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// A false perspective. 
// Story: The misadventures of Light Heart 
// by Light Heart101 
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Now some of you are probably thinking that my Dad took care of Neighsay for me, but the truth is that when he pointed out that I was an alicorn it only gave me some new problems. After an incident with Rainbow Dash, there was a law passed about trying to fake or force an alicorn transformation. Let's just say that it's a one-way trip to Tartarus. Now I think that they have laws enforcing an investigation and a royal trial now, but that wasn't in place when I ran into this stallion again.

Now things were starting to run smoothly again for me, in spite of the common misconceptions about alicorns. I remember the CMC coming to me asking for another special order. Now I specialize in stuffed animals and other stuffed toys, but it is a little funny when they ask for plushies of their siblings. Now, normally it would be weird to do something like that, but I've already made thirty plushies of the Main six, so I didn't think it was a big deal. Hey, if they say it's alright then I think it's okay. Although I think Applejack talked the others into giving me the rights to their plushies because Flim and Flam tried cashing in on it. (That reminds me, they still owe me 2,500 bits for that lawsuit.) 

I was walking home to get started on my new project when I saw him standing at my doorstep. "Hello, Light Heart. Do you know who I am?"

Now my Dad didn't talk a lot about him. I remembered him as the scary pony who eats hopes and dreams. (Okay, looking back he wasn't far off.) I wanted to be nice about it. "Uh, I don't remember you well. Was it along the lines of Neighsayer?

He rolled his eyes. "I'm chancellor Neighsay. I was here on an inspection tour of one of the schools when I saw you. Tell me, how did you come about these wings?"

I was used to this question at this point, so I gave the answer that I always gave. "I'm not too certain. I was upset at myself, but then out of nowhere this happened."

He walked right up to where he was only a few inches from my face. "Is that the story you want to stick with?"

I gave a nervous grin as he stared at me. "Uh, are there any better ones? I could tell you the one about the three bears."

He looked disgusted at me like I insulted him in front of a judge. "I don't know what spell you discovered or how you somehow pulled this little stunt off, but I'm not letting this slide. False alicornism is a crime that I'll see you locked away for."

I jerked back from his accusation. I often wondered if I became an alicorn by mistake, but he was accusing me of faking it. I backed up slowly as I tried to question him. "What makes you think that I faked it? Frankly, I didn't want it in the first place."

I quickly found myself wrapped in some form of magical chains. As I struggled to free myself he gave me a cold stare. "I know who you are. You are an autistic kid who failed in the basics of magic. There is no way that you could obtain this form of power or prestige. The only way you could have done this was by some form of trickery. You can never be a real alicorn."

As much as it made sense when he said it like this, but being there first-hoof told me that he was somehow wrong. As he started dragging me away I heard Scootaloo running up to us. "Hey! Why are you taking him away? He didn't do anything wrong."

Neighsay was blunt while he kept dragging me away. "This handicapped pony tried to pretend he was important. Ponies like him can never amount to anything."

Now just hearing that would be shocking for a child, but this was Scootaloo. Nopony knew if she would ever be able to fly. I could see her staring in fear and unbelief as tears ran down her face. She ran off down the street; I could hear the faint sounds of her crying.

I tugged at the chains as I tried to call out. "Scootaloo, wait!"

He yanked me back. "They need to learn sooner or later. You should be more worried about where you'll be spending the rest of your life. I'll lock you in Tartarus myself."

I knew that there was no way he was going to let me go, let alone have a trial. In his mind, I was already guilty. As I tried to figure out what in the world I could do I heard my brother speaking up. "Hey! What's the big idea of trying to lock him up?"

Neighsay rolled his eyes. "He's being arrested on the charge of faking an alicorn transformation. It's none of your business."

Now I know that Neighsay is a tough guy, but Book Knight was the closest thing this town has to a cop. If anypony knew the law around here it was him.

