//------------------------------// // 1. New Friends? // Story: Flurry Heart's Destiny // by Sabrewolf9 //------------------------------// The cold wind rushed across her face as she desperately tried to outrun the pony chasing her. Her hooves hammered into the snow as she ran. She was breathing hard and fearing for her life, but it was no use. He was right behind her and catching up, but she didn't notice. The wind was loud in her ears roaring like a storm and her heart pounded in her chest. The moment she turned her head to see if he was still there he attacked, slamming her body on the ground. Her breath was knocked out of her throat and the shock of the impact didn't give her time to react. When she finally ignited her horn he had already cast a spell on her. She drew her last full breath before darkness enveloped her vision. Much earlier... It was a cool summer's morning. The Crystal Empire was peaceful and quiet, but a little alicorn filly was anything but quiet. "Mommy mommy mommy, are we there yet?" Flurry Heart asked. Cadence smiled. "We're almost there sweetie, just calm down." But Flurry Heart was not calm. This was her first day of school and she had been home schooled up until this point. Cadence thought that when she turned eight she should go to a regular school to help her socialize with other ponies. "But I can't be calm mommy I'm so nervous and excited!" Flurry exclaimed. Cadence giggled. "Well as your aunt Pinkie Pie would say, your nervosited." Flurry just stared at her mom a little confused. "Ner...vosited?" "Yes, it means nervous and excited, Cadence said. "Oh, that makes." When they arrived at the school it was a lot bigger than Flurry thought it was going to be. It had two tall towers on each side of it, it was a clear blue and made out of crystal (of course), it had two large wooden doors side by side at the front engraved with pink, yellow, and purple designs on it and the school had several windows all over it. Flurry Heart stared in amazement. "Are you sure this isn't a mini castle?" She said still awe struck. "No," Cadence said simply. "It's just very big because this is the only school in the Crystal Empire." "Oh ok," she said no longer looking at the school. She was too busy looking at the fillies playing on the playground and on the basketball court. Flurry Heart could feel her nervousness growing. "Do you think the other fillies will like me?" She asked quietly. Her mother was surprised at the question but simply smiled and said, "of course they will, who couldn't?" "Are you sure?" She said hesitantly. "Well most of them will yes, but there may be some who might treat you differently, but if they're being mean to you you don't have to listen to what they say and you can try to be friends with them," Cadence said. "But what if they treat me differently because I'm an alicorn?" Flurry Heart said worriedly. "I'm sure they won't but we need to get inside I'm sure class starts soon," Cadence said. As if on cue the school bell rang. "Oh there's your class better get inside. I'll be back here soon to pick you up." "Oh...ok," Flurry Heart said hesitantly. "You'll be fine trust me." Cadence said as she gave her daughter a hug and then turned around to leave. But Flurry Heart couldn't help but think: Will they like me? Flurry always worried about what other ponies thought of her, but her mom always reminded her: "Don't waste your life worrying about what other ponies think of you." Flurry Heart looked at the large school before her. She took a deep breath, "I can do this." When Flurry stepped in the classroom she was surprised at how small it was considering how big the school was. "Ah miss Flurry Heart welcome. Your mother, Princess Cadence told me you were coming." the teacher miss Amber Crescent said. She was a tall earth pony, her fur was a dark purple, her eyes were light teal, and her mane was a soft lime green pulled back in a bun. She had a warm smile on her face that was very welcoming, though she was strict at times she was a kind teacher. "Oh...hello uh thank you," she said. "Where should I sit?" "You can sit wherever you like," miss Amber said. "Oh ok," she said as she slowly made her way to one of the seats near the back of the class. She noticed a lot of ponies starring at her since she walked in the classroom and started feeling a little uncomfortable. She knew they were all staring at her because she was an alicorn but she still didn't like it. Thankfully the teacher started teaching the class so the students had to pay attention. She breathed a sigh of relief, "I just have to make it to the rest of the day, I can do this." When it was recess Flurry Heart expected to play by herself in the beginning and then hopefully make friends, but she was surprised when she saw three fillies walking towards her. The first one was an earth pony that had a curly orange mane with yellow streaks in it pulled back in a ponytail, her eyes were fuchsia, and her fur was yellow. The second one was also an earth pony. She had a purple mane with teal streaks pulled in pigtails, her fur was a purplish pink, and her eyes were a dark purple. The third one was a sky blue pegasus with also fuchsia eyes and a blue mane with dark blue streaks pulled back in a ponytail. They all seemed to be smiling at her, but two of those smiles were anything but friendly. The third one's smile however seemed to be genuine. Flurry Heart felt uncomfortable around them but decided to ignore it. The yellow one spoke first, "hi I'm Adagio and these are my sisters Aria and Sonata." "We could've introduced ourselves," Aria said annoyed. Adagio decided to ignore her as she continued, "anyway, we couldn't help but notice that you're new here and was wondering if you wanted to hangout with us." "Really!?" said Flurry Heart. "Of course, right girls?" Adagio said." Sonata shook her head and smiled. Aria said rolling her eyes, "yeah sure whatever." Adagio jabbed Aria in the side, "ow! Uh I mean yeah I would love it if you hangout with us," she said through her teeth. "Okay thanks!" Flurry Heart said. "No problem, were really looking forward to it," Adagio said as her unfriendly smile increased. When Flurry Heart got home she kept thinking about what Adagio said to her: "If you're going to hang out with us then you need to do what we do." Flurry new that could lead to trouble, but she didn't want to loose the first friends she made at school. Sure she had other friends from her aunts and uncles, but she didn't see them that often, only when they visit. Her two best friends were Screwball (Discord and Fluttershy's daughter) and Midnight Shine (Twilight Sparkle and Flash Sentry's son). She had been silent the whole way home. Cadence noticed this and asked, "ok what's wrong? You haven't said a word since I picked you up." "I'm fine, I'm just thinking." she said. "What about?" Cadence asked. "Nothing!" Flurry Heart said as she ran off to her room. "What was that about?" Shining Armor asked. "I'm not sure. I think she may of had a bad day at school or something,"Cadence said sadly. "It's fine I'll go and talk to her," he said. "Thanks," she said smiling. Flurry Heart sat in her room as she thought about what she should do. Her room was fairly big and the walls were purple and teal (her favorite colors), her bed which she sat on was a light pink with lavender and light pink pillows, and her furniture was white. Shining Armor walked in and sat down on the bed with her and said, "so what's wrong? "What makes you think something is wrong?" She said. "I heard mommy say you hadn't said anything since she picked you up and you love to talk." He said smiling. "Well fine, something is wrong I made some friends today and..." Flurry was cut off by her dad. "Wait what's wrong with that?" He asked. "I was about to tell you." She said angrily. "Oh right sorry," he said quickly. "Anyway like I was saying, I made some friends but they told me that I had to do whatever they did or we couldn't be friends." She said sadly. "Well it sounds to me like that they're not real friends." He said as he put a hoof on her shoulder. "What do you mean?" "Real friends wouldn't say something like that." "Oh, well I guess that makes sense," she said. Suddenly Cadence yelled for Shining Armor, "honey get in here quick." "What is it?" He said worriedly Cadence had been reading a letter she just got and the more she read it her eyes widened in fear. "Cadence?" "It's a letter from Princess Celestia, she said she needs to see me immediately because..." "Because what?" He said worriedly. "Because King Sombra has just been sighted!"