//------------------------------//
// Chapter One: The Longing 
// Story: Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn 
// by Scroll 
//------------------------------//

    Star Breeze and her father both landed on the tip of a cliff jutting out from a forested canopy. The tip of this cliff rose about thirty feet above the rest of the landmass behind it before steeply dropping two hundred feet beyond it. That cliff overlooked a wide grassy valley dotted with a few lakes and interconnected rivers which shone in the moonlight.

    While that was an impressive sight in and of itself, that was not what initially took Star Breeze's breath away. There was something special about this point of land. The most tangible sign she could think of was that it had something to do with the wind in this area. It constantly spiraled and howled around here. It was as if the magic of that element was especially intense here. Because she was traveling with her father, at least a part of her suspected it could have been his magic responsible for this but an instinct within her insisted that that was not the case. This area was naturally like this and it took Star Breeze's breath away.

    Then she looked at her father. As entranced as she was, she noticed he was affected far more profoundly. He stood at the edge of that cliff fearlessly as he closed his eyes. He stretched on the tip of his hooves as he inhaled deeply. This area seemed to charge him somehow. He drank of it deeply. He looked peaceful, one with his element here. Star Breeze also noticed how his long white mane flowed in the wind around here. It billowed back and forth, reminding her of a cloud caught in the breeze.

    They both stood in silence for several more minutes. As impatient as Star Breeze normally felt, she let her father have this moment. For some reason, it was important to him. She just hoped that he would eventually explain why this was so important to him. In the meantime, she looked around, realizing that this was her first time here. This place already had a special meaning for her. She could already imagine coming back here and telling her own kids, “This is where my father took me as we shared a very special moment together. He told me all about his past here. I felt more deeply connected to him than ever before, ever since. It's important to know where you came from. What your family's legacy is and I, for one, will always think of this place as the place where that bond deepened in a very meaningful way.”

    “Do you hear it, Star Breeze?” her father finally asked her after several long moments of silence. “Do you feel it in your coat? Your mane? In every breath you take?”

    “There's a lot of wind if that's what you mean . . . and I have a feeling you're not causing this,” she answered.

    “Exactly! The wind!” her father said in a soothing voice. He turned to look at her. His eyes looked peaceful. There was such a serene look of wisdom to them. A look born of deep amounts of experience and passion. He looked at her as if he could see her future sprawled out all in front of him. For Star Breeze, it was deeply enchanting to behold. For her, it was the essence of magic, and she felt lucky that she had such an amazing teacher and somepony to look up too. Some could argue living in the shadow of somepony so great as her father could feel diminishing to one's own potential, but Star Breeze always looked at it another way. She saw her father as an example of how great she could be herself someday. He was the measuring stick that she vowed to surpass one day. All she needed to know was how. How did he do it? What trials or tribulations did it take to fulfill his goals? Deep down she hoped he would say something like, “Oh, it was easy. One day I just woke up and decided to fly then, 'Poof', it happened . . . exactly like magic.” Star Breeze wasn't really afraid of a challenge but, when it came to the most important and deepest hopes, dreams, and wishes, one usually also hoped it did not occur too far into the future or was too difficult to achieve or, Celestia forbid, impossible.

    But upon looking deep into his eyes, a part of her already knew some of the answers. A pony does not develop such a deep look of wisdom in his eyes without having gone through an intense amount of experience. Whatever he had gone through, whatever he had suffered, it ultimately led up to this moment but, just because she knew that the story had a happy ending, it did not mean it had a happy beginning . . . or middle . . . or maybe even end, in a way. Her parents kept on hinting at some kind of duty, and the looks in their eyes suggested it was important. They also talked about regrets of some kind sometimes. That part frightened Star Breeze a bit, but no way did she fear it enough to gallop away from this story. She wanted to hear it all her life and, finally, she was about to get her wish. On her birthday, no less. Somehow that felt strangely appropriate. Star Breeze did not plan that out deliberately but hey, she'd take what she could get.

    “You see it, don't you?” her father guessed with that same wise look in his eyes. “A hint, a glimmer of the tale you're about to hear?”

    “I guess,” Star Breeze replied with a slight shrug. “To be honest, I'm rather excited and I can't wait for you to get on with it.”

    “Patience,” her father cautioned. “All things in due time. For now,” he looked over the cliff, “drink in the atmosphere. Don't just stand back there, either. Come up and join me. You're a pegasus. You should be able to appreciate this in a way not every pony could.”

    Since she was curious, Star Breeze obeyed. She stepped up and stood beside her father. In any case, it was nice to stand that close to him, even though she almost surpassed his height already. Star Breeze knew from experience that size wasn't everything. Small things could hide other big things. He might be small, but he was powerful. He was just about the finest flier she had ever seen in Equestria as well. There were special reasons for that too. It was not every day a unicorn got a cutie mark for flying.

    Reminded of that, she glanced back at his cutie mark for a moment. She studied it, admired it, and contemplated its deeper meaning. What could it mean? It might have multiple levels of meaning, not just the obvious on the surface. In considering that point, she also considered the pony standing beside her. Based on everything she knew about him, how could a cutie mark like that best represent the pony standing beside her? How did it all fit together?

