//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The unknown pony // Story: Rainbow in the sky // by Shiron //------------------------------// Chapter 1: The unknown pony When Rainbow Dash awoke she found herself in a big cave. Where the hay am I? The last thing I know is this crazy monster chasing me. When she touched her head she quickly removed her hoof because of the pain. Ouch!, she thought, but she could feel bandages around her head. Somepony must have had treated her injuries and bandaged them. Rainbow Dash was lying on a hay bed with a warm blanked over her body to keep her warm. Next to the bed were laying fruits, water and even some medicinal herbs, which were perfect to cure headache. Moreover the medical herbs were even able to increase the healing process. She already knew these kinds of special medical herbs because of her training. Some years ago she had worked on a new trick but she had made a mistake while planning for the trick. The result had been that she had crashed into a tree close to Fluttershy's home and she had hurt herself. Although the injuries weren't serious, the pain had been still too intense when she tried to fly. Luckily Fluttershy had heard Rainbow's crash and moments later Fluttershy had already sat next to her, trying to help her friend to stand up. The shy pegasus pony had known her friend too well and she had known that Rainbow Dash was too proud to go to the doctors in town. However she had tried to convince Rainbow to visit them but in the end Fluttershy had to take care of her friend's injuries herself. Fluttershy only had helped her animal friends when they were injured and she hadn't known how to take care of the injuries of another pony. However all she had known was that her friend needed help and that had been enough for Fluttershy. Fluttershy had treated Rainbow Dash's wounds like an expert and she had even given her some medical herbs. Fluttershy had told her that these herbs would increase the healing process and that they also were able to abate pain. After Rainbow Dash had taken the herbs she had realized that Fluttershy had been right. It had taken only a few moments until the pain had disappeared and only two days later her wings were back to their full awesomeness. Since this day Rainbow Dash had crashed more than once into something or even worse somepony. Most of these crashes had been harmless but a few times she had ended up with some painful injuries or headache. Every time she had taken the medical herbs she had felt better only a few moments later and she had been able to fly and practice new tricks only a few days later. Rainbow Dash knew that some of her tricks were risky but to make her dream come true and join the Wonderbolts she accepted these risks. Only the best pegasus ponies were able to join the Wonderbolts and someday her tricks would help her to become one of the best pegasi in Equestria's history. When Rainbow Dash looked at the medical herbs she knew that whoever brought her to this cave must have known the effects of the herbs. However she still wondered who her savior was and if it was possible that it was Zecora. Rainbow Dash stood up scanned the cave. It was a big cave with three tunnels and a small entrance big enough for a pony. A small campfire was in the center of the cave and near enough to warm her up. Rainbow Dash could also see some self-made tables with candles and some books. She walked to one of the tables and looked at the titles of the books. She took one of them in her hoofs and read the title "Frankenfilly". It was an old monster book about a crazy scientist, a unicorn named Frankenfilly, who used her magic and her knowledge to create a monster. She also had a humpback helper named Igor. Hehehe That unicorn reminds me a little of Twilight especially with Spike as her helper and her labor under the library Dash thought with a giggle. After she briefly checked the other books, which were also books about monsters, Rainbow Dash looked if somepony else was in the cave but she was alone. Seeing that the storm was still raging she went back to the bed to eat some fruit and the medical herbs. It took only a couple of minutes until the pain disappeared and she felt like a new pony. While she once again thought who might saved her she recalled a rumor she heard in Ponyville. Some ponies' especially young fillies and colts had heard about the Everfree Forest for the first time and went into it. These ponies had been either very curious like all young ponies or they had done it as a dare but all of them ignored the warning. In all stories about the Everfree Forest it was told that anypony who went in had never come out. Rainbow Dash knew all those stories but when her new friend Twilight Sparkle had to go into the forest to find the Elements of Harmony to save Equestria from Nightmare Moon, Rainbow Dash had followed her together with her other friends. Rainbow Dash would never leave a friend hanging when he or she needs help. She would even risk her own safety for her friends. Together the friends had defeated Nightmare Moon and had left the forest without any problems. After this day she had visited the Everfree Forest more than once and she was still alive. However although the tales about the Everfree Forest were exaggerated it was still a dangerous and unnatural place. Nevertheless those young ponies had entered