the silhouettes of the two playing ponies slowly coming closer.

“Everypony knows what to do?” Pinkie asked. “Then let’s do this!” she happily said after everyone nodded.

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As soon as Rainbow Dash and Shiron had arrived, Pinkie had officially announced the beginning of the party and turned on the music. Pinkie’s parties always were the best and Shiron had already attended to her welcome party for him and her weekly party last week, but somehow this party was different although Shiron couldn’t explain why. Just like all the other parties, there were a lot of sweets and drinks, many games that were perfect for every beach party and of course all of Rainbow’s best friends were here. Although this party was private with only Rainbow’s best friends and him, this wasn’t the reason why this party felt different. It almost was as if this party had a deeper purpose Shiron didn’t know.

Two hours had passed since the beginning of the party. After some sweets and games with Pinkie and the others, Shiron was laying on one of the towels for a little break. While Pinkie, Applejack, Twilight and Spike were playing with a beach ball in the water, Rainbow Dash was happily swimming. Just like Shiron, Fluttershy and Rarity were also lying on towels - or a couch in Rarity’s case – and were enjoying the sun on their coats. When Shiron looked back at the lake, he noticed that Rainbow Dash was missing. He thought that she might be tired and was taking a nap on her beach chair or a cloud but there neither was a cloud close to the beach nor was she lying on her beach chairs.

When Shiron looked back at the lake, he just in time saw Rainbow Dash resurfaces from the water with her eyes closed and her dripping wet mane hanging over her eyes. She was shaking her mane out of her face and the water drops created a little rainbow that surrounded Dash. Dash opened her eyes and looked at Shiron who softly blushed by the beauty before him. Only Applejack, Pinkie and Rarity noticed that and while Applejack and Pinkie Pie giggled because of his cute reaction, the gears in Rarity’s brain started to move.

“Hey Shiron” Rainbow called while waving at her friend “Come on in. The water is perfect”

“Thanks but I think I prefer the ground for now” Shiron answered, wondering why his face felt warmer.

However, Rainbow Dash wouldn’t be Rainbow Dash if she wouldn’t have a second plan. “But I want to show you; something awesome” she said, trying her best to hide a giggle. Shiron was curiously flying to Rainbow not knowing what she had in mind. When Shiron was close enough, Rainbow grabbed one of Shiron’s front legs with her own front legs and pulled him into the water. He resurfaced and saw Dash smiling a cute and innocent smile.

“I’m glad you changed your mind and joined me” she giggled. With a dripping wet mane Shiron looked at Rainbow and couldn’t suppress his own laugh.

The other ponies and dragon looked at the two laughing ponies and knew that their plan slowly seemed to work. They hadn’t any doubt that they were able to make Shiron feel happy until the end of the party.

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After Shiron had more or less freely joined Rainbow Dash in the water, one by one the other party guests had followed. As the time slowly went by it hadn’t taken long until the sun had disappeared and the moon had taken over. However, the party still continued. With Luna’s beautiful night sky above them, the ponies and dragon were sitting around a campfire and were eating marshmallows while sharing stories about adventures or other topics.

“… and then Gilda and I had dropped the bucket and these three jerks had been covered with rainbow liquid. It had taken them a whole week until their manes had their natural colors back but no one messes with my friends or makes them cry.” Rainbow Dash finished one of her stories of her fillyhood adventures. “I really hope you would have been able to meet Gilda before she started to behave this odd” Rainbow added with a sigh.

Fluttershy had knows this story already because it had been because of the three pegasus bullies making her cry that Rainbow Dash had pulled that prank on them. However, what Dash didn't tell was, that she had also been a victim of the bully trio and that these bullies were one of the reasons why Rainbow Dash still tried to hide some parts of her personality. She was the only one who knew Rainbow’s secret but she hoped that Rainbow would someday overcome her own bad memories.

“Hey, is everything alright Fluttershy? You seemed a bit distracted.” Rainbow asked with a worried voiced.

“Uhm, no, everything is alright” the shy pony answered. “I just wondered when the meteor shower is going to start.” Fluttershy added, hoping it would get the attention away from her. She never really liked to be the centre of attention.

“I think it should start in some minutes.” Spike answered. He remembered that Twilight had sent Princess Luna a letter earlier today and asked her for a meteor shower. Twilight and the Moon Princess had became friends over the last weeks after Nightmare Night and she had also explained their party plan to the princess, so that Luna was more than happy to add a little meteor shower to her plans for today’s night.

“Then we should find a good place to watch the meteor shower” Twilight announced.

While the six ponies started to go to a good watching spot Shiron signaled Spike to wait. For the whole day he had wondered why this party felt different and now Shiron thought that he had found the reason. As soon as the six mares were out of hearing reach Shiron turned to Spike.

“Hey, Spike“ he began. “Is it possible that this whole party was for…me?” Shiron asked unsure if he was right or not.

“So you found out.” Spike said after a quick look to the girls to confirm that they weren’t able to hear them. “Yes, this party was for you.” After a short break Spike added “but don’t let the girls know that I told you that. They tried their best to keep the reason for the party a secret and…” Spike stopped for a second.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell them.” Shiron assured before he added “but why did you all do that for me?”

Spike didn’t really understand this question. For him it was only natural to do something to cheer up a friend. “We were all worried and thought this party would help you to feel more welcome because you’re our friend.”

Before the two boys were able to continue Rainbow Dash called for them. “Shiron, Spike. Hurry up or you’ll miss the awesome meteor shower. We all are waiting for you two.” In the background Shiron was also able to hear the other girls agreeing to Dash.

Shiron didn’t understand it. They just knew him for two weeks and yet they had done so much just to cheer him up. It was this moment when Shiron realized that these ponies actually were his friends; he felt it deep in his heart almost as if it was a spark. He didn’t know if it was a mistake or not but he decided that he would start to trust his new friends. For the first time after so many years, he felt happy and secure and maybe, they would help him to feel his heart again. Together with Spike, Shiron was following his friends with a smile on his face. This time, it was a pure and honest smile.

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Author’s note:

I finally finished this chapter although I’m not that happy with it (especially with everything that came after the breakfast with Shiron and Rainbow Dash). It took way longer than I planned/hoped and I needed a friend who helped me with my writer’s block but here it finally is. I’m sorry that it took that long that some people even thought that I forgot or canceled “Rainbow in the sky”. Don’t worry; I will continue this story until I finished it^^

However there will be some changes. I learned that my current way of writing doesn’t work. I sadly overthink everything I write so that it sometimes ends with a writer’s block. Moreover a friend told me that the beginning of chapter 4 isn’t the same writing style I usually have and he’s right. Just like all writers I need to find my own writing style even if it takes some time.

So for now I’ll do what Samsara (an awesome writer who wrote one of my favorite fanfics called “Study buddies”) told me: just write fanfics and without worrying about the outcome. Although it’s both easy and difficult (especially for a writer who is a lot like Twilight Sparkle) I’ll try that from now on until I found my own writing style.

As a result you might see different writing styles in “Rainbow in the sky”, since it is my main fanfic, until I found my own style of writing. Once I found it I’ll of course re-write the whole fanfic and add new ideas or delete bad ideas. However that’ll take at least some months or longer until I actually found my own writing style to become a good writer like Samsara or other good writers.

Last but not least I also made my own tumblr http://askshiron.tumblr.com/ It isn’t very big right now but I’ll use it for news for my fanfics and projects, asking questions in-character (for now only Shiron from Rainbow in the sky) or out-of-character and of course for fanart^^ I also colored one of the fanart pics and I even drew an own picXD
I’ll only publish SFW art and SFW questions so that everyone can follow me without the fear of reading NSFW or Grimdark questions. All NSFW things will be answered with private messages.

Chapter 5.1: A colorful birthday (part 1)

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One week had passed since Shiron had decided to open his heart to Rainbow Dash and his new friends. Although, he still wasn’t sure if he was making a mistake in doing so. At least the past few days after the beach party had been nice.

Step by step Shiron, warmed up to his friends and even joined Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash on one of their prank tours.

Much to Pinkie’s and Rainbow’s disappointment, Shiron didn’t know how to use magic, except from basic levitation and illumination.

To Shiron, the only alicorn ability he actually wanted was to fly as free as the birds and pegasus ponies. Most of the time, he only used his hooves or wings to grab things instead of using magic.

Maybe it was odd to not use the abilities that many other ponies dreamt of. From time to time some unicorn had asked him for some magical advices while earth ponies and pegasi asked for some help; may it be a growing spell for their plants or spells or turn weather-clouds into other types of clouds. Young ponies were especially excited when they saw him; always asking him to show them some tricks. It made Shiron somehow sad that he wasn’t able to use magic except from his two or three spells; it felt like letting them down.

To him, magic wasn’t that important: it only showed how different he actually was if he was able to fly and use magic. However, he somehow wasn’t sure if he was doing the right thing. As much as he wanted to be like other ponies by almost living like a pegasus pony, he somehow was denying a part of who he really was. However, no matter what he tried, he never was able to forget what that voice had told him: ‘Everyone who is different is a monster’.

He had never figured out who this voice was. Though, since he was living in Ponyville, the voice had been mute. Today however, he didn’t really care about being an alicorn or that voice. Now he was enjoying his breakfast with Rainbow Dash.

Like every day of this week, Rainbow Dash had already finished her first inspection fly. Except for a light rain, today’s weather wasn’t very complicated, so Dash finished her work without any problems. After the beach party, Shiron had been able to convince Rainbow Dash to split the inspection flies between them.

Of course, Dash would have never admitted this to anyone, but secretly she was more grateful about this than she showed. Even for her it wasn’t easy to work as the captain of the weather ponies and making an inspection fly every 6 hours. However, no matter how much Shiron tried to persuade her otherwise, Rainbow didn’t split the inspection flies evenly; Rainbow Dash doing two weeks while Shiron did one.

Right now, they were sitting together in Rainbow’s kitchen.

“Do you have any plans for today?” Rainbow asked Shiron before taking a bite from her apple.

“I was planning to give Twilight her history book back. Maybe also borrow some fantasy or action books,” Shiron answered.

“How can you like boring things like reading?” Dash asked, not attempting to hide her opinion on that matter.

“Come on, not all books are boring,” Shiron responded.

With an encouraging smile he added “I’m sure there even some books you would like.”

Rainbow blew her bangs away from her eyes.
“Nah, I’d sooner break one of my wings than to start like reading...” she said with a disinterested voice.

After she finished her apple, Dash continued, “Why don’t you join me today? I was going to a little trip to Cloudsdale and its Weather Factory. Maybe I can even convince them to allow Ponyville to do the tornado duty this year.”

“Isn't Cloudsdale your hometown?” Shiron asked.

“Yep, it’s also one of the biggest pegasus cities in Equestria. You should totally join me!” Rainbow said with a smirk.

“Sounds good, when do you want to leave?” Shiron asked.

“Well, I have some last preparations to finish and since you wanted to give Twilight her book back, I would say we start at 1PM?” Dash replied, failing to hide her excitement.

Though, why was she so excited? Shiron guessed that she hasn’t visited her hometown for a while. Did she have family there or did she just want to show him her hometown?

“Sounds like a plan,” Shiron answered, taking a bite from his apple.
“I can’t wait to see Cloudsdale.” Both ponies were smiling while finishing their breakfast.

One hour later, Shiron had already brought the book he borrowed from Twilight back to the library.

When Spike asked if he was free for an hour, Shiron said yes. After all, Rainbow Dash still needed at least one hour for her preparations.

Now, Shiron and Spike were sitting at Sugarcube Corner’s and were drinking some hot cocoa.

“…and then Twilight was using her magic to actually lift up the Ursa Minor. I mean, wow, it was as big as a house but she totally lifted it up and carefully sent it back to its cave, can you believe that?” Spike finished another story about the time when two colts named Snips and Snails brought an overgrown astral bear into Ponyville.

If what Spike said about the Ursa was true, then the two colts weren’t the smartest ponies in Ponyville. If a random show-mare came up and boasted that they took down a 400 foot tall bear, you would be naturally skeptical, even with evidence. And besides, just because she did it once doesn’t mean she would willingly do it again.

“That’s amazing, I didn’t know unicorns can get that strong,” Shiron replied.

“Well, Twilight’s special talent is magic. That, and she is one of the most amazing unicorns ever! Sometimes I think that, except maybe Celestia and Luna, there is no pony that has stronger magic than her,” Spike added before looking thoughtfully at Shiron’s horn.

Shiron already expected Spike to ask what kind of magic he was able to use, but Spike knew that Shiron didn’t like that topic.
He took a sip of his cocoa and asked “So, do you already know what you’ll give Rainbow Dash?”

“What I’ll give to her? For what occasion?” Shiron asked.

“You know, for her birthday tomorrow? Or did nopony tell you that?”

“Tomorrow is Dash’s birthday?!” Shiron asked shocked. “No, no one told me about that and I have less than a day to buy her something...” he added, groaning. His head met the table with a light thump.

“Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll find something. Dash really likes the Wonderbolts and Sweet Apple Acres' cider, if that’s any help.” Spike tried to cheer his friend up.

“I know, but there won’t be any cider until applebuck season is finished, and it’s not easy to find something related to the Wonderbolts here in Ponyville…Except...” Shiron looked up with a hopeful smile.
“Rainbow wants to fly to Cloudsdale today and asked me to join her. She mentioned something about the tornado duty.”

“Sounds good. When will you two start?” Spike asked.

“In about an hour,” Shiron answered. “However, I think I’ll have to visit someone before we start.” Shiron quickly added.

Soon the two friends finished their cocoa and said each other goodbye. Quickly, Shiron took off and flew to his first goal. He just hoped his plan would work.

Almost two hours had passed since Rainbow Dash and Shiron started their trip to Cloudsdale. Usually, Rainbow needed at most one hour. However, today she needed more than twice as long, and they weren’t even at Cloudsdale yet!

Although one reason was that Rainbow showed Shiron various landmarks during their trip, the main reason was because Shiron needed several breaks to rest his wings.

Since the last break, Rainbow paid more attention to Shiron’s flying style and she noticed why he was this slow. During their race some weeks ago, Shiron had almost been able to keep up with her. It had just been a short race since the Everfree Forest was only some minutes from Ponyville.

However, there was a big difference between a short flight through a well positioned training course and a long flight, where the wind and the weather were less controllable.

Shiron made the same mistakes young pegasus ponies were making when they were learning how to fly. For example, Shiron wasn’t using the wind to his advantage and ended up wasting energy fighting it. He also focused way too much on flapping his wings instead of using thermals to carry him.

It wasn’t surprising that Shiron was doing these mistakes. Rainbow Dash had already guessed that he never had anypony to show him how to fly. Instead he had to learn it by himself.

“Looks like I’ll have to be the one to show him how to fly,” Dash thought.

She glanced at him pumping his wings furiously and winced at the complete waste of energy.
“Properly.”

Like every cloud city, Cloudsdale didn’t have a fixed location, but moved with the wind. Depending on the season, ponies had to fly to one of the four main positions of Cloudsdale. Luckily, the pegasus ponies had been able to invent a system that allows them to minimize the distance Cloudsdale moved and build stations at each of the 4 main positions. At the centre of the four stations was one of Equestria’s most important monuments.

Rainbow Dash decided that it was time for a break since they almost reached last part of their trip: flying up to Cloudsdale. Rainbow was already able to see her hometown. But before they flew there, she wanted to show Shiron something every pony had to see at least once.

Both ponies landed close to the monument which showed Celestia with spread wings in front of four ponies and two griffins. Next to the monument were some ponies that put some flowers at the foot of the monument. Shiron and Rainbow silently walked toward the statue until they were in front of it.

“What does this statue stand for?” Shiron asked Rainbow without moving his gaze away from the monument.

“This monument was built to remember how Celestia stopped the last war of Equestria before it was able to actually start,” Rainbow answered.
“This is a just a copy of the original. There are others outside of Canterlot and the main town of the Griffin Kingdom. This is the third and last copy. The real one is stands close to Manehattan, where the peace treaty was signed,” Rainbow continued without looking away.
“Each of the copies were built outside of the main cities of the three fractions of the war: the Royal Defense, the Lunar Rebellion and the Griffin Kingdom.”

“I didn’t know that there were wars in Equestria,” Shiron said quietly.
“Everything looks so peaceful…”

After a while, Shiron said, ”The history book I borrowed from Twilight didn’t mention a war.”
He looked at Rainbow Dash and asked, “When exactly did it happen?”

Following a short pause, Rainbow answered. “Almost 950 years ago. If I had to guess, that book was about more recent history.”

Looking back at Shiron, Rainbow started her story.

“A pony who called himself Flag Burner started to plot a rebellion against Princess Celestia. That pony had said that Celestia had banished her sister because she wanted to become the sole ruler of Equestria and that every story about Nightmare Moon had been a lie. He formed an army and then started the Lunar Rebellion,” Dash said.
With a sad voice she added, “For the first time since the founding of Equestria, ponies had been fighting ponies. “

“That sounds awful,” said Shiron, looking back at the monument.
“How was it possible that a single pony started all that?”