    “I see you regarded my cutie mark,” her father said offhoofedly without even glancing at her. One could only wonder how he noticed her looking at him in the first place. His gaze seemed fixed in the outward environment instead. Maybe he could even see through the wind, she wondered? Before she dwelt on that point for too long, he went on to say, “Of course that's part of my story, just as it would be for any pony who gets such a mark, but there is so much more meaning behind it as it would be for any pony. I was fortunate enough to learn the meaning behind that at a very early age, and I'll teach you what I know too so you don't have to go through all the problems I did. Celestia knows you'll have enough problems on your own hooves as it is but, for now, I'll talk about the bases I covered so you don't have to repeat the same lessons that I went through. Well, not unless you want to.” He looked at his daughter to his left. “Of course you don't have your own cutie mark yet, and that's fine too. I was like that at one time, and I guess I can say that's where my story truly begins. Begins at the beginning, as it were.” He chuckled a bit as he glanced away again.



xoxo



    My name you know well as you said it so many times before. Well, that and “father”, of course, but did you also know that I used to be called something else when I was a young foal?

    “Quill! Quill! Wake up, you lousy bum!”

    Quill snapped awake, not even realizing he had been asleep, nor did he realize how long he had been asleep. It did not take him long to process how embarrassed he was. His father, Author Scroll, took Quill's lessons very seriously. More seriously than Quill himself, in fact. Quill's mind was often somewhere else.

    “Get your head out of the clouds and get back to your studies!” Author insisted. “No more daydreaming. I seriously doubt you can resume your studies in your sleep. If you can, however, then you have something you can teach me. Until then, get your muzzle back into your books.”

    “Yes sir,” Quill meekly replied then immediately attempted to do so. His mind and vision were still fogged, however. It made it difficult to focus on the words. They blurred and flew across the page for a few seconds and, for a brief moment, Quill paused to admire that. At least the words themselves could be free to fly, unlike himself.

    “I swear to Celestia, you can be so difficult sometimes,” Author grumbled as the dark pony with the distinguished red cape headed towards the door. He was dark but with some white around certain areas like around his eyes and the tip of his muzzle. His mane was entirely jet black which was cut neatly and short, like his tail. He had a small goatee on his chin and trimmed mustache which both equally suggested that this was a pony who cared very much for neat appearances, and for very good reason. Although it was currently concealed by his cape, Quill knew from experience that his father's cutie mark was an open spellbook that glowed with magical light.

    My father, you see . . . and, by extension, your grandfather, of course, was a very distinguished pony. Our family had been for years. He was the head of a royal academy for gifted unicorns in Canterlot, the Silver Horn Academy. Those were some pretty big horseshoes to fill. That's precisely why he had such high expectations of me. Looking back at those times, I know he meant well. He wanted my life to succeed, to be fulfilling in the way he envisioned it. It worked for so many other members of our family across the many generations. We lived in that great city so there was no particular reason that he should believe that I should be any special exception at the time, but he was wrong about one thing; he shouldn't have expected too much of me, especially in one fixed direction. A pony's heart and talents could come from anywhere, and be directed anywhere. It does not flourish under tight restrictions. Of course, I couldn't have known that back then either. I was just a little pony at the time. I had no wisdom or experience of my own to contradict the adults I lived with so I was forced to trust them. If there was something wrong with me then the problem had to stem from within, I reasoned. I was right, too, but not in the way that I originally thought.

    But, no matter how much I struggled against it, the sky always drew my attention back to it. Something about it always called to me. Despite all logic, despite all reason, deep in my heart I knew I was meant to fly. I just didn't know how I was going to do that yet.

    His attention drifting, Quill continued to find he could not focus on his studies. In frustration, he gave up, at least for a brief moment. Leaning back in his seat, he looked above his head at the upside-down window behind him. Through that, he saw the great blue skies. He stared at it for a long mesmerized moment, enticed with visions of flying through the sky. He could picture it so clearly in his head. He could visualize how it would feel through his mane, or what his surroundings would look like from such a height.

    He stared at it for so long his neck started to hurt from that perspective so he opted to fix that by staring back at it a better way. He leaned forward in his seat again then wheeled it about to look out into the sky properly this time. Part of his white tail through the hole at the base of the seat brushed softly against the base of the desk as he spun about. He continued to feel surprised that his father did not lock that window down yet. He supposed it had something to do with ventilation through the manor. That was important too, but one could accomplish the same thing with just a small pipe through the wall. But ah . . . such a thing would not permit such a fantastic view.

    Quill continued to stare out the window for quite a while, longing tearing at his heart.

    What's wrong with me? he asked himself. Why do I yearn for this? I must be crazy. This wish of mine borders on suicidal, and it's scary to contemplate how attractive that idea actually is if I never get even the remotest hint of my wish being granted. As everypony keeps telling me, however, “If unicorns were meant to fly, they would be born a pegasus instead.” Tishhh. It's just not fair. Of course, it can, in theory, be just as likely for a pegasus to wish it had been born a unicorn instead. I haven't actually observed one showing any sign of that yet. It makes me feel like I'm the only one contemplating such thoughts. Both sides have their advantages, of course, but I don't care! I know what I want. I know what I feel. I don't care how ridiculous it seems. I am meant to fly . . . somehow.

    At the heart of it, I always knew one thing. One thing that the sky always represented for me and that thing is freedom. Freedom to move in any direction I chose. Freedom to be who I always felt I needed to be. How can I discover my destiny, however, when everypony around me was always telling me I was wrong? That there was something wrong with me? A foal cannot easily defend him or herself from something like that. Not without reliable experience of their own to contradict others and defend their own opinions.

