//------------------------------//
// Asking the Question 
// Story: Strands of Light 
// by OathOfCalm 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5:  Asking the Question


Twilight flipped a page, and sifted through its contents.  Several volumes of the Equestrian census records lay scattered about the table.  It was still midday, and a window illuminated the room with warm light.  Many books and records were organized on shelves in this room.  It was the administrative section of the Royal Canterlot Archives.

It was a daunting task, trying to find the record of a single pony among the ocean of names throughout all of Equestria.  To Twilight's dismay, the system of organization relied completely on family grouping rather than alphabetical organization, and made what should have been a relatively easy search, into a painfully dull process.  

She had begun her search as soon as she had arrived at Canterlot Castle earlier that morning, not even stopping to eat.  The only pony that she had stopped to talk to was the royal guard in front of the archives, and that had only consisted of one sentence:  "Let me in."

For the next several hours she sat in silent study.  The only sound in the room was the magic of her horn flipping pages and lifting books.  I've got to remember to revise this whole system sometime, she thought to herself.  Flipping another page, she continued her search, and then froze.

There it was.

She stared at the page for a moment.  Her hours of searching was finally over.  The flare of excitement over finding her prize, however, quickly melted into apprehension.  It was now time to find out the truth that she had been seeking.  

Name:  Little Shine
Classification:  Earth Pony
Location of Birth:  Manewood
Mother:  Radiant Wing
Father:  Brass Hoof
Siblings:  Stone Pillar (brother)
Extended Family:  None    

The last line of the entry burned into Twilight's mind.  Her ears drooped and her body stiffened.  She read the entry over again, and after still not believing her own eyes, read it a third time.  It just didn't seem to be possible.  

He was alone.  He was completely and utterly alone.

It was the opposite of everything that Twilight had known.  The magic of her friendship was such a powerful force in her life, and the thought of having no one was beyond her understanding.  It was true that she had spent a lot of her earlier life with much fewer friends than in her later years, but she still had had Spike.  She had had Princess Celestia, her mother and father, and Shining Armor.              

Soft hoof steps echoed behind her, and a voice called out.  "Twilight?"

Twilight looked up from the book to behold her mentor.  Celestia stood just inside the door, her mane flowing in the air. 

"Princess Celestia."  Twilight got off her seat, trotted over to her, and they shared an embrace. 

"The guards told me that you've been here since this morning," Celestia said. 

"Yes.  Finding the name of anypony here is crazy.  It's not even alphabetical!"

Celestia chuckled.  "Something tells me that that's going to change soon."  She paused for a bit before continuing.  "What pony are you looking for?"

Twilight looked down.  "I was looking for Little Shine."

"Ah, the colt that is staying in the suite with the others."

Twilight nodded.

"Did you find his record?" Celestia asked.

Twilight didn't respond with words, instead picking up the book with her magic and levitating it over.  She turned it so that the open page faced Celestia.  

Celestia glanced down the page to where Little Shine's entry rested.  She read the contents, then looked back at Twilight.

"Where are his parents, Twilight?"

It wasn't that Celestia didn't already know the answer.  It was obvious to her what had happened, but she wanted to see how Twilight would respond.  In the last year, Twilight had taken to her new role as princess quickly.  She had dealt with the new responsibilities without a hitch, and Equestria had seen great days since her ascension.  However, this was the first time that a disaster had happened in a long time.  Celestia strained her memory to remember when something like this had happened even in her rule.

Twilight met Celestia's gaze, the hint of a tear forming.  The book dropped to the floor.  "They're gone."  She dropped the book to the floor and gazed down again.  "He has nopony else, and I wasn't able to save-"

"Twilight.  There was nothing you could have done."

Twilight looked back up.  The strength of Celestia's soft words succeeded in soothing Twilight's pain, and she listened.

"What happened in Manewood was beyond your control.  Even I did not see it coming, nor Luna.  You shouldn't blame yourself for it."  Celestia moved around Twilight so that they were face to face.  "You did a wonderful job at helping the ponies that could be helped.  How many did your group save?"

"Um, I think there was about forty, or fifty," Twilight mumbled.

"Exactly.  Without you and your leadership, those ponies would have died.  Think about that, Twilight.  You saved over forty ponies."  

Twilight tilted her head up in contemplation.  "I guess I never thought about that."

