Chapter 13
About twenty years ago, Fluttershy, I lived with my battle brothers and sisters in a large mountain fortress miles away from Equestria, or any nation for that matter. Most of the veteran Dragonlords at the time was out fighting as mercenaries or exploring the unknown corners of our planet, leaving me with a few younglings and new recruits. And of course, the Primarch of the order.
I remember one day standing at the edge of the cliff face, gazing out into the wide expanse of the mountains that was now my home, and the last hold of the dying order. There I realised, at that moment, that I’d had enough.
I was ninety-six years old, and most of my life had involved killing for causes that were not my own. As I gazed out into the vast mountains and watched the sunset, I decided that enough was enough, and began planning from that moment my retirement.
“Captain Firewing?” a voice called from behind me. I turned my head to see one of the young recruits. Dagger I believe his name was.
“Yes, Dagger?” I asked. I noticed the young colt was trembling slightly. At first I thought it was the cold, for the air around there brought quite a chill in the late afternoons.
“The Primarch just sent me. She said she wants to speak to you,” he said.
My heart skipped a beat. Normally nopony sees the Primarch unless it’s urgent. “The Primarch wants to see… me?” I repeated. Dagger nodded. “Did she say why?”
“No, Captain, she did not,” he answered. “You’re not in trouble… are you, sir?”
I smiled. The young recruits had taken quite a shine to me in their time there, and all of them I had to comfort when I told them they were going to outlive their friends. I got up and put a comforting hoof on his shoulder. “I don’t think so, son. Go and rest with the others back in the barracks. You trained hard today.”
Dagger smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you, Captain.” With that he galloped off towards the barracks, while I headed towards the room of Vidarr, as it was called, which quartered the Primarch of the Dragonlords.
The fortress, from the air, was square shape. Thick dark grey walls outlined it, while everything was squeezed inside. It was nearly impossible for earth ponies to access, quite difficult for unicorns to teleport in, but a dream for pegasi like myself. The fortress was originally built for pegasus Dragonlords, since the area was high up and mostly impassable, which made it perfect training area for pegasi to fly about above the clouds, endure the high altitudes and thin air.
Anyway, I made my way over to the room of Vidarr, which was at the furthest place from the main gate and landing area. In front of it stood two guards, both armed with spears and sword bracelets and armoured in bright gold armour, which was worthy of their rank as honour guard. Whereas I was wearing a light brown hooded robe, which draped down my body and covered my hooves and tail.
“The Primarch has wished to speak to me,” I addressed the two guards. They nodded and bowed their heads, allowing me to enter the stone building.
I made my way through the door into a large chamber that was cold and damp, and had no lighting whatsoever. Its only feature I could make out was the fountain that stood at its centre, which sprinkled high into the air then came down like a waterfall.
I walked up to it and noticed two golden goblets by the side of it, filled with red wine. I looked around, my senses coming into play as I surveyed the room, my heart pounding against my chest. “Hello?” I called out. “My Primarch? Are you there?”
She emerged from the darkness in the furthest corner from me. My ears heard her approach and I spun around on the spot to face her. The Primarch was a dark pink unicorn with a long yellow mane and tail, and she was old, very old. About five hundred I think she was.
She walked slowly; her eyes were mere slits as she looked at me. “Come closer, my child, so I can see you properly,” she ordered. Despite her age, her voice still held great authority, which we needed in those dark times.
I walked slowly up to the Primarch, my eyes focused on the ground and my head low, as it was rude to look at the face of our leader unless told otherwise. “Look at me, Captain Firewing,” she said.
I looked up at her and noticed the kind smile on her face. “My Primarch,” I said. “I was told you wish to see me?”
The Primarch nodded. “Yes, I did.” She walked over to the fountain and picked up one of the goblets with her magic, which gave a bright blue aura. “I hear you wish to seek retirement?”