    But there was one outlet I had for my feelings back then. It felt hollow next to the real thing but, at the time, it was the best I had. I knew I had to express myself somehow, some way.

    And it was a secret. A secret because he knew his father would never approve of it. Well, scratch that. In a way he would approve. He would approve of the medium itself, not the content. Quill still knew he had to be cautious. He was sick of his father's judgmental disapproval.

    And mother would understand, Quill mentally lamented with a remorseful frown on his face. If she were still alive today, she would encourage my gifts, such as they are. Why can't father understand? This is who I am. This is all that I am.

    With that, Quill finally pulled out his secret after spending another moment to check if the coast was clear. He did not get up but instead paused a moment to simply listen for any sound outside of his door. After noticing for a long moment all seemed quiet out there, he finally pulled out his secret and studied it for a little while. Not only did he contemplate its deeper meaning and emotions behind the words, but also he contemplated how he could have worded it better.

    Until he got interrupted from his train of thoughts.

    “There you are!” somepony said behind him. Catching him in the act of doing something naughty, Quill was greatly startled. After all, he was so certain the coast was clear a moment ago. But ah! If the sound came from behind him then there was really only one logical conclusion. Nevertheless, Quill instantly snapped his secret project back into a pile of scrolls before he wheeled about in his chair and tried his best to pretend he wasn't hiding anything important. His racing heart and beads of sweat must have been a dead give-away, however. Either that or the person behind him was studying him for a while in secret.

    In truth, the pegasus behind him was not much older than himself. Young enough to rightly be called a foal, although just barely. Stern Wing was indeed older, but not by much. She flew in through the window, of course, the uncouth brute. Seeing her brown eyes and brown coat which gradually shifted to black at the tips of her wings, mane, tail, and hooves was not entirely an unwelcome sight. More often than not, Quill personally considered her uninvited visits a secret welcome break from studies. If his father barged in at that moment at least, this time, he had a better excuse why he was not studying. A proper gentlepony always shows courtesy to his guests, after all, even the uninvited ones. Typically Stern Wing was far more welcome than Quill openly let on, but somehow he suspected she knew that. Maybe that's why she kept on dropping by for these unannounced visits.

    Quill secretly envied her freedom on multiple levels. Not only could she fly because she was a pegasus (and pretty good for her age, he might add), but she was also less restricted by the rules of high society, unlike him. There were “rules” and “protocols” that Quill had to use all the time in order to be “proper”. Quill could secretly care less about such things except it did matter to him what his father thought of him. As much as it hurt him, Quill did care about the opinions of his father, but he also cared about the opinions of ponies like Stern Wing as well.

    Come to think of it, he actually cared about the opinions of most other ponies he knew in general. He suddenly realized how self-conscious he felt about that.

    While usually he felt his friend was a welcome break, that moment was different. At that moment he was drawing upon a secret and did not want to be caught. He sweated like crazy in fear that she'd bring it up.

    And so, of course, she did bring it up. What else could I expect of my luck at the time?

    “What'cha reading?” Stern Wing asked curiously as she flipped further into the room and onto Quill's bed. She flopped on it for a moment as her weight fully settled upon the thing. Great wealth had its advantages, but it was difficult to fully appreciate that without knowing how else society normally lived. There were stories here and there. Quill occasionally heard from others, like Stern Wing here, that there were some ponies so poor they only slept on straw, or even the very dirt ground itself. In contrast, Quill's own bed was soft enough to flop on. Stern Wing probably secretly enjoyed that and took every advantage of it whenever she could. Even then, at that age, Quill realized he might be reading too much into the situation, but probably not. Education had its advantages too. It typically kept a pony in the know more than most others are.

    “Ah . . . nothing,” Quill replied nervously.

    By Celestia! I sound so insincere even to my own ears. Let's just hope she didn't notice.

    “This is mom we're talking about,” exasperated Star Breeze with a roll of her eyes. “Of course she'd notice.”

    Back in the present, Star Breeze's father gave his daughter a narrow stare for that comment and was silent for a few moments, then rolled his eyes as he looked outward again as he resumed. “Anyhoo . . .”

    “What do you mean nothing? I saw you stuff a scroll into your . . . well . . . another pile of scrolls just a moment ago,” Stern Wing pointed out. “I can even see it still. It's right there.” She tried to point at it from her position.

    “Ah . . . no. I don't see any scroll,” Quill stubbornly replied while looking at a literal pile of scrolls on his desk.

    “Okay, so . . . this one is a secret then,” Stern Wing realized. “Now I've got to see this one.”

    “No!” Quill cried out defiantly.

    “Give it here!” Stern Wing said back as she rolled forward and reached into the pile of scrolls. She was even quick enough to snatch the correct one but, as she pulled back, it suddenly glowed with silver energy and attempted, in vain, to be pulled away telekinetically. That was clearly Quill's magical aura signature. If she didn't know that already then his silver glowing horn would have been another dead giveaway. Clearly, he was trying to defend this secret which made her all the more stubborn on this point. Whatever secret this was it had to be juicy! “Give it!” Stern Wing insisted as she yanked back on the scroll.

    “NO!” Quill cried out.

    “Give it!”

    “No! Darn it, Stern Wing, you'll rip it!”