His voice was calm as he walked up to him. "I think I remember you coming to town. You're a chancellor, right? You are not a royal guard or anything close to it. Do you even have a warrant for his arrest?"

Neighsay stood to face him. "Are the wings on his back not sufficient evidence? I have every right to arrest him now."

Book grinned a bit. My guess was he found his weak spot. "Right now you have no jurisdiction or warrant. He could legally be out of whatever prison you put him in an hour. I would also have to arrest you for taking royal charges into your own hooves without written permission. Now, why don't you come back when you have a hoof to stand on?"

Neighsay looked at my brother with a hint of anger, but he kept his composure as he released me. "Alright, you have your point, but I promise you that I will be back for him. Just keep in mind if I find that you are trying to help him escape I'll see you arrested for aiding a fugitive."

Book nodded. "Expect me to leave on a business meeting today. I do have my own superiors to report to. I promise you that Light will be here. Just make sure you report to the Mayor before doing anything brash. I'll see you later."

Neighsay summoned a portal that he walked through. As I tried to wrap my head around what happened Book grabbed me. "Are you okay?"

I sat down as I caught my breath. "Dad was right. I should have avoided that guy."

Book Knight sighed in relief, but I could tell by his face that it would be short-lived. "Listen, from what I know about this guy he's very resourceful. He'll be back with what he needs to arrest you. The only thing that might save you right now is to appeal your case. I know that I can discredit his analysis for being biased. I can have Dad testify... well, when we get to the trial. I think he might go too far if I tell him now. I need anything you have that can help me get you out of this mess. I know that everypony thinks you are the real thing, but were there any eyewitnesses that could help us?"

I placed a hoof on my head out of fear. "No, I was alone when this happened."

Book looked frustrated as he started pacing around. "Light, I need something more than this to take this to a trial. Twilight's on a friendship mission with Rainbow Dash and she's the only pony I can think about who could prove something like this. I need something that I can use."

I was desperately thinking. I was truthfully afraid of going to jail, but I had no clue what I could say. "I don't know. I don't know how I'm supposed to prove this. When Luna saw me she believed me. Why is this..."

Book Knight interrupted me. "Wait! You've met a princess?"

I nodded. "Yeah, she showed up in my dream. Now that I said it out loud it doesn't add any credibility to my testimony."

Book had one of those looks he has when he thinks he's a genius. "If that's true then now only do you have a strong witness, but maybe a real way to prove that you are a real alicorn. I'll try to talk to them and get them over here."

I was excited to hear that glimmer of hope. "So what do I do?"

Book sighed as he bit his lip a little. "You need to stay here. I'll handle the princesses and the case, you can't give Neighsay any reason to speed this up. I'll be back as soon as possible."

Book ran for the train station, leaving me alone and scared. I didn't know what else to do, so I went back to my house.

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Let me tell you all something, sitting around waiting to tell if you are going to jail is not a good way to spend an afternoon. If any of you have stress problems then you shouldn't picture it. I tried making those plushies to get my mind off of it, but it ended with the Applejack toy getting a pair of blue wings. I was scared about what was going to happen to me.

As I was trying to clear my head I heard somebody yelling outside. I looked out of my window and saw Applejack running up to Fluttershy. 

Applejack looked like Twilight during the doll incident. "Hey, have you seen Scootaloo? Applebloom didn't see her at the Cutie Mark Crusader meeting."

Fluttershy looked a little taken back from Applejack's panicked face. "Uh, is it possible that she went home?"

Applejack shook her head. "I checked her regular hang out points, but she wasn't there. I heard from Derpy that she looked very upset. I'm afraid that something might be wrong. Is Dash back here yet?"

Fluttershy began to show signs of worrying as well. "No. I don't know when she'll be back. I can help look for her if you want."