the forest but surprisingly all of them had left it without running into trouble. Even more mysterious was that all of them had told the same story that they had been able to leave the Everfree Forest because something or someone had saved them. None of them had seen their savior but all of them said that they had seen a light that guided them out of the forest without running into dangerous creatures. When more and more ponies had told similar stories it had taken only some time until the creature was called "the guardian". At first Rainbow Dash and her friends thought that Zecora was this heroic creature who saved all the ponies. They had been even more surprised and curious when Zecora had told them that she wasn't the guardian. While she thought about the rumor and the tales of the guardian Rainbow Dash realized that it must have been the guardian who had saved her. The light that had fended the monster off as well as this cave and even her treated injuries began to make much more sense to her. Once again Rainbow Dash scanned the cave especially the tunnels while she wondered who and what creature the guardian might be. He or she could be another zebra like Zecora, a griffon or maybe even a pony. For a few moments she thought that maybe Gilda or Trixie could be the guardian. However Trixie would never live here in the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash knew that Gilda had once been a friendly, kind and helpful griffon and some years ago it had been possible that she was behind the mask of the guardian. However during the last years the friendly and helpful Gilda had turned into a bully and a jerk. Rainbow Dash could feel a pain in her chest and quickly she banished the thought of her ex-best friend from her mind although she still hoped that Gilda would someday be again the kind griffon she knew. After some minutes she heard that someone was coming out of one of the tunnels. She looked at each tunnel until she saw a growing shadow. When the shadow left the cave she could see that it was the stranger who was still wearing the cloak, just like Zecora when she had come to Ponyville before she had any friends. The stranger looked at her. "I'm glad to see that you finally woke up. I was worried that your injury was worse than I thought." The voice of the stranger was male and it does also sound like he was about the same age as Rainbow Dash. "Yeah thanks for your help and don't worry. I had worse injury during my training. Hehehe Oh and by the way I'm Rainbow Dash the best flyer in all of Equestria. What's your name?" she said in her typical Rainbow Dash way. The stranger was surely surprised by this cheerful young pegasus. "My name is Shiron." Shiron was going to the fire and after he checked the fire he sat near it. Rainbow Dash went also to the fire and sat next to Shiron. "Nice to meet you. You are a pony, right?" A simple nod was the only answer from Shiron. For some time both ponies were silently sitting near the fire but then Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "Where do you come from and why do you live alone in a cave in the Everfree Forest instead of a town? Ponyville is only half an hour from here." At first Shiron didn't answer and she thought that he may be asleep but when Rainbow Dash looked back into the flames Shiron suddenly began to speak. "I don't know where I'm from nor if Shiron is my real name. This place is everything I have" "What do you mean by that?" With an almost sad voice Shiron simply answered "It's a long story and I won't bother you with it." However Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron with curiosity. "Come on. Spit it out. Maybe I can help you." Once again this little blue pegasus surprised Shiron and he decided to tell her his story. "If you really want to know…" Shiron made a small brief sigh and looked up at Rainbow Dash "I have only memories of the last year and I can't remember anything that happened before." Rainbow Dash was shocked when she heard that. She knew that some ponies lost some memories when they had an accident but after some days or weeks the missing memories would come back especially with the help of a unicorn doctor. Before she could say something Shiron started to speak again. "My first memory is that I woke up in a meadow. It was a beautiful day but I neither knew where I was nor who I was. I stood up and tried to find somepony else but I was alone. I walked for some hours until I found a lake, then one my memories came back. It was the name Shiron. I decided to keep this name until I remember my own name." Rainbow Dash thought about Shiron's words but she was confused. "If you lost your memories why didn't you talk to somepony? I'm sure somepony could help you." With a sad voice Shiron answered her. "At first I planned to talk to somepony. A day after I awoke in the meadow I saw a group of ponies. I planned to talk to them but before I even had a chance I got another memory back and this memory kept me from it. Every time when I was close to anyone else it was this memory that kept me from talking to them" "I still don't get it. How can a memory make you feel this bad? What is this memory?" When Shiron spoke again his voice became quieter but it was still sad. "It was the sentence: Everyone who is different is a monster. You may not understand it but I'm different than all the other ponies. When