My heart stopped beating for a few seconds. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Ho-how did y-you know?” I spluttered. I shook my head. “Forgive me for my bluntness, my lady-”
“It’s fine, captain,” she said with a raise of her hoof. “As for me knowing, well, just because I’m old doesn’t mean my powers have lost any of their potential.” A Dragonlord unicorn, you see, was probably one of the most powerful magic casters in the world. Using ancient and nearly forgotten spells, they were able to cast spells that were so powerful and so deadly, nopony would want to remember them.
“As about you retirement,” she went on. “It would be going against the codex to deny your request. But I just want to know, how long?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, my lady. To be honest I’ve only started planning it out today. But I think the best answer would be till I’m ready to return.”
“Hmm, good enough I suppose,” she said. She took a sip of her goblet and then set it back down again. “So, have you had any ideas where you’re going to go?”
I gave it some thought there and then. I realised that’s been a long time since I’ve been to Equestria, too long. “I think I might go to Equestria,” I replied after a while. “Probably central Equestria and see Canterlot and Cloudsdale.”
“Any reason?” she said, with a small smile.
I shook my head. “No reason really. Just a place I’ve never seen before, and I might as well.”
The Primarch gave me a nod that gave away a hint of sadness. “By the time you’ll probably be back, I may have passed on from this world and head into the next. I have already left instruction though as to who will be my successor.”
“And, who is that if I may ask, my lady?”
“You. You I have chosen to replace me,” she replied.
My eyes widened and I felt my heart stop beating altogether. Me?! Primarch?! I wouldn’t have believed it if it came from any other pony’s mouth, but it came straight from the leader of the Dragonlords herself. “I-I-I don’t think I’m worthy enough to accept this,” I stammered. “Surely there are others, like Damos, who are better suited at this than me.”
The Primarch shook her head. “My child, I have watched you with pride as you grew to become one of the greatest Dragonlords to have existed. The young ones look up to you in reverence, the honour guard bow their heads to you, and the other captains hold you with more respect than any other.” She lifted my head up, making me look into her kind, yet cold eyes. “There is no other pony in this order that is worthy of this honour.”
I was speechless. My mouth tried to make words but all I did was make myself look like a goldfish. My heart pounded against my chest even harder than it did when I went in there, and my mind was a buzz of activity.
Eventually I regained my composure and bowed my head. “It would be an honour to replace you, my Primarch,” I said. “But what will happen if you pass on and I haven’t returned?”
The Primarch smiled. “I’m sure it will be. And don’t worry about coming back so soon, Firewing. Captain Malleus of the honour guard will become regent until you return. But first, you must have your retirement.” She gestured for me to pick up the other goblet, which I did, wrapping it in my hooves with a firm grip. “A toast,” she said, raising her glass. “To the bright future of the Dragonlords under their new ruler. But first, a peaceful retirement!”
We banged our cups together and drank our goblets down. I hadn’t had red wine in ages and yet, it was just as tantalizing as the last time I had it, but I refused to ask for more. I put my goblet down and bowed my head. “It has been an honour, my Primarch.”
She smiled and bowed her head in return. “The honour was all mine, captain.” With that I turned and made my way to the door, out of the chamber and out of the only life I had ever known. “May Vidarr’s wings shield you from the evils of this world,” she said in prayer. I turned my head around to look at her and nodded, and then left the chamber.
The honour guard bowed their heads when I came out. I realised they must’ve known I was to become the new Primarch before hoof. But that didn’t matter to me now; I felt a huge burden lift from my shoulders as I walked out of there and towards the barracks at the far right of the fortress. I was finally free. I could go out of this life for a while and enjoy a normal life. One of honest hard labour, probably find another job, build a family, start again, until I felt ready to return.
As I walked towards the door I noticed Dagger waiting outside with a concerned expression on his face. “Is everything alright, Captain?” he asked. Bless him, I had thought. He was always one that worried about everything, and cared deeply about everyone he knew in the order.
“Everything’s better than alright,” I said cheerfully, putting a hoof across his shoulders. “Is everypony inside, Dagger?”