    “Then you let go! I'm not letting go, trust me. Will . . . you . . . just . . . let . . . me . . .” she stuttered between yanks and pulls. Finally, Quill relented and Stern Wing ended up reeling back unsteadily for a moment as she then fought to recover her own balance. She had to lean against his pull for a moment until it was suddenly not there. A quick backward flap of her wings helped to give her a counter thrust. She ended up blowing Quill's covers off of his bed and into the wall against it on one side. Her butt landed on the bed with a few bounces, each bounce less than the last until it stopped.

    “Finally! Now, let's see this secret and forbidden scroll of mysteries that's got you so worked up,” Stern Wing said in satisfaction then unrolled the scroll to read it. She glanced above it for a brief second, however, when she noticed her friend covering his face in embarrassment.

    “It's not finished,” Quill finally admitted, “and you can't tell anypony about that scroll, especially my father! He'd destroy it in a second. I just know it.”

    “What?” Stern Wing squinted one eye in confusion at Quill. “But, why? You wrote this, didn't you? I thought he wanted you to be a writer like him.”

    “Exactly!” Quill snapped at her sharply. “A writer like him.”

    “Huh?” Stern Wing cocked her head. “I don't understand.”

    “You might if you just read it,” Quill invited.

    At that moment it suddenly occurred to him that it could be to his advantage to have a second opinion and, unlike his father, Stern Wing was very unlikely to destroy the scroll after the first read-through. Quill never got feedback on his own work before. Yes, the scholastic stuff he did, but never something like this. Never something this personal to him before. Quill grew curious what her opinion might be but, at the same time, he was very nervous. What if she didn't like it? What if she thought he was stupid and dumb for writing it? What if she ridiculed his dream? As curious as he was, he knew she gained the power to crush his heart in her very hooves. Even if it was unlikely that she would, that feeling of vulnerability almost made him panic anyway. He had to struggle very hard to keep his cool. That's one way high society training came in hoofy. At least they tried to teach young foals how to remain cool under pressure and, he had to admit, those skills came in hoofy sometimes. Times like this.

    Finally, Stern Wing looked over the scroll, pausing to read the title at the top first. “Sky Dancer, the First Flying Unicorn.” Right after reading that she gave Quill a “Really?” upraised eyebrow look.

    Please go easy on me! Quill secretly begged desperately in his mind. It's my first work! I'll get better at it! I promise! Just don't destroy me before I have a chance to.

    Stern Wing read aloud.


    “Oh ye of little earth,

    How I mock thee from high on yonder.

    My piss is but rain upon your fertile soil.

    You seem so small to my eyes.

    The whole world shrinks as I fly.


    Vast Blue skies stretch out before me . . .

    endless . . .

    Oceans of white puffy clouds melt before me,

    They make good pillows, I think.

    I feel my stomach churn as I descend rapidly

    and . . . as I ascend . . .

    Every day I'm grateful for my freedom. This ultimate freedom.


    They used to mock me.

    Me, a unicorn . . . dancing in the skies.

    'If Unicorns were meant to fly, they would be born pegasi', they said.

    But I can fly.

    Magic is my wings.

    Passion is the wind beneath my wings.

    With every breath I draw, I know I'm one with the sky.”

    

    Stern Wing slowly lowered the scroll with a stunned look in her eyes. At first, Quill missed that because he shut his own eyes, squinting tightly as if bracing for a painful impact. Slowly he squinted his eyes just barely open to observe her reaction. What he saw gave him more confidence to open his eyes further, but still, he was curious even if his fears somewhat subsided.

    “Well?” Quill prompted after a long moment of silence.

    “Quill, this is . . . amazing! You wrote this? Really?” Stern Wing asked doubtfully.

    “Yes,” Quill replied simply.

    “Really?”

    “Yes.”

    “You?”

    “Yes.”

    “At your age?”

    “Is that so hard to believe?” Quill checked. “That is my first work. It can't be that good.”

    Stern Wing suddenly looked doubly shocked. Her eyes almost looked like they were ready to explode from her eye sockets. “Really? Your first work?”

    “Yes.” At this point Quill was blushing a bit. He really didn't know what to expect because he had never gotten any feedback before. He braced himself so hard against criticism that he forgot that compliments were also a possibility. At that time he did not dare to hope for that.

    “I . . . would like your opinion on something in particular,” Quill tentatively said. “You . . . are actually a pegasus.”

    That “astute” observation dispelled the charm she felt in an instant. Right after that she narrowed her eyes at him and said, “Gee, thanks for noticing. Personally, I thought the wings were a dead giveaway.”

    “My point is you can fly!” Quill went on.

    Stern Wing grew curious to see where this was going. “Go on,” she bade.

    “Pretty well, actually, for . . . you know . . . your age,” Quill said nervously.

    “Aw! Thanks!” Stern Wing said brightly. That compliment honestly cheered her right back up.

    “But after reading that poem, I have to wonder . . . Stern Wing.” Quill looked squarely in her eyes. “Is that what it actually feels like to uh . . . you know . . . fly? Does that poem convey those feelings adequately enough? Do you think somepony who's never done it before would get an accurate idea of what it's like based on the words of this poem?”

