//------------------------------// // Chapter Twelve // Story: Mare In The Everfree Forest // by MoonLily //------------------------------// “Can we go?” I blinked as I pushed her off a bit.          “I would say yes”          “But” her ears flattened against her head.          “I would feel better if Celestia and Luna were with us. I say that because we might run into my grandfather and he has a bit of a temper when it comes to other ponies in the village but me. However, he has been wanting to meet the rulers of Equestria.”          “If he wants to meet them why not see them?”          “He likes his peace and quiet in the north. Also last time he was in Equestria he lost his brothers and sisters so bad memories” I settled into the bench.          “I need to make a checklist” I heard Twilight sing out as I groaned.          “Luna you might want to prepare your sister”          “So tell me about your grandfather” I heard Luna speaking as she placed her head closer to me “How is it he is alive for so long?”          “He old like you and your sister” Once I said that the train grew silent.          “Sug did you just say your grandfather was old  like the princesses?”          “Yeah, he is a pony of old. His name is Atlas the pony of the sea and rain. He is not technically related to me, but he was around when my parents were growing up and when I was little. I and my brother just got used to calling him, grandfather. He never corrected us, even though the other ponies did not agree with what we call him.” I smiled as I shifted my hooves “But he would sit and listen to me ramble about magic and my dreams. He would help me with my magic while my parents were working. I was the outcast in the village as my magic would not work properly. No tutor wanted to take me under their wing and teach me.” I sighed.          “During the moon festivals, younger ponies would show off their magic to get the attention of the elders. Every magic elder specialized in one type of magic it was moving the lay lines, picking the fruit, or putting a barrier up. I could not really show off any magic as it was nothing but sparks. But I kept dreaming that the moon would be my teacher. In a cruel and twisted fate, my grandfather taught me. He kept me in the village teaching me how to fight, how to use my magic, and how to grow food. So if I am harsh when it comes to magic I get it from him” I had a grin as I noticed the others. I could hear a whistle come from Pinkie.          “you must have had the most awesome time learning from your grandfather” she placed her head in her hooves as she stared up at me. I let out a chuckle as I nodded.          “I learned how to read the lay lines in the earth and the sky. I learned how to walk on clouds without the help of magic. I learned how to hold a sword no matter how heavy without magic. I learned how to fight in armor heavier than a mountain. I also learned all my stories from him as well. He is hard to reach at times as I never know if he is near a candle or flame. You see if I write him a letter I can send it by flame to him. it's just hit and miss” I hissed a bit feeling a bit irritated by it.          “I can’t wait to meet him!”          “Oh the stories and the fashion”          “Are their animals in the village?” I looked over at Fluttershy.          “We have birds of crystal and other animals. Some were mixed with crystal and some were not” I heard the whistle of the train as it was slowly coming to a stop.          “I didn’t think we were in Ponyvile just yet”          “We’re not princess. The train has to make a few stops due to supplies we are carrying at the moment” I watched a guard walked in leaving the door slightly a jar. I could hear hooves running through the train before the door was busted in. A tall dark teal alicorn was standing in the doorway panting. His light teal mane was braided to his side with some strands of hair poking out. His crystal green eyes were shifting around the car. I had hidden under Luna’s wing watching silently.          “Where is she?” I could tell he was out of breath as his wings were stretched out at his side.          “Who are you?” Luna spoke up.          “Silver Sky Crystal I know you’re here. I can feel what little magic you have young lady” I flinched as I heard my name being called out “Your son told me all that was going on.”          “And why the hell did he send you a letter” I hissed.          “You were asleep for a month! For a month, he was worried something was wrong. Something that normal ponies couldn’t heal” I groaned as I felt like a foal being scolded. I sat up from under Luna’s wing staring at him. I could see the relief washed over him as he moved closer to the bench.          “Are you feeling okay?”          “Yes, grandfather” I huffed as I turned towards the others “This is my grandfather. The one I was just talking about”          “You never said he was an Alicorn!” my ears folded to my head as the group shouted at me. I used my hoof to rub my ear a bit to get the ringing out.          “Never thought it was the important part. I mean he is just a normal pony to me. Heck, I thought every pony had a grandfather or mother like him” I kept my eyes on them.          “Alicorns are rare Lily”          “Lily?” I turned my head towards him as I adjusted the glasses on my muzzle.          “I go by Moon Lily”          “I thought you killed her off?”          “No that was Crazy Sweet grandfather” I watched as he nodded slowly.          “So where are we going?”          “Ponyvile”          “Is that where you are staying?” I saw him staring at me. His lips were trying not to move into a smile.          “Jr told you already”          “Now why wouldn’t my granddaughter tell me she was in trouble? It's not like you to get a house arrest Silver” I groaned as I buried myself back under Luna’s wing.          “She attacked Discord,” I noticed Twilight staring at me. I glanced over at my grandfather who went stoned face.          “After what he did to my granddaughter’s village. I think it is more than acceptable” his voice was filled with disgust.  I noticed Fluttershy trying to speak up but I held my hoof out.          “It’s alright Grandfather. He is under house arrest as well. We’re both in trouble with the princesses”  I spoke up noticing my grandfather was glancing at me.          “Well, I will check this out”          “Grandfather it's night out” I whined causing him to chuckle. I could feel his mood changing as I was lifted from the bench. I watched as he used his magic to lift me up before holding me in the air with his hooves.          “I’m not six grandfather”          “I know but your birthday is coming up, right? How can I not hug and squeeze my granddaughter” I felt myself being pulled into a hug? I heard the others jump to their hooves.          “She injured!” I heard Red shout.          “She my”          “Red it's okay. Grandfather not hurting me too bad” I waved my hoof down towards him “Now RedGem this is my grandfather Atlas. Grandfather this is a member of my family RedGem”          “Her only doctor” I felt him glare at me “Who is about to kill me before she dies” I rolled my eyes as I heard him chuckle.          “She does that to me”          “Grandfather I have a question” I looked up at him as I felt a piece of taffy being placed in my hooves.          “I already know, and yes I brought you a bag of Saltwater taffy,” I noticed he was staring at me with soft uneasy eyes.          “Taffy!” I blushed as I realized where I was “No I wanted to know if other ponies could come with me to the village. I only ask because the crops are starting to rot and the trees are dying. I am not sure how long it will be around. I wanted to have all the help I could to get as many food items and memories out” I was messing with the bag of taffy in my hooves.          “I will need to talk this over with the princesses” I felt the train stop causing us to look up.          “Ponyvile!”