//------------------------------//
// Chapter One 
// Story: The Nature of Nurture 
// by lola2901 
//------------------------------//

	“But Apple Jack, you promised to teach me and the Crusaders to bake!” complains Apple Bloom, pouting. “You promised!”
Pulling my hat off of the pegs by the door, I slip it up over my ears. “I’m sorry Apple Bloom, but Twilight seemed pretty darn sure that Celestia’s visit’s going to be something important. I promise as soon as I get back, I’ll teach you my secret carmel apple pie recipe,” I tell her, ruffling up her mane with my hoof.
“The one with the jam?” Apple Bloom asked, ears pricked. She still wasn’t exactly happy, but she seemed somewhat mollified. “Well... fine. But only if we can make ice cream too!”
Laughing, I roll my eyes, pushing the door open, stepping halfway out into the warm sunshine as it dapples it’s way across the kitchen floor. “Sure thing, sugarcube. I’ll pick up some vanilla on my way home-”
“Mint chip,” Apple Bloom interrupts, starting to smile. “I want to make mint chip ice cream!”
I can’t help raising an eyebrow at that. “Mint chip with apple pie?” I ask, trying not sound as amused as I feel.
“Yes!” she says with a cheerful firmness, slamming the door shut. Shaking my head, I start out across the dirt path leading away from the farm house. Halfway down the house I can’t help stopping and looking back. I pause for a moment.
And then I laugh. Winona comes bounding over, no doubt having just been chasing some birds. She puts her forepaws up on me, tail wagging, tongue flapping like a wave hello. She lets off a happy woof, shifting excitedly. “Tarnation that girl’s temper is as red as her hair!” I say to Winona, nuzzling the furry dog. “Now get a long Winona,” I chuckle, gently pushing her off. “I gotta get going or I’ll be later. “Go on girl, get!”
Over course the silly old dog doesn’t listen. “Macintosh,” I say to her, and she stills for a moment, ears raising slightly. “Macintosh. Maaaaacintosh! Go on girl!” Recognizing the command, she runs off in search of Big Mac, her tongue flopping back out. There, that ought to keep her busy.
Chuckling, I shake my head, glancing up at the sky. The sun is reaching it’s peak-if I don’t get galloping, Twi’s going to be annoyed at me for being late. Tossing my head, I swing the loose ponytail of my mane around to the other side of my shoulders, than taking a deep breath, I start trotting at a steady pace.
It’s a beautiful day out of doors, and I’m aching to do a bit of barrel racing, but I guess that’ll have to wait. I can’t help wondering what Celestia wants anyway. It won’t be something boring, that much I can guess from her past visits. Twilight said that we’re meeting up on the hill above Ponyville. Same hill where Celestia asked Fluttershy to reform Discord, actually. Gosh darn it, we don’t have to reform anyone else, do we? One Discord is plenty enough.
Eventually I reach the end of the dirt path, coming out of the tree line. The five of them are waiting together-Pinkie Pie is telling Fluttershy something about a concert this weekend, and Twilight, is pacing and trying to explain something about advanced theory  magic or something like that to Rarity, no surprise there. Rainbow zips over, glaring down at me. “Took you long enough slow poke!”
“If I had wings, I could beat you in a race any day, Rainbow,” I tease, raising an eyebrow. “And I can beat you on the ground any time I want to.”
“Hah, as if! I’m the fastest thing alive! Race from here to Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow?” she asks, landing beside me.
I chuckle, nodding. “Sounds fun. I’ll pack a lunch, the girls are gonna help me make some pies.”
“No need for a pack lunch, because you’ll be eating my dust!” Rainbow Dash says, smirking proudly.
“Oh my gosh look! Look up there! It’s Princess Celestia! She’s coming!” screeches Pinkie with a grin, pulling Fluttershy close.
Rarity stands, tossing her mane with a ladylike giggle. “Pinkie Pie darling, it’s not like this is your first time seeing Celestia.”
“I know, but it feels like it’s been forever!” chuckles Pinkie, dropping Fluttershy. “What do you think she wants? To send us on an exciting quest? To fight an evil villain? In another world!?”
“Actually, she said she has a long term project for us to work on, here in Ponyville,” Twilight explains. “The letter said she’d rather tell us all at once, in person. I’m sure it’s very important, whatever it is.”
The chariot lands lightly and pulls to a stop, and the two pegasi guards pulling it bow to Twilight before turning to face forward and stand stone still.
Celestia steps gracefully from the golden chariot, her mane billowing around her softly. Her often ever present smile is gone-she is solemn, concern clear in her eyes. She glances around at us, and her eyes soften slightly. “Hello my little ponies. It’s been some time.”
You can hear us breathing in the silence. A moment passes, and then Twilight bows. Realizing my manners, I pull off my hat and hold it to my chest, bowing as well.
“Rise, all of you. I wish I could be here on more cheerful terms, but I need to ask something of you. I know you all have much on your hooves with the quests given to you by the map in Twilight’s castle,” Celestia says softly, motioning for us to rise. As I do, I see from the corner of my eyes the others had also bowed.
“I was examining an old treasury belonging to Starswirl,” she begins, glancing to the sun. Any other pony who looked to it so directly would be blinded, or at very least have sun spots in their eyes, but it seems to do her no harm. She even seems to grow somewhat lights as she does. “When I found something rather unusual. I trust Twilight has told you of when Starswirl banished the sirens through the mirror?” She waits for a couple hesitant nods, then continues. “Although a brilliant mage, Starswirl was somewhat, shall we say, prideful. He liked to take trophies to remind himself of his accomplishments, and if it was something rare and full of magic, all the better. And from the sirens, he took one the most dangerous piece in his collection.” Celestia pauses, taking a deep breath as she winds down on the lengthy explanation.
“Starswirl stole a siren egg.”