//------------------------------//
// Children 
// Story: Settling in 
// by Honest Wisdom 
//------------------------------//

My wings flared. Fire traveled through the feathers and erupted out of the ends. Fire and Earth. I've done both, but what else can I do? I let the Flames die and tried to think of any other types of magic Gyphons possessed. I reared up on my hind legs. Gryphon magic is most easily channeled through the wings. I thought of creating a gust of wind. I brought my wings forward and touched the tips together. A burst of magic exploded from the tips and threw up dust.

"Cool!" I yelped and swung around. An orange Pegasus filly grinned at me. "Can you teach me how to do that? Please, Please, Please!?!" I was assaulted by adorable puppy dog eyes. They're impossible to resist.

"Uhh... I... sure!" What the buck?!? How did she do that? she started bouncing excitedly. "But," she stopped mid bounce and tumbled to the ground. I giggled."You have to keep it a secret."

"Aww," She thought about it for a few moments. "Wait one Second." She zoomed off. She returned a few second later with two more Fillies trailing behind her. One was a pale yellow Earth pony with a red mane and the other was a white unicorn with a pink and purple mane. "Can you teach them stuff too?"

I thought about it. "Sure. Earth and Fire magic Respectively. Just don't practice them indoors. It'll cause massive amounts of property damage."

They smiled at each other. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS: MAGIC USERS!!!!! YAY!!!" I was forced back a few feet by the force of their voices.

"One quick question," I shook my head. "What are you guys doing in the Everfree?"

The Earth Pony Filly blushed. "We thought we could be Cutie Mark Crusaders: Timberwolf hunters."

I chuckled. "What are your names?"

The filly smiled. "I'm Applebloom, that's Scootaloo, and she's Sweetiebelle."

"And we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" They announced proudly. I smiled at them. Might as well humor them. 

I planted a seed in front of the Earth pony. "I want you to focus on the seed. It's a Daffodil. Think about it growing and blooming. Imagine the blanket of Earth over it. Imagine it fighting it's way up and the leaves drinking up the sun. Focus that image on the seed. Will it to become the Thing it's meant to be." Applebloom's forehead scrunched up in concentration. 

I pulled out a torch and rammed into the ground. "Alright Sweetiebelle, your turn. First I want you to look inside yourself. Examine every inch of your body, your magic is sown into your self. I want you to call on it, not much, just a bit. Focus it through your horn and send it into the torch. Think of the bright flames that eat away the darkness. Tell the flames to come to you and to send away the dark."

I looked back at Applebloom. Right in front of her a short stem started to work it's way through the ground. i smiled and look at Scootaloo. "Your magic is a bit like Sweetiebelle's. But instead of a horn focus the magic through your wings. And instead of fire imagine the wind."

"I did it!" I turned to see Applebloom bouncing in circles around the newly blossomed Daffodil. I laughed and stopped her with a wing. "Did you see me? I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. Then I did!" I placed a feather over her moth the silence her.

"You've only scratched the surface of what your magic can do." She pouted. "I was just as impatient when I was your age. but you seem to be a fast learner, you'll master it quickly."

It took several more hours for Sweetiebelle to light the torch. Scootaloo managed to make a feint breeze with her wings and Applebloom grew two more flowers. "It's getting late." I crouched down. "I should take you home." they all groaned in protest. "I''m sorry but you have to rest. Tomorrow you can try again."

"Alright."

They climbed onto my back and held on. I rose up over the city and hovered there. "Where to?"

"Sweet Apple Acres." Scootaloo said. She was the only one of the three that wasn't clinging for dear life. I smiled and flew close to the ground. I zoomed up the dirt path and slowed once I reached the house. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle jumped off and started kissing the ground. Scootaloo rolled her eyes at them. "Foals. She wasn't even flying that high." 

"I'll see you tomorrow kids." I opened my wings and took off.





My legs swayed back and forth. They were strange limbs but were fairly easy to master. my claws were rounded now and the talons were dull. so far I've managed to remain hidden. It wouldn't last, soon I'd be caught. I looked at my reflection in the water. it rippled and shimmered naturally. This world was different from home. things seemed to happen on their own. the rain came, leaves fell clouds floated aimlessly. The looked like it was moving on it's own but I couldn't be sure.

I saw a man appear behind me. I looked up to see a tall creature wearing gray suit of some kind. he peered down at me the corners of his lips turned down in a frown. "What are you doing here, missy?"

I just stared at him. mainly the bushy patch of fur on his face. He held out a claw. "Come along. we should get you back to your parents."

"My parents aren't Here."

"Where are they then?"

I looked around and felt a connection with the world that I hadn't felt since I arrived. It was scarred and in pain. "Someplace better."