“We don’t know, but to make it even worse, he had also used a squad of ponies to attack the griffins. During that time, ponies and griffins didn’t trust each other, so that attack had ultimately added another war to the ongoing civil war.” Rainbow Dash answered before looking at the statue of Celestia.

“Somehow, Princess Celestia had been able to start peace talks without him noticing,” she added.
“Celestia and three ambassadors met at a secret place, one ambassador for the Lunar Rebellion, one ambassador of her Royal Defense and one ambassador of the Griffin Kingdom. Each of them with a guard."

“Wait, the Lunar Rebellion was lead by Flag Burner. How come it was part of the talks?” Shiron asked after mulling it over for a few seconds.

“Well, at first the ponies of the Lunar Rebellion had believed in their leader; the lies about Celestia and that he had actually wanted to create a better Equestria. However, after the attack against the griffins, they had started to suspect that something was been wrong,” Dash answered, looking at Shiron.

“I mean, why starting a second war if the real enemy had been Princess Celestia?”

After a short break, Dash continued “The Lunar Rebellion had sent their second in command, Red Flag to the peace talks for the signing of the treaty. Everything had been working out but somehow Flag Burner had found the place of the peace talks.” Both Dash and Shiron looked towards the statue.

“Flag Burner knew he wasn’t strong enough to beat Celestia in a fair battle, so he had attacked the ambassadors; their deaths would have stopped the peace talks, and possibly might show Celestia in a bad light.”

“How had Celestia been able to stop him?” Shiron asked, his eyes focused on the statue of Celestia. Since there were statues of the ambassadors with Celestia, surely the ambassadors survived?

“Princess Celestia hadn’t enough time to create a magic shield to protect the ambassadors, so she used the only shield she had…” Dash said softly, just loud enough to hear. “...her own body. “

Shiron looked at Dash with wide eyes, but he was too shocked to say anything.

“Flag Burner used dark magic to try to ensure the death of the ambassadors. Fortunately for them, Princess Celestia took the full of that hit. Despite her injuries, she defeated Flag Burner before she passed out,” Dash said with clear admiration and respect toward Celestia.

“Witnessing that the princess had been risked her life to save them, the ambassadors had realized that that Flag Burner had been the real enemy, not Celestia. Luckily, alicorns are extremely resilient—even to dark magic—so she recovered fully,” Dash finished with a faint smile.

When Shiron had met Celestia, he had felt an aura of wisdom and power around her. He felt safe around her; a feeling of motherly protection. Hearing Rainbow’s words, he was once again amazed by the alicorn princess. Had she known that she was able survive that attack, or had she actually been ready to sacrifice her own life for safety of Equestria and it’s values of peace and harmony?

Whatever the answer was, Shiron felt deep respect toward Celestia. Moreover, he felt even more honored that both Celestia and Luna saw him as a part of their family, even though they just had met him.

Rainbow Dash was able to see that Shiron was pondering about the story. Dash knew that even though it is sometimes boring, it is important to know the history of her home, if only to not repeat the mistakes others have made. It was easy to take the peace and harmony that they live in for granted, but the ultimate price had nearly been payed for it. Should anypony forget about that, there may not be a Celestia to save them.

When Rainbow felt that Shiron was listening again, she finished her story, “To remember that day, a monument and three smaller copies were built. It was that heroic act of Princess Celestia that had lead to the deep friendship between the Griffin Kingdom and Equestria. Nopony knows what would have happened if that Flag Burner had been victorious, and thanks to Princess Celestia, we’ll never have to know.”

One particular part of that story seemed a bit off...
“You said that he called himself ‘Flag Burner’. Does that mean he has another name? Does nopony know exactly who was behind everything?”

Dash expected this question. In every class and every history book this question was asked at least one. “Well, no one except Princess Celestia knows who that pony was. She never published his name or what kind of pony he was. Maybe she kept it a secret to protect his family or something like that,” Dash answered.

For some time, both ponies were silently watching the statue.

“I hope that this story helps Shiron to see what kind of pony Celestia is. Celestia was ready to sacrifice her life for our future and I’m sure that even now she would do the same. That’s why we love Celestia. She not only gives us the day, but she would do everything for her subjects,” Dash thought.
“She gives us hope for a better future. Though Luna had once chosen the wrong path, I’m sure she’ll also show Equestria her true self and how much she cares for her subjects.”

Dash didn’t know why he would even think that, but she felt that he was slowly coming closer to accepting that he wasn’t the monster he feared others would see in him. Even though he still wanted to be a normal pegasus, he might be able to accept himself being an alicorn someday. Someday...

Both ponies stayed a few minutes longer, watching the monument, before finally continued their trip to Cloudsdale.

After a few minutes, Shiron could already feel his wings hurt despite his break. It didn’t make any sense; he had been flying for months now in varying conditions and speeds, but he never had this problem. Shiron looked over at Dash, but it didn’t look as if she was having any problems.

“I should probably ask her about tha- What is that?”

There was a river running down like a waterfall. The first waterfall soon followed several more and all of them were coming from a giant cloud. Normally, this wouldn’t be too surprising. Clouds were made of water, so why shouldn’t rivers fall from them?

Because those rivers were made of rainbows.

And not just individual colours flowing into one massive rainbow river, but each of the streams of the streams were rainbows. How did the colours not merge and become a black, dirty mess?

Thinking about this made Shiron’s head hurt, so he decide to concentrate on absorbing the sights instead.

There were many pegasi flying—and the occasional griffon—to or from that massive cloud. Surrounding the edges of giant cloud were a set of piers and docks for hot air balloons and airships.

Soon he was able to tell that this was Cloudsdale; the Pegasus Capital. He had seen many other cloud settlements, but none as magnificent or breathtaking as this. How many ponies lived there? Ten thousand? Hundred thousand? More?

From the books he borrowed from Twilight, Shiron knew that Cloudsdale was the main city for creating the weather for all of Equestria. Shiron didn’t believe it until he clarified it with Rainbow. Almost all kinds of clouds were made in Cloudsdale and since the whole town was mobile, the whole weather management system was easier to perform.

Especially because of the insane amount of water Cloudsdale needed. From what Dash had explained to Shiron, the whole tornado duty was needed to transport water to Cloudsdale’s weather factory.

Of course, Cloudsdale wasn’t the only city with a weather factory. Since there always was the risk that something could happen to it, several smaller ones were made, especially close to big cities. They were generally redundant, seeing as Cloudsdale’s was more efficient. They weren’t completely useless though; sometimes emergency weather can take too long to arrive. That way, Equestria was always able to at least manage its weather, even if Cloudsdale was unable to do its job.

Shiron was able to see the first buildings of Cloudsdale. It was amazing what pegasus ponies were able to do; a whole city built out of clouds, giving so many ponies homes and jobs.

“No wonder Rainbow Dash loves this place so much,” Shiron thought.
“I never thought something like this was possible!”

Soon, they reached an empty bit of cloud and landed. Rainbow turned to Shiron with a smile but before she was able to say anything, three pegasus stallions landed next to them.

“Hey look, it’s Rainbow Crash,” one of the stallions sneered. He had a dark grayish brown coat and his cutie mark was a dumbbell with six weights.
“What are you doing here? Being all lameo again?” he added.

“Yeah, Rainbow…uhm…Crash!” the second pegasus added with a less intelligent voice. That pegasus had a bluish gray coat and mane covered eyes. His cutie mark was three joofballs.

Rainbow didn’t seem very impressed seeing the three bullies.
“This again? I thought you quit it after my awesomeness during the Best Young Flyers Competition,” she said with a hint of exasperation.

“Yeah, you might have won the BYF Competition and done a Sonic Rainboom,” the third bully shot back,
“However, if you really are that good then you would be a Wonderbolt by now. But you’re still the same old Rainbow Crash and the Wonderbolts are still ignoring you.”

It seemed that Rainbow knew this three ponies but she never mentioned them to Shiron. To Shiron, it didn’t matter who they where, but if they were trying to bully Dash, then they were making a big mistake.

“So, I guess you are so much better at flying, then?” Shiron said skeptically with helping of sarcasm. He looked at the pegasus with the dumbbell cutie mark; most likely the leader of the bullies.

The bully laughed mockingly, “Oh, has our little Crash found a loser friend?”
He took a step closer to Shiron before he added, “I’m sure you’re also a failure, just like Rainbow Crash here, right boys?”
He glanced at his friends.

The other two took a step back, realizing that the pony before them had wings and a horn.
“Maybe we should just go, Dumb Bell...” one of them said.

“Oh come on, don’t be a foal, Hoops!” Dumb Bell exclaimed
“You think I’m afraid of a pegasus pony with a fake horn?”

Trying to prove that he was right, Dumb Bell took a step closer to Shiron and tried to knock off his ‘fake’ horn. Before Rainbow could react, Dumb Bell’s hoof was already stuck in the air; a faint yellow aura covering his hoof.

“Guess you were wrong with your fake horn theory,” Shiron said with a challenging grin, letting go of Dumb Bell after shoving him back with his magic.

At first Dumb Bell wasn’t sure what to do. However, his surprise only lasted a few moments before he was back to his original arrogance, “Fine, you have a real horn. Only proves that you are a wimp of a unicorn, trying to look like an alicorn”

Dumb Bell laughed again.
“Told you guys that this pony is a failure!” Dumb Bell said to his friends, but they were already 200 feet away.

“You know–” Shiron said with a dangerous calm, with his wings flared.
Dumb Bell slowly turned around “–I don’t like my friends being insulted,” Shiron continued. “I really think you should apologize.”

Rainbow wasn’t sure what was happening right now or what to do. Since she knew Shiron; she had see him being sad, happy and even bashful. However, she never saw him being angry. To be honest, Dash never saw any alicorn being angry.

The surrounding air seemed icier than it should be at this altitude...

“I don’t care if you insult me‒” Shiron stated coldly, taking a step toward Dumb Bell,
“‒but I won’t allow anyone to insult my friends.”

Dash saw that Dumb Bell started to sweating. It wasn’t a big surprise; he tried to insult and attack an alicorn. Of course he didn’t know that Shiron didn’t know how to use magic except from two or three simple spells. Neither was he a strong fighter. Just being an alicorn seemed to be enough to shake Dumb Bell.

“I….uh…I was just joking, right Rainbow?” Dumb Bell asked with fear evident in his voice.

Usually it would have disturbed Shiron if someone was afraid of him; he was neither a monster nor violent. Right now, he wanted to stop that bully. Of course Dash was strong and confident and most likely didn’t need any help, but Shiron couldn’t just leave her—well, not exactly ‘to their mercy’, but still...

“I’m…sorry if it sounds…like an insult...” Dumb Belle tried to laugh.
“Well, I think I hear my mates calling…” he added quickly before flying off.

None of them noticed that the crystal on Shiron’s necklace glowing during that entire exchange.

As suddenly as Shiron got angry, his demeanor changed back as if nothing happened. That icy chill in the air also disappeared. Maybe it was just a cold front that just so happened to be passing by?

“I’m sorry about that,” Shiron apologised, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I really don’t like bullies… Admittedly, I got a little carried away back there,” he added with a nervous grin.

“Don’t worry,” Dash waved off with a smile.
“Those three jerks always try to get under my skin, but it was nice of you to help me anyway.”
With a wink she added, “It was also kind of cute!”
She barely managed to hide her amusement at his blush.

“Ha, he’s way too easy to tease,” Dash thought with an inner giggle.
“It’s even easier than teasing Flutters or Twilight!”. Playing a little prank always was fun, even if it’s just verbal.

“Well, back to our trip,” Dash quickly announced, changing the topic.
“There is still a lot to see come on!”

Only a moment later Rainbow Dash was already in the air and Shiron followed her. Moments later, he nearly caught up with her. If Dash wanted to play tag, then he would play it.

Despite taking way longer to fly to Cloudsdale than she had planned, Dash still had some time to show Shiron around Cloudsdale. They visited some of the main attractions like the Wonderbolts arena, one of the rainbowfall springs, the museum of pegasus pony and weather history and Cloudsdale’s market square.

Just like in Ponyville, the citizens of Cloudsdale quickly took notice of Shiron. It being way larger than Ponyville, there were also more pairs of eyes that stared at him.

Seeing her friend starting to feeling uncomfortable with all the attention, Dash tried to restyle Shiron’s mane to cover his horn. It wasn’t perfect, and anypony who would take a closer look would have noticed the horn sticking out of his forehead, but for the time being, it seemed to work. At least most citizens now didn’t take notice.

Luckily it was only his horn that made Shiron look like an alicorn instead of a pegasus. As long as he wouldn’t become as tall as Celestia, getting a longer horn or getting a magical mane, it still was possible to make Shiron look like a pegasus pony.

Rainbow and Shiron landed close to some older looking buildings, with a cloud being protected by some glass-like material. The cloud didn’t look special but there was a sign next to it with writing that looked completely alien to Shiron.

Dash saw Shiron looking at the cloud and said, “This cloud was the foundation of the old Cloudsdale. During the Lunar Rebellion, it got damaged beyond repair. After Celestia stopped the conflicts, both the pegasi and griffons took the old foundation to use it as the foundation of the first version of this Cloudsdale.”

“First version of Cloudsdale?” Shiron asked, confused. What accident caused the need for another version?

“Yes, unlike most pony buildings, cloud buildings are never really finished; you can always add new clouds” Dash answered.

“Oh, so cloud-houses were modular. That actually made quite a bit of sense.” Shiron thought.

“For example, our house; when I moved to Ponyville, it only had a kitchen, a bathroom, a living room and my bedroom, all connected with only a small hall.” Dash continued.

“Yes, it had been a small house but it was my house,” Dash thought.
With evident pride she said “I always worked on it and still am! When I had found a good cloud we didn’t need in Ponyville, I converted it into a structure-cloud and added it to my house. Slowly, my cloud house has turned into a little mansion with enough space for me and my friends. As well as two guestrooms and a second bedroom.”

Of course it hadn’t been that simple. Turning a weather-cloud into a home-cloud wasn’t easy, not to mention all that paperwork! Luckily, Equestria’s laws weren’t too complicated and Dash quickly learned what she needed to do to upgrade her home. That also included using her pegasus magic to modify clouds. Depending on what a cloud should be used for, she sometimes even had to buy special potions to protect her home from getting cold, especially during winter, or to help protect the cloud from condensing or evaporating.

Dash pointed at some buildings in the distance, “Just like my house, Cloudsdale also changed over the time. From a little village—no bigger than Ponyville—it had become the biggest pegasus city with hundred thousands of citizens, maybe even more! Cloud cities don’t really have a size limit,”
With a grin she added “Twilight’s tree has similar abilities. If needed, she could also add more rooms by letting the tree grow. However, tree-buildings do have a size limit.

“It even became a popular contest to show your cloud buildings. The next contest is in 5 months if you are interested.” Dash winked at Shiron, hoping that he would see what she was saying.
“Some ponies use clouds to give their home special forms. Last year I even saw a cloud house that looked like a sleeping dragon!”

Before Dash was able to continue, she heard the bells of the weather factory announcing the time. She silently cursed the fact that there were only 24 hours in the day; there was still so much to see! It was fun showing Shiron her hometown, as little as she managed.

With a sigh, she announced, “Looks like we have to stop our tour here; I need to go to the weather factory now for a meeting. Unfortunately, the meeting is only for the Weather Chief’s of each town.” She hated that she wasn’t able to spend more time with him, or take him to the meeting. It felt like she was letting him down.
“I hope you aren’t mad...”

“Don’t worry, Dash, I’m not mad at you,” Shiron reassured with a smile.
“Where is the weather factory? I could wait there after I visited some shops.”
Seeing the mild confusion on Dash’s face, he explained, “I wanted to buy some saddlebags for some time now, but I couldn’t find anything good ones yet.”

Relieved that Shiron wasn't mad at her, Dash pointed at some odd looking buildings, “You see that building there? The big one, next to some rainbowfalls and a cloud that looks like a giant funnel. That’s the weather factory,“ she said.
“I don’t think the meeting will take that long, so I should be finished in, at most, one and a half hours.”

After a quick scan of the skyline, he found the factory. It looked kind of weird; the mixture of greek architecture and elements of steampunk, “Ok, thanks. I’ll see you there and good luck,” Shiron replied.

“See you later, Shiron” she said before she took off.

As soon as Dash had left, Shiron thought what to do. He assumed that he would need about 20 minutes from the shopping street to the weather factory. Despite the fact that he didn’t lie when he said that he needed some saddlebags, he actually hoped that he would be able to find a good present for Dash.
“Dash really likes the Wonderbolts,” he thought, remembering Spike’s words.

“So, your name’s Shiron?” he suddenly heard a female voice saying behind him.

Shiron turned to the source of the voice and saw an older mare with a blue flying uniform and some goggles on. By the look of her appearance, that mare was a Wonderbolt. That, or she was a big fan of them.