As I watched them both run off I started to think about what happened with her earlier. She watched as somebody told her that a disabled pony is not special, and had another pony in chains for it. She couldn't talk to Dash about it, and from what they said they couldn't find Scootaloo. Only one conclusion came to mind, she ran away. I wished it wasn't the case, but from a handicapped perspective, it seemed like that was the most likely scenario. I started to think about where she might have gone. I knew that it wouldn't be anywhere where the CMC would look, and the train station was shut down so they could do some maintenance on the track. There was only one place I could think of where she could go to disappear, the Everfree forest.

Now I become protective of the kids I meet. I have a soft spot for them. So I wasn't about to wait for a search party to be assembled. I knew that it would take a few hours before they would think to search there and by then she could get hurt. As I made my way to the balcony I suddenly found myself wrapped in mythical chains.

I turned to find the one pony who I didn't want to see. Neighsay's eyes were cold and calculating as his blunt voice spoke. "Now you didn't think that I was going to let you go, did you?"

I started panicking. I thought I could appeal to his good nature. "Neighsay, I know that you have no reason to believe me, but that child you yelled at is now missing. All I need is a few hours to find her and then you can lock me away for all I care."

Now there's one thing you need to know if you ever try to appeal to someponies good nature, make sure they have one.

I truly think that he didn't want to listen to anything that came out of my mouth. "You have to be mad if you think I'll believe you. Even if you were telling the truth she'd have to accept reality sooner or later."

I kept trying to tug at the chains. "She most likely went into the Everfree forest. She won't last long out there. Please, I need to help her."

He sneered at me. "If she did happen to run away then the rest of the town can look for her. You can wait until you are tried, but you won't be leaving when I have my say." 

As he started dragging me with those chains I was frantic. I knew the odds of Scootaloo being found quickly was pretty low, and at the moment I was probably the only pony who had an idea of where Scootaloo was and what could happen to her if she wasn't found quickly. Now I have stated before that I am protective. I'm not related to her in any way, but I am still protective of her. She has no real parents an most likely has a physical disability. I don't want to see other kids ending up in the pit of depression that I once found myself in. Scootaloo was there now, and there was no way that I was going to let it destroy her.

I could feel something snap in me. I fought against the chains one more time, but not to get away. I was trying to extend my wings and break through them. Imagine how surprised I was when it works. I managed to shatter the chains, sending Neighsay flying back. Normally I would wonder how in the world I pulled that off, but I only had one thing on my mind. I quickly jumped out of the window and flew full speed into the forest. I knew that it could cause me a lot of grief, but that wasn't important to me. There was a child to save.

I had to fly low into the forest. The thick fog and large trees made aerial surveillance impossible. I spent the next hour searching the forest for any sign of her. I had to move away from the main paths and start trying to search for some signs of a disturbed environment. The main problem was how fast I was trying to fly and the pure difficulty of finding anything that stuck out.

I had to start thinking if I had just acted too quickly. I had to start thinking about other places that she could have run off to. 

As I started to think about how to search for her without attracting attention from Neighsay I suddenly heard barking in the distance. At first, I thought it might have just been a timberwolf chasing a rabbit or something, but then I heard somepony screaming in the distance. I frantically made my way over to the source of the sound. All I can remember is hearing a low growl and seeing Scootaloo on the ground unconscious.

To this day I can't remember what happened after that. I only remember waking up with my head spinning. My body felt like all of my strength was ripped from my body. I couldn't even move my hooves. I slowly turned my head to try to see exactly where I was. I could tell from the dark trees and the general surroundings that I was still in the forest and that it turned dark. I had to have been out for at least an hour. I tried summoning any ounce of power in me to get up and try finding Scootaloo. Hey, when I set myself on something personal, I never stop.

As I tried to get my weak hooves to work for me I heard a familiar voice from the distance. "Light! Hold on, I'm coming!"

I was quickly rushed by my pranking rival, Rainbow Dash. She was in her Wonderbolt uniform, telling me that this was a search and rescue mission that she was on. I nearly stumbled as I tried stepping forward. "Leave me! Help Scootaloo!"

