A purple pegasus named Azure Evening lived in a small house down on the ground unlike most pegasi. Her father Blue Stream and her mother Flower Bed thought it was best to start their life as a family on the ground where all the life was.
They had a daily routine. In the morning, Azure's mother would go out and water her plants while her father got ready for work. Then she would come back in and double check if he had everything. Of course he always would; his hat to keep him from getting too hot, his work uniform, lunch, books just in case he had some time to read, and his work boots. Blue Stream's job is to build houses and buildings for the ponies that need to use them for whatever it is they use them for whether it be living in or selling cupcakes.
After Blue Stream would leave, Flower Bed would wake her daughter for school then get ready for her work. She made sure that the clouds were just right so that plants and crops wouldn't get flooded or not get enough water. Azure's job was to, well go to school of course.
She would earn allowance based on how well she did in class. It was 1-5 bits and if it was a special day it would go all the way to 10. Her family would receive 30 bits total for how much work they do. Azure would walk to school alone. She didn't have many friends, and the friends she did have she wouldn't interact with very often, in fact it seemed as if she talked to them only once a day. She didn't really mind not having friends; she would always go under the shade of a tree during recess and read. She would always stop by Twilight's library and borrow a book to take to school. During class, she would doodle on a piece of paper. She would get bits and pieces of what the teacher would say and put them together and guess what she was talking about. She was correct every time.
When she went home she would take a long route by stop at Sugar Cube Corner to buy a cupcake with one of her bits. Pinkie Pie would always make her laugh before she left. It was different every time.
When she would get home, she would be alone for a few hours so she would enjoy playing in the garden and reading books. Her mother would usually find her leaning against a tree with a book flopped over at her side while she was sleeping peacefully. Flower Bed would always take her inside, lay her on a bed, and set the book down on a bed side table. Blue Stream would come back home about an hour or so later and they would have dinner.
After that, Azure Evening would be tucked in bed by her father and read to by her mother. The process would repeat every day. A very ordinary family, but all ordinary things become very out of ordinary in only just a matter of time.
Azure woke up in her bed. "Azure, Azure it's time to wake up. School will be starting soon," Flower Bed whispered. Azure lifted up her covers. She stumbled off her bed and down the wooden stairs to the dining room. A piece of bread with jelly spread over it sat on a plate. It wasn't much, but who said that they were the richest? Azure picked up the toast and ate it carefully so she wouldn't drop any crumbs somewhere other than the plate. "You got everything Azure?"
"Yes mom."
"Okay, pay attention in school, make friends. I will be back a few hours after you come home."
"Okay mom." Flower Bed opened the door, she smiled at her little filly before she left the house. Azure finished her bread and started packing her saddlebag. She packed the book she had borrowed from Twilight so she could return it. Azure opened the door, and headed out towards the library.
"Hey Azure, come to pick another book?" asked Spike.
"Is Twilight here?"
"No, she had an important meeting with the princess to discuss,” he paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts, “something about forest spirits coming awake. I don't have any idea what it was." Azure nodded and laid the book on the table. She studied the book shelves for something to pick out. "Darkened Alley, Slumber Party Handbook, Daring Do and the Sapphire Stone..." Azure tugged on the book and it slid out with great ease.
"Thanks Spike."
"Well, you are Twilight's favorite customer." Azure left the library and headed off to school.
"I've heard that there is a castle in the Everfree Forest," a young colt said. Azure slowed her pace so she could hear the conversation between the other ponies.
"I will give thirty bits to anypony that can find it and bring back something to prove it." Thirty bits is a lot of money. Maybe enough to help her get her family to spend more time together than spread apart. The Everfree is scary, but six ponies went in there and they were fine. Besides, the castle couldn't be that far in could it? That was settled. She would venture in there after school. She should be able to get it before her mom comes back home.
When school ended, Azure raced back home, not bothering to stop by Sugar Cube Corner. She whizzed by all the ponies that were outside in the town. When she had caught a glimpse of the house, she accidentally tripped on a rock in the road. She tumbled for a second but then came to a stop. "Ow, that is going to bother me later," she groaned.
She stood back up but winced every time she put pressure on her front left leg. It shot searing pain from the hoof up to the shoulder. Not the best feeling ever, but there are worse. Azure limped into the house. She grabbed some bandages and food, quickly eating before she set off on her journey. She exited the house and started heading towards the dark, creepy Everfree Forest. It was certainly nothing like her mother's garden. None of these trees would be nice to lean against and read.
Azure stopped at the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Many ponies have gone in there and came back out. One even lives in there, it can't be as dangerous as they say it is could it? Azure took one last look at her hometown. "It won't be that hard. Just grab something inside the castle and get out, okay."
Azure walked in the forest slowly. Darkness covered everything. There was no light to be seen. "HOO HOO HOO!" An owl flapped by at high speed. Azure yelped and jumped into some bushes. A good thing too because two hungry looking wolves appeared. Their fangs dripped with the blood of their latest meal. Their fur was black and dirty with spots of stale blood. They were huge, bigger than Azure's parents and herself combined. Their red eyes were threatening anything that was out there. Even the trees and plants seemed to back away at their presence.
Azure didn't breathe, didn't make a sound. She could hear them breathing, they smelled like death, their paws thumped on the leafy ground causing it to vibrate the trees and bushes. After they had walked pass, Azure waited in the bush for a while to make sure there wasn't anything else and that the wolves had passed completely.
Azure's legs shook. She walked slowly into the forest. There, over a misty canyon, was a castle. Azure saw no way to get across the fog, except from a rickety old bridge. It looked as if it were to fall if it were even to be touched. Azure took one step. The wooden board on the bridge creaked. Azure tested every board. She flapped her wings so she wouldn't put too much pressure on the board so it would snap. Finally, after crossing the bridge, she had reached the castle.
A banner on a wall served to be good proof. Azure grabbed the dusty banner and with one good yank, the banner came down. Azure rolled it up until it could easily fit in her saddle bag. A few dusty books couldn't hurt either. She grabbed a few books and put them in as well. She smiled happily and started exiting out of the castle.
"Grrr." A growl was heard behind her. Azure quickly turned around and saw a black wolf. Before she could react or even scream, she was snatched up in its jaws by the neck. The wolf swung her around a few times before it through her into a stone pillar. The last thing she saw was the hungry wolf... and a light? Azure lost too much blood and suffocated because her air tube had been crushed. She died but the wolf didn't get a snack. It ran away whimpering.