I saw my reflection in the water I discovered it. I traveled though Equestria for some months and although I saw earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, griffons, zebras and even dragons, I hadn't been able to find another pony like me. When I heard some ponies who talked about the dark and mysterious Everfree Forest I knew that this was the only place where I could live without the fear that others will see me as a monster. I don't know why but when I saw the Everfree Forest for the first time I had the odd feeling that it was like my home although I don't have any memories about it." Rainbow Dash began to understand why Shiron lived in a cave in this unpleasant Everfree Forest and why he was still wearing the cloak to cover his body. She remembered back when Zecora had come to Ponyville for the first time. Everypony had been afraid of her even Rainbow Dash herself and it had taken some months before somepony had been brave enough to talk to Zecora. This brave pony had been Applejack's little sister, Applebloom. Now Zecora was welcome in Ponyville and she had many friends there. Rainbow Dash knew that she had to help Shiron. She still didn't know how he looked but she knew that he was a nice and helpful pony and she couldn't stand the thought that he had to live in loneliness. He saved her and she even saw a friend in him although she knew him only for a short time. Rainbow Dash jumped off, with a new power and a smile she turned to Shiron. "Don't worry. Some month ago we all learned that nopony should judge another pony by their look. You saved me and even took care of my injuries. I'll never see you as a monster but as a friend and I'm sure my friends will like you, too. When the storm is over we'll go back to Ponyville together." Shiron was trying to say something but Rainbow Dash was faster. "I won't accept a 'no' as an answer. Now take off your cloak. I'm sure you don't look like a monster." At first Shiron tried to convince her that he felt safe when he wore the cloak and that he didn't want to take it off. However in the short time he spent with Rainbow Dash he knew that, in the end, she would convince him. With a last hesitation Shiron took off the cloak so that Rainbow Dash could see his body. Rainbow Dash scanned his body but all she saw was an ordinary pony. He had a white coat and a black colored mane and tail. His cutie mark shows dark clouds in front of the full moon and he had even white wings. I don't see anything strange. He's just a pegasus pony like me and compared to most of the colts I know he's even quite handsome she thought. However she still didn't see anything odd and for her Shiron was just an ordinary pegasus pony. "See? I told you that you aren't a monster. You're just a pegasus pony like me and many other ponies in Eque…" Before she could finish her sentence she saw the reason why Shiron was different and why he hadn't been able to find other ponies like him. ********************************************************************************** 1 year earlier: It was a beautiful day. Birds were singing, butterflies were dancing in the air and all kinds of critters were playing in the meadow. Two young squirrels were playing hide and seek until one of the squirrels found something strange lying in the meadow. The squirrels didn't know what it was and out of curiosity they went closer to the strange thing. When they were close enough they saw that it was a white pony with wings and something else. The squirrels only knew the winged ponies that took care of them and their other furry friends and although they had once seen a group of ponies with horns on their heads they never saw a pony like this one. The pony was lying in the meadow with its eyes closed and since they found it, it didn't move. However before they were able to take a closer look the pony began to move and the squirrels scurried away to their parents. ****************************** Slowly the pony opened his eyes and stood up. He didn't know where he was and even worse he also didn't know who he was. He looked around in the hope to see something he recognized or someone he could talk to. Maybe even somepony who knew him but instead he found himself alone. Slowly he turned into one direction and started to walk. He didn't know where he was walking to but he hoped and wished that somewhere he could find some answers. After some time the pony found a lake and before he looked at his reflection he drank some of its cool water. Then he looked at his reflection. For some time he just sat there and stared at his reflection lost in his own thoughts. He tried to figure out what had happened and why he had lying alone in a meadow but he couldn't find a reason. When he prepared himself to leave the lake to search for anyone else he suddenly had a flashback. He couldn't see anything except fog but he could hear a voice whispering the name "Shiron". The pony didn't know the meaning of this flashback but he decided that this could be his name. Until the day he would get his memories back, the pony decided that he would keep the name Shiron for himself. One day later Shiron had already trekked a long way but still he couldn't find anyone else. Although he had wings all his tries to fly hadn't been very successful and the few times when he had been able to leave the ground he had fallen back to it. Suddenly