Dagger relaxed a little and let out a breath of relief. He nodded. “Yes they are, Captain. May I ask why?”
“I want to have a chat with them all,” I replied. Dagger nodded and led the way in, through a thin wooden door. The barracks was not a five star hotel. It was spartan in its furnishings, with a single wardrobe and a bed table next to every bed in the room, which had around seventy beds in all, and only a coat of white adorned the walls.
But having a lot of possessions didn’t matter to us at all, for we had a gift greater than any on this earth – life. We all lived when we should’ve died, and yet here we all were, the last of an order that would soon be a memory.
The room was, before I came in, a buzz of activity, of ponies talking about the days training and what they hoped to achieve in their longer lives. It all went dead silent as I entered. They all gave me looks of concern and fear, either for them or me I didn’t know, as I made myself comfortable in the middle of the barracks.
I gave them all a warming smile, which put them at ease for a moment. And then I started speaking. I told them that I would become the new Primarch once the old one had gone, which was met with a chorus of cheers and applause. Those cheers died down when I told them I was going into retirement.
Some of them begged me to stay and help them through their training. But I told them my decision had been made, and no manner of persuasion could change my mind. “When will you be leaving then, Captain?” a pegasus mare, Silvia I believe her name was, asked.
I hadn’t really given it much thought. After all this was something I’d only thought up about an hour or so ago, so at that point it seemed a bit of rush-about. But nevertheless my mind was going far too fast from the rest of my body so I blurted out, “Tonight, maybe tomorrow at dawn.”
This was met with a few disappointed moans, groans and sighs. Before they could sink any lower I told them by the time I return they’d all be Dragonlords, and that I was proud of every single one of them, and would be honoured to lead them into battles in the future.
“And maybe,” I said. “Maybe some of you will be Captains.” I passed a look at an earth pony stallion, whose name has escaped my mind, but was exemplary in everything that he did, despite the disadvantage of having no wings and no horn on his head.
After many goodbyes and thank you’s, I made sure all of them went asleep, as by that time the sun had long set, and a clear night sky loomed overhead. I put out the lights of the barracks and took off my robe, exposing my coat to the natural cold air of the mountains, and placed it in my wardrobe, next to my battle armour.
I didn’t have any possessions, only a large quantity of bits left behind by my mother after she died, for occasions such as this one. I placed the sack of bits in a small saddlebag, placed the bag on my back, and without looking back, left the barracks, whispering a final, “Goodbye,” as I left.
The air was definitely cold, and a long shiver crawled through me as I walked slowly from the barracks to the main gate. There were no guards or other ponies about so it made it a quiet getaway, which I was glad for. I’m not one for pompous send-offs or that sort of thing.
I made it out of the gates and out into the wide cliff-face, which went into a sheer drop into the sharp edges of the rocks below. I looked back one more time with sad eyes at my home, one of many that I’ve had in my lifetime. This one, however, was special to me. When I was there I felt at peace, and I had great memories of it, with some great laughs that were had with all of us, as well as the tears.
I shook my head and looked forwards again, in the direction of the country of my birth, Equestria. I spread my wings and dived off the edge, dropping down a good five hundred metres before veering up again and soaring around the fortress. I gave it a final wave goodbye before changing direction and headed towards Equestria.
Fluttershy put on a polite smile and with a tilting motion of her hoof said, “It’s nice… so far. But what does it have to do with my mother?”
The two sat opposite sides of each other around the large campfire, somewhere in the Horscan highlands. Around them, the sounds of birds echoed as they sang their evening songs. The stars above them were bright and Fluttershy could easily make out one or two of the constellations that weren’t obscured from the canopies.
“Well I am going to get to that, sweetheart,” Firewing said. “But before I continue, I would like to know what you thought your mother was like?”
“Well,” Fluttershy answered with a small smile. “I always thought my mother would’ve been kind, caring, beautiful, a bit shy, and had a sweet voice.”
