//------------------------------//
// Destiny Has It's Eyes on You 
// Story: A Compass to the Soul 
// by CartoonNerd12 
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"The Black Fox was a just an ordinary stallion that lived a normal  life like many of you have. He was married to a beautiful mare and had a  daughter with her. He loved his family more than anything and they  lived a peaceful life until one day a greedy and evil pony wanted to  destroy their happiness. He was arrested unfairly and taken to a galley  on a ship. But thankfully with the kindness of a stranger he was freed  and escaped the ship. However it would be years before he could return  home. So in his time away he became El Zorro Negro a dreaded pirate of  the sea.

"But he was only to a pirate to those that caused  injustice in the world and was considered a hero to all he saved. Duty  bounded by the alias he created he knew he had to finish what he started  before he could truly come home. But when he finally did he was  surprised to learn of the number of suitors his wife was receiving for  it was thought that he was dead and as much as his wife refused they  still insisted on marrying her. With a plan in mind he revealed himself  to his daughter and together they thought of a way to get rid of the  suitors. Her daughter suggested to her mother to test the suitors to see  if any of them can be like her father. Her mother reluctantly agreed to  the idea and thought of a hard enough test that only a stallion like  her husband could pass.

"A race was to take place with obstacles  and riddles in its path and the first one to cross the finish line would  win. Needless to say the Black Fox beat them all and once he revealed  who he was, the suitors ran away in fright and his wife was beyond happy  to have her husband back at last. The Black Fox was finally able to  live with his family again and was able to enjoy it for some time before  passing away at very old age. And that my friends is the story of El  Zorro Negro."

Daring Do saw the gaping faces of the kids and adults alike.

Then  Apple Bloom raised her hoof, "Question, why didn't the Black Fox just  reveal his identity to the suitors when he first came home? That would  have solved everything."

The kids muttered in agreement.

Daring  just smiled and replied, "Because then the suitors wouldn't believe him  and he wanted to make sure his wife was still faithful to him during  his absence."

Sweetie Belle pointed, "But if he showed himself to his daughter, why couldn't she tell her mom that her father was home?"

Daring sighed, "That, I'm not sure of. Even that part of the story baffles me."

Silverstream motioned, "Oh! What if it was their way of bonding after being separated for so long!"

Daring slightly smirked and rubbed her chin, "Eh, never thought of that but it makes sense."

Rumble  raised his hoof and asked, "What about that greedy and evil pony? Did  he ever get revenge on him for keeping him away from his family?"

Daring  shook her head, "No. Because all he cared about was being home and the  Black Fox never believed in revenge so that pony got away for his  misdeed."

The kids were shocked and started protesting over the idea of villain winning.

Rainbow  called over them, "Sorry kids but that's life for you, sometimes the  bad guy gets away with things. And the good guy has to endure endless  suffering and hardship…"

Soarin nodded, "I'm afraid it's true,  sometimes nothing goes the way you planned and instead you have to take a  different path when you have no choice."

Dash looked at her fiancé with sadness knowing all too well he was talking about them.

Rumble  on the other hoof was recalling the orb's vision of him wearing black  and a mask and he felt worried over it again thinking his future was set  in stone all the more reason why he didn't want his cutie mark not if  it was going to tell him he was going to be a bandit no matter how much  he tried to prevent it from happening.

The colt got up and started to walk away.

Soarin started to go after him but Daring stopped him, "Allow me." and she went after the boy.

Scootaloo  watched Rumble go and felt a concern for him. As arrogant and smug the  colt was she still felt that feeling she had when she first saw him. She  pretended to yawn and asked Rainbow.

"Mom, is it okay I go to bed now? I really tired from playing all day."

Sweetie muttered under her breath, "Among other things…"

Apple Bloom shushed her.

Dash just said, "Alright kiddo, go ahead and get some rest."

"Great, good night." she went off.

Rainbow raised her brow at how fast the filly was going especially for someone who supposed to be tired.

Something's up…





Rumble ended far up on the beach with the moonlight beaming down on him.

Daring Do caught up to him, "Hey, Rumble, right?"

The young pegasus turned to her with a frown, "Why are you here?"