“Uhm, yes, my name Shiron,” he answered, not sure who that pony really was or what she wanted.

“Too bad I missed Rainbow Dash; I would have loved to talk to her again...” the mare said with a hint of sadness.
“Well, let me guess: Dash is here to try to get the tornado duty for Ponyville this year?”

It seemed that this pony knew Rainbow Dash. Shiron wasn’t sure if she was an old friend or something similar, but he answered, “Yes, but how do you know about that?”

“That’s the Dash I know; always trying to get Ponyville and her friends more attention!” she laughed.
“I’m glad she hasn’t changed that much.”

“So, are you an old friend of Rainbow?” Shiron asked the mare.

“Oh, I’m sorry. How impolite of me,” the mare apologized before she put out her hoof to Shiron.
“My name is Stormchaser–" she said with a friendly smile, "–and I think we have a lot to talk about.”

Editor’s Note: Hi! My name is Muranuse, and I will be this fics editor for now. I wanted to get all of this done by the 5th, but I only managed to get 14/26 pages done. I was originally going to do just a quick grammar and spelling check, but after seeing Shiron’s (the OC’s) character, I realised that he wasn’t Gary Stu we all know and dread, so I did a little rewording, a few additions, a bit of rewriting, and when I checked the page-count, I had only done a quarter of what I thought I had done! Anyway, expect a part 2 soon; Half Term is coming!
*prepares party-canon*
Also, anyone else have problems with latency when using a large number of suggestions in GDocs?

Chapter 5.2: A colorful birthday (part 2)

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The sun was already setting when Rainbow Dash finally finished her meeting at the weather factory. She had to pull some strings and redeem some favors, but in the end her request had been checked and accepted. However, until the day of the tornado duty, Ponyville had to prove that they were actually able to complete it. The months preparing for it would be difficult, but Dash knew her team.

“My team-mates are stronger than they think they are. They’ll easily manage it!” Dash thought with pride.

“Maybe we can even break the record!”

Dash smiled when she saw Shiron waiting for her. The meeting was busy, yet boring at the same time, and seeing a friend waiting for her cheered her up. She noticed that Shiron had bought some saddlebags and he was reading a book.
“It’s almost as if it’s Twi that’s waiting for me,” she thought, giggling at the mental image of Twilight with wings.

“Hey there, Shiron. I hope you didn’t have to wait too long,” Rainbow happily greeted her friend.

“No, I just arrived here a few minutes ago,” Shiron replied. He didn’t mention the meeting with Stormchaser, seeing as he promised her to keep it a secret until tomorrow.

“I hope the meeting went well,” he said, putting his book in his saddlebags.

“Yeah, though it wasn’t exactly a piece of cake. I’ll tell you about that on the way,” Dash answered. She signaled him that she was ready to go, but instead of turning to the direction of Ponyville, she wanted to fly somewhere else.

“Aren’t we flying back to Ponyville now?” Shiron asked, confused.

“Nope, we are staying here in Cloudsdale until tomorrow,” Dash answered. “Even an awesome flyer like me needs at least an hour back to Ponyville. Although it’s absolutely amazing flying at night, we wouldn’t arrive there ‘till midnight.“

The real reason was that Dash didn’t want to mention that she knew about Shiron’s flying problems over long distances. For short distances, flying at night would be mostly safe, but flying long distances would be more than a little risky. As much as she loved flying, she would never risk the safety of a friend.

“We’re staying at my parents’ house,” she continued with a smile.
“They aren’t in Cloudsdale this week, but it’s still nice to pay my old home a little visit.”

With a grin she shifted closer to Shiron, “Not to mention that I also have some old movies there we could watch.”

“Sounds good…I guess,” Shiron replied, not sure what to expect. Before he was able to ask, Dash already took off and waited for Shiron to follow her.

Rainbow’s parents’ house wasn’t as big as Rainbow’s, but nevertheless it was something special. It was located a little away from all the other pegasi’s houses, but it still was close enough to the arena and the city square. It had a little fountain, and even a garden with flowers. However, how they were able to grow plants on a cloud was beyond Shiron’s knowledge.

“Maybe some weird magic hydroponics? I should ask Rainbow or Twilight someday…”

The interior of the house was quite cosy; a decent sized hall that lead to the different rooms, stairs to a second floor and an attic, from what Rainbow told him.

There were pictures on the wall of Rainbow Dash two other pegasi: a stallion with a pale, light grayish blue coat, and the same rainbow colored mane as Dash, and a mare with a pale, light grayish cornflower blue coat and an orange and light scarlet mane.

“That’s an old photo of my Mum and Dad,” Dash explained when she noticed Shiron looking at the pictures.
“This is my Dad, Bow Hothoof and this is my Mum, Windy Whistles.”

With a slight blush, she added, “If you tell anypony, I’ll deny it, but my parents’ are even more awesome than me.” Even if they can be quite embarassing sometimes she thought to herself

Shiron followed Rainbow through the house. He couldn’t explain it, but somehow this place felt like home. He could almost feel the love of Rainbow’s parents and all the good memories.

“A loving and happy family…” He thought sadly, thinking about his own parents.
He really missed them. Was he ever going to see them again?
Despite all the good times he had since he got here, he still had no idea how he had came to Equestria; it was a complete mystery.

“Maybe we should eat something first,” Dash suggested, pulling Shiron out of his thoughts.
“After all, I promised you some of my cooking after your tasty pancakes last time.”

“Sounds good,” Shiron agreed; which was seconded by his stomach.

Rainbow couldn’t hide her amusement, especially after her own stomach made its opinions known.

Laughing, both ponies went to the kitchen.

“Family,” thought Shiron, looking at Dash.

A few minutes later, both ponies were sitting in the kitchen eating hay fries and some mixed fruits bars Rainbow Dash had made.

Dash had called her parents’ a few days earlier and asked them if it would be okay if she would stay over with a friend. Of course, they agreed and her mother had even bought some fresh fruits for them.

“Wow, these fruit bars are amazing!” Shiron complimented, taking another one.

“Told you I can make amazing food,” Rainbow smiled with a wink.
“I just don’t like others knowing about that.”

“Why that?” Shiron asked confused. “You didn’t even tell the others?”

“It’s a bit complicated, but I hope you don’t mind the fact I can cook keeping it a secret,” she replied.
With puppy dog eyes she looked at Shiron, “Pwetty pwease?”

“Come on, that’s unfair!” Shiron gasped out in mock pain, clutching his chest.

“A mare does what a mare has to do,” Dash laughed. Fluttershy got her stare and Dash had her puppy eyes. Of course, she would only use it on her friends, and only in desperate situations. No one else must ever see the softer parts of her personality. She will never let that nightmare see the lights of day again.

When Shiron accidently dropped his fork, he noticed that it was embed partially into the cloud. He hadn’t been in Equestria too long, but that was not how clouds worked.
When he picked up the fork, there was something odd on it.

“What is this?” asked a confused Shiron, holding something that looked like frozen vegetables in his hooves.

“Uhm, my alfalfa?” Dash answered sheepishly.
“What? I was a young filly who didn’t like vegetables, and since we didn’t had a pet–”

“Ah, the old ‘give it to the dog’ trick…”

“– I… Well, clouds are a very good place to hide stuff...” she explained, giving a strained smile..

Trying to change the subject, Dash started, “You know; we have the house all for us. No one will disturb us and we have enough time until we have to leave tomorrow.”

With an almost seducing grin she looked at Shiron
“You know what this means?” she asked while leaning closer to Shiron, who started to blush at both the tone of her voice and how close she was getting to his face. Not to mention the implications… “A whole night of awesome and scary movies!”

Together, Shiron and Dash were sitting on Rainbow's old bed in her old room. Although she had moved to Ponyville years ago, her parents had never touched her room. Wonderbolts posters were hanging on the walls together with a poster of Princess Celestia. Shiron even saw a Wonderbolts plushy and a teddy bear which Dash quickly shoved into the floor. It was nice to see that the speed and adrenalin loving mare also had a soft side.

He didn’t know why Dash was hiding it from her friends, but he felt somewhat happy to see this side of Rainbow Dash.

Dash had made sure that the room was as dark as possible before she started the movie. Shiron wasn’t told what she had started, but it was some sort of space movie with a group of griffins finding an alien spaceship full of odd looking eggs. The griffins had already entered the spaceship when one of them was attacked by some sort of face hugging monster.

Shiron knew that ponies usually didn’t like any kind of violence—despite Equestria’s army being the largest of all the nations—but some of the more violent movies and TV shows became quite popular.

Of course, most movies didn’t have any alicorns. Especially in action movies. After all, you just fire a magic-death-ray of doom at the problem and it will probably go away.

The griffons just had eaten lunch when one of them started to cough, and some creature escaped his chest. Shiron cowered behind the bed, wings over eyes, while Dash silently ate her popcorn.

The creature just escaped when Dash announced, “Be right back; need popcorn.” She silently left the room.

As soon as Rainbow Dash left the room, she went to the attic. She knew that Shiron loved a good prank, and right now, Dash couldn’t resist the prank she had planned. Last year, she had played the same one on Applejack, and it was glorious. Of course Applejack later played one of her own pranks on Dash in retaliation. Good times, good times...

As quietly as possible, Dash took her costume out of the box. It wasn’t easy to put on the costume, but she was sure Shiron would like it. She just hoped that this prank wasn't too much for her friend. After all, pranks were supposed to be fun, not cruel...

“Oh well, he’s a strong colt, he’ll be able to take it.”

As soon as Dash put on the whole costume, she searched for a mirror and looked her reflection. After all these years, the costume still looked awesome. Even the second mouth of the helmet was still working.

With only the muted sound of her hooves on the clouds, she sneaked back into the hall. When she left, she made sure that the door to her old room wasn’t fully closed.

“I forgot how heavy this thing is,” she thought, trying to ignore the small ache building up in her back. She used the black mechanic tail to grab the popcorn she already had prepared and entered the room again.

She was just in time; one of the griffons had entered the ventilation corridors to search for the creature, but was only able to see a fast moving shadow. Dash saw that Shiron liked the movie despite it being scarier in completely darkness.

Rainbow sneaked a bit closer to Shiron; the black helmet almost sparkling in the light of the projector. Just in time, when the alien appeared for the first time, she shouted,

“Bwuh!”, whilst using the second mouth.

She completely caught Shiron by surprise, and causing him to jump up a good meter in the air.

“Gotcha’, Shiron!” she laughed, rolling on the floor, missing the flash when Shiron saw her costume. When she opened her eyes, Shiron was gone.

“Uhm, Shiron? Where are you?” Dash asked, taking her helmet off.

A second later another flash filled the room and Shiron reappeared; his mane was a mess and he wore a look of shock and confusion on his face. Dash giggled, realising what Shiron just did. She would have to explain that to him later.

Looking back at Dash, now with the helmet off, Shiron joined in to the laughter.

“You know–” he started after he recovered from the sudden scare “–I’ll get you back for this...” Both ponies laughed and enjoyed the rest of their movie night.

It was a lovely day and Applejack had just finished harvesting the last of the apples. In a few hours, they would all celebrate Rainbow’s birthday. Of course, Twilight would have to use her cloudwalking spell on them again. It was a weird feeling, like she had horse-shoes on, but they weren’t there.

Carrying all the equipment up to Rainbow's house and enchanting it all to float on clouds took time, and it wasn’t easy to do it discretely. Fortunately, Shiron had been able to distract Rainbow with their trip to Cloudsdale.

Applejack was about to walk home when she heard a familiar sound from the sky. It sounds like a sleeping pony, most likely a certain multicoloured pegasus. She searched the sky and her trees for some signs of her napping friend. Soon she was able to see a low cloud close some trees. AJ walked closer to the cloud, ready to wake her when she noticed something else.

Instead of a rainbow colored tail hanging over the cloud, there was a black tail and a part of a white wing.

“Only a few weeks, and Shiron is already acting like Rainbow,” Applejack thought with a small smile. Of course staying with Rainbow Dash would rub off on him.

“It’s nice to see him warm up to us.”

“Howdy partner,” Applejack called to her sleeping friend.
“It’s time to wake up.”

“Urghh…5 more minutes,” was the only answer Applejack got. A very tired answer, she noticed.

“No time for napping,” Applejack tried again, “we have to meet with Twilight for the last preparations for the party.”

Although it took him some time, Shiron finally got up. After stretching his wings and limbs, he looked down.

“Did ya enjoy your little nap?” AJ asked grinning at her sleepy friend.

“Sorry, Applejack,” Shiron apologised with a yawn, “Rainbow kept me awake all night.”

“Whoa there, lover boy, that’s more about Rainbow and you than I wanted to know.” Applejack laughed at Shiron, who looked confused at her.

“What?” Shiron asked, before until his brain finally booted up, and saw the implications.

Blushing, he quickly denied, “Oh, no! Nonononono! Not what you think. We only watched some of her movies,”
With another yawn he added, “Very creepy movies. “

Shiron looked at Applejack with his eyes half-lidded, “Well, at least my room is now zombie-pony-proofed and aliens-that-lay-eggs-in-your-chest-proofed.”

“Let me guess, Dash showed ya’ one of her costumes?” Applejack guessed, already knowing the answer.

“Yes, she did.” Shiron answered. “She caught me by surprise, and it seemed that I kind of teleport when scared. Well, at least that’s what Dash said. I didn’t really notice anything special.”

“Don’t try to think about that sort of thing too long. Ah’m sure Twilight will help ya’ with your magic when ya’ ask her,” Applejack replied, a little surprised that he seemed to learn a new spell by accident. She didn’t know much about unicorn magic, but she knew that teleporting was a complicated spell. Not to mention dangerous when used willy nilly.

“Well, we should get going to Twilight’s now,” Applejack continued.
“We might still have some time left, but there are still some last-minute things to talk about.”

“I know,” Shiron replied, “luckily Dash is busy trying some new tricks. She won’t be home for some time.”

“Good, Ah’m sure she’ll like her party.” she finished before both ponies started to walk to Twilight’s.

It was a perfect day for Rainbow Dash; she and Shiron had arrived early in Ponyville, and there wasn’t any work to do. What’s even better was, that today was her birthday and anniversary of moving to Ponyville. All in all, it meant that she was able to spend a whole day with her best friends.

Sure, she loved big parties and usually her ‘birthdayversary’, as Pinkie called it, was followed a big party. But this time she just wanted to spend the day with her best friends. It was the first year she was able to spend it with her new friends: Twilight and Shiron. Although she knew Twilight for a reasonable time already—and had a lot fun with her—she knew her for less than a year.

Of course there also would be a big after-birthday party this weekend; Dash would never throw away an excuse for a party. Today however, she just wanted some quality time with the most important ponies and dragon in her life. Sadly, neither her parents’ nor Stormchaser were able to attend the party, but she would just visit them soon.

Rainbow landed in front of her cloud house where her friends most likely already waited for her. It wasn’t easy to plan a surprise party when your target already knew about it, but it was the thought that counted.
“This day is going to be perfect~” Dash sang in her head.

Dash reached out her hoof to open the door when she heard whispering.
“I think she’s coming!”
Although clouds were decent at sound absorption, Dash was almost sure that this voice had been Pinkie’s.
“Not too loud, or she might hear us!” another voice whispered; most likely Twilight.

When Rainbow opened the door to her house, the whole room was dark. She walked few steps forward, when suddenly the light went on. Dash could see all the happy faces of her best friends.

“SURPRISE!” they cheered; smiling at the birthday mare.

It always amazed Dash what Pinkie was able to do in less than half a day. Her whole living room had been decorated with streamers, balloons and games. Tables full of food and presents had been placed next to the walls, while the biggest table already had been prepared for the party guests.

Before Dash could even thank her friends, they already group hugged her and wishing her the best for her birthday. Rainbow tried her best hold back her tears of happiness, but she failed. The love she felt was too strong and Dash felt the tears in her eyes. They were more than her best friends; they were her family, all of them.

“Thank you so much everyone,” Dash thanked, brushing a tear away, “I’m so happy you all are here to celebrate with me.”

“Awww, our little Dashie is such a sweetheart,” Pinkie said, making her pegasus friend blush and the other guests laugh.

“That’s enough sappiness; it’s time to party!” Rainbow Dash declared.

All of her friends cheered with her and soon the room was filled with music and laughter. While Dash went to the table to eat something she was able to see Twilight and Fluttershy dancing. Well, Fluttershy was dancing, what Twilight was trying to do completely escaped her. Either way, it was still funny and kind of cute, all that matters to Dash was that Twilight was having a good time.

Dash took a corncob and a mug of cider before she joined Spike, Rarity and Shiron who were sitting at the big table.

“I hope you’re enjoy the party,” Dash asked to her friends.

“Yes, it is a rather nice get-together,” Rarity answered, sipping on her cider.

“A nice get-together?” Spike asked. “This party is awesome!”

“Yes, Pinkie has really outdone herself this time,” Shiron agreed.

