Chapter Six- Heart’s Desire
Advanced magic school was tougher than I’d originally anticipated. I wasn’t the only pony to feel it either. There was firstly the whole princess thing that I had to contend with and then there was still the fact that I still didn’t yet understand the meaning of my mark.
I knew that I wasn’t the only pony with this problem, but I was royalty and the others were not. There was far less pressure on them to conform.
‘I just wish I understood!’ I’d exclaimed to Storm, frustrated. ‘I’m a princess and don’t know my destiny! How can I lead when I haven’t been given a path to follow!’
Storm understood, level headed as he was I knew this. Although he had had his cutie mark for a long time and understood what it meant, he was sympathetic.
‘I know,’ he said.
‘I may have a cutie mark, but my destiny is unclear and as a Princess it doesn’t look good!’ I explained. ‘The Book of Ages mentions, not only cutie marks, but the importance of knowing one’s destiny. I’m a Princess and I’m expected to be the example.’
‘I do understand,’ he said, ‘but you mustn’t let it get to you. You are a princess after all and you could be the one to teach ponies that the Book of Ages is a lot of ponyfeathers.’
I shook my head. ‘No, the Book of Ages isn’t ponyfeathers, it does in fact speak the truth, only ponies interpret it wrong.’
‘Alright then,’ Storm said. ‘You, as a princess and more knowledgeable than most, could teach ponies about what the Book of Ages really means. You could teach them about what’s really important.’
I nodded. He was right of course. It was just self-pity.
‘I believe that you of all ponies could do that,’ he said smiling. ‘You were the filly who helped me understand that the night isn’t as dangerous or scary as everypony thinks!’
After a particularly strenuous lesson on levitation Storm and I ate lunch together. The pegasi in charge of the weather had scheduled a storm that afternoon and so everypony ate inside.
There was a lot of chatter about Hearts and Hooves day this year. One particular filly was organising a party for the occasion. It seemed that the more years that went by the more excited everypony became about the special day.
Storm and I were far too busy watching out the window. Storm wriggled in excitement as he watched the rain beat down against the window. This was the first storm which he himself had helped prepare. He was still too young to lead the weather crew but his future was more than promising.
Storm got his mark when he was very young as his uncle, who had been training him, was part of the weather team.
I watched Storm’s face as he observed his magnificent storm as other ponies chattered energetically, seemingly oblivious.
I loved to see that look of pure delight lighting up his face. It reminded me of how I loved my nights and the moon.
‘Hello Luna, Storm!’ Meadow, the pony who was organising the party for Hearts and Hooves day called suddenly.
‘Hello?’ Storm replied, dragging his attention from his storm.
‘Would you like to come to my party on Hearts and Hooves day?’ she asked.
‘Why are you asking him?’ another filly said. ‘I imagine he’ll be going with Princess Luna. They do everything together.’
Meadow looked disappointed for a moment, but remained hopeful.
Storm and I looked at one another quizzically.
‘You don’t have to if you don’t want, but it’s going to be at my house,’ she said, an envelope floating our way. She dropped it on the table in front of us.
‘Um, thank you,’ Storm replied.
‘That’s alright,’ Meadow giggled and continued conversing with her friends.
Storm shrugged. ‘Well, that was a little strange, but we should probably go.’
‘I don’t know…’ I mumbled. ‘Are you sure I’m invited?’
‘Well, I’m inviting you!’ he said.
‘But… we never get invited to anything,’ I mused.
‘It’s true...’
‘You know,I think that they think that we’re… you know, together,’ I said with a giggle.
‘You mean… in love?’ he enquired, lowering his voice considerably.
I nodded.
We both chuckled at the idea.
‘We’re just friends,’ he said.
‘Good friends,’ I agreed with a playful nudge.
Lessons became gradually less intense as Hearts and Hooves day grew ever nearer. Before we knew it that fateful day would arrive where everything changed...
It was the day before Hearts and Hooves day and the very pony who represented the occasion was invited to our school for a visit.
Everypony was excited to meet her- Heart’s Desire her name was. As soon as she stepped hoof into the room everypony gazed at her in awe. She was one of the most beautiful pegasus ponies I’d ever seen and I could understand why so many chose to aspire to her.
Her coat was a subtle shade of pink and her mane was a glossy deep red. I, for some reason, had always imagined her to be quite a confident, self-assured pony, but I was shocked to learn that she was indeed the very opposite.
She spoke gently to us about how Hearts and Hooves day came to be. She had brought ponies together from all across Equestria and shared her wisdom. She was born into war and disarray and had later helped to spread love and harmony throughout the land. She and Star Swirl the Bearded had created a powerful magic together and were partly responsible for the ending of the wars.
Heart’s Desire also appeared to be quite fond of animals and spoke of how they were one of the main reasons we existed.
What happened next astounded and amazed the entire class. Heart’s Desire stepped out of the room for a moment and when she entered once more she was accompanied by the most beautiful bird we’d ever seen. Its feathers blazed and its eyes were piercing.
‘This is my assistant, his name is Flame,’ she said quietly.
‘Good heavens!’ Mrs Apple exclaimed. ‘I’ve never seen such a bird!’
Heart’s Desire smiled. ‘Oh, Flame is a Phoenix- a rare and unique bird I rescued from the edge of the Everfree Forest. A few days after rescuing Flame, however, he vanished,’ she explained. ‘I didn’t see him again for several years, not until the war broke out. Flame saved my life and later would help assist Starswirl the Bearded and myself with a powerful magic.’
Everypony watched in awe as the magnificent bird spread its wings and soared elegantly across the room.
‘You see, Flame isn’t like any other bird,’ Heart’s Desire explained softly. ‘Every so often a Phoenix must renew itself and will burst into flames. Then he’s reborn from the ashes.’
Nopony knew what to say. Even Mrs Apple was left speechless.
I was astonished. One day I hoped to be just as inspirational and lovely as her… But there would only be one of her…
‘Does anypony have any questions?’ Heart’s Desire asked finally as Flame landed delicately on her hoof.
Everypony was still speechless. We’d all heard stories about Hearts and Hooves day, though no one told it quite like she, but we’d never seen or heard of such a magnificent bird.
‘No? Well, that’s alright,’ she said understandingly. ‘I hope that much love and harmony is spread on this Hearts and Hooves day. It’s also a time when many young ponies join together.’
There were a few girlish giggles around the room.
‘It’s been simply wonderful to meet you all; you’re a very well-mannered class. I hope to see you all again soon,’ she said before saying her goodbyes.