“I’m not going back home.” Shen-lung growled.
“Shen, its been almost five years since we last heard from you.” Skywind stated, ”And things haven’t been the same since you left.”
“I had my reasons.” Shen-lung answered, glaring at his brother.
“I know…I know you had reasons.”Skywind frown, “But what happened to-”
“Do not say her name.” Shen-lung cautioned his eyes glowing in anger, ”Please don’t.”
“What happened to her wasn’t your fault.” Within a few seconds Shen-lung stood in front of his brother. His body protested of such movements, but he ignored the pain. Anger was fueling him, coursing through his veins. The dragon’s wings flared out, making himself look larger. Skywind stood his ground as Shen-lung lowered his head to his brother’s level, their snouts nearly touching. The pegasus could smell the smoke that was emanating from his brother’s maw. Most creatures would back away from such display of power, but Skywind was use to his brother’s anger, though perhaps he may have pushed a little too far.
“You weren’t there.” Shen-lung growled, ”You wouldn’t understand the pain that I am suffering.”
“No I wasn’t, but that doesn’t mean you are the only one that has ever felt pain. Do you remember mother.”
Shen-lung’s anger vanished the instant Skywind mentioned their mother, the fire that burned within him died down as he took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Skywind watched as his brother took a moment to compose himself, his expression turned to sadness, but his anger was still there.
“You haven’t forgotten about her have you?” Skywind asked.
“No, I haven’t.” The dragon answered. ”I could never forget her.”
“Then you must remember what she did for us, right?” Skywind narrowed his red eyes.
Shen-lung looked away clenching his teeth in anger, but in great sadness as well. ”How could I forget her?”
Skywind glared at his brother, ”She died protecting us. She gave her life so that we could live. Do you think it was easy living with that pain? The pain of never speaking to her again, seeing her, do you think it was easy for father. He felt more pain than the two of us combine. So don’t tell me that I wouldn’t understand, because I do.”
Shen-lung sighed in deep sadness, letting the words of his brother sink in. He turned meeting his brother's red eyes ”You right.” The dragon admitted slowly, ”We may have shared some pain together. Pain that we could never forget. You and I both know that we are to blame for mother’s death, but father told us we were not to blame and he could not find it in his heart to do so. Instead he told us mother had protected us from harm and if the situation had been reversed then mother would be the one suffering and not him. ”
Skywind’s eyes soften, “Then you understand what I am saying to you?”
Shen-lung slowly nodded, ”I do, but you are wrong about one thing brother.” As Shen-lung once again lowered his head to his brother’s level, ”Because I lost something that you could never understand.”
“And what is that exactly?” Skywind slowly asked, feeling a bad feeling about his brother’s words.
The dragon moved towards his brother’s ear and whispered a few words. Skywind’s eyes widen and his jaw hanged opened in complete shock and horror. He moved a few steps back, trying to grasp what his brother had told him. Shen-lung turned away from his brother, wincing in pain as he return to his makeshift bed of hay. Skywind tried his best to speak, but he could not find the proper words to describe what he was feeling. Shen-lung had his back turn, not wanting to see his brother’s reaction.
“S-Shen I-I didn’t know. I didn’t-”
“No...You didn’t.” Shen-lung said with no emotion, ”Now leave me be.”
“Shen I-” Skywind tried to speak.
“Leave. Now.” The dragon growled.
Skywind sighed sadly, ”Alright, I will leave you alone…..just know that I am very sorry for what has happen to you. And...you're probably right about what you said early. I don’t know your pain and...I was wrong. I’m sorry.” was the last thing Skywind said before he opened the door and closed it, leaving his brother alone to his thoughts.
Once outside Skywind was surprised to find the ponies he had spoken to waiting outside, minus the young fillies who were probably inside the home of the Apple family after having a little talk with their sisters.
“Is everything alright?” Twilight asked noticing the sad expression on Skywind.
“No, everything's not alright,” Skywind answered sadly, “My brother and I had an...argument and it didn’t go so well as I had thought.”
“So what did you two talk about?” Rainbow Dash asked, hovering in front of Skywind.
“Personally things.” Skywind answered, ”Personally things that you girls wouldn’t understand.”
“And what’s that suppose to mean?” The cyan pegasus asked, making Skywind think of his next choice of words.
“Listen miss uh-”
‘Rainbow Dash and you can drop miss thing it ain’t really my style.” She answered.
“Well Rainbow Dash,” Skywind corrected himself, ”If you must know. My brother and I had an argument and….I regretted some things that I shouldn't have said.” His eyes sadden at the pain he had caused to his brother. “Listen I’m sorry for snapping at you girls…It just that I’m not exactly comfortable talking about my past or my brother’s for that matter. It just brings back painful memories.”
“We completely understand dear.” Rarity said with a comforting smile.
“We do?” Rainbow asked not understanding the point Rarity was making.
“Of course we do.” Rarity continued, ”After all a stallion such as Skywind would want some peace to himself.”
Skywind gave a nervous smile, ”Well I didn’t really mean that way. I‘m just not comfortable talking about the discussion my brother and I had.”
“Come on Rainbow,” Applejack said gently. ”There’s no reason for ya to bother Skywind with these questions of yours. He’s got nothing to hide from us, well unless its personal to him.”
“Oh alright.” Rainbow finally agreed, ”But you better not be hiding anything from us.”
“Well I’m not exactly hiding anything from you girls.” Skywind said. “Except some things I am not allowed to talk about, but that’s for another time.”
“So whatcha gonna do now Skywind,” Spike asked looking up to the pegasus.
“I guess I go back to my brother’s cave.” He answered, ”Not much I can do here, except leave my brother alone for a while.”
“You are living in a cave,” Rarity gasped, ”Oh no, no, no that simply will not do.”