“Yep, if anypony knows how to set up a party, then it’s Pinkie,” Applejack added, who just joined the friends; carrying a tray with some apple fritters and a mug of cider.

“And as long as you don’t try to plan a party for Pinkie, everyone is happy,” Rainbow giggled.
“But seriously, her parties are the best, and I’m happy all of you were able to come,” Dash added with a warm smile.

“We would have never missed the birthday or anniversary of one of our best friends,” AJ said, putting a foreleg on Dash’s back. ”So, how did ya’ meeting with the higher ups go?” Applejack asked.

“Well, it wasn’t easy, but if we prove that we can manage the tornado duty, then we’ll get the job,” Dash explained before taking a swig of some cider, “I’ll tell you all later about the details.”

When Dash saw Fluttershy, Pinkie and Twilight still dancing to the music, she got a wonderful idea. It was time for some fun.

“You know, there may be lots of games,” Dash started, addressing Shiron, “but do you like dancing?” She asked with a grin.

“Thanks, but I don’t really dance. I would prefer some games,” Shiron answered, not realising it was a loaded question.

“Dancing it will be, then,” she declared with a smirk, “I’m sure it’ll be fun.”

Before Shiron had a chance to protest, Dash already grabbed his hoof and dragged him along with her.

As soon as Dash left the table with Shiron, Rarity put a hoof under her chin. Silently she started to scheme on the little plan she had thought of since the beach party. Spike gave Rarity an odd look when she grinned like an evil mastermind.

After an hour of partying, and some more or less successful attempts of Rainbow Dash to show Shiron how to dance, Pinkie decided that it was time to give the birthday mare her presents. All of them gathered in front of the table with the presents.

One by one, Dash opened her presents; a new dress from Rarity, a book from Twilight, a comic about a heroic pegasus pony from Spike, a beautiful blue bow from Fluttershy, a new ball from Pinkie Pie and some new flying goggles from Applejack.

“I wonder what this might be,” Dash said when Shiron gave her his present.

It wasn’t big, but despite its deceptive size, it actually was quite heavy. When she opened it, she found a book about acrobatic flying written by Spitfire herself! Although Dash wasn’t into reading, she was nevertheless happy. After all, it was the thought that counts and Dash knew Shiron long enough to know that he thought she might like it.

“Thank you, Shiron,” Dash thanked, giving him a hug, “This means a lot to me.”

“Actually, there is a bit more,”,Shiron said mysteriously, “Just open it.”

Rainbow Dash didn’t really know what to expect, but she opened the book she almost forgot how to breathe.
“Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!” Dash exclaimed, not believing what she was seeing. Right there—on the first page—was a signing from the Wonderbolts:

“To Rainbow Dash; our greatest fan,

We wish you the best for your birthday. Never give up your dream, because someday, it will come true.

Best wishes,
Spitfire, Soarin’ and Stormchaser’”

Without warning, Dash assaulted Shiron with a big and happy hug, making both ponies fall over. “Oh thank you thank you thank you!” she squealed, hugging the blushing stallion.
“This really is the best day ever!”

Applejack couldn’t suppress a giggle while Rarity once more smiled a secret smile. They all knew that Rainbow Dash sometimes forgot to keep her ‘coolness’ and was just being herself without hiding any part of her personality.

After Dash recovered from the sheer joy of receiving her gift, she jumped in the air, flying loops chanting, “I’m gonna’ be a Wonderbolt! I’m gonna’ be a Wonderbolt! I’m gonna be a Wonderbolt!..”

“Whoa, there! Simmer down there for just a sec. Ya’ still have a long ways to go!” Applejack attempted to calm Dash, while helping Shiron up.

“Yeah, but they said that my dream will someday come true,” Dash shot back, still giddy with joy, “I mean, who wouldn’t accept an awesome flyer like me joining the Wonderbolts?”

Her friends smiled at Dash’s antics. They all knew how much Rainbow Dash loved the Wonderbolts and that it was her dream to become one of them. Every day she trained to become a better flyer. It wasn’t surprising to see Rainbow that happy by getting a note from the Wonderbolts, telling her to not give up her dream.

Once Rainbow calmed down, she looked at Shiron and asked, “You actually met the Wonderbolts? When? I only was away for less than two hours,” she added a little sad she missed her idols.

“As soon as you left got the meeting a mare named Stormchaser approached me,” Shiron answered, “You missed her by a few minutes.”
Shiron took a letter from the table and gave it to Dash, “She also asked me to give you this.”

“Who is Stormchaser?” Twilight asked, “I never heard that name, even though I saw one or two Wonderbolts’ shows back when I lived in Canterlot.”

“Stormchaser was the chief of the weather ponies two years ago before she became a Wonderbolt,” Applejack answered.

“She was like a big sister to me,” Dash added wistfully.
“It’s a shame I missed her. She’s always very busy.”

Dash took the letter and read it aloud,

“My dearest Rainbow Dash,

I’m glad to hear that you have so many good friends. During the last few months, I always thought about you and wondered how you’re doing. To be honest, I even was a bit worried. However, now I know that it wasn’t necessary.

I heard all the stories about you and your friends and I was speechless when I saw your bravery at the Best Young Flyers Competition, not to mention your awesome Sonic Rainboom. Neither I nor the other Wonderbolts had ever seen something like that and we all were very impressed. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to talk to you after the competition. However, I promise that we’ll meet again soon.

Until then, I hope that you will keep up the good work; I’m sure that this is the best way to become a Wonderbolt in no time. I hope that you’ll have an awesome birthday.

Best wishes,

Stormchaser”

Rainbow wiped away some tears and carefully put the letter into the book she got from Shiron. It was good to hear from her surrogate sister again. She hadn’t seen her for several months now, but as soon as she would be in Cloudsdale for longer than a day, she would try to spend some time with her again.

“Thanks, Shiron,” Dash whispered tearfully to Shiron before she looked at all her friends, “Thank you all. I hope you know how much I love you all.”

“Awww, we love ya’ too, Sugarcube, “Applejack responded before they all shared a group hug.

“You know, the night is still young,” Pinkie announced cheerfully after the hug broke, “Let’s get this party moving!”

Everyone happily agreed and soon music and laughter filled the air again. For some hours, everyone enjoyed the party and the company of each other.

“Today was amazing!” Dash reminisced, exhausted on her bed. The sheer joy she felt when she got her presents and when she read the letter still lingered in her chest. Sure, presents always were good but all she cared about was to spend time with her friends.

Dash spread out her limbs and looked at the book she got from Shiron. Of course she would never admit that she loved to read many years ago, but after that day many years ago, she had never gave books a chance again. Maybe she would make an exception for this one book. Not only because it was a present by Shiron but also because it would be perfect to come up with new tricks. Not to mention that the Wonderbolts themselves had signed it for her.

When Rainbow Dash took Stormchaser’s letter, she read it again. She missed her surrogate big sister but Rainbow was determined to make her proud. Stormchaser had taught her everything she knew and Rainbow would never stop to improve her abilities.

With a yawn Dash, was about to put the letter aside, when she saw something odd at the bottom of the letter. There were tiny words, almost as if Stormchaser wanted to make sure that only Dash would read them.
“Just like old times...” Rainbow thought with nostalgia, remembering all the secret letters they sent to each other for fun.

Dash took a closer look and read the secret message.
“P.S. I’m happy to see that you found such a cute coltfriend! ^_^”

“Wait, she thinks Shiron is my coltfriend?” Dash thought with a blush, relieved that she didn’t read those words in front of her friends.

E/N: Welp, this is part 2 done. Sorry that it took so long to complete; I blame real-life, homework, Pones, procrastination and RWBY.
Why, Rooster Teeth? Why did you have to kill off Phyrra?!

Chapter 6: The Winter Moon Festival

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The big day has finally arrived. Months of preparations, changes and planning had been made for this one day. She knew what she had to do today and she also had finished her opening speech but nevertheless she was afraid. Princess Luna sighed and was looking out of the window of her room in the castle. There still were a few hours until the Winter Moon Festival would begin but yet Luna couldn’t help but feel uncertain about today. Would her subject accept her? Would they forgive her for what she had done as Nightmare Moon?

Luna walked away from her window back to her desk and tried reread her speech but she wasn’t really able to concentrate. Her mind was too focused on all the bad things that could that tonight. Her ponies might boo her from the stage or no one could come to the festival at all. They could start a revolution and banish her to the wastelands or they…

Stop it Luna! she commanded herself before her mind made up an image of a meteor falling from the sky to destroy all of Equestria. Luna left her room and walked toward her balcony. This was an important night for her and she wouldn’t allow her fears, no matter how unrealistic they were, to ruin her best chance of redemption. She had to clear her minds from all hear fears and flying was the best way for her.

She closed her eyes and jumped from her balcony, her wings unfolded. With a few flaps of her wings she flew high in the sky while she was enjoying the wind in her face. Maybe it was not princess-like to just fly for no reason but no matter what ponies thought or said, Luna and her sister still were ponies, just like everypony else and sometimes you just have to be yourself and not what others want you to be. That’s what Celestia had taught her long ago. Luna realized that she may have forgotten about it over the years and that it was one of the reasons why she had become Nightmare Moon. She had been too focused on her title that she started to be jealous at the only pony who had always loved her.

Luna may have made many mistakes in her life, she may have lost everyone she had known in her old life in the Everfree Forest but one thing would never change. Her big sister would always love and support her. It was this thought that gave her strength and even if today would be a disaster, then she would just try again and again. With Celestia by her side, she would never give up to prove her subjects, and herself, that she has changed.

Shiron, Spike and the girls were standing outside of the Carousel Boutique and waited for the two missing members of their group, Rainbow Dash and Rarity. Although today was a party and not a formal event like the Grand Galloping Gala, Rarity had insists to make a new outfit for her friends – fitting dresses for the girls and a tuxedo for the boys. All of the outfits had tiny moons, stars or other elements fitting for the theme of the Winter Moon Festival and the moon princess. It had taken some time to convince her friends, especially AJ and Rainbow, to actually wear dresses during a festival but Rarity didn’t give up until her friends accepted her gift, even if it was with an annoyed eye-roll by Dash.

Rarity had already prepared outfits for all her friends but she had put most of her effort in making the outfits for Rainbow and Shiron. Of course she didn’t neglect any of the other outfits but the fashion pony had a plan and no pony was going to ruin it. The Winter Moon Festival was perfect for her plan and, even if they wouldn’t agree with her, Rainbow and Shiron would thank her for everything at the end of the day. Those two ponies just needed to spend some time alone to realize they are meant for each other, even if she had to force them. It will be the most romantic night for them Rarity daydreamt. What worked in her romantic novels would also work in the real world. It would definitely not end in a disaster.

“What’s taking them so long?”, Rarity heard Applejack complaining outside. She loved her friend, but AJ really had to understand how fashion and the style of her art were working. Those things needed time to do their magic.

“You know how Rarity is. She always wants everything to be absolutely perfect” Twilight added; at least one pony who understood her.

Making the last adjustments, Rarity was surprised how professional Rainbow Dash was. For at least an hour she was standing still, just how Rarity asked her to, and didn’t even complain how boring this fashion stuff was, how Dash liked to call it.

“You are doing an excellent job, darling”, Rarity compliment her rainbow maned friend. “Could you now please move your head a little to the left?” she asked Dash while levitating the final peace of her friends outfit. No reaction.

“You know, I can’t finish if you don’t move, Rainbow darling” Rarity said with a chuckle. “Uhm, Rainbow Dash…” Rarity said, wanting to encourage her Pegasus friend when her friendly face turned blank.

The professional Pegasus pony was not standing still because she was patiently waiting for Rarity to finish her work. No, her friend had just fallen asleep. That explained why Rainbow hadn’t complained while Rarity had done all the hard work to make the perfect dress. Resisting the urge to do an unladylike facehoof, Rarity calmly tried to wake her friend up. However, she wasn’t able to suppress a sigh. At least they now were able to go outside to present Rainbow’s new dress.

Shiron still wasn’t sure why Rarity had insists on the new outfits since it was more of a party than a formal event, but luckily his outfit and even the dresses weren’t too long, so that they still can do all the fun stuff. The last thing Rarity wanted was that one of her friends’ dresses got stuck in any of the attractions of the Winter Moon Festival. She even was able to add the necklace he got from Celestia to his tuxedo.

When the door of Carousel Boutique finally opened, all eyes focused on the last members of their group. Shiron was able to see Rarity but Rainbow was still missing. “Fillies and Gentlecolts” Rarity announced with a satisfied smile before stepping out of the way, “Rainbow is here.”

Shiron already saw many of Rarity’s outfits, like the Rainbow’s from the Grand Galloping Gala she had showed him once. It had been amazing just like the outfits she had made for today. However, when he saw the new dress Rainbow was wearing, he wasn’t able to say anything. He was sure he looked silly, just standing there with mouth agape.

Rainbow Dash was wearing a beautiful dark blue dress with light blue stars at the bottom. Tiny jewels in all the different colors of the rainbow were perfectly spread in two rows from the back to the end dress, making it almost look as if she was wearing the night sky. On top of that she also had a beautiful necklace with crescent moon. All in all it was the perfect dress, not only for mentally supporting Princess Luna during her speech, but also to make every stallion and mare speechless.

When she was walking toward the rest of the group, it almost looked like a scene out of a movie; the stunning mare walking almost in slow motion and by coincidence the wind made her mane flowing while some sort of song was playing in the background. Of course there wasn’t a song in the background, at least this time there wasn’t one, and Rainbow wasn’t walking in slow motion. However, her mane was actually flowing with the wind. If he wouldn’t have been too focused on Rainbow Dash then Shiron might have seen Pinkie Pie using a fan to make Dash’s mane move but he didn’t notice Pinkie at all. All he was seeing was this beautiful mare before him.

“So, how do you like my new dress?” Rainbow asked her friends, smiling a cute smile. Seeing all of them, especially the boys, speechless seemed to be the perfect answer to her.

“Damn” was all Shiron was able to say. He tried to think of anything else but his brain wasn’t working right now.

“Damn” he heard Spike agreeing. Shiron knew Spike only had eyes for Rarity, all of Ponyville knew that, but hearing such a comment proved that Rarity had outdone herself with Rainbow’s new outfit.

A last “Damn” was said and when everyone looked at its source, Fluttershy already had covered her muzzle with her hooves, trying her best to hide a blush.

If Shiron would have turned around, he would have seen his fellow weather pony friend Thunderlane flying in the background. Well, flying wasn’t the right word, because as soon as he spotted his boss in her new outfit, he had forgotten where he was flying and ended up in a nearby tree.

“I’ll take that as a ‘You are looking awesome’ “Dash finally said, satisfied with the reactions of her friends.

Watching Shiron’s reaction made Rarity smile. It seemed that her plan was working. Making a pony speechless was always a good sign, especially if you were trying to play matchmaker. What a coincidence that there was a perfect breeze Rarity thought to herself, before she spotted Pinkie hiding behind a bush.

“Pinkie, what are you doing?” she silently asked her pink friend who was using a fan.

“Well duh, I’m giving Rainbow a stunning entrance to help Shiron falling in love with her” Pinkie said as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Wait, could you repeat that, darling, because it almost sounded as if you were trying to play matchmaker here” the unicorn whispered to Pinkie so the others couldn’t hear them.

“Of course I am. Didn’t you see how cute they act around each other?” Pinkie answered, “Not to mention that I can throw them an awesome party when they’ll get together” she added with glee.

“Not too loud” Rarity tried to keep her friend silence. “but I agree with you. If we team up, we can definitely help them to become a couple. However, we will follow my plan darling, ok?”

Pinkie Pie seemed to think about Rarity’s words before she answered “Okey dokey lokey” with a big grin.

When Luna peeked between the curtains of the stage, she saw an ocean of ponies. Luna didn’t know how many of her subjects had arrived, but by the look of it, it must have been at least all ponies of Canterlot and Ponyville. She tried to stay calm, but she wasn’t used to stand in front of so many ponies, let alone talking to them. However, when she felt the calming wing of her big sister on her back, she knew that it would work out…somehow.

After a last peek, she also saw her good friends Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony. The alicorn princess was glad to see the ponies that saved her sitting in the prepared VIP lounge. They even wore outfits with moons and stars, as if they wanted to support her. It feels good to have friends Luna realized. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled to prepare herself. It was time to start.

The ponies were happily chatting with each other and waited for the show to begin. None of them actually knew what was going to happen except that their princess was going to raising the moon for them just like Celestia always raises the sun during the Summer Sun Celebration. When the lights on the stage went off, all the glazes were focused on it. Within a minute all of the ponies stopped talking and focused their attention on the upcoming show. Then they heard Princess Luna’s voice from the speakers.

“Once upon a time there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the elder sister, Princess Celestia, used her magic to raise the sun at dawn.” The speech started with fitting pictures in the background, the same ones as in the ancient books Twilight had read before Nightmare Moon’s return.