    Stern Wing looked back at the poem and even read through it several more times before she looked back at Quill with one hoof, the left in this case, lightly touching her lips while the other hoof continued to hold the scroll. She paused for a few more moments as she digested the words and feelings it conveyed very carefully because she wanted to give an honest opinion. Eventually she replied, “Better than I would have expected considering it was written by an actual unicorn and a young one at that. If I didn't know better, I would have said this was written by somepony who actually flew before.”

    Quill looked immensely relieved. “Oh, good! That's the feeling I wanted to express in that poem.”

    “I mean, you even got some of the finer details right,” Stern Wing said in amazement as she looked back at the scroll. “Seen from high above, the world does shrink. Every plant, building, bug and critter shrinks until there is nothing left. You can't see it if you fly high enough. All that is left is the sky.”

    Stern Wing looked off to her side and out the window, staring at the sky in particular. Eventually she admitted, “Truth be told, however, I haven't analyzed it to this level of detail before. The sky is just . . . well, it's like the ground to me. It's like water is to a fish. It's nothing special. It just is.”

    “Nothing special?!” Quill looked taken aback. “Are you serious?”

    “Yes.” Stern Wing gave a very sincere look back at Quill. “The sky was always there for me. I never considered what it would be like to be without it. Well, I used to know, to a point, what it was like. I wasn't born with the ability to fly. It's just something I learned over time. It was a thrill for the first few years but, after that, it gradually shifted to a routine . . . but this . . .” she looked back at the scroll “. . . this reminds me, what it was like when I still looked upon the sky like it still had some special charm left in it. Next to this, I feel like I've taken the sky for granted but this poem helped me to recapture some of those earlier feelings and foal-like wonder.” Stern Wing closed her eyes and hugged the scroll to her stomach. “You've given me back something precious that I had lost until today, Quill. I can honestly say this is the best work I've ever seen!”

    “Aw! Shucks!” Quill said with a blushing glow.

    After a few seconds of silence, Stern Wing suddenly popped in a few more comments. “But I do have a few more opinions about this poem, especially the beginning parts. Let's see,” she read it again, then read it out loud. “'Oh ye of little earth, how I mock thee from high on yonder. My piss is but rain upon your fertile soil.'” Stern Wing grinned at Quill for a second as she said, “I especially like that part.” Then she looked back at the scroll as she resumed reading, “'You seem so small to my eyes. The whole world shrinks as I fly.'” She rolled up the scroll as she said with a thoughtful “Huh.” Only after she fully rolled up the scroll did she speak again while shaking the scroll for emphasis. “According to this, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you had outright contempt for the earth. That you hate trotting upon this, 'fertile' soil.”

    Quill shook his head then said, “No. That's not how I feel at all. I don't hate the earth, I just resent being stuck on it.” Quill's eyes shifted to his left towards his desk. “Now the character in the poem, Sky Dancer, he might feel that way. He might feel contempt for the earth which facilitates his appreciation of being free from it,” Quill looked back at Stern Wing, “but that's just the character. It's not how I feel personally as a writer. He's just somepony I made up.”

    “And that's another thing.” Stern Wing shook the scroll at Quill. “Why did you choose the name 'Sky Dancer' for your main character?”

    “Um,” Quill paused for a moment as he considered the question, then shrugged. “I don't know. It just seemed like a good name for a pegasus, I guess, except in this case it applies to a unicorn for some reason. Maybe he was born with it or maybe he changed his name to it after he learned he could really fly. Point is, it flows with the narrative of the story. I wanted a name that expresses how the character felt about his situation. He's Sky Dancer . . . because he dances in the skies. It's as simple as that.”

    Stern Wing squinted her right eye at Quill with suspicion. “Are you sure? There really is nothing more to it than that?”

    Quill shook his head with a plain, honest look. “No. I swear to you there is nothing more to it than that. Why do you ask?”

    Stern Wing crossed her upper legs across her chest, still holding the scroll in her right hoof. “Now that's funny. I mention that because I actually know a pegasus named Sky Dancer. I was just wondering if you were secretly referring to that pony.”

    “Really?” Quill asked in amused delight. “No foolin'?”

    Stern Wing shook her head as she said, “Nope.”

    Quill narrowed his eyes at her as he asked, “Wait a second. How do you know this Sky Dancer? How do you know he really exists?”

    “That's simple. He's my cousin,” Stern Wing answered.

    “Oh wow!” Quill's expression popped with surprise. “I honestly didn't know that.”

    “Kind of a hero of mine, actually,” Stern Wing admitted wistfully. “Sky Dancer joined the Wonderbolt reserves. He says he's going to be a Wonderbolt someday, and I believe him. Which is convenient for me, actually, because, when I join the Wonderbolts myself, I'll actually have somepony already there that I personally know and can talk to.”

    “Wait, what?” Star Breeze interrupted her father in surprise. “Hold on, hold on, hold on. Back up a second. You were the one who joined the Wonderbolts, or at least as a member of the cadets. Since when did mom also want to join as well?”

    Her father paused with a quizzical look on his face for a moment before he looked at his daughter and asked her, “Why does that surprise you? Have you met your mom?

    “Wait. Let me rephrase that.” Her father paused in thought for a moment, then explained, “Just about every pegasus with wings wanted to join the Wonderbolts, especially while they are young. The Wonderbolts are an amazing spectacle and they are very inspirational about it. That was the primary point of it when it was originally founded. Within it showcases pegasi flying skills at their best. What foal wouldn't look up into the sky at them and think to themselves, 'That could be me someday'. That feeling of being admired, a foal would yearn for that feeling to be shared right back at them because it makes them feel more secure and appreciated. To say your mother wanted to join the Wonderbolts shouldn't surprise you because just about every pegasus dreams of that. Moreover, your mother actually had some potential in it. She's a very strong flier.”