Skywind was confused of this outburst, “Excuse me?”
“Sky dear, is it alright if I called you Sky?” She asked before asking her next question.
Skywind thought about it and he no problems with since mostly his family and friends called him by his nickname. And these were kind to him, plus he could learn more about his kind if he was going to stay here a while longer, ”I don’t mind,” He answered.
Rarity Smiled, ”Thank you darling, it’s just that a stallion such as yourself should not be sleeping in a cave that is so filthy, wet, and cold. Does that not make you feel uncomfortable?”
“I really don’t have that any problems with that. I mean as long as its warm and dry,” Skywind answered truthfully, ”But I do admit it is hard to rest in a cave when its in the middle of winter, but I’ve have grown use to it.”
“As a friend I simply cannot allow you to sleep in the cold.” Rarity continued, ”I would have invited you to come stay at the Carousel Boutique, but I am afraid I do not have anymore rooms to spare. Perhaps you could stay here in Sweet Apple Acres. If that is alright with you Applejack?”
“Of course he can stay. I don't have any problems with him staying here. I think we have a spare room for him to use.” Applejack answered.
Skywind smiled, ”I appreciate your offer miss Applejack, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
“Is there a problem?” The earth pony asked gently.
“No not really. Its just that I think its best that I give my brother some space.” Skywind sighed, ”I don’t think he would want to see me for a while.”
“Hey Twilight how about letting him stay over at our place,” Spike suggested to Twilight. ”That is if you are okay with it?”
“We do have a spare bed and I don’t think I would have a problem with Skywind staying with us, sure.” Twilight agreed. ”That is if you have a problem with Skywind.”
“I have no problem with that, but I need to get something from my brother’s cave first.” He answered.
“Must you go that dreadful cave Sky dear, ”Rarity asked.
“I can’t really leave my brother’s things alone, and maybe he would have wanted me get it for him. After all it is very important to him.” Skywind answered.
“Do you need any help getting it here,” Twilight asked.
“Not really, but if you girls want to come I don’t mind.” He said walking in the direction of the forest. The girls soon followed behind him, though Spike was riding Twilight so he wouldn’t lag behind.
“So where is this cave anyway?” Rainbow hovered along Skywind.
“In the forest.” He answered as he heard a soft gasp.
“You mean the c-cave is in the E-E-Everfree Forest.” Fluttershy whispered, making the other girls a little uneasy, minus Dash since she wasn’t really afraid.
“Yes..” Turning to see the girls with nervous expressions, ”Why? Is something wrong?”
Applejack surmises, "It ain't natural; folks say it don't work the same as Equestria". Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash elaborate that the plants grow on their own, animals take care of themselves, and clouds move without pony intervention. Making Skywind wonder they meant by pony intervention, but that was for another time.
“The forest is much too dangerous and is filled with far too many strange creatures" Fluttershy explained, shivering at such thoughts.
“Sounds like a normal forest to me.” Skywind said as if it was a normal thing.
“Normal!” Twilight almost shouted, ”You called that forest normal.”
“Well yes, I mean most of the forests I’ve been through seem pretty normal to me.” Skywind explained continuing his walk. The girls slowly followed as they listen to Skywinds words, ”The plants grow on their own. Animals tend to themselves, living on their own. And as for the clouds. They seem to be doing just fine. Whatever you meant about ponies tending to the weather? Seems a little off to me.”
The girls and Spike looked to one another, each of them confused, ”What do you mean by normal exactly.” Twilight slowly asked.
“You know normal. Everything in our world acts on its own.” Skywind explained, ”I learned these lessons from my family, the Elders, and from Earth Mother herself. Though I only met her once.”
“Earth Mother?” Twilight repeated, never in her life had she or her ever heard of such a name.
Skywind cough, mentally scolding himself for saying such things, ”Forget I said that. Why I don’t change the subject.” He thought for a moment, anything that could help forget his little slip up. ”Maybe you can tell more about Equestria and well maybe tell me a little more about our kind.”
Twilight smiled at the idea of teaching Skywind all about Equestria, but she would have to ask what Skywind had said early about Earth Mother, ”I be happy to explain. What would you like to know?” Sadly Skywind’s questions were put to a stop as the girls stopped at the entrance of the Everfree Forest. Making Skywind stopped as he turned to face the girls.
“Oh do we have to go in that dreadful forest?" Rarity complained.
“Well I could go alone and you girls can stay here.” Skywind suggested.
“And let you go in alone. I don’t think so.” Applejack said firmly.
“If AJ’s going then I’m going to,” Rainbow Dash said, ”Beside you’re gonna need somepony watching your back.”
“Um, Sky?” Fluttershy asked softly.
“Yes.” Skywind answered, looking to Fluttershy.
“Do you really need to go in there?” She asked softly, shivering at the thought entering the forest again.
Skywind smiled, ”I do and...because there are things that belong to my brother. Some of those things that can never be replaced. But most of all, they are very important to him.”
“Besides you got me around, so you girls got nothing to worry about.” Rainbow said landing next to Fluttershy, ”Nothing bad is going to happen, not while I’m around.” Putting a comforting wing around Fluttershy.
“Well ok, but only if we don’t get into any t-t-trouble.” She whispered but it was loud enough for everypony to hear. They all shivered at the memory of the wolves that had attacked them, all very grateful that Shen-lung had come and saved them.
“Well if you girls are ready, I think its about time we get going,” Skywind said though he had an apologetic look , ”And not to be rude anything, but I would like to get to my brother’s cave before nightfall. Night time usually brings the worse in forests.”
The girls and dragon nodded in agreement wanting to finish this as soon as possible, without getting into trouble. So with whatever courage they could muster, the ponies and dragon entered the forest following Skywind as he lead them towards the unknown.