“The younger sister, Princess Luna, brought out the moon to begin the night. Together the sisters watched over their land and their subjects. However, one fateful day, jealousy had corrupted the heart of the younger sister – my heart.” Luna said, showing a picture of Nightmare Moon. Some ponies started to whisper but after a brief break Luna continued.

“I had started to think that our subjects would only love the day my sister gave them and that they would hate me and my night. My sister had tried to help me but soon my jealousy had changed into bitterness and hatred. In a moment of weakness these emotions had corrupted me and an evil creature was born…”

Blue smoke covered the stage and the light of the spotlight focused on the growing blue and sparkling mist. Then the dark alicorn mare appeared “…Nightmare Moon” Luna said with the same voice she had as her evil self.

Just as she expected, some ponies started to shriek in fear while others started to whisper. However, just as Luna hoped, none of them ran away. Maybe it was because out of fear or it was of curiosity but Luna still had their attention. With a glowing horn she lowered the sun and it became dark. Right now, neither the moon nor the stars were covering the sky over Ponyville.

“As Nightmare Moon I had attack my sister and tried to bring everlasting night. With the power of darkness I had become much stronger. Celestia hadn’t been able to save me from my sorrow and so she had to use the Elements of Harmony. However, the Elements had been to strong and my sister had been too young to fully control their power all on her own. The Elements had banished me into the moon for a millennium and although she tried everything, my sister hadn’t been able to prevent it.” Luna continued, still looking like Nightmare Moon. She took a few steps into the centre of the stage.

“Soon I had become a myth, nothing more than an old pony-tale. Everyone had forgotten me and the name Princess Luna.” She said, taking a brief look at her sister, who was waiting at the edge of the stage, sitting in the VIP lounge next to the Elements of Harmony. “Everyone, except my big sister.”

“For thousand years she had looked to the moon every night. I was able to hear her voice and I felt her love. For thousand years she had searched for a way to save me and she had never given up her hope. After the time had passed I was freed from my prison but Nightmare Moon had still the control over me.”

“However in the hour of darkness, six brave ponies, sent by my sister, found and used the Elements of Harmony and saved me from Nightmare Moon.“ Six spotlights went on, each of them with the color and the cutie mark of each of the Elements of harmony.

The six lights moved toward Nightmare Moon and when all six of them encircled the dark alicorn mare, white cracks appeared on Nightmare Moon’s body. With an explosion the evil mare exploded and tiny pieces of the former villain flew into the sky. The stars had just been born and the ponies adored the star-spattered sky.

“The evilness of Nightmare Moon had disappeared…” in the centre of the explosion reappeared Princess Luna “…and I had returned as the princess of night, Princess Luna”. In the background the flag of Equestria with the princesses, the sun and the moon appeared.

“I know that many ponies still fear me for what I did as Nightmare Moon. I understand them and I don’t expect that you love me as much as my sister.” Luna continued. “Although my sister forgave me, I know that it will take time until you all will trust me and accept me as a princess. I’ll do my best to earn your trust and I hope that someday you all will forgive me my weakness.”

Luna took a few steps closer to her subjects” I might be a princess and maybe even powerful alicorn but beyond this, I’m a pony like you. I’m not perfect and, just like everypony else, I make mistakes. However, I’ll show you that I care for my subjects and that I love Equestria.

Last Nightmare Night had been the first step to show you the real me and now I’ll give you all the Winter Night Festival. From this day on, on the longest night of each year, I’ll raise the moon for you and open this festival.“ Luna spread her wings and with a glowing horn took off. With only a few flaps of her wings, the moon started to rise and the night has officially begun.

“My dear subjects, now I declare that the very first Winter Moon Festival shall begin and I hope you all will have fun.”

The ponies started to cheer and Luna couldn’t help but smile when she saw all happy faces of her subjects. It took her all of her might to not start crying out of happiness. Luna left the stage and once again felt the wing of her big sister on her back who hugged her “I’m proud of you Luna and I’m sure that you’ll soon get the love of all our subjects.”

“Thank you big sister” Luna answered, no longer being able to hold back her tears.

With a grin and a wink Celestia added “See, no giant meteor has destroyed Equestria” and both sisters started to laugh.

“Wow, that speech was awesome” Rainbow said when she and her friends left the lounge after a short talk with the princesses.

“Yes, especially how Luna used her magic to bring out the stars with Nightmare Moon's body” Shiron agreed.

“So everypony, what are we going to do first?” Twilight asked but her grumbling tummy was the first to answer.

“Well, how about we grab some snacks” Dash said giggling, looking at her blushing friend while the others joined laughing.

Together the friends started to explore the stalls of the Winder Moon Festival. Of course none of them knew about the plan Rarity and Pinkie had. When they arrived at a stall that sold some corncobs, Rainbow noticed that her bits had gone missing. Although she searched for her bag of bits in her new dress, she just couldn’t find it.

“I’m terribly sorry darling” Rarity apologized to her Pegasus friend. “I fear I accidently forgot to put your money back when I made some last minute adjustments on your dress.” However, Rarity didn’t mentioned, that she forgot that on propose, hoping that their alicorn friend would turn out as a real gentlecolt. Her Pegasus friend sadly let her head hung but luckily Rarity’s instinct was right.

“Don’t worry; I’ll pay for you tonight Dash” Shiron offered his hungry friend when he saw how sad she looked. That quickly made the Pegasus mare happy again and after a quick hug she was happily nomming on her corncob. With a wink to Pinkie, Rarity signaled her friend that their plan seemed to work.

Step by step, Rarity and Pinkie were able to decrease the number of their group. If you want to get two ponies closer to each other, they needed to have some time alone after all. Although it would have been fun to spend the time with all their friends, giving to ponies a special night was a difficult task. That’s why Rarity had made some preparations.

When the group of friends met Twilight’s parents by coincidence, it wasn’t difficult to convince Twilight and Spike to spend the rest of the night with them. Although Twilight wasn’t sure about leaving her friends, Rarity assured that they would understand if she and Spike wanted to spend some time with their family. After all, it had been some time since the Sparkle family had spent some time together since Twilight had moved to Ponyville. Everyone seemed to believe Rarity but Applejack looked at her with a raised brow, as if she knew that something was going on.

Without Twilight and Spike, the group now only had six members left. However, for their plan to work, Rarity wanted Shiron and Dash to be all alone. That meant that Rarity still needed to distract Fluttershy and Applejack, before could actually start the matchmaking with Pinkie’s help.

As much as Fluttershy loved to spend time with her friends she still didn’t really like to visit big parties or festivals with too many other ponies. Although Rarity wanted to get her two friends some alone time, she didn’t want Fluttershy to leave the festival without having a little fun. Knowing what kinds of attractions Twilight had planned for this festival, Rarity knew what would make her shy friend happy.

Together the group of friends visited some of the more harmless attractions that seemed to be more fitting for Fluttershy, like a slow waterslide or claw cranes with pink, fluffy unicorns and other plush toys. Much to the surprise of all her friends, Fluttershy seemed to have a good hoof in claw cranes and quickly won a plush bunny. As much as she loved to show two ponies that they were made for each other, making her friends happy by sharing a good time with them was more important to Rarity. However, although the night still was young, it didn’t take long until Fluttershy got tired and wished her friends a good night before she walked home.

With another member of the group left, it seemed as if the farm pony took notice that most of the things Rarity said might had a special goal. However, not only Rarity’s behavior was different than usual. Pinkie also seemed to focus most of her attention to the other two members of their little group. That’s when Applejack realized what was going on and although she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not, she knew that there was no way to talk Rarity and Pinkie out the idea of matchmaking. When it came to love, Rarity was even more stubborn than Applejack herself. Yes, that actually was possible.

So Applejack just played along, hoping nothing bad would happen although she had a bad feeling. When she gave Rarity a knowing smile, the unicorn became nervous that her friend would spoil the plan. However, as soon as Applejack saw her brother on a stall, she excused herself, giving the fashionista a knowing wink when neither Shiron nor Rainbow was paying attention.

Walking toward her brother, AJ noticed that tonight even the princesses seemed to be able to have a more or less normal night of fun. Right now, Celestia was having a hoof wrestling with Big Macintosh who, by the look of things, was about to lose to the sun princess. Behind Celestia was her younger sister, tasting her very first cotton candy.

After Rarity and Pinkie Pie also excused themselves, they tried to guide their two targets to a very special attraction. It was time to start the next phase of their plan.

“Well, seems like just the two of us are left” Dash said to Shiron. Nudging her friend, she added with a grin “but hey, more fun for us.”

“Yep. So, what do you want to do next?” Shiron asked Dash. The Winter Moon Festival seemed to be a huge success, not just for Princess Luna but also for everypony.

“How about that stall?” Dash said while pointing at a stall with many plushies including some Wonderbolts. All the ponies had to do was to throw two balls and make all the cans fall. Of course magic was forbidden in this and similar games and the owner of the stall paid good attention for any signs of unicorn or alicorn magic.

After giving Dash some bits she tried her best to make all the cans fall but it seemed that today wasn’t her lucky day, either because of a breeze at the wrong time or because of the sound of a flugelhorn. After she failed a second time, Dash gave up.

Usually she would have tried again and again until she would win, but since she wasn’t using her own money, she didn’t want to waste more of Shiron’s bits. With a sigh she was about to leave, when Shiron gave the stall owner some more bits. With his first try, he made half of the caps fall while the other half was still there.

More to the left a female voice, which almost sounded like Pinkie Pie, whispered. When Shiron scanned the surroundings for his pink friend, he only saw two barrels next to the stall but no Pinkie Pie. Shrugging, Shiron thought that it couldn’t hurt and aimed a little to the left and, as if the voice had some sort of magic sense, the remaining cans fell and Rainbow Dash was the proud owner of a new Wonderbolts pluschie. Forgetting her coolness for a moment she gave Shiron a big hug, thanking him for the pluschie before she once again tried to act as cool as possible. However, looking cool instead of cute wasn’t easy when you had a pluschie riding on your back.

The next stop for the two ponies was a Ferris wheel. Although both friends had wings and were able to fly higher than any Ferris wheel, it still had some sort of special magic. Dash and Shiron were both sitting alone in their cabin and were looking out of the window. The lights of the festival were a beautiful sight and thanks to the cloudless sky, the two friends were also able to see Canterlot in the distance. It was kind of relaxing to sit in this cabin and enjoy the sight.

Of course, none of the both ponies noticed the empty cabin behind them although there had been many ponies who wanted to enjoy the Ferris wheel, too. Dash didn’t know why, but being all alone with Shiron tonight was something she could get used to, even if she couldn’t explain why. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy this night, so that she didn’t even notice that there had been a white unicorn horn visible for a few seconds.

When the two friends left the Ferris Wheel, Dash convinced Shiron to try the mirror room. Together, the two entered a room with many different mirrors. Some had been enchanted while others had been processed in a special way to make them look bigger or smaller. Laughing, they tried different mirrors until Dash declared “I’m Princess Rainbow Dash, the princess of awesomeness”.

When Shiron was looking at the mirror, he was able to see that the reflection showed Rainbow Dash being as tall as Celestia with a blue horn on her head. Next to the new alicorn princess, Shiron was able to see that he now also was as big as Rainbow Dash. Giggling, they inspected the next mirror and Dash fall on her back, laughing. Instead on an alicorn reflection, Shiron was now able to see himself as a mare.

“Buahaha, that’s too much,” Dash said laughing, while she was lying on her back “I …. I can’t stop laughing.”

It took the two some time to stop laughing and continue their way through the room and all the funny reflections. Some showed them with a different age, pony kind or even a different species like griffins or dragons, while other mirrors made them look taller or bigger. It was fun but like all good things, they soon reached the end of the mirror room.

Still laughing, Rainbow and Shiron continued their way through the festival. When they walked pass a tent an old mare spoke to them, “Young ones, do you want to hear what the future holds for you?”

The mare was wearing a purple and red dress with golden stars on it. She had chandelier earrings, golden bracelets with rare gems and a golden jeweled necklace around her neck. On hear head she was wearing a long scarf with its tied end hanging down her back. Her tent, similar to her outfit, mostly consists of red, purple and golden fabrics with many golden relics and jewels in it. In front of the mare was a table with a crystal ball. Although neither Shiron nor Dash was able to see her cutie mark of the mare, it seems as if she wasn’t a pony but a zebra.

“I’m not sure about this” Shiron said nervous. He didn’t really know what to think of fortune tellers or someone who claimed to predict the future, but he didn’t want to press his luck by letting some stranger figuring out he was actually remembering about his past. Of course he knew he would have to tell his friends the truth sooner or later but not tonight and definitely not like this .

Before he was able to say, the zebra mare added “Fear not young alicorn, only your destiny I will predict,” giving him an all-knowing look. Whoever this zebra was, she might actually know about his past. On the other hoof, maybe all zebras had a mysterious charisma that made them look like they knew about everything. After all, Zecora was almost the same.

“You know, I don’t really believe in all this fortune telling stuff” Dash responded to the older mare but before she was able to walk away, the zebra answered “My little pony, you don’t have to believe in my words, but maybe it will help you to save a friend.” That got Dash’s attention. If not for herself, she was at least listening to the fortune teller if it was for a friend’s sake.

“My little friends, I can see your future as clear as a crystal” the mare started. With a look at Shiron she continued “I can feel ancient magic being sealed inside you, magic as old as the alicorns themselves. While the other two were born from the sky and the magic itself, you were born from the earth.” Looking at her crystal ball, the zebra mare once again raised her voice “A rainbow will decide your destiny while another rainbow will keep you away from it. Only the right decision will lead to your future.”

Without giving him an explanation, the fortune teller was now looking at Dash, “You, my rainbow colored friend, will have to be careful. A friend of yours will be caught in nightmares and darkness.” With a more mysterious voice the mare continued “When the darkness will be launched at you, you need to enter the darkness. This, my little pony, will be the only way to save your friend.”

“Wait, what do you mean with saving a friend?” Dash wanted to know, but the zebra just answered “I’m merely the voice of the stars and magic. All I know is that, when the time is right, you have to listen carefully.”

Realizing that the zebra mare wasn’t going to give any more details, Shiron gave her some bits and the two friends left the tent. He tried to figure out what the old mare meant with her prophesy. He was born from the earth while the others were born from the sky and magic? It was most likely that she meant Princess Celestia and Princess Luna but why the sky and magic?

Did she mean the three types of ponies? Unicorns representing the magic, Pegasus ponies the sky and earth ponies the earth. However, Celestia and Luna were sisters, so they had the same parents. The more he started to think about it, the more his head started to hurt and he didn’t even want to start with what the old zebra meant with two different rainbows.

Of course, Rainbow Dash changed his life for the better. She gave him a new life and maybe she also gave him a destiny. He didn’t know what he would do with his life, but after this year of loneliness he at least he got back his desire to live. So many things had changed thanks to Rainbow Dash, but why would she, or a second Rainbow, would hurt him?

Looking at his confident friend, he could see that she was also lost in her thoughts. She most likely tried to figure out what the fortune teller meant. However, before they were able to talk about the things the old zebra just told them, they ran into Pinkie Pie and Rarity.

“Hope you two are also having fun” Dash greeted her two friends. “I know we two have” she added with a grin.

“The Winter Moon Festival is delighting darling” Rarity responded, “but I really would have preferred to skip that dreadful Nightmare Ride.”

“Oh, come on Rarity, it was fun” Pinkie said happily. For some reason it seemed, as if she was trying to suppress laughter, although neither Rainbow nor Shiron knew why. “You two really should give it a try. Don’t let the swan boats fool you, it really is scary.”

“Trust me darling, you shouldn’t” Rarity tried to convince her two friends to skip the Nightmare Ride. “It is dreadful. Horrible. Downright hideous.” With every word Dash’s grin just got wider while Shiron seemed, as if he actually wanted to skip that attraction.

What was that? Shiron asked himself when he looked at Rarity. The more exited Rainbow got by Rarity’s description, the happier Rarity and Pinkie seemed to become. It almost looked as if Rarity actually was smiling for the blink of an eye when Rainbow exclaimed that she wanted to give it a try together with Shiron. However, before he was able to say something, Dash already started to run to the place where the Nightmare Ride was. Of course, the exited Pegasus also had decided to drag the surprised alicorn along with her and a few minute later they were both sitting in one of the not so scary swan boats…

Damn you Rarity and Pinkie Pie Rainbow Dash silently cursed her two friends as soon as she realized that this wasn’t a scary or dreadful Nightmare Night. Somehow they had managed to trick Shiron and herself into the Tunnel of Love without even realizing it. However, Dash had just been too excited to question the look of the attraction compared to the description her two friends had given them.

She knew that Pinkie loved pranks as much as she did but this wasn’t a typical Pinkie Pie prank. In other words, it had been Rarity who had planned this although Rainbow Dash didn’t know why. Rarity didn’t play ponies any pranks since pranks weren’t ladylike to Rarity, but Rainbow Dash hadn’t a better explanation for this.