    “Yeah, but she's nowhere near as strong or as fast or as maneuverable as you are,” Star Breeze argued.

    “Not many would be, that's true, but I'm a special case,” her father pointed out. “I can use my magic to connect with the wind and the sky in a way that few other pegasi can and certainly not as directly. My strategy also had some disadvantages to it as I would later find out.”

    “Is that why you did not fully make it into the Bolts?” Star Breeze asked a little shyly.

    Her father sighed as he faced the direction off the cliff and closed his eyes. After a moment he bowed his head, then he spoke. “The truth is, there were many reasons I did not make it into the Bolts. Part of it had to do with my own limitations and the other parts, well . . .” he grinned at his daughter and said. “No spoilers. I'll get to that part later.”

    “Aw! But I want my answer now,” Star Breeze complained foalishly.

    “Hush now. You'll have to wait. I'm trying to explain to you my mindset at the time. I need you to understand that realizing my destiny and my potential wasn't easy, and why it wasn't easy. No pony before me had ever done something quite like I had, at least not in recorded history. I was dealing with something I truly thought was impossible to deal with. Since you are facing a similar situation, you might want to hear me out before you jump to conclusions, or is that all you wish to do? I can stop my story now and let you just assume the rest if you want.”

    “No-no-no!' Star Breeze panicked. “You go on. I'll be a good girl from now on.”

    He grinned at her and said, “See that you do. Now, as I was saying . . .” as he thought about it, he realized there was an irony to the situation. As he put his mind back in time again, he realized he made the same mistake that his daughter just did. “Actually, back then, I questioned the validity of her statement too. So few could join the Bolts, even as a reservist. I mean, I thought you'd have to win entire tournaments usually before you're even considered for the Bolts reserve, never mind the Bolts themselves. Believing she wanted to join the Bolts didn't surprise me, but claiming she actually knew and was related to somepony among the Bolts reserves seemed highly unlikely. Add to that it was a name I just happened to pick as the main character of my story.”

    “That is pretty funny!” Star Breeze agreed with a girlish giggle.

    Her father grinned at her for a second then looked forward again.

    It actually sounded like something somepony made up. The kind of thing a little foal would actually come up with. Like one foal bragging to another that they happened to be related to somepony important, then that foal immediately counters with bragging about somepony else that is famous that they just “happened” to be related to. Back and forth this debate would continue when, in fact, in each case, it is just a pointless ego trip and usually an outright lie. But, indeed, coincidences like that can happen sometimes. Know this and know this well, my sweet . . . you actually are related to a member of the Wonderbolts, just like your mother said all those years ago. Not a reservist either. A full-fledged Wonderbolt, but I'll get back to that story later. For now, all I'll say is . . .

    “Wow. I can't believe it. You're related to a Wonderbolt reservist. That alone is quite an honor, but now you're also telling me it's the name I chose for the character I made up in my story? Freaky,” Quill said with wonder.

    “Um,” something occurred to Stern Wing so, after a moment of thought, she asked, “Can I show this to Sky Dancer when next I see him? I think he would get a kick out of it.”

    “No. Not the original,” Quill rejected. “However, if you like, I can make you a copy. You can even keep it once I do.”

    “Really?!” Stern Wing asked cheerfully. “Oh, that would be so amazing! Thank you! I wouldn't mind keeping my own copy.” She looked down at the scroll. “I think even we pegasi need a reminder every once in a while to appreciate the gifts we have. Since two-thirds of all ponykind can't do what we can do, it's all the more important to appreciate what we have on behalf of all others who can't share in our gifts. Of course, the other pony breeds have their own advantages. No pony is without, and we do need each other to work in harmony.” She looked back at Quill. “You, for example, can cast magic. At one time your kind was necessary to raise and lower the sun and moon. I heard that was quite difficult, even in groups. Can you imagine what our world would be like if no pony could do that?”

    “Not a pleasant thought, to be sure,” Quill agreed.

    Stern Wing narrowed her eyes slightly at Quill as she said, “Then you, too, should learn to appreciate the gifts you have. On behalf of two-thirds of our population who can't do what you can do, you are thereby obligated to enjoy what you have to the fullest. Unicorns are very useful ponies! Some would argue that they are the most powerful of us all besides an alicorn like the Princess, of course. Besides that, you're, ah . . . very-very special. Let's just put it that way.” Stern Wing glanced to her left for a second and then back at Quill. “You know, technically, it is possible for unicorns to mold the sky just like we pegasi can except they have to do it from the ground. Magic can do anything, basically. Let's not undersell it here.”

    “Anything, huh?” Quill said with wonder. “Maybe even fly.”

    Stern Wing rolled her eyes drolly. “Well if unicorns ever achieved that then the rest of us pegasi are totally obsolete. If you guys could control magic, and the weather and could fly then . . . well . . . what's next? Go back in time? Change everything in Equestria? Start a brand new utopia or perhaps destroy the one we already have?”

    “I'm not saying every unicorn could. If one could, it does not mean they all can. Every pony is different,” Quill politely argued. “Conversely, every pegasi can fly. If one unicorn learned to fly that doesn't exactly unbalance the equation here.”