he heard something. It was the happy laughter of at least two other creatures. Shiron ran in the direction where the laughter came from and when he reached the top of the hill he could see a group of ponies. There were two earth ponies, a unicorn and a pegasus pony. From his place he could only see the cutie mark from the pegasus pony, which looked like a flower. Shiron hoped that these ponies could help him and maybe they even knew him or were his friends. The ponies were only 100 yards away and he would only need some minutes to reach the ponies but before he was able to go, Shiron had another odd flashback. Once again he found himself in a world of fog. He was alone but once again the same mysterious voice spoke to him. Shiron tried to talk to the voice but nothing happened. Instead all his hopes were crushed when the voice whispered, "You are different than these ponies. They won't accept you because everyone who is different is a monster." Then he was back in the real world. Without looking back to the group of ponies Shiron turned back and ran away before the ponies could even notice his presence. On this day Shiron's long search for other ponies like him began. ****************************** The pegasus pony stopped and looked at the hill but she didn't see anything. For just a moment she thought she saw a pony but now she couldn't see anypony. Maybe her mind had played a trick on her. When her friends saw that she had stopped the unicorn asked her friend "Is everything alright, Sunflower?" Sunflower looked back to her friends and with a smile she said "Yes, I just thought I saw a … never mind. It's impossible that there are more ponies like her." With this the happy little group of friends continued their way to the next town. ****************************** Three month had passed since Shiron had started his long journey to find other ponies like him. He had passed forests, mountains and many other places but he was still alone. Although he had found many different creatures like zebras, dragons, griffins and even seaponies he couldn't find another pony like himself. During the last months he had learned how to fly and although his first flights had been very clumsy he was training every day and soon he had become better and faster. It was almost like he was born to fly and the feeling to fly was beyond description. He felt like he was one with the sky and he felt free but also lonely. Every day he wished for someone to fly with, someone to share the sky with but his wishes had been unheard. Thanks to his training he had been able to search more places and he was even able to escape a hydra that had attacked him a month earlier. However during the last months he also had became a creature of the night and most of the time he had traveled only when it was dark. If other creatures really saw everyone who was different as a monster then he couldn't allow them to see him. When he had found places where ponies or other creatures could live he had watched them until he had known what kind of creature lived there. However every time he had found creatures or ponies that weren't like him and before they had even noticed him he had been long gone. Three months he had searched but it looked like he was alone in this world. His search had been a failure and now he was standing at the entrance of a dark forest, which was called the Everfree Forest. Although it was a dark place, unloved and feared by others, Shiron felt an odd connection with this forest. He was unloved just like the Everfree Forest and Shiron was sure that if others would see him they would also fear him. He was a monster and monsters hadn't the right to live in the light were others could see them. They had to live in the darkness … alone and unloved. After some more months had passed Shiron had become one with the Everfree Forest and he knew almost everything about it. The unpredictable weather and the trees close to each other had been the perfect training for Shiron and his flying skills and his stamina had become better and better. Shiron had even learned some tricks while he was practicing his flying skills but just like the months before he found that he still felt the pang of loneliness when he was flying through the sky. The only other creature except of the animals that lived in the Everfree Forest was a zebra named Zecora. She was mysterious and always spoke in rhymes. Unlike him Zecora left the forest every week to go to the village close to the forest and from what Shiron heard the ponies saw her as an evil enchantress because of her appearance. She was different than the ponies of the village and as the result they hated and feared her. One day Zecora somehow had found Shiron's cave. At first he had hide in the tunnels of his cave until she had left but every time she had left a basket with food, tea and sometimes even other things like a book or some candles. One time there had even been a cloak in the basket. However Shiron still hid when Zecora came with a new basket because he feared that she would also see him as a monster. It didn't make much sense because since the day he had awaken in the meadow nine months ago no one actually had seen him but Shiron could still hear the whispering voice in his head. However the next two months were different. On one day he could see the shadows of a group of five or six ponies, which