"It's alright, she's okay. She looks a little roughed up, but Fleetfoot said that she should be fine. Spitfire is getting a chariot to help carry you two. Are you okay? You don't seem hurt." Dash was checking me for any injuries, but didn't seem to find any, to my surprise."

I tried proving what she was saying. "I'm fine." Just so you know, falling flat on your face isn't a good way to prove that you are fine.

Dash motioned for another Wonderbolt to help me up. They both lifted me by my wings and started carrying me towards a couple of other Bolts. Dash nudged at me. "Hey, I don't know what happened to you, but do you know what happened here? We were getting ready to find my sis and we heard something big going down in the forest. It sounded like two Ursa majors were fighting each other."

I raised my head to see that what was probably a dense part of the forest was now a large clearing. There were shattered trees and broken branches all over the place. I was at a loss for words. "I-I-I have no clue. I-I remember finding Scootaloo, but I blacked out after that. I don't even know how it happened."

Dash sighed. "Oh well, I wish I could have seen the fun, but then again it looks like you two are in the middle of it. I just wish I could have been here sooner."

I knew that she would have only returned from the show if Twilight had called for her. I quickly tried comforting her. "Hey, it's not your fault that she ran off. I'm currently thinking about some fun things to say to my old tormentor. You managed to get the Bolts over here in... I think it was less than an hour, but I have no clue what time it is. Right now she needs you to tell her that she can still fulfill her dreams."

Dash looked shocked at me as I was somehow making sense. "It sounds like you know what happened to her."

I sighed in frustration. "I'll worry about myself when we get back, you worry about your sister."

The two pegasuses set me down next to Scootaloo. She had a few cuts and bruises on her, but it didn't look like she was in any real danger. As a chariot lead by a couple of Bolts landed next to us we noticed she waking up. "Uh, Dash, is that you?"

Dash quickly ran over to her. "Scoot! I'm here! Are you okay?"

Scoot groaned slightly as she tried sitting up, only to fail as I had. "Ow. My head hurts. I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble. That pony was right. All I do is cause trouble. I'm worthless."

I groaned a bit as I managed to sit up slightly. "How many times do we have to tell you that's not true?"

Her eyes widened a bit when she saw me. "Light! You didn't get taken away. Does this mean that pony won't take you away for being different?"

I could tell that everybody was staring at me now, but the sad truth was I had no clue if I was getting out of this mess. I knew that I couldn't lie to her, but maybe I could direct the fear away from her. "Listen, I'm being judged for two things right now. The wings on my back and the flaw in my head. According to Neighsay, those things can't mix. My brother is trying to help me, but I have no clue if I'll be saved from a life in prison. Celestia knows I don't deserve it, but there are always ponies who try to get their way, even when they are wrong. No matter what happens to me you need to keep striving to be the best you can be."

It broke my heart to see Scootaloo's pleading eyes just begging me to stay. "But why does he have to hurt you? It's not fair! You did nothing wrong."

I laid back down, feeling my heart being torn apart. "I'm an alicorn, that's reason enough for him."

I noticed that Dash was starting to look like she wanted to punch something. I could feel the determination in her voice as she spoke. "That's not good enough. Scoot, nopony is going to lock up Light Heart, not on my watch!"

I couldn't believe that the same pony who I had a prank war with just recently was now vowing to protect me. Soon a chariot landed next to us. Dash and the others picked us both up and set us inside. The flight back was pure torture. I kept wondering if I was going to find that I was going to be freed or enprisoned. As my mind tried to comprehend what my fate my eyes turned to Scoot. Dash and another Bolt were busy trying to bandage her up. I smiled knowing that she was safe. I never held my life with much regard, but all honest if I could help one child it would all be worth it.

For a bunch of stunt ponies, the Wonderbolts were good at keeping a chariot steady. I could barely tell when the wheels touched the ground. If I had any strength left in me I would have jumped hearing Spitfire shout at the Bolts. "Crash, report!"