Firewing nodded, with a faint smile forming. “Ah yes, she was kind, and caring, and insanely beautiful. But shy? I have yet to meet a pony who could talk faster or move quicker than Rosemary did…”
It took me at least six days of non-stop flying to reach Equestria, passing uncharted areas of land that stretched for miles. I passed gigantic forests, rivers as wide as the largest woodland, mountains that soared up higher than the ones we’re surrounded by, and I saw so many things that nopony would ever believe.
At first I had enjoyed the silence and my own company. But by the fourth day the solitude became unbearable, so I began to wish for at least somepony to talk to. A friendly face to keep me company on my journey to the greatest kingdom in the world.
My solitude came to abrupt, and joyful end as after flying so many miles that my wings needed rest, I found myself into a small village surrounded by trees, and inhabited by ponies, a few griffons, and a couple of zebras. I sat down on an empty bench and looked through my belongings. Upon noticing I had run out of food, I looked around for a market stall or somewhere where they sell food and drink.
I eventually found food in the shape of a general goods store. It was a small shack with a large sign posted on it that showed the wares the store sold. I walked in, being greeted by a little bell that ran above me attached to a cable that was in turn attached to the door.
“Well good afternoon to ya, mister,” the storekeeper greeted me with a smile. He was an earth pony with a tan coloured coat and a short brown mane and tail, and he was wearing, if I recall, a long trench coat that covered his cutie mark. He cocked his head to one side when he didn’t recognize who I was. “I don’t think I’ve seen ya before.”
“You haven’t,” I replied. “I’m just passing through.” I looked around, looking for some good food to keep me covered for the rest of the walk. “Could I have four cans of that vegetable stew, please?”
The storekeeper nodded and disappeared under the table, only to reappear seconds later with four cans of the stew I’d asked for. “So where ya headed, son?” he asked.
“Central Equestria,” I replied. “I’ve always wanted to see Canterlot and Cloudsdale.”
The storekeeper nodded with a sigh. “And I’m sure ya will love them both.”
“You’ve been to them?” I queried.
The storekeeper laughed. “Well it would be a miracle for me to get to Cloudsdale. I’ve been to Canterlot, though, and the memories I got from there will keep me smiling for a long time. Could I give ya a tip?” I nodded. “Stay longer than a day, there’s so much to see it’s unbelievable!”
I smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.” I turned around and was about to walk out of the store when I stopped. I turned around and asked, “By the way, this may seem like a silly question, but am I in Equestria yet?”
The storekeeper looked at me oddly, then laughed. “Well I sure hope so, lad, or I should be wondering where the heck am I.”
I smiled and said, “Thank you sir,” and left the store. As I walked out I heard the storekeeper calling me back. I turned around and walked back up to him. “What is it, sir?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too irritated.
“Two things, young stallion,” he said, making me groan inside. ‘If only you knew how old I really was,’ I thought. “Firstly, if you’re going though here you’ll need this.” He took what looked like an old piece of brown paper and placed it in my hoof. I opened it up and saw it was a map of Equestria. I berated myself for forgetting the one thing I needed and left behind in my haste to get out.
“And secondly you didn’t pay the bits for the stews,” he continued.
“Oh, sorry,” I said. Using a wing I opened up my saddlebag and picked out the right amount of bits for the stews. After that we parted company, with him wishing me good luck on my journey.
I went back to the empty bench in the middle of the small village and looked at the map in detail. I was at the very edge of Equestria, somewhere in the northeast, where nothing but large trees dominated the landscape for miles. I noticed if I kept going southwest from this town, the name of which I’ve forgotten, I should arrive in central Equestria in a couple of days.
Once I checked through the route I needed to take, I put the map away and galloped into the woods, passing through the tall trees and dark canopies.
A day or so later and I arrived in front of the mountain paths that split central Equestria from the rest of the kingdom. It took a few hours to make my way through the small, winding paths but eventually I took my first view of the centre of the kingdom.
From my point I could make out the capital city of Equestria; Canterlot, standing gleaming white on the cliff face with majestic waterfalls running below it onto the ground below. I looked up and saw Cloudsdale, the greatest city in the skies, floating above the ground like a ship on a calm sea.