"As a leader, we cannot always prevent all the bad in this world.  We just have to do what we can to make the best of it."  Celestia sighed.  "As a princess, it's always harder.  We have the responsibility of many ponies in our hooves.  Many of these ponies we haven't even met, and when we fail them, it's the worst kind of disappointment."

Twilight slowly nodded.  "I know.  That's how I felt when I found out about the disaster, and when I found Little Shine.  I kept thinking about how I could have prevented it, how I could have saved them, and that I failed to do so."  Igniting her horn, she levitated the record book back onto the table.  "I realize that there was nothing I could have done, but . . . it still hurts.  Just thinking about Little Shine with no one left, I couldn't imagine what that would be like."

"Losing your family is one of the most painful things that a pony can endure, and enduring it alone makes it even harder," Celestia said.  "What are you going to do with Little Shine?"

"I . . I don't know.  I thought about bringing him back to Ponyville to stay, but . . . I just don't know," Twilight said.

"Well, I think that's a wonderful idea."

"You do?"

Celestia laughed and put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder.  There was a cheeky grin on her face.  "You didn't turn out to bad in Ponyville, did you?"

Twilight stared blankly, then slowly began to smile.  "I guess not.  I just don't know if I'll have time to take care of him.  I mean, I have so many responsibilities."

"And are you the only pony in Ponyville, Twilight?"

"What?  Of course not."

Celestia moved toward the window and gazed out across the land.  She motioned for Twilight to come closer.  "Look out across Canterlot and tell me what you see."

Twilight stared out the window.  "There are a lot of buildings.  There's the mountain and the waterfalls."  She looked up at Celestia.  "What are you trying to tell me princess."

"What else do you see?"  

Twilight looked again.  It was midday and many ponies were out on the streets, making their way to various shops or to their work.  "There are lots of ponies, I guess."

"That's right. Now, even though Ponyville is very small compared to Canterlot, if you looked upon the streets of Ponyville at this time, would the sight be similar?"

"I suppose."  

"So, what am I really trying to say?"

Twilight thought for a moment.  She didn't have time to take care of Little Shine all the time, but perhaps she wouldn't have to.  Her eyes widened as the dots connected in her mind.  "I'm not alone."

Celestia smiled.  "The magic of friendship is what has made you what you are today.  You didn't defeat Nightmare Moon alone, did you?  You didn't battle Discord alone.  You are not alone.  You never have been."  She stepped closer to Twilight.  "I think that Little Shine will need you and your friends to make it through this."

Twilight returned the smile.  "Your right, Princess.  He'll need us all to be there for him."  She nuzzled Celestia.  "Hey, how did you know that he was staying in the suite?"

"Oh, I just dropped in to make sure your friends had everything that they needed.  I have to say, he's a very sweet little colt."
Celestia turned toward the door.  "On that note, I have some matters to take care of."

"Of course, thank you."

"You're very welcome."

With that, Celestia trotted out the door, leaving Twilight to think about the future.      



* * *



Little Shine sat on the bed with a crayon in his mouth.  He worked on the little piece of paper in front of him.  He stared around the room and took in every little detail.  He transcribed his vision down onto the page, switching colors when needed.  

Rarity stared down at him dumbfounded.  He was so young, yet his ability to replicate what he saw around him put him near the level of master artists in Canterlot.  His focus was far beyond any colt his age that she knew.  The most astonishing feet was his attention to detail.  

The picture was a small section of the suite near one of the windows.  The border was magnificently engraved with abstract design.  The light from the lowering sun beamed through it, and Little Shine reflected this in his drawing with color shades.  His eye for detail became even clearer to Rarity when he began to draw the buildings in the distance through the window.  Everything was perfectly proportioned.  It was as if he was tracing and coloring in a photo.

Rarity could no longer remain silent.  "Little Shine, darling, where in Equestria did you learn to draw like that?"

Little Shine looked up from the page and tilted his head.  "Um, I don't know.  I've always liked drawing for as long as I can remember.  My mom was a painter, so I guess I got some of it from her." 

"Well, I can safely say that you have an absolutely brilliant talent for art.  It's a wonder that you don't have your cutie mark yet," Rarity said.

Little Shine looked back down.  "My brother used to say that.  I don't really know why I don't have a cutie mark. My whole family thought it would have been in drawing."