headed to the ruins of the old castle. Some hours later a rainbow colored light illuminated the Everfree Forest. On another day he saw a griffon flying in the direction of the village only to leave it two days later and some days later another group of ponies headed to Zecora's home. Shiron feared that they would attack her although Shiron hadn't seen any kind of violence since he had awaken in the meadow. Luckily Zecora had told him the whole story with the poison joke and that the villagers had apologized for their behavior. Although Shiron had made the first step to talk to Zecora some weeks ago instead of hiding, he still wore the cloak she had given him. Zecora also told him that she was now welcome to the village named Ponyville. However unlike him Zecora had never been a monster because there were many other zebras in towns and villages but no other ponies like Shiron. A week later an explosion caught Shiron's attention and when he looked at the sky he could see a beautiful rainbow colored wave in the sky. Its light illuminated the Everfree Forest and deep in his heart Shiron sent a wish to the rainbow. He hoped that one day other ponies like him would find him and save him from his loneliness but Shiron knew he was alone in this world. He was a lonely monster in his exile. Another month had passed. It was a dark and stormy night when Shiron found a pegasus pony that was chased by one of the most dangerous creatures of the Everfree Forest. Although Shiron had been able to banish the monster the pony was unconscious. She had a pale cyan colored coat and a rainbow colored mane and tail and it looked like she was hurt. Shiron already helped other ponies that had got lost in the forest but this was different because the other ponies hadn't been hurt. He didn't know where this pony came from and thus he brought her to his cave to treat her wounds. This was ten hours ago and now he was standing in front of her without his cloak on. Shiron didn't know why he had taken if off when she asked him to but there was something in her eyes. Those big beautiful, eyes … ********************************************************************************** Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron but she didn't believe her eyes. He was surely different than all the other ponies in Ponyville and Equestria. "You also see me as a monster, don't you?" asked Shiron with sad eyes. Instead of looking at him with fear Rainbow Dash burst into laughter, which confused Shiron even more. It took a while until she calmed down and spoke again. "Sorry, it's just that many ponies would do anything to be like you. You aren't a monster you are an alicorn." Rainbow Dash pointed at Shiron's wings and his horn. "I'm an Alicorn?" he asked confused, hearing this term for the first time. "You mean there are other ponies like me?" With a smile and a nod Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron. With a soft voice she said, "Yep, there are two more - Princess Celestia and Princess Luna the rulers of Equestria. Everypony looks up to them and admire them. However we always thought that there were no other Alicorns in Equestria." Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron and wondered how he felt at this moment. From what she knew he lived all alone for almost one year with the idea that he was the only alicorn and that others would see him as something bad. When Rainbow Dash saw that he was close to tears she didn't know what she should say and so she put a hoof around his neck to make him feel that he wasn't alone anymore. "I… I still can't …believe it. I searched for months without finding other ponies like me and then I find you and you tell me that there are two more ponies like me and that these ponies are even the rulers of this land. Where can I find them?" With his brown eyes he looked at Rainbow Dash and she could see the hope in his eyes. The hope that he would learn more about his origin and maybe Princess Celestia could even give him his memories back. Like all pegasus ponies, Rainbow Dash could sense the cardinal directions and with one hoof she pointed to the north. "They are living in Canterlot, a town in the mountains. You can even see it from the sky. When we are in Ponyville I'll introduce you to my friends especially a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She is the student of Princess Celestia and she sends her a letter every week. I'm sure she will tell the Princess about you and enable an audience with her. Until we can go to Canterlot you can live in Ponyville." Rainbow Dash thought that Shiron would be happy to hear those words but instead he looked back into the fire before he spoke in a low voice. "I'm not sure. I mean, except of this cave I have nothing and I don't have any money for a home in Ponyville." With a slap on Shiron's shoulder and her usual confident attitude she looked at Shiron "Don't worry. You can stay with me in my cloud house. It's good-sized and there is no better bed than a cloud bed. Besides chilling with a friend sounds like fun not to mention the flying sessions." With a wink she added, "Maybe you even know some new tricks you can show me." Shiron didn't know what he should say. Out of the nowhere he met this confident young pegasus pony that told him that he wasn't the only pony with a horn and wings. Now she even invited him to live with her