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// Opening Author's Note 
// Story: Journey to the First Flame (Continued) 
// by Rated Ponystar 
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Before you begin reading this story, please read this to understand what this fic is and the history behind it.

On Feb 27, 2022 popular MLP fanfic author and friend of mine on the site, Darth Link 22 passed away. I learned about his death through a blog from another user and friend of his: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/981527/remembering-darthlink22-and-plans-for-the-future. I did make sure to see if this wasn't another person hacking into the account of a friend and lying about them being dead (It's happened to three people I know personally) but upon seeing his obituary I was horrified and heartbroken to learn it was real. 

His passing is a sudden shock to us all for those who knew him and the community has lost a great writer. DarthLink22 and I have known each other for years and we've helped each other on our stories with ideas, suggestions, and edits. He loved writing and I hope those of us who read his work will remember his stories such as Post Nuptials, Families, About Last Night, and many more. 

DarthLink22 was working on a story that I was helping him with called Journey to the First Flame which is a story in which Smolder has been chosen by Ember to accomplish an ancient dragon tradition and she chooses Fluttershy, who is reluctant but agrees, to accompany her. With DarthLink22 gone, I felt that I could honor him by continuing the story by posting the chapters he completed but didn't get a chance to post while also finishing the story personally since I was helping him with it and knows what happens next. 

Since reading this story requires you to read the original chapters, please read the fic  and all its chapters before continuing to the first chapter in this one which will continue where the last one went off. The following chapters coming up will be the ones Darth finished but never published. I'll let you know when the last one has been posted and when I'll be continuing the fic from there personally.

I would like to also thank TheAncientPolitzanian for their offer in editing this fic and doing so. Thank you again.

Once again, we will miss you DarthLink22. I hope you are happy up there in heaven my friend.