Now she was alone with Shiron and there was no way to escape. They were both sitting in a swan boat in a dark tunnel, in the background she heard some stupid romantic music and wherever she was looking she saw pink hearts and pictures of pink Pegasus ponies with bows and arrows that had hearts as arrow heads. To make it even worse the boat was way too slow for the speed loving Pegasus.

Both ponies were silent and avoided eye contact. Carefully Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron. Just like herself, it looked like he disliked this place. He looked at the water but it was too dark for Rainbow Dash to see his face. His strong, white wings were on his body, the crystal on his necklace sparkled in the darkness when it reflected the pink light of one of the few spotlights and once more Rainbow Dash had to admire that Shiron was a handsome stallion; especially in the outfit Rarity had made for him.

Hey, it could be worse she thought with a soft blush, wondering where this thought had come from. Shaking her head she quickly turned her look away from Shiron, back to the water, and tried to focus on flying and the Wonderbolts but Dash’s mind had other plans.

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh Shiron thought again and again. He had no idea how but somehow Rarity and Pinkie Pie had managed it to trick them. It’s a very good nightmare ride they had told them. Neither he nor Rainbow had guessed Rarity’s and Pinkie’s plan until it was too late. Pinkie trying to suppress laughing, Rarity trying to hide a smile… How could I’ve been so stupid? Shiron cursed himself. A nightmare ride with a swan board…

Since they had entered the first room of the Tunnel of Love, no one had said a word. The silence was like a torture and this music and the sparsely light of the pink hearts only made it worse. Slowly Shiron turned his head at Rainbow Dash. Her look was focused on the water but even without looking her in the eyes he was sure that she hated this place. Her cyan coat and her rainbow mane were beautiful, even in this darkness.

Shiron loved to watch Rainbow Dash flying or practicing new tricks. Her perfect wings looked like they were able to do even the hardest and most complex tricks without any problem. She was a keen flyer and no matter what kind of trick she was doing, she was always dazzling. The beautiful rainbow she always left behind, her passion for flying or the loyalty to her friends; everything made her absolutely graceful and beautiful.

Shiron shock his head to get these thoughts out of his head but this place made it impossible for him. He didn’t know why but suddenly he wished he could look Rainbow Dash deep into her strong rose eyes. In his mind he was slowly moving his hoof to Rainbow Dash’s face. She would look at him with the most beautiful eyes in all of Equestria…

…and his hoof would gently touch her face while his brown eyes would look deep into her own eyes. He would stroke her face with a warm smile. Rainbow Dash was deeply blushing by her own thoughts but because of this cursed place she couldn’t stop her brain.

In her mind Rainbow was slowly moving closer to Shiron and he put one of his forelegs around her while she would rest her head against his shoulder. He would hold her for awhile and she would feel save. Then she would move her head close to Shiron’s while she would look him deep in his eyes which would be full of love…

…and with her soft voice she would say these magical three words. I love you.

The swan board had already reached the deepest and darkest part of the Tunnel of Love. The light of the pink hearts had disappeared and the music had become quieter. However, Shiron didn’t notice it. He was too focused on his thoughts about a moment that would never happen.

I love you, too he would say to Rainbow Dash. Slowly he would move his face closer to Rainbow’s. His heart would beating faster and faster and just like Rainbow Dash he would close his eyes…

… while she would move her face closer to Shiron’s face. Her heart would happily jump when their lips would finally meet. In her mind Rainbow Dash and Shiron were hugging while they were kissing.

All the love books she had secretly read as a filly, long before the worst day of her life that made her hate books and love, and all the stories her friends had told her said that the first kiss would be a wonderful experience but that was understated.

Her imaginary kiss with Shiron was better than everything she had ever felt. It was better than flying, better than the feeling of doing a Sonic Rainboom, better than the day she got her cutie mark and even better than the whole day she had spent with the Wonderbolts. It was like she was flying with the speed of light while she would do Sonic Rainboom after Sonic Rainboom. It felt like there where thousands of butterflies in her tummy. All of the pain and suffering she had to withstand with Silverwing and Cloudburst would finally disappear. Finally, she was feeling happy and loved by an imaginary kiss that just felt so good…

...too good to be just an illusion. Shocked, she opened her eyes…

…when her lips would finally met his, Shiron would feel like he was in heaven. All his pain and sorrow, everything he had suffered would disappear during this magical moment. He would finally find a place he could call home with someone who would always help and support him. A friend he could trust and who would never betray him.

He just felt alive while he felt Rainbow Dash’s soft lips on his lips. Wait he thought. He actually felt her lips on his own. With a shock he opened his eyes at the same time as Dash.

Still hugging Rainbow Dash he looked her deep into her eyes. It took both ponies a few seconds until they realized that their minds had leaded them to a real kiss. Quickly they broke their kiss and moved back into their own corners of the swan beat, their looks focused on everything except each other while they were both deeply blushing.

Curse you Rarity and Pinkie Pie they thought in unity, unaware that the other pony was also cursing their two friends for this embarrassing moment. Just in time Rainbow and Shiron had stopped blushing when the exit and a silly smiling Rarity and a happily bouncing Pinkie came into sight.

The two ponies silently got out of the swan boats and tried to avoid looking at each other. Rainbow knew it was as embarrassing for Shiron as it was for her but somehow, it still hurt a little, especially after all the fun they had tonight. However, she was able to understand her friend.

“Sooooo, how was it?” Pinkie asked curious, a big grin on her face while Rarity was standing next to her. Both of them were looking as Shiron and Dash.

“You know, I’m very tired” Shiron started a bit nervous before Dash was able to say something, “I think I’ll call it a night. I'll....see you all tomorrow”. Before anyone was able to react, Shiron had spread his wings and flew away.

As soon as he left, Rainbow just lost it. “Are you two crazy? What the hay do you two think you were doing?”

“Darling, we were just trying to help you two,” Rarity tried to calm her angry friend, surprised by Dash’s reaction. After all, she just wanted to help her friend to find happiness after everything that happened in the past.

“By what? Tricking us into a date?” Dash asked angrily, trying her best to calm down and by Celestia, it wasn’t easy. She took a deep breath, “Listen girls, it’s nice of you that you try to make me and Shiron happy but something like love doesn’t exist. It’s only a meaningless word that’ll allow others to hurt you.”

Looking at Rarity, “At least you should know that after your encounter with your true love Blueblood,” she said more poisonous than she wanted to. “Love is nothing more than a bunch of horseapples,” Dash added, not even trying to hide her bitterness.

“Dashie, we know what happed was awful but you shouldn’t give up on love just because of Cloudburst” Pinkie said before realizing what she just said, but it was already too late. She covered her mouth with her hoof but she just had mentioned Dash’s only weakness.

Rarity winced when Pinkie mentioned Dash’s old crush. After all, she had been the one who introduced her to her old class mate when he was visiting her. She also had been the one to help Dash to impress him. If she would have known how much he had changed after he moved to Manehatten, then she would have kicked him out of Ponyville when he had visited her. Sadly, she had learned about what happened after Rainbow’s heart was crushed and now Pinkie accidently mentioned him again. Things had just changed from bad to horrible.

Taking a step back, Dash’s mind just went blank. She tried to say something in return, anything, but her mouth just opened and closed like a fish without making a sound. Her legs started to shake and tears started to run down her cheeks. She didn’t even notice Applejack who was walking toward them, wondering what was going on.

None of Dash’s friends were prepared what Dash said quietly, not fitting the brave and confident Pegasus at all, “I’m done with you two”. Without looking back, Dash took off, leaving her shocked friends alone.

When Rainbow was sure that she was all alone, she landed on a nearby cloud, starting to cry. After everything that happened, Pinkie had to mention the only thing that still hurt, even after all the years. She never had been as girly as other mares her age had been, but she was always proud to live on her own terms. No one had the right to tell her how to live her life.

Of course, hidden behind her confidence, she had also shared the same silly dream many fillies are having about finding her true love and a wedding in a beautiful dress. However, after her heart was broken twice, she woke up from that silly dream and realized that true love doesn’t exist. Dash had already lost the faith in love long ago and it was unlikely that she would someday believe in it again.

It took some time but slowly Dash started to calm down and she used a hoof to wipe away her tears. She was just glad she was all alone right now. She rolled on her back, looking at the stars and Luna’s moon. Trying to recall what had just happened and how a fun night had lead to her saying that she didn’t want to be friends with Pinkie and Rarity anymore, Dash thought back.

It all had started harmless with Pinkie and Rarity thinking that she and Shiron would have romantic feelings for each other. So they teamed up and set them up to something like a date. It had been fun to spend the night with Shiron she thought with a weak smile. Somehow, deep inside she even like the whole kissing part, but that wasn’t really why she got mad, was it?

Rainbow got up, looking at the direction of her cloud home – she even saw it. Why did she become that mad? Was it, because of the whole matchmaking? Being tricked into a date and a kiss? No, it was something different and she knew the answer. She was afraid.

After they left the tunnel of love, Shiron had suddenly left and flew home. She wasn’t mad at him and it would have been unfair if she would have been. No, he was most likely as surprised or nervous as she was. Maybe he also was afraid. Would something change between them? Would they still hang out and spend time together like before or would they start to avoid each other? That though was what she feared the most, losing a friend.

Letting her head hung Dash knew that the next few days wouldn’t be easy. Not only because of her kiss with Shiron but also because of Rarity and Pinkie. Most likely her two friends knew that Rainbow was just hurt and didn’t mean what she had said. However, telling a friend to not want to be friends with them anymore still was something you shouldn’t do. They needed to talk things out tomorrow and she also had to talk with Shiron. Rainbow Dash wouldn’t allow that their friendship would end just because of a misunderstanding.

Just when she was about to fly home, Rainbow heard a scream. She instantly knew that it had been Fluttershy’s voice and she dashed off to her friend’s home. When she landed in front of Fluttershy’s cottage, she knocked on the door, which slowly opened. Equestria was a safe place, if you don’t count the few villains or monsters from time to time, so the ponies of Ponyville didn’t really need to lock their doors.

“Fluttershy, what happened?” she asked, but the room was dark. “I’m coming in” she announced and walked into the house.

Rainbow scanned the room. Most of Fluttershy’s animals were still sleeping, while some other’s seemed to have woken up by their caretaker’s scream, looking confused at the intruder. Seeing, it was just a friend of Fluttershy, some closed their eyes again, while others still were focusing their look on Dash. Well, here I have my Nightmare Ride Dash thought, looking at all the eyes of the animals staring at her.

When she heard a sound from above, Dash quickly run upstairs, ignoring the looks of the animals. If her friend needed help, she would be there for her. A whimper came out of Fluttershy’s bedroom and Dash opened the door. “It’s me, Rainbow Dash” she said quietly, not to scare her shy friend even more.

“D..dashie?” Fluttershy asked, using Rainbow’s pet name. Rainbow saw a shaking blanket and a pair of cyan eyes looking at her from under the blanket.

“What happened? I heard you screaming” Dash said with a caring voice.

“I….uhm…“the shy Pegasus started but was too scared or embarrassed to continue.

“Come on Shy, you can talk to your old buddy Dashie” Rainbow, taking a few steps closer to her.

“I had … a bad dream” Fluttershy confessed, coming out from under her blanked. “It was so dark and I was so scared” she added, close to tears.

Rainbow knew how easy it was to scare her old friend, so she did the one thing that always helped, embracing her friend in a good, old hug. “Everything is good now. I’ll protect you.” When Fluttershy hugged her back, Dash offered her friend “If you want, I can stay here until tomorrow” which Fluttershy gladly accepted with a smile and a nod.

For some reason, Dash had to think of the old zebra mare again - A friend of yours will be caught in nightmares and darkness. Of course there wasn’t any real danger for Fluttershy’s life and there wasn’t any darkness being launched at her. However, maybe the old mare still had been right at all. At least Dash was able to help one of her friends today. Tomorrow, she would try to fix the mess that had happened.

While Rainbow Dash was at Fluttershy’s home, Shiron was lying in his bed. As soon, as he got home, he had gone to sleep. However, just like every night, it wasn’t a peaceful sleep. His horn was slowly glowing every few seconds, illuminating the room. Just like every night, the alicorn was caught in his nightmares.

Author's Notes:

Finally a new chapter^^
Some things had changed since last time. Finished my apprenticeship, got a job and, after almost two years, I finally was able to deal with a bad thing. Well, I still hate a certain collection of stories but at least they aren't causing any problems anymore

Well, I think I'll try to skip the whole pre-reader thing for the next few chapters. Doesn't make much sense with the speed I'm writing at the moment. Would be one pre-reader for every chapter

Now to the chapter itself^^ I tried to write a more or less good prophecy without actually spoiling anything that will happen. Don't know if it worked or not, but I tried my best^^

Moreover, this chapter also marks a special event for my fanfic. The next chapter will be the beginning of the main plot of the first "book" of this fanfic. I just hope you will like the ideas I have planned for the climax of the first book^^

Chapter 7: Nightmares

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Darkness surrounded Shiron while he was running through the forest. He knew this place because he had lived here for several months, but somehow the forest was different this time. Shiron didn’t know why, but he was afraid. Something wasn’t right. There were no sounds of animals, just darkness. He was running away, trying to find his friends, but the forest just disappeared, merging with the darkness.

Then he was standing at the edge of a cliff. The ground behind him started to collapse and soon everything, except the spot he was standing on, had turned into a giant and bottomless hole. Cracks formed on the ground under him but when he tried to fly away, his wings just didn’t move. He tried to use magic to teleport but this also was useless. No matter what he tried, he wasn’t able to escape.

Somewhere in the distance he spotted his friends having a picnic. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy played with a ball, Rarity was relaxing on her couch and Twilight was reading a book while Rainbow and Applejack ate some sandwiches and drank cider. It was a happy day for them, not knowing what was happening to him.

Shiron called their names, but his friends didn’t listen to him. Instead they just continued to have fun. When the ground under his hooves collapsed, Shiron finally was able to spread his wings, but after a few flaps something started to wrap around his hind legs.

The darkness seemed to be alive and shadows started to swallow him up. The more of his body was swallowed up, the less Shiron could feel. It felt, as if he was just disappearing. He tried to use magic once more but shocked Shiron realized that his horn was missing. It didn’t just disappear; it looked as if he always had been a Pegasus pony, not an alicorn.

For a moment it seemed, as if the darkness stopped to grab him, but then Shiron started to fall. Giving up, he just closed his eyes and accepted his defeat. While the darkness swallowed the world up, his friends just continued their picnic, not caring for his fate.

Heavily breathing Shiron awoke with a start, his body wet with sweat. Half asleep, he quickly put a hoof on his head and was relieved that his horn was still on his head. He was shaking in fear when he tried to get up. Looking out of his window he was able to see the moon. It still was night but he knew that Celestia would soon raise the sun. Somehow, he always knew when the princesses raised the sun and the moon. He almost felt their magic.

Trying to clear his mind from his nightmare, Shiron slowly went into the shower. Walking pass his mirror he noticed that he just looked awful; a messy mane and bags under his eyes. Somehow, he should have got used to his nightmares by now, having them almost every night, but it only got worse. He didn’t know why he was hunted every night. His whole life had changed after he had saved Rainbow Dash that night.

After a long and lonely year he finally got friends. He had learned what kind of pony he was and Celestia and Luna even offered him a family. It felt weird and wrong to call them by their names without using their title - they were princesses after all. How could he, a pony who wasn’t even able to control his magic, be worthy of calling the princesses of Equestria by their names? Not to mention to casually treat them as his big sisters.

Shiron shiver with cold when he was walking toward his shower. His room was at the right temperature but somehow it felt as if his room got colder - even his mirror started to fog up. A hot shower, that was what he needed right now. When the warm water ran down his mane, he slowly started to feel better. It wasn’t the first time he felt cold for no reason but maybe it was also some kind of alicorn thing. He should ask the princesses about it next time he sees them.

As the water warmed him up, Shiron thought back to the past few days. The Winter Moon Festival had been a huge success and the ponies started to get used to having Luna as a second princess. Her speech had been recorded and shown in almost all of Equestria. Finally Luna was able to live her life without her past as Nightmare Moon. At least he hoped so.

Moreover, despite their kiss, his friendship with Rainbow Dash gladly wasn’t damaged. He still didn’t know what exactly had leaded to their kiss, but Dash assured him that it just had been a silly prank by Pinkie and Rarity. Believing that she would only act with the best intentions, he had accepted her explanation; even if he knew that there might have been a different reason behind everything. Dash would never willingly hurt a friendship and if she actually made up the whole prank story, then she had her reasons.

However, he had noticed that something had happened between Rainbow and Pinkie and Rarity. Did they have a fight because of the prank? He never got an answer but since things got better after they had talked things out, Shiron didn’t pay more attention to it. After all, the three ponies still were best friends, so it most likely wasn’t something serious.