and her friends in Ponyville. After almost a year Shiron had hope for better days. "Thank you Rainbow Dash." said Shiron who wasn't only referring to her invitation to live with her in Ponyville but for everything she did for him. "You're welcome." she said with a grin. Rainbow looked at the entrance of the cave and then back to Shiron "The storm will at least persist till dawn so I can tell you some things about Ponyville, my friends and me of course. You can tell me something about you like your hobbies or something else." With a nod Shiron said, "That sounds good." Rainbow Dash looked into the light of the fire and thought about her friends. She knew many stories about them, many adventures and all the good times she had with them. After she knew what would be the best way to talk about her best friends she began with her story. "I think I will start with Applejack. Applejack is an earth pony and she was my first friend when I came to Ponyville. She is working on the apple farm named Sweet Apple Acres and just like me she is an athlete although I'm the better athlete. She is a helpful pony and sometimes she is very stubborn but she is one of my best friends. The next pony is Pinkie Pie and like Applejack she is also an earth pony. She is the most cheerful pony I've ever met. You never know what she is going to do next and she loves sweets. Every week she throws at least one party especially when she meets someone she doesn't know." With a grin Rainbow added, "I'm sure when she sees you she will run away to make a welcome party." A flash illuminated the cave and after some seconds the sound of thunder broke the silence of the night. With his magic Shiron put more firewood into the fire and both ponies enjoyed its warmth. After some hot tea and food Rainbow Dash continued. "Rarity is a unicorn and a fashion designer. She is generous but sometimes a bit too girly especially when there is mud or dirt. I don't have a problem with mud or dirt and you can make some good pranks with it. Fluttershy is a pegasus pony like me and she's my fillyhood friend. She also lived in my hometown Cloudsdale before she moved to Ponyville. She is a very shy pony but she can be very assertive when someone needs help. She tamed a manticore; a dragon and she even intimidated a cockatrice with her special power, "the stare". She really cares about all animals and ponies and she is a good friend. However she should be a little bit more assertive. I mean seriously, this pony is even afraid of her own shadow. Well, the last one is a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She lives in a library together with Spike, a baby dragon who is also a good friend of mine. Twilight and Spike are almost like siblings. Twilight really loves books and science but sometimes she is like an egghead. She has a book for everything you can imagine. When she first came to Ponyville she wasn't interested in making friends, parties or anything funny. It took some time for her to warm up and make friends but now she has many good friends just like me and the pony gang." "Sounds like you have many good friends" said Shiron before he offered her more fruits, which she gladly accepted. "Yeah I'm really happy to have them. Every day with them is awesome and we have a lot of fun together. What about you? What have you done in the last year except from hiding in a cave?" While she watched Shiron she bit into a juicy pomegranate. Shiron started to chuckle and it took her some seconds before she realized that her face was full of the juices from the fruit. For some time both ponies just sit there and laughed. After some time Shiron broke the silence "Well, there isn't much that you can do in the Everfree Forest. In the daytime it's very boring but at night I usually read some books explore the Forest or" Shiron closed his eyes for a moment and with a smile he said "or I fly. There is nothing better than a good breeze through my mane while I fly as high and fast as I can go. At night you can see the star-spattered sky and in the dawn you can see the sunrise and at dusk you can see the sunset. The feeling of the wind beneath my wings and in my face, the increasing speed and the feeling…" "…And the feeling of freedom and peace." finished Rainbow Dash who was also smiling. "It looks like we both love to fly as fast and as high as we can. We have more similarities than I though." After a brief look to the entrance and the discovery that the storm was almost over, Rainbow Dash stood up and removed the bandage. She looked back to Shiron and with a wink she said, "The storm is almost over. How about some fun? Ponyville is only half an hour from here and I can't wait to see how good your flying skills really are." "Sounds good to me." With this both ponies left the cave and took off. Together they flew towards Ponyville. ********************************************************************************** Some minutes after the two ponies left the cave a cloaked creature left the shadows. The gold under her cloak glittered in the light of the sunrise and with her turquoise eyes she looked after the two flying ponies. "Now Shiron you aren't alone anymore, because you found a friend and soon even more." With a smile Zecora went again into the shadows back to her house. She disappeared in the shadows and only a sad melody filled the air while Zecora sang her song.