//------------------------------//
// The First Spark 
// Story: The Alicorn Prince 
// by Rightben370 
//------------------------------//

I.Q. woke up yet again in a pool of sweat, after another failed training session and took this as another opportunity to check if anyone else was awake so he could put his plan into action. He looked over to where his brother slept and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his brother sleeping soundly. They wouldn't have a meeting without him there He thought. 
He decided to make a hasty escape and found himself in front of the saddlebags he hid for the trip, and behind them was one of the ponies he wished he hadn't dragged into this, "So, you're leavin' and you didn't think about telling me?" tears began to well up in her eyes
"Apple Bloom, I'm doing this to protect you, to protect all of you." I.Q. said in a hushed tone
"So you try and protect me by disappearin' without me knowin'? Why did any of this have to happen."  she paused and sat down, letting her tears drip one by one. I.Q. stood next to her and wrapped his wings around her, 
"I know how much you don't want me to do this, and to be honest I don't want to either, but this is something that I need to do, it's the only way to protect all of you." he paused for a moment, "Tell my brother if you get the chance, just make sure he doesn't do something as stupid as I'm about to do." they smiled for a short time, but the situation broke their small moment of happiness. they sat in silence for a while holding each other, until they both knew that it was time to go,
"Wait," she stopped him before he grabbed his bag, she looked up at him, untied her bandana, and tied it around his neck, "somethin' to remember me by." they both paused for another second, until they both leaned in, and their lips touched, each savoring the moment, but it wouldn't last. I.Q. finally grabbed his bags and began to leave, but quickly turned back and whispered.
"I love you" while dropping the apple pendant into her hooves, and quickly escaped into the brush.
I.Q. made his way to the edge of the forest and paused to look out over what remained of his home. 
What used to be grass and dirt paths was replaced with a checkered pattern. there were many odd constructions that replaced different buildings including a giant house of cards and a plethora of upside-down buildings. 
I.Q. felt rage fill him when he saw his sister's cottage turned into a gargantuan castle, but had to keep himself from steering away from his mission. he used his magic to teleport from location to location, trying his hardest to hide from patrolling guards, eventually managing to make it to the train station before realizing that the trains weren't running, he cursed under his breath, how else am i going to get to canterlot he thought. He decided to search the entire town, soon getting lost in the chaos, he cursed again, there's got to be some sort of transportation.
he continued his search, eventually coming across an airfield hidden in the chaos, he used his magic to warp onto one ship, named The King, going as fast as possible to find a spot to hide, in hopes that this ship would take him to canterlot. luckily the ship did go to the capitol, and I.Q. managed to get within the castle walls before.
"HALT!" I.Q. heard a guard call out from behind him, he began to run but felt an arrow go through his leg, making him fall to the ground. the pain had paralyzed him, leaving him vulnerable. The guard then grabbed him by the neck and bashed I.Q. with the butt of the crossbow, knocking him unconscious.
I.Q. awoke in a cell and saw starswirl begin a monologue, while he planned his escape, only to get knocked out of his trance by one of the two guards beginning to try and beat information out of him

"We have the elements of harmony in custody uncle" starswirl said to a large alicorn with a black swirling mane and a dark blue coat, 
"I thought you had said that the elements were absorbed by someone?" the alicorn stated confused
"they are lord Orion" starswirl confirmed
"so bring them to me! there are very few that can wield the magic of my parents and i wish to meet one of those few, this pony could be of use to our cause." Orion said with a slight tone
"of course my lord, as you wish." Starswirl walked out of the throne room, towards the cell of their new prisoner while Orion sat on his throne, looking away from the painted glass that lined the hall.