    “Actually, not every pegasi can fly,” Stern Wing corrected.

    “Right, of course,” Quill agreed with a droll roll of his eyes. “I suppose not the ones with injured wings.”

    “No, it's more than that.” Stern Wing leaned forward. “A few pegasi have what appear to be perfectly functional wings but they still can't fly. It's rare, but it happens.”

    Quill looked confused. “Really? How does that work?”

    Stern Wing shrugged. “No pony knows. Some think it might be a psychological imbalance issue. Others think it might have something to do with our magic, or perhaps, in this case, a lack of it.

    “You know, it's funny, I heard if you really analyze the exact physics of all pegasi then technically none of us should be able to fly. We're too heavy, even with a lighter bone structure. Conversely, some pegasi could be a stacked powerhouse of heavy muscle and yet they can still fly even if they have tiny wings. The exact science of it is weird, so most ponies just give up with a shrug and say, 'Hey, it's magic. Magic explains everything because magic itself defies explanation.'”

    Quill grinned in amusement and shook his head.

    Stern Wing yawned as she leaned back into the bed again. “Anyway, I wouldn't get too worked up about it. The world works in whatever mysterious way it works. It does not require an explanation to continue to work.”

    “Um, Dad,” Star Breeze said a little timidly.

    Her father's left eye shifted to look at her as he asked, “Yes?”

    Star Breeze took a few seconds to work up the courage to ask something before she said, “Based on what you just told me, you once told mom that you would make a copy of that poem for her. Did you do it? More to the point, does she still have it?”

    The left eye that had looked at his daughter resumed looking forward again as he answered. “Yes, I eventually did make her a copy and she still has it to this day, um . . . somewhere, I suppose. You'll have to ask her where she put it. Your mom has a . . .” he cleared his throat before he resumed speaking “. . . different, shall we say . . . system of organization.” He gazed upward towards the stars. “The funny thing is . . . or actually, in a way, it's sad . . . that copy had become the new original because the true original was destroyed.”

    “Aw. That's too bad,” Star Breeze said sadly, then went on to say, “Good thing you kept your word, then, or you wouldn't have any copy at all.”

    Her father looked down at his daughter as he asked, “I take it you want to read it too?”

    Star Breeze looked corner-wise down as she answered, “Well, um . . . maybe. I could find it inspirational but not in the way you might think. You see,” she looked back at her father, “I'm kind of interested in writing poetry too. Maybe you could give me some pointers.”

    “Really?” Her father's head went back a bit. “I didn't know you were interested in writing poetry. Why didn't you tell me?”

    “I guess I didn't know until just recently,” Star Breeze answered. “Sometimes it takes a while to discover all of our interests, you know?”

    “Indeed I do,” her father agreed as he looked down the cliff again.

    “Anyway, sorry for interrupting again. Please, continue,” Star Breeze bade.

    “Hmm.” Her father grinned at his daughter coyly. “I have a feeling you'll be doing that a lot more times before I'm done with my story. It's a common habit of every young foal to be curious and ask many questions. The world is still new to little ponies like you, after all. You're still exploring it. Know that I won't take offense. We've all been there at one time.”

    “Yeah,” Star Breeze said with a droll roll of her eyes. “Anyway, as I said, please continue. I'm getting impatient.”

    Her father chuckled at her as he looked forward again.

    Stern Wing didn't resist this time as the silver glow surrounded Quill's poetry scroll and dragged it back to his desk where he proceeded to hide it again.

    “Promise me you won't tell my father about that scroll, and I'll promise you I'll make you a copy of it as soon as I'm done with it,” Quill compromised.

    “Sure,” Stern Wing agreed as she put both of her forelegs behind her to steady her as she leaned back on the bed. “It's too bad you can't be that open with your father. I am with mine, and our relationship greatly benefits from our mutual honesty.”

     Quill dragged another scroll in front of him and telekinetically unwrapped it. At the same time, he telekinetically lifted a red feathered quill and dipped it in ink as he studied the scroll for a bit before he started writing down something as if he was trying to find his place again, found it, then resumed writing. As he did so he said, “It sounds to me like my father and I probably have a more delicate relationship with each other compared to you and your father. While I wish I could be more open with him, I know for a fact I just can't. My mother, on the other hoof, would have understood and embraced my interests.”

    Stern Wing frowned. “I'm sorry for your loss. She does sound like a sweet lady.” Just then Stern Wing realized something. “What was her name again?”

    “Silver Shine,” Quill answered without looking at Stern Wing.

    “Silver Shine,” Stern Wing echoed. “Huh. What a lovely name.”

    A few minutes passed in silence before Quill said, “Listen, Stern Wing, it's not that I don't appreciate your unannounced visits, but I do have my studies to catch up on.”

    “Oh, sure.” Stern Wing rolled forward to the edge of the bed she sat upon. “Guess I'll go and resume my game practices too.

    “Oh! That reminds me. I'm having a big game next week, sometime in the middle of it. I know you can't play. You don't have the stamina for it, and you don't have wings besides. I was wondering, however, if you could come to the games anyway to cheer me on?”

    Quill looked forward at the wall behind his desk as he telekinetically tapped the tip of his red quill on his lips in thought. “Middle of next week? That would be around a Wednesday, right?”