Dash quickly stood at attention. "We found Scootaloo and Light Heart, although it looked like they were both left in the middle of a war zone. Frankly, I think it'll take a while before we'll find out what happened. Requesting permission to take them both to the hospital!"

"Hold it!" My heart started racing when I heard Neighsay speaking. "That pony is a false alicorn and a criminal. I'm taking him to a place where he won't be causing any more trouble."

I could feel his magic pick me up as he started dragging me towards him again. Dash quickly stepped in between us. "Hey! He's the furthest thing you could get from a criminal! You have another thing coming to you if you think that you're locking this guy up!"

Neighsay looked frustrated as he stepped in front of her. "I don't care if you are a bearer of harmony. The law is in place for a reason."

I was impressed that Dash wasn't intimidated in the least bit. "Don't you quote that law to me. I'm the reason that it was written. There is no way that Light would have faked something like this."

As I noticed the rest of the townsfolk started gathering around, trying to figure out what was going on. Neighsay merely scoffed at Dash. "Please. There is no way that a mentally unstable pony like him could ever become a real alicorn."

"I think we'll be the judge of that." Everybody quickly moved out of the way as I saw two of the most important ponies in Equestria were walking up to me, Celestia and Luna. I tried standing up and bowing to them, but I quickly fell on my face again. I couldn't describe how pathetic I felt on the ground. I was the most pathetic excuse for an alicorn, stumbling in front of the two princesses. As I kept my head lowered I felt a gentle wing lift my head up. I was now facing Princess Celestia. She had a motherly look on her face, almost as if she had pity on me.

Her horn glowed a bit and touched my own. I could feel a tingling feeling come over my horn and make its way over my whole body. I heard it described by the others as my whole body glowing. Celestia gave a soft smile as she straightened up. "Well, he's as much as an alicorn as me or Luna. I think that settles your little dispute Chancellor."

At that moment I felt the weight of the world being lifted off of me. Unfortunately, Neighsay didn't share in my joy. "Excuse me? Are you expecting us to believe that this stallion is a real alicorn?"

Celestia nodded. "My sister believes it, and now I do. It seems like you are the only pony here who has any problem accepting it. Either way, Light Heart will remain free and guiltless."

I managed to turn to see the look on Neighsay's face. He looked furious as he stepped up to Celestia. "I don't mean to sound rude, but there is no way that some autistic fool can become an alicorn."

Now I had seen the anger and seriousness of several ponies that day, but I don't think any of that matched Luna's as she walked right up to his face. "I'm an alicorn, aren't I?"

Everybody stood in silence as Luna said that. I started stuttering as I tried understanding what the alicorn who helped me said. "What are you talking about?"

Luna raised her head in pride as she spoke. "I am autistic. I was one of the first ponies who was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrom. So if you say that autistic ponies can't become alicorns then you are accusing me too." 

Nopony knew what to say. I turned to Celestia to see if she was taken back to, but the somber look on her face told me otherwise. She knew that the princess of the night was autistic.

The fury in Luna's eyes grew as she stared down Neighsay. "Now, if you have a problem with an autistic alicorn you can take it to me. Otherwise, you can go mind your own business. Now leave Light alone!"

Everypony stood silently at Luna's outburst. There are only a few ponies in the world who could face her like this without running away in fear. Neighsay didn't say anything, he just stared at her for a moment. Then he just kept a clam composer and said one word softly. "Fine."

He didn't bother to look at me. He didn't even seem angry. He went back to the calm, calculating stallion that I feared as a kid. I think for a moment I felt a bit of relief, my long lost enemy had withdrawn. 

But then I heard Book yelling at the princesses. "My dad found out! Stop him before he gets him."

Instantly I saw my dad jump out of the crowd and charge at Neighsay. I'm pretty sure that he had now beaten Luna on the fear scale. It took ten of the royal guard to hold my dad back as he started throwing threats at him. I don't think that I should share them, but now he officially looked scared.