"I'm curious as to why you left like that, I guess you didn't like the story so much since the bad guy gets away with it."

"Well yeah, I didn't like that but that's not the reason I went, not that it's any of your business."

She made a slight chuckle, "I can tell you're the type of colt that likes to act tough in front of everyone."

"So? What's it to you?"

She  got serious, "Because Rumble, you and those kids here are too young to  get caught up into this big mess called adulthood. Right now you should  all be having childhoods and enjoying them before growing up. But you  didn't have that luxury did you? Instead the harsh realities of life  took you by surprise and you had to learn to grow up too soon."

Tears  started to form in his eyes and he yelled, "How would you know about  that?! How do you know anything about my life?! Did you never know your  parents, caused your brother to go in a coma, or saw your future before  your very eyes telling you you'll end up becoming a bad guy?!" he panted  from his last rant.

Daring's eyes were wide from the outburst  while hiding behind some rocks Scootaloo's own eyes were wide after  hearing that from the colt.

Daring gently wrapped a wing around  the colt and softly told him, "I lost my mother when I was little, my  dad was away most of my life, and I had no siblings to play with. I  don't claim to know what you're going through but I have some idea of  what is going on, but I will admit I am lost as to how you would know  about your future already."

He took a deep breath and slowly  replied, "I… I touched an orb that belonged to some priestess and I saw  an older version of myself wearing black and a mask like I was some kind  of bandit."

Scootaloo felt herself gawking at this information.

Daring pondered then voiced, "Hmmm… Are you sure that you could tell that you'll end up a bandit?"

"That's  just it, I don't know if it meant I would be or not, Discord and Soarin  told me that the future isn't set in stone but still… all this talk  about how we can't control what happens to us… just look at Soarin and  his fiancée! They were going to get married until Soarin got stuck on  the island with me and my brother! So yeah, I'm worried that I'll be  stuck of who I'll become!"

Scootaloo was crying silent tears, thinking, No  wonder he doesn't want to get a cutie mark, he's afraid of ending up  with a cutie mark that will tell him he'll be a bad guy after all… Oh  poor Rumble…

Daring said, "Interesting… so it's unclear as  why you were dressed like that." then she took out a thin black fabric  revealing eyeholes on it.

Rumble gasped at it.

She explained, "This was my grandfather's mask when he was… The Black Fox…"

He sputtered, "You… you're… you're his granddaughter? It wasn't a legend after all…?" trying to wrap his head around this.

"It's a legend anywhere else but it's an undying truth in my family. My mother was the daughter in the story."

"Whoa…"

She laughed, "It's a lot to take in, isn't it?"

"Why… why didn't you tell us at the campfire?"

"Because it's a story that should be shared without personal bias getting in the way."

There was a pause between them with Rumble quietly asking, "Do you think I could become evil?"

Daring  stated, "Kid, we're all capable of great good and great evil that it's  really a matter of choice of which you want to be."

He uttered, "That's what Soarin said…"

"And he's right, and I take it that you want to be good?"

He nodded.

Then suddenly she handed the mask to him.

He gawked and stammered, "Wh… why are you…?"

"Because  if your future told you that you wear a mask for some reason then I  think you wearing the mask of a hero will help keep you on the straight  and narrow."

The colt tried to gave it back, "But I can't take this! It was your grandfather's! Don't you want to keep it for yourself?"

"Well sure, but I already am doing what needs to be done in his honor. I don't need the mask but… you might…" she smiled at him.

Rumble  was taken aback by the gift but hesitantly accepted it even though he  vowed to himself that he would never wear the mask for anything.

Daring  must have read his mind for she said, "My grandfather only took up the  mask when he had to. That's usually how it works for people that are  trying to do the right thing, I got a feeling you're the same way."

"How can you be sure?"

She  shrugged, "I just do." she saw the disappointed expression on his face,  "I know, that's not an answer you want to hear but Rumble you got to  have some faith in yourself just as others have faith in you. Be there  for your loved ones and they'll be there for you." then she started to  go.

Rumble called out, "Daring Do!"

She looked back, "Yes?"

"I… Thanks… for everything."