Drying himself off, Shiron left his shower. This week Dash was doing the inspection flies so she already was awake. Yawning, Shiron left the shower and was about to go downstairs when he heard something. It sounded, as if someone was singing. Not one of the usual songs ponies liked to sing out of nowhere but something different. Something like a melody you hum for your children. Following the sounds, Shiron walked downstairs. It was a beautiful, calming melody that made his heart feels warm. A gentle and heartwarming melody. That voice, was it…Rainbow Dash?

He opened the front door and there she was sitting. A few birds sat next to the cyan Pegasus pony, listening to her melody. Behind the strong and cool face she was always showing was lying a gently and caring side. An innocent and kind pony, much more sensitive and vulnerable then he had ever thought. He didn’t know why she was hiding it before others, but Shiron felt awful. It was, as if he was invading Dash’s privacy. If she wanted it to be a secret, then he wouldn’t hurt her trust in him. However, when he was about to sneak back into the house, the birds noticed him and flew away. Dash turned around and looked at him.

For a few moments, Dash was looking at her alicorn friend. Those few moments before your mind screams at you, telling you to hide your emotions and act cool and confident. She hated it; she was so tired of hiding a part of who she was before everyone except Fluttershy. She was the Element of Loyalty after all, but hiding a part of herself felt like not trusting her friends. It felt, as if she was betraying them.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to invade your privacy” he apologized to her. He always was so nice and friendly. Maybe everything would have been different if she had met him before Cloudburst. Those sweet moments she thought, right before she instinctively put up the wall around her again. She couldn’t fight it. Too long was she wearing her mask.

“No need to apologize, I was just thinking about a new, awesome flying trick. Yep, just me being awesome and … stuff” she lied while faking a laugh. Rainbow was so sick of lying and looking at Shiron, she knew she messed this one up. Now he was going to laugh at her. “Ok, ok, you got me. Go on, laugh at me” she said with her head hung.

“Why should I laugh it you?” he innocently asked instead. She looked at him standing next to the door of her home, as if he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to come closer. Just once I want to share again she thought, signaling him to come closer. She didn’t know why she did it. Maybe she wanted at least one more pony next to Fluttershy to actually know who she was deep inside. Just one last time…

“That was a beautiful song” Shiron said, sitting down next to her. Together they looked at the sky. Light spread on the horizon; signs of sunrise. Silently, they sat next to each other, watching the sunrise.

“Thank you” Dash said, not only referring to what he just said. “My mom always sang it for me when I was young” she added. As embarrassing as her parents were, she loved them. To her, they were the most awesome ponies.

Dash looked at Shiron, the ruby in his necklace reflected the sunset in a magical red. He was just looking at the sun full of melancholy. She resisted the wish to hug him with one of her wings. “Are you ok?” she asked instead.

“Yes, I just” he started, still looking at the horizon, “didn’t sleep very well.” His eyes were full of sorrow. Was it really just because of a bad night? No, she knew him long enough to know that there was more.

After their beach party he had actually changed. He was more outgoing, he laughed and had fun. Shiron had actually started to come out of his shell. They all knew that there still was something that depressed him, something other than his amnesia. It was, as if he didn’t want to remember. What had happened to you, she silently asked him. It hurt her to see a friend suffer and she wanted nothing more than to help him. However she knew that, if she would try to find out what was wrong, he would once again start to isolate himself. When he felt that the time was right, he would come to them and they would be there for him.

“Could you please…” Shiron quietly asked“…sing you song again?” It was the first time anypony asked her something like that. Probably, it would also be the last time she would allow someone to see behind her wall.

She closed her eyes and soon her melody filled the air again. Dash didn’t know why she didn’t escape like usual. Yes, she actually was a brave and confident mare, she always had been, and she liked who she was. She was the awesome and daring Rainbow Dash. However, she was usually also living a lie, hiding a part of herself. Except of her family and Fluttershy, no one she had shown her true self had stayed by her side. Silverwing, Cloudburst and even her old best friend Gilda; all of them had left her one way or the other.

After a few minutes, Dash felt something on her wing. Looking to her side she saw that her friend had fallen asleep. He looked so peaceful, as if it was the first good sleep he was having in months. Blushing, Rainbow spread one of her wings and put it on her sleeping friend. Without stopping her song, she looked back at the rising sun.

Maybe, just maybe, it won’t be the last time she thought, almost wishing.

As the sun slowly rose above Equestria, the golden aura around Celestia’s horn started to fade. It would be another beautiful day for her beloved subjects. Standing on her balcony and looking down to Ponyville in the distance, she was wondering how her fellow alicorn was doing.

It had been two months now since she had met him. From the day she and Luna had become the princesses of Equestria until the day they met him, she had always thought that there only meant to be two alicorns. Of course, there had been a few chosen ponies who earned their right to ascend to become alicorns themselves, just like her adopted niece Princess Cadence, but those ponies had been turned into alicorns, not born as one.

One could think that Shiron also had been something else and then was turned into an alicorn but that wasn’t possible. His magic had exactly the same feeling as her own and Luna’s magic, so he actually was a born alicorn. He hadn’t told her where he came from and she wasn’t even sure if he knew it himself. She had tried to follow his hoofsteps back to the meadow where he had woken up. It hadn’t been difficult because he never learned how to control his magic, so she just had followed the magic traces back to their origin.

When she had finally found the place, she was south of Vanhoover and in the undiscovered west of Equestria. Only a few smaller villages were here and nopony had been able to see her. She was just lucky that Luna agreed to hide her absence from their subjects. They both needed to found out why another alicorn had appeared now. Was it because of the return of her sister or was it just coincidence? They needed answers. For the first time ever recorded there now were three alicorns alive at the same time.

Sadly, the meadow hadn’t given Celestia an answer but more questions. She had visited the exact place where Shiron had woken up; she still was able to feel the magic. There had been traces of a powerful teleportation spell; a long distance teleportation. However, that was all she had been able to figure out. Teleportation was an advanced spell and a long distance teleportation was even more difficult. Since she still had been able to feel the magic of the spell, it must have been very powerful; too powerful for everything Shiron was currently able to do. Her investigation had leaded to two possible options.

Shiron could have used the spell to defend himself; it wasn’t unusual that unicorns used spells they didn’t know when they were in danger or scared. Magic was more than just learning, it was a part of what they were. So their body and mind reacted on their own and, in order to escape or to save someone dear to them, they instinctively used an unknown and powerful spell. Especially parents had this power when their children were in danger. Same worked for earth ponies and pegasi, just in a more physical way; unleashing strength they didn’t know they have.

The second option was that someone else had used the spell on Shiron. However, that would lead to the question who was behind the teleportation spell and why it was used. Moreover, where was that someone now and did Shiron know about it?

Since the spell was already older than a year, Celestia wasn’t able to extract any information from it and had returned to Canterlot. Although she hadn’t found the answers she was searching for, she at least knew that Shiron had told her the truth. Not that she thought that he was lying to her, but she needed to be sure. She wanted to help him but she also needed to find out the truth.

Signing, Celestia returned to her room. Luckily it was Saturday and for the first time in weeks she didn’t have any appointments or meetings. Seems like I actually have a free day Celestia thought when she laid down on her bed. However, no matter what she did, she couldn’t forget what Shiron had said. If they really want to fear me, then I’ll give them a reason to fear me!

Almost the same words Luna had used thousand years ago. The same eyes full of sadness and bitterness. The magic he unleashed, it had felt like a storm…a storm? Without realizing it, Celestia had closed her eyes and fell asleep. Back to a dream she had gotten used to. Once more she had to relive all of those memories.

Celestia was standing in her old throne room; back at the castle of the two sisters. She was a young alicorn again, looking out of the window. A storm was raging outside and she still could feel the magic her sister had used to raise the moon. As if it was yesterday, Celestia remembered that the nights had become less and less beautiful and Luna, once a cheerful pony that loved to laugh and play pranks, had become a quiet pony shrink into herself.

Of course Celestia had seen this changes but she had hoped that Luna just needed some time before she would talk to her. They had been sisters after all and every time when one of them had problems they had helped each other. They had also helped each other when their friend Discord had turned evil and they had to turn him into stone. However, this time it had been different.

Luna hadn’t come to Celestia and Celestia had decided to make the first step. In all her life she had never seen her little sister like this. Standing in front of her little sister once more, hearing the same words again. Luna said that her subjects would hate her and her night and that they wouldn’t accept her as a princess.

Celestia tried everything to make her sister feel better but when she looked into Luna’s eyes she was able to see sadness, anger and bitterness.

Remember my words Celestia Luna said, for the first time calling her by her full name and not a sisterly name like Tia or Celly. If these ponies can’t accept me and my night, then they’ll fear me. Soon my night will last forever! With these words Luna left the room. Celestia tried to follow her little sister, just like every night, but Luna had already used her magic to teleport herself. Despite it being a dream, Celestia still searched for a way to change what had happened. However, no matter what she tried or said, it always ended the same way. The memories continued, unable to change their outcome.

For the first time, the sun didn't raise in the morning and the ponies became nervous. Celestia tried to find Luna and bring her back to their castle but being an alicorn herself Luna was able to hide from everypony, including Celestia. Make it stop Celestia begged her mind, knowing what would happen next, but the dream just continued.

Some days had already passed and the night had continued. Luna had been able to block Celestia’s magic every time when she had tried to raise the sun. Please, stop this she desperately tried to end the dream.

Once more the scene changed. Luna was standing on a balcony inside their castle, crushing the handrail with her front hooves. Then she transformed into Nightmare Moon. A hard battle begun and against her will Celestia had to fight her own sister once more.

She tried to talk to the evil mare but Luna’s personality had been buried in Nightmare Moon’s darkness. No, I don’t want to see this again she thought. Without another option left, Celestia’s horn called the Elements of Harmony for help. However, the Elements were too strong for Celestia, who was a young pony again.

Instead of saving Luna from Nightmare Moon the Elements went out of control and in the end they had banished Nightmare Moon and Luna forever to the moon. It broke Celestia’s heart when she realized what the Elements had done once more. The royal castle was destroyed and its beautiful forest had turned into the Everfree Forest.

As the scene changed once more, Celestia had already forgotten that this was a dream. To her, she had just banished her little sister to the moon. She saw her subjects starting to build a new castle, Canterlot, next to the cliff side of Equestria’s most magical mountain, but like always Celestia wouldn’t leave the ruins of her castle. She used her magic to control the sun and the moon but despite this, she stayed in her chosen exile. She just couldn’t forgive herself.

She somehow remembered that her subject were worried. They brought her everything she needed but they weren't able to cheer her up. Why do I have this memories?, she asked herself. Reality felt strange, as if her life was running on fast motion. Is this real or have I gone crazy?

It had taken some months and the words of a young filly until she recovered from her grieve. Slowly, the sun princess started to rule again and Celestia decided that she would somehow save her little sister. Caught between reality and dream, Celestia just lived her life on fast motion. This was how reality felt after all, wasn’t it?

Years had passed since the banishment of her sister, Celestia had trained all her abilities, she saved her subjects from many threats and she had gained the control over the Elements of Harmony, at least for a short time. Although she hadn’t been able to bring Luna back she had been able to shorten her banishment. Instead of an eternal banishment, Celestia had created an own spell to shorten the banishment to thousand years. Although it still had been very long, Celestia hadn’t been able to shorten the banishment even more.

Celestia made a vow that she would never ever allow that one of her friends or her subjects will feel cut off or alone and in the following thousand years, she had helped many of her subjects and made them feel better. She remembered their faces and their names; all of her future friends and subjects.

All this memories repeated in Celestia’s mind again and again. Night after night she dreamed about the worst mistake of her life, trading her happy life with the fake reality of her dreams. Night after night she reminded herself what she had done to her own little sister. Although she finally got her little sister back, she just wasn’t able to forgive herself.

When Celestia finally awoke from her dream, Luna was standing next to her bed with a worried look. “You had a nightmare again, hadn’t you sister?” the moon princess said. However, before Celestia was able to answer, Luna sad down next to her sister, put a wing on Celestia’s back and said “It’s time that we talk about this.”

Shiron felt bad that he had fallen asleep during Dash’s song but somehow she didn’t seem to mind. Despite the initial shock Dash had shown when he had seen her, it looked as if she was happy. He didn’t know why, but it made him happy, too. She was full of energy today, smiling and laughing as if she just found a barrel full of Sweet Apple Acres’ cider.

It was already pass noon when he had woken up with a blanket on him and a cloud pillow under his head; Dash really cared for her friends. After they ate together, Rainbow wanted him to show how to fly properly. He didn’t know what she meant with that. He was able to take off and land without crashing, he was able to do a few tricks and he also was fast. Of course, not as fast as Rainbow Dash, but he was a good flyer, wasn’t he?

No, he wasn’t. Despite his abilities, he quickly realized that he still had a lot to learn. He never really had paid attention to his own flying style. However, now that Dash mentioned it, he noticed the difference. Unlike Dash, or any other older Pegasus pony, he was flapping his wings like a foal. Dash always needed only a few flaps to fly higher and almost no flaps when she was going deeper. She was using the wind to her advantage while he always tried to fight it. He never realized how much energy he had wasted in doing so. Not to mention that Dash was also using thermals to carry her. He really had to learn a lot and he didn’t even start to learn how to use his magic although Twilight offered to teach him; more than just once.

“I’m still amazed that you actually lived in the Everfree Forest” Dash said when they made a break.

“It wasn’t that bad” he responded. He had heard many stories of the Everfree Forest but to him, they were all exaggerated. “You wouldn’t believe what wonders you can find there” he added with a smile.

“You mean, except poison joke and pony eating monsters?” she asked skeptical. “Thanks, but I pass.”

He knew ponies were afraid of the unnatural forest but he knew better. Then he got an idea. With a grin he looked at Dash “Sounds like you are too afraid to let me show you what the Everfree Forest has to offer.”

"I’m not afraid of anything” Dash said as brave and confident as possible. “Show me what you’ve got.” It seemed that she accepted the challenge.

“I will, but we should wait until it is dark” he said, smiling. “I’ll show you one of my favorite places.”

“Oh come on, why waiting for the dark?” Dash complained. She really hated to wait.

“Because you can only see it during night” he answered.

“Fine” she sighed, “but first we’ll practice some more. I want to turn you into an even better flyer after all”

Shiron winced at that. Dash really had a good heart but he was sure that, by the end of the day, his wings would fall off. It was going to be a very long day for the soon to be unicorn.

“You know that you can’t run away sister” Princess Luna patiently said while following Princess Celestia. Now she was chasing her big sister for almost the whole day, trying to talk her. Even before she had left her bedroom Luna knew how stubborn her big sister could be. Some things never changed, not even after a thousand years.

“I already told you that everything is fine Luna” the sun princess answered annoyed. Luckily, Luna already had a plan B. It was time to duel.

Since Celestia didn’t know the truth, Luna still was in play. “You know that I’m the princess of night and dreams, right?” she asked as convincing as possible. When Celestia stopped dead in her tracks, Luna knew her plan could work. “I know about your dreams already” she bluffed, while walking pass her sister

It was true that she was able to visit the dreams of her subjects, including her big sister, but since she was freed from her other side, she still wasn’t able to use all of her powers. Rising and lowering the moon was easy, that was her special talent after all, but entering dreams was more complex. However, Celestia didn’t know about this little secret and Luna just had to seal the deal.

“Well, if you already know about my dreams, then there is nothing to talk about” Celestia countered. It seemed that this was going to be like one of their old chess games and Luna had to prepare her next turn.

“The only reason I want to talk about it in person is because you are my sister” Luna made her next move. It was a risky one but she knew her sister better than anypony else. There only were a few things that could cause Celestia to have nightmares. “but if you prefer, then we will just continue tonight in your dream.”

Both sisters continued their way to the throne room. They both were adults now, so the cause of the nightmare weren’t because of the homework Starswirl gave them. Equestria also was a very wealthy and peaceful kingdom, so the well being of their subjects neither was the cause. That only left two options; Shiron and the moon princess herself.

“You know that ponies inverted dream catchers, right? That way I can lock my dreams from you” the sun princess said.

That really was a weak move Tia Luna thought. “I know about them and although they are meant to protect you from bad dreams, they don’t work” she cornered her big sister. She knew it was true because if they would work, then the Tantabus wouldn’t be in her dreams anymore. Not that it could work anyway. After all, she had created the Tantabus for herself as a punishment for what she had done as Nightmare Moon. However, that was a different story.

When they both entered the throne room, Luna gave the guard ponies a signal to leave them alone. Quickly the two royal guards left and the two sisters were alone again. The guards shouldn’t hear or see what would happen here soon. Nightmare Moon Luna thought, knowing that this was the most likely cause for her sister’s nightmares.

Unlike Celestia, Luna hadn’t really had a chance to talk to Shiron but it was unlikely that he was the cause of the nightmares. Well, at least not the main cause. The moon princess thought back to the storm he had created by his emotional outburst and the magic he had unleashed. Who knows what would have happened if Celestia wouldn’t have been able to get through him during that moment. However, he was now living in Ponyville, so it was unlikely that this would happen again. His friends would be able to heal his wounds.