    I didn't go, as you are about to shortly find out, but later on, your mother told me she was flattered that I at least considered it very seriously.

    “Yeah, or rather sometime around that time,” Stern Wing clarified.

    Quill continued to think hard on that offer, greatly tempted to accept, but then he recalled something which made him look down at his desk again in disappointment. “No. I just remembered I'll be busy next week, sort of.”

    “More studying?” Stern Wing guessed dryly.

    “Actually, no.” Quill leaned back in his seat and twisted it a bit in Stern Wing's direction as he also looked at her. “Visiting family. My uncle, in this case.”

    Hearing that cheered Stern Wing a bit. “Oh, how nice. It's always good to see family members once in a while.” Then she recalled something that made this situation confusing. “Wait a second. Didn't you tell me your father hated his brother?”

    “Hate is probably too strong of a word,” Quill answered back. “Disappointment is more the mark.” Quill rolled his eyes. “I know what that's like. It's easy to disappoint a pony who has high standards.”

    Stern Wing leaned forward as she put her forehooves on the knees of her hind legs. While she did that, she asked in a mystified tone, “What exactly did your uncle do to disappoint your father? By all accounts that I heard of, your uncle is one of the most powerful unicorns out there. Seems to me your father would have looked up to his brother for that unless he was jealous, but you didn't say he was jealous of his brother, just disappointed. That implies he let down your father somehow so what happened between them?”

    Quill rested his left elbow on the left arm of his chair and settled his left cheek on his left hoof as he said, “You might find this strange to believe, but that uncle of mine . . . you know, the one you claimed is the most powerful unicorn . . . actually has forsaken magic. To somepony like my father, that would also imply forsaking the unicorn race as well.”

    Stern Wing did indeed look taken aback. “What? Why? How?” she asked, flabbergasted.

    “My uncle, Ramadon Mesmer, seems to have abandoned the ways of my family and instead embraced earth pony culture. He's literally out there right now living off of and growing, a farm. That offends my father's sensibilities on so many levels. Maybe that's why he's so hard on me. I think he's looking at me as the last hope of preserving our family's legacy.”

    “Which is mostly just wizardry and a scholar, right?” Stern Wing checked.

    Quill nodded. “Right. Our family are also record keepers of history. He is named Author Scroll, isn't he? And he named me Quill Scroll.”

    Stern Wing squinted in confusion. “But if your uncle is as talented as most ponies say, why would he abandon magic and live as an earth pony?”

    Quill shook his head as he said, “I don't know. That's actually one of the things I had planned to ask him when I visit him and his family. Personally, I'm not revolted by his choice of lifestyle, but I am confused and intrigued. There must be a reason for his decision. I suspect it's love for the one he married, but his tactics seem a little too extreme considering the degree of talent he actually has. To go from one extreme to the other begs a lot of questions. I doubt my father knows the answer to that question either but, unlike me, I think he's not even curious. My father probably can't get past the feeling of being abandoned, hence the reason he's so hard on me.”

    Stern Wing shook her head then said, “That just makes things more confusing. You claim that your father is disappointed in his brother's lifestyle choices, so why is he sending you to visit him? By all accounts, he should be spending all of his resources to keep you from his brother.”

    Quill's eyes drifted up to gaze at the ceiling. “Well, my father claims it's because he's going to be too busy next week to take care of me. From what I can tell, that part is true at least. There are midterms coming up so he'll have a lot of assignments to grade. Not all of it is on paper, either. Since the school is testing magical ability, he'd have to be there in person to personally witness the performances of his students one by one.” Quill turned his chair towards his desk and, from there, twisted it from side to side wistfully. “I get that part, but the thing I don't understand is . . . well, our family is rich. Father could just hire a tutor to take care of me and see to my studies.” Quill tapped his red quill on his lips again thoughtfully. “I know my father can afford it, and his history would suggest he should be inclined to do so. He always rags on me to pursue my studies very seriously. Sending me to visit my uncle instead is the last thing I would have expected him to do.” Quill's right eye shifted right to look at Stern Wing. “My best guess is this might have something to do with a promise he made to my mother, or it might have something to do with a promise he made to his brother. As I said before, he doesn't hate his brother. On some level, I'm pretty sure he loves his brother too. It's just that he hates the choices my uncle made recently.”

    “What about you, then? Are you looking forward to the trip?” Stern Wing asked curiously.

    Quill's right eye looked forward again. “For my part, yes. This will give me a break from my studies and also give me an opportunity to ask my uncle what the hay is going on between him and his brother. It shocks me that my father didn't even insist I bring homework assignments on this trip. The way he's acting suggests he really wants me to focus my attention on the visit itself instead.”

    “Family is very important,” Stern Wing said. “Maybe that's all there is to it. Your father may not agree with his brother's recent choices, but he's still family. I think he wants you to get to know his brother regardless of the choices he made in life. Perhaps, deep down, your father really isn't all that upset at his brother. Tell you what, though. I'm curious too, now. If you actually do find out why your uncle, one of the most powerful unicorns in all of Equestria in our current age, suddenly decided to abandon magic in favor of living as an earth pony on a farm, you tell me too, alright? Unless it's a secret. In that case, all you have to do is tell me the fact that it is a secret. I won't pursue that line of questioning any further if you tell me that.”

    Quill thought on that for a few seconds then looked at Stern Wing and nodded. “Deal.”