"Well, it'll come in time, darling.  You'll see." 

"I know.  Mom said that it will come when it is ready, and that I can't force it."

"Your mother sounds like she was a very smart mare.  She's absolutely right.  A cutie mark will come when it is time.  If only a certain other group of fillies" - Rarity rolled her eyes - "would take the same advice."

The door to the suite opened, and Fluttershy entered, along with a cyan pegasus that Little Shine had never met.  They were deep in conversation.

"So anyway, Spitfire asked me if I wanted to come and train in the advanced session next week.  So awesome!" the pegasus was saying.

"Oh, that's so wonderful.  I'm so happy for you Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said.

Little Shine watched Rainbow Dash intently.  Ponies come in all different colors, but he had never seen a pony with a rainbow colored mane before.  She walked with absolute confidence in every step.

"Why, hello Rainbow Dash.  It sounds like you had an exciting day today," Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash trotted over to one of the beds and flew on top of it.  "It was awesome, a great day with the Wonderbolts."

Little Shine's ears twitched.  Did she say Wonderbolts?

Rainbow Dash rolled over on the bed and noticed Little Shine for the first time.  She examined him for a quick second and then smiled.  "Hey, kid.  You must be Little Shine.  Fluttershy told me about you.  I'm Rainbow Dash."

"Are you really a Wonderbolt?" Little Shine asked.

"Nah, not yet.  But I'm training to be.  Spitfire says that in a few more months I'll be ready," Rainbow answered. 

"That's so cool!" Little Shine exclaimed, then shuddered.  It looked like a lightning bolt struck him as his body twitched.  His eyes snapped shut.  

"Woah, are you okay, kid?" Rainbow asked.

Little Shine shook his head several times.  His body began to relax and released the stored tension.  Where did that come from?

"I'm okay, just exited to meet a cool pony like you.  Fluttershy says I'm still recovering," he said.

"Cool pony, huh.  Well, you better take it easy," Rainbow said.

Fluttershy trotted over to Little Shine's bed and looked down at the drawing.  "Oh, Little Shine.  This is wonderful."

"Isn't it," Rarity agreed.

"Let me see," Rainbow said.

Fluttershy gently curled up the drawing in her hooves and passed it over.  Rainbow Dash looked at it intently.  "This is pretty cool, Little Shine."

"You really think so?" Little Shine asked.

"It's better than anything I could do," Rainbow replied.

At that moment, the door opened again.  The four ponies looked around, and saw Twilight carefully entering the room.  She looked around and spotted Little Shine.  Approaching slowly, she smiled.  "Hi, everypony."

"Hey, Twilight.  How's it going?" Rainbow asked. 

"Well, I'm here to ask Little Shine some things," Twilight arrived at the bed beside Little Shine.  "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"Not too bad, I guess," Little Shine replied.  

"Little Shine, I need to ask you some questions.  Is that okay?"

"Sure."

Twilight took a deep breath.  "Little Shine, as far as I can find, you have no extended family.  Is that true?"

The pain on Little Shine's face was evident.  He drooped his ears and lowered his head.  "Yes."

Twilight nuzzled closer.  "I'm sorry, sweetie.  I know this is painful for you.  Do you have any appointed guardians?"

"Not that I know of."

Twilight sighed.  "Well then.  I guess there's just one more question to ask."

Little Shine looked up.  "What?"

"Would you like to live in Ponyville?"

Little Shine thought for a moment.  There really isn't anywhere that I can think of going to, and I really like Fluttershy and Rarity.  They live in Ponyville, so . . .

Little Shine nodded his head.  "Yes.  I. . . I would like that."

Fluttershy dove at Little Shine.  "Oh, that's so wonderful."  She gave him a big hug and then parted.  "Rarity and I were talking about that, too.  You can say with me."

"I think that's a brilliant idea," Rarity said. 

"So, it's settled then.  Tomorrow morning is the next train to Ponyville," Twilight said.  

Little Shine closed his eyes.  His life was going to be different from now on, but perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.



* * *



The strand of light was barely visible in the infinite glow of the void.  Slowly, it began to brighten, and drift across the nothingness.  Several other strands formed to meet it.  Slowly, they guided it, until they reached a new cluster of light.

Here in this new yarn, that strand of light began to weave itself into the pattern.