“Don’t you have anything better to do than bothering me?” Celestia said more offensive that she wanted. Luna already expected something like this and she already prepared herself for the following.

“You are the most important pony in my live. There isn’t anything better I can do than helping you” Luna calmly said. The look in Celestia’s eyes changed. Checkmate Luna thought while making her last move. “Please tell me what is actually bothering you” she added, preparing for the impact. She didn’t have to wait for long.

“Tell you what? That I have been a horrible sister? That I’ve stole you thousand years of your life. That I took everyone and everything you’ve had away from you?” the sun princess angrily exploded. Tears started to form in Celestia’s eyes and Luna knew that her sister was fighting with her options; trying to escape or staying and talking things out.

Letting her head hung, Celestia chose the latter and sat down on her throne. With a glowing horn, she lowered the sun while Luna sat down next to her, a wing on Celestia’s back.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t sure what to expect. She had been to the Everfree Forest a few times already and all she had found was a sun stealing alicorn princess, poison joke and a monster that wanted to treat her to dinner with Dash as the meal. Of course she also had found two friends in there, Zecora and Shiron, but all in all, the Everfree Forest was just creepy. At least it was a cloudless night this time.

“Are you really sure there is something good in here?” Dash asked Shiron while she was following him. His horn was glowing in a bright light as they were walking deeper and deeper into the forest.

“Of course there is. I hope you aren’t scared” he asked her.

“Me? Scared? Come on, you are talking to the bravest Pony in all of Equestria” she said full of confidence. A growl in the distance however made her walk closer to Shiron.

“There is nothing wrong with being afraid” Shiron responded “I know I was when I first entered the Everfree Forest.”

“Sooo, what do you want to show me?” Dash asked, hoping to change the subject. Brave or not, she didn’t want to show when she was afraid. It just didn’t fit the image of the awesome Rainbow Dash everyone knew and loved; especially the younger ponies of Ponyville.

“That’s a secret, but I’m sure you will love it” Shiron responded to his curious friend.

As much as Dash liked surprises, she preferred to see them at safer places with more light and less monsters. Speaking of safe; Rainbow always wondered how Shiron had been able to survive in this place. Sure, he had wings but he didn’t really know how to use magic. Nevertheless he was able to cast a spell to fight these creatures.

“Hey Shiron, how did you learned that spell?” she asked her alicorn friend. “You always try to do things without magic.” Even after two months she couldn’t understand why he rarely used magic. If she would be an alicorn, then her flying tricks would be even more awesome.

“I don’t really like to use my magic. I prefer to live like a Pegasus pony” she wasn’t able to see his face when he answered her. “However, I figured this spell out by coincidence during my first week here. Just like you, our little wolfie over there attacked me too” explained, pointing to a moving shadow in the distance. Dash knew that shadow all too well and moved closer to Shiron.

“Don’t worry; he only gets aggressive during full moon. The rest of the month he is mostly passive” he tried to calm her but Rainbow still didn’t want to find out if that thing actually was passive right now. “When he attacked me, I wasn’t really able to escape. Then, out of nowhere, my horn started to glow in a bright light. I kind of remembered that feeling and trained to use it. Later I used it to help ponies who were stuck in here.”

“You saved many ponies with that spell” Dash said while resting on of her wings on his back “and that includes me.” Before he was able to play down what he did, Rainbow quickly added “and don’t even try to say that it wasn’t a big deal.”

“Ok, you won Dash” he answered defeated “I guess I should be a bit more confident because of that.”

“Yes, you should” she said, patting him on his back with her wing. She loved to win.

“Ok, here we are” Shiron said, stopping the spell he was using. “It’s safe here, so we don’t need that spell anymore” he assured when he saw that she got nervous.

Rainbow Dash glanced around and noticed that they were at a clearing. Before them was a big and clear lake with many flowers. However, all the flowers were closed instead of being fully in bloom. The more she learned about the Everfree Forest, the weirder it seemed.

“Just sit down. It’s almost time” Shiron said quietly, sitting down close to the lake. She didn’t know what he meant, but she sat down next to him.

For a few moments they just sat there quietly; Dash really hated to wait. When she was about to ask Shiron what was about to start, the moon appeared above the trees. As soon as the light of the moon was reflected by the lake, the water started to glow in a soft green. However, not only the lake was influenced by the light of the moon. All the closed flowers slowly started to open and soon they all were fully in bloom. She didn’t know what this was, but she was speechless. Tiny yellow lights came out of each of the flowers and filled the air. Hundreds of lights maybe thousand, no even more, filled the air, flying around. The light of the lake and numberless fireflies filled the clearing. Dash already has seen fireflies, but never that many. It was just stunning.

“This is just…wow” Dash whispered to Shiron. Now she understood what he had meant. No matter how unnatural or scary a place like the Everfree Forest seemed, there always was something special to discover. When she looked at Shiron, he once again had a look full of sadness.

This time, she just had to talk to him, even if it would ruin this beautiful moment. “You know, if something depresses you, you can talk to me” Rainbow softly said to him. “I’ll always be there for you.”

“I…” Shiron started; it seemed as if he was fighting with himself. “Maybe we should go to a different place first. Another place that always made feel better” he said. Was he finally going to tell her the truth?

Shiron stood up and walked toward the lake. With his magic he was carefully picking up a flower. An aura of magic surrounded the flower for a short time and then the light disappeared. “It’s a spell I read about in a book. No matter what happens now, this flower will never wither” he explained, showing her the beautiful red flower.

Using his magic, he carefully placed the flower in her mane. She didn’t know why, but her heart was beating faster. “It looks beautiful on you” he said and Dash felt her face getting warmer. What was happening?

“I…thank you” she said. What the hay is happening? Why can’t I make a clear sentence?, Rainbow Dash thought. It didn’t make any sense to her.

“I think we should get going now” he said and together they left the most beautiful place Dash has ever seen. She would visit this place again someday.

Celestia and Luna were both sitting on the balcony of the throne room. Stars filled the sky and the moon shone down on them. Although she already knew the answer, the sun princess still tried her luck “You won’t stop to follow me until I tell you everything, will you?”

“I think we both know the answer, sister” Luna answered, letting Celestia sigh. Sometimes she understood why ponies complained about their younger siblings. Not that she would trade her little sister for anything in the world but Luna was stubborn sometimes.

She can be as stubborn as me Celestia though with a smile. “Fine, you won” she finally said while she saw Luna grin.

“So, you still feel guilty about all that happened?” Luna asked and wondered how long it will take them both until they finally can forgive themselves.

“Yes, I certainly do” was the answer. “Since the day I had used the Elements of Harmony, I always relive that day in my dreams. I tried to figure out if there was something I could have said or done to prevent it but I failed.” The sun princess looked at the moon as if it would hold the answers she was searching for.

“Sister, we already talked about this” Luna began, trying to sort her thoughts. “I know how much you had done for me and I’ve even heard your words when you tried to reason with my other self, but nothing could have changed what happened.”

“So you want me to believe that it was our destiny to fight each other? You can’t be serious” Celestia responded doubtfully.

“No, what I meant is, that I had chosen my way on my own” Luna tried to explain. “There had been a part of me that just wanted more. More love, more respect, more appreciation for my work as the princess of the night and dreams.” Luna looked at her big sister.

“I always knew how much you love me and now, thousand years later, I even kind of understand why our subjects treated me the way they did. It wasn’t because they hated me or my night. They just hadn’t been able to see the night as something different as the end of a day of hard work. It just had been a different age and they needed to learn to see the night as more than just the time to go to sleep.”

“Even if you are right then it should have been my duty to help you” Celestia insisted.

“No sister, I am the princess of the night. I should have been the one to do something but I just wasn’t ready to admit it. Even now I’m not sure if I would be able to teach out subjects to see the night as more” Luna disagreed with her sister. “You on the other hoof had changed the thinking of our subjects. You helped to create wonders of the night I never thought to be possible.”

“It wasn’t easy and I had many ponies that helped me” the older alicorn said, looking at all the light of Canterlot. Even now ponies were playing and having fun although it was night. “However, it still doesn’t change what I have done. If I wouldn’t have found an old spell Starswirl created, you still would be on the moon.”

“What do you mean?” Luna asked confused.

“You know that we always had used the Elements of Harmony together. However, when I had to fight Nightmare Moon, I had to use them on my own” tears formed in her eyes. “I wasn’t able to control their power and banished you on the moon forever.”

“Sister, I…I had no idea” Luna started but was interrupted by her big sister.

“I’ve searched for years, maybe even decades, for a way to save you. Purely by chance, I had discovered a secret lab of Starswirl” the sun princess continued, not even listening to Luna. “That’s when I had figured out a spell to use the magic of the four night spirits to create a spell to let Nightmare Moon escape. I had hoped that I could find a way to save you until then, even after I had lost the connection with the Elements of Harmony…”

“Stop it sister” Luna tried to calm her hyperventilating sister down. “I didn’t know what you have endured to save me but it worked. You finally have to forgive yourself.” Using her hoof, she wiped away the tears of her big sister.

“Luna, I…” she started, but then was shaking her head “you really are the best sister a pony can ask for” she said with a smile.

“I love you too, Tia” Luna responded, hugging Celestia. Her little sister was by her side again and Luna had forgiven her. Maybe it actually was time that Celestia forgive herself. However, there was still one thing she had to know.

“You weren’t able to visit my dreams, were you?” she asked but her little sister didn’t answer. Well played Luna, well played.

She didn’t need to ask Shiron where they were going this time. She knew this place all too well. Here she and her friends had learned about their destiny. Inside this building they had fought their first villain and they had freed Princess Luna from her other side. It was the castle of the two sisters.

Shiron hadn’t said a word since they had left the lake and Dash wondered what he was thinking. He seemed, as if he was fighting with himself whether he should tell her what was bothering him or not. She knew that a part of him actually wanted to ask her for help but she was worried about his other part. The same part that always assured that everything was fine even if it wasn’t. This time, she wouldn’t accept that excuse.

“I don’t know why, but this place always felt special to me” he finally broke the silence when they entered the castle. The statue where they had found the Elements of Harmony still was there although it looked somehow wrong without the five stone balls on it. “It almost felt like some sort of home to me.”

“The castle of the two sisters had once been the home of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna” Dash said. Maybe, if this place wouldn’t have been abandoned for a thousand years, there still would have been alicorn statues or pictures in here. Everything could have been different for him. “It was abandoned after Luna had been taken over by Nightmare Moon and fought her sister.”

“The old home of the princesses” he said, lost in thought. “I had been so close to found answers without even knowing.”

Together they went deeper into the castle. Rainbow Dash wondered how often he had been here already. So close to all the answers he had been searching for and yet so far away. She didn’t even want to think what would have happened if she wouldn’t have heard Zecora’s voice that day. Would he still live in his cave? Would she and her friends sooner or later have tried to solve the mystery of the guardian?

The two ponies entered a big room with broken windows and a collapsed balcony; the last remaining of a once beautiful room. The light of the moon filled the room and Dash knew she had to be the one to make the first step, “You said that you haven’t slept very well.”

“Well, I hadn’t have a good night in…I can’t even remember” he confessed while he was standing next to her. “It’s the same dream, night for night.”

“What kind of dream?” she asked. The wall he had build around him finally showed cracks and it was time to crush it, once and for all.

“I…” he started but still was fighting with himself. It was now or never and Dash preferred the first option.

She put a hoof on his back “You can always count on me; you just need to trust me.” She could almost see the hole in the imaginary wall he had created around him. He let out a sign and told her about his nightmares. How he was trying to escape the darkness with magic, with flying or asking them for help. How the darkness always catches him and how he always ended up alone. The darkness most likely represented his loneliness.

“It seems like not matter what happens in my life; I just can’t escape the darkness. It’s like I’m falling and there is no way out” he said, letting his head hung.

“I know how you feel. There are times when you just want to give up and let your fears and doubts get on your nerves” she confesses, knowing that feeling all too well. She put a hoof under his chin and gently lifted his head so that he was looking her into her eyes “but there is one thing that always helps; my friends. No matter what happens; if you’ll ever fall, I’ll be there to catch you. Got that” she confidently said. “I’m always there for my friends”

“Rainbow Dash…I” he looked her straight in the eyes but she still could see his doubts.

“Just think of me and crush those nightmares” she said, using one of her fighting poses to crush an invisible wall. She knew how awesome she looked.

“It’s not just the nightmares” he responded, turning away from her “it’s everything else.” Now we are going to crush the source of your problems she thought.

“One year…you have no idea how that felt.” He was walking a few steps away from her and looked out of the broken balcony. There only were trees as far as the eye could reach.

“Then tell me how it was. I want to help you” she almost begged. She wouldn’t let him get away anymore.

“What do you want to hear?” he angrily asked her, not even looking back. “I’ve searched for a whole year for a place I could call home and a friend or two. That’s not too much to ask for, isn’t it?” he asked but Dash wasn’t sure if he asked her or himself.

“However, all I’ve found was loneliness and isolation at the only place where no one would judge you by your look.” For some reason Rainbow Dash shiver with cold as if the room got colder. “But hey, luckily me, I’ve learned that I can breathe underwater and it seems I’m also immune to poison” he bitterly added, only implying how hard this one year loneliness actually had been for him.

Dash didn’t need to ask what he had meant, it was obvious, but hearing what he actually had tried almost broke her heart. If he wouldn’t have been an alicorn; she would have never met him at all. In hurt her deep inside when she realized how close she was to never meet one of her best friends.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to fit in; finding a place I could always return to but they’ve kept me from it” he almost whispered. Dash’s eyes grow bigger. “Maybe it would have been easier to become what they’ve seen in me” he quietly added, starting to cry.

It was this moment when Rainbow Dash realized the truth. You do remember about your past, don’t you, she thought but didn’t dare to ask. Shiron was just sitting there with his head hanging and his back to Rainbow. Even after all the time Rainbow knew Shiron this was the first time she saw this part of him. No hiding behind a happy face, no fake smiles and no affirmations that everything was alright - just a broken pony with a hurt soul.

Dash didn’t say anything when she walked toward him. While she was hugging him they didn’t need any word, Rainbow just hold him in her hooves to make him feel that he wasn’t alone anymore and that he could always trust her. She just was sitting there, holding her weeping friend.

As the sun slowly started to rise over Sweet Apple Acres, Shiron felt, as if someone has lifted a burden from his shoulders. He felt warmth in his heart he hasn’t felt like forever. He had actually told someone how he actually felt and instead of turning away from him, Rainbow Dash helped him to feel better. He knew that it was time to tell her everything. As soon as she would come home, he would tell her the truth about his memories. Although she had wanted to stay, he had asked her for some time to think about everything.

The person he had been all the years ago was long gone. It had drowned in an ocean of their hate. He had had to choose between one of two ways and both of them had been terrible. Since he hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone by becoming the monster they had seen in him, he had chosen to run away. Even after he had somehow arrived in Equestria and had lived in his cave he tried to escape everything including life but his immortally had saved him.

However, now Shiron changed the way he had chosen all the years ago. He had friends and he had Rainbow Dash’s friendship and respect. He was finally able to choose for the life he always dreamed of and he got his desire to live back. Shiron was sure that Rainbow would understand his reasons for lying. There was only one thing he wasn’t sure about.

“Howdy, partner” he heard Applejack’s voice behind him.

“Good morning Applejack” he answered, trying to figure out if he should also tell Dash about this one last thing.

“Is everythin’ alright?” the farm pony asked concerned.

“No…I mean yes” he quickly corrected himself. Applejack raised her eyebrow and Shiron knew he had to tell someone. At least he knew AJ would never tell anyone about his secret “Promise me to not tell anyone” he said, looking at his friend.

“I Pinkie Promise that I’ll keep it a secret” she answered, making some kind of dance. The same one Pinkie Pie always did when she was making a Pinkie Promise.

Looking for any signs of his other friends he let out a sigh. Everything would become much more complicated now “I think I’ve fallen in love with Rainbow Dash.”

Author's Notes:

Woohoo, two chapters in one month I hope it won't stop here I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Sooo, this time I tried to write two plots in one chapter. I don't know how well that worked, especially the plot of Celestia and Luna, but I tried my best. I know Celestia's dream might be a bit confusing and I might have messed it up, but I thought that, instead of rewriting it hundreds of times and wasting a year, I should publish it this way

I know one or two parts of Shiron's and Dash's part might be a little dark, especially the immortality thing, but I wanted to show how desperate he was during that one year all alone. I will reveal most of his past soon and I’ll reveal what happened in Dash’s past even sooner.

Sooo, chapter 7. The climax of the first book has started with this chapter. Rainbow figured out the truth, Shiron wants to reveal his secret about his amnesia to her and he realized his feeling for her.
However, there still is a long way for the happy end of the first third of this fanfic. Everything that will happen in the following chapters will take part during the following 24 hours. The big event starts next chapter

Thanks for reading and hopefully I can continue to write as fast as right now