"Hey, no problem." she smiled again and walked away.

Rumble  had watched her go then he looked up to the see the stars shining in  the sky and a shooting star flew across giving him a glimmer of hope  that his future won't be as awful as he once thought.

Scootaloo  still hidden from view decided it was best to go but she felt she had a  better understanding of the colt known as Rumble and her heart swelled  tenfold just from thinking about him. Then she thought to herself.

I  hope he can avoid the possibility of turning bad and I'm going to help  him! By getting him a cutie mark in something extraordinary! 

With a dreamy smile on her lips she left the boy to admire the stars above.





The day passed on before everyone heard an excited yell, "Eureka!"

Quibble  and Twilight came out of their work hut with Twilight carrying two  bright pink vials in her aura while the stallion carried the Water Rose.

The large group of adults gathered together to see the finished results.

Quibble proudly declared, "By successfully extracting the essence of the Rose, I managed to make the two cures that are needed."

Dash slapped his back making him almost fall forward, "Way to go, Quib!"

Twilight cleared her throat annoyingly, "Well he did have a little help…"

Quibble straightened himself, "Indeed, Miss Sparkle's notes were exactly what I needed to help keep track of everything."

Flash lovingly stared, uttering, "Doesn't surprise me one bit."

Twilight caught the look and made a tiny blush.

Rainbow and Soarin looked at each other and nodded, now was the time to make plans of what to do next.

The  stallion started while drawing in sand, "So we have two cures for two  sick friends and both are in two different places. One is poisoned and  is running out of time while the other is in a coma but is in a closer  distance to deliver the medicine to. So the question is who do we go to  first?"

There was a long pause with everyone looking lost and trying to find the right answer until Daring Do stated, "You don't."

They looked at her being stunned at what she said until she continued.

"You  take separate ways." then points to Quibble's deflated balloon, "As  that hot air balloon is a faster way to travel someone should use that  to get to the parrot captain while you take the ship to get to the other  friend."

Eyes widen at the ingenious plan with Quibble excitedly motioning, "That's perfect! Of course it was so obvious!"

Daring slightly smirked, "Glad you noticed."

He  blurted out, "I've always noticed you!" then realizing what he said he  covered his mouth and stammered, "Um, I mean, that is… I know how bright  you are and it's… great…" he flushed, feeling embarrassed from  confessing that in public.

Daring was shocked to hear that coming  from such a haughty pony then her smirk grew as she got closer to him,  "Well then, why don't you and I take that balloon and deliver the cure  together?"

He gulped, "You… you would come with me?"

She nodded.

Dash  came between them and proclaimed, "It's a great idea! Quibble knows how  to work the balloon and you can help keep him out of trouble!"

Soarin whispered to the others, "Not to mention it'll give them a chance to really get to know each other…"

There were giggles and chuckles.

While  the grown-ups were having their talk, the kids were off at a distance  with Silverstream stringing a seashell necklace, Terramar and Rumble  playing with each other and the CMC having a deep conversation with what  Scootaloo heard last night and what she was planning to do.

Apple Bloom expressed in concern, "I don't know, Scoots, are you sure you want to help him when he won't want our help?"

Sweetie  nodded, "She's right, and as much as we know now why Rumble doesn't  want a cutie mark, we can't guarantee that the cutie mark he gets won't  be bad."

Scootaloo replied, "I have to at least try you guys! You  didn't hear how upset he was when he shared that information to Daring  Do, I want to help him from such a fate."

The girls rose their brows and asked, "Why?"

AB questioned, "Why is it so important to you?"

Scootaloo went pink in the face and rubbed her head awkwardly, "Well, um, you see, I…"

But Sweetie Belle caught on as her eyes widen and gasped, "You have a crush on him!"

Scoots slightly panicked and covered her friend's mouth, shushing her. Making sure Rumble didn't hear and he didn't, she let go.

Apple Bloom gawked at the revelation, uttering, "No wonder you were acting so weird around him."

The young pegasus begged, "Promise me you'll never tell him or anyone else?"

The duo raised their hooves and did the Pinkie-promise, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."

Scootaloo sighed in relief and hugged her friends with giggles.