Celestia looked a little worried as she whispered into his ear. "I think you should leave, quickly."

I think I saw him for another two seconds before he disappeared. I'm pretty sure that I heard Luna whispering to Celestia as I tried getting up again. "I believe that I should have some words with Light Heart. Can you take care of the crowds?"

Celestia nodded. "Of course. I suggest you talk to him while you take him to the hospital."

Luna gave a respectful bow to her sister. Suddenly she teleported a stretcher underneath me and proceeded to lift it up with her magic. I figured that the wisest choice for me would be to stay lying down. As she carried me Luna started talking to me. "Undoubtedly you have questions for me. Just so you know, what I said was true."

I stuttered a bit trying to understand it. "But, how can you be autistic? You act as if you are just a normal pony."

She nodded. "It took a long time before ponies either didn't believe it or forgotten it. I've had a long time to learn to overcome my shortcomings. You have spoken about being a failure at magic. I was once described as Starswirl's worst student."

Now it's hard to imagine the pony who raises the moon every night to be bad at magic. I knew that there had to be more to this. "What else did you struggle with? If you don't mind my asking." 

She sighed a bit. "Not at all young stallion. I struggled with talking to large groups. It made being a princess a lot harder for me until Tia took over most of the daily duties. I also struggled with reading and writing. Tia was a great comfort with teaching me that. It's actually why we once had a journal. I had a few other struggles, but they didn't have as much of an impact on me."

I was shocked. I realized that I had some of the same problems as the princess of the night. I had to learn more. "How did you overcome this?"

She raised herself to a more formal stance. "Time and training. I learned to deal with these handicaps in my own way. After some time, I learned to turn my weaknesses into an asset. Do you know why I wanted to help you?"

I shook my head. I never could tell why she'd be wasting her time on some insignificant pony like me, but she seemed to show the same motherly smile that Celestia often shared. "I saw a bit of me in you. If anything I lack your sense of humor and you lack my pride. We are both described as flawed and broken, but we always rise to aid others. I sense a kind guardian in you, and I wanted to make sure that you didn't fall into the same pitfalls that I had. I don't know your destiny, but you have some purpose that warrants your wings. Don't sell yourself short, you still have a long way to fly."

It was a lot to take in. I never understand it when ponies help me, I'm usually the one who tries to help. I didn't understand why Luna wanted to encourage me on my path, but then again, she's been on that same road. I relaxed a bit as I tried to rest. "Thank you. By the way, I hope my brother didn't cause any trouble for you."

She shook her head. "Nay, your brother has been an excellent help for protecting the ponies at night. I'm honestly glad I hired him a few years ago."

My head jerked back up when she said that. "You mean the whole "Night Shift" thing was you?"

She gave a little grin. "Why not. Twilight couldn't stay up all night and Book is better than most of Celestia's guards."

I chuckled at that comparison. At that point, I started to fade out again. I woke up the next morning in the hospital. I was still tired, but the doc said that there was a reason for it. He said that I showed signs of adrenalin, it's a chemical that affects the body, boosting it with high levels of strength. I've heard a story about Granny Smith lifting a cart off of Applebloom once through that. Apparently, as a male alicorn, I'm able to generate more of this adrenalin. 

Spitfire had to file a report and run the investigation on what happened. I ended up being interviewed by her for an hour. It was mainly her asking what all I remembered. I told her what I could, but I still couldn't remember what happened. In the end, one theory came up. She said with the high amount of wood which didn't come from any trees and the blood test from me that I might have fought a timberwolf. I truly didn't believe it because I wasn't hurt, but her reasoning was because nopony knew what I could do. 

To this day I don't know what happened out there. She might have been right, but there's little evidence to prove it. All I know is that I went out to protect a little girl. I try not to think about it too much. Many things happened that day. In the end, everybody got home safe. I also ended up learning how to send junk mail about tourist spots to Neighsay. Want his postbox number?