With my wings recovered from their long flight, I spread them out and took to the air, hoping to get to Cloudsdale by the evening. It took me a couple of hours at most, passing above the Everfree Forest, and the town of Ponyville, which at the time was smaller than it is today.
Eventually I arrived at Cloudsdale, and was instantly taken aback by its beauty. I remember that as I walked through its streets, my mouth was open wide enough to catch clouds, my eyes wide as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Its majestic architecture, to me told a story that goes back thousands of years, and is one that keeps making stories.
I walked through the streets, not really caring where I was going, as I was too captivated by the city around me, when I caught a glance of a poster advertising the Wonderbolts. I quickly shot over and read it. I admired the Wonderbolts greatly, as does every pegasi, as no pegasus can go at their speeds and still do what they do. I actually remember there was one Dragonlord that was a Wonderbolt, but had to put that life behind him after an incident with a house on fire.
Anyway, I read the poster and saw that it was on today at the Cloudesium at one o’ clock. I looked around for directions, as I had no idea where the stadium was. It was at this point, where I felt the air in my lungs leave me and my sides caved in on themselves, as I fell to the ground, with something rather heavy on top of me.
It was when I felt the thing move off of me that I knew it was a pony. I didn’t know yet that it was a pony that would change my life forever. “Oh my goodness I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going and you were like ‘huuuhhhh?’ and I was like ‘arrrgh!’ and then we were like ‘uuurrrgghhh’,” she said loudly, in one breath with a dramatic re-enactment of the whole thing.
I groaned as I got up. My sides killed and my legs felt wobbly. I turned around and looked at the pony angrily, but my anger disappeared when I looked into her eyes, your mother’s eyes, my child.
She walked up closer to me, her eyes full of concern. “Are you okay?” she said softly. She had a delicate voice like yours, but was a slight bit higher, and faster, and her eyes seemed to sparkle with a love I have never seen at that point.
“I’m fine,” I responded, trying not to hide my agitation.
She cocked her head to such an angle I thought was impossible. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before. You new?”
I nodded. “Yes, well just a tourist really, you know, just passing through.”
She grinned. “Oooooooo!” she squealed. “A tourist! I love tourists as they are amazingly fun to be around and they tell soooo many stories of the world outside and I love stories they’re always fun and I love to have fun and not be a biiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggggg bore!”
She kept talking but I trailed off after that moment. I was looking into her eyes and felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time, something that I didn’t know at first but would very soon.
“I’m sure that’s nice and all but I’ve gotta get going,” I said politely.
“Ooo, got touring things to do, eh?” she enquired.
“Uh yeah, something like that. Look I better go before I miss The Wonderbolts perform.” I said. As I turned to leave I heard a huge gasp behind me. I sighed in annoyance as I realised what was about to happen.
“You’re going to see The Wonderbolts perform! What a coincidence I was about to see them myself. We should go together as Wonderbolt buddies!” She took my hoof in hers and dragged me towards the Cloudesium. “I’m Rosemary, by the way,” she introduced herself.
“I’m Firewing. It’s… nice to have bumped into you.”
She giggled. “It’s funny cause it’s true.” Her giggle was probably the sweetest thing I have ever heard, and it still is.
We made it to the Cloudesium just in time, as the performance was just about to start. We got our tickets and took our seats, Rosemary being rather close for comfort to me as we watched them do their stunts, barrel rolls et cetera.
As we watched we talked about ourselves. I learnt she was a weather pony who made the rainbows at one of the factories. She had a slightly younger sister who lived in Ponyville; her parents were once soldiers of the royal guard but were now retired, and that Rosemary loved animals and rainbows.
I wanted to tell her about my life as a Dragonlord, as a warrior, but found I couldn’t. I was scared I would scare her away from me. Sure I was annoyed with her at the start, but the time that we had when we sat there talking to each other, I found myself beginning to admire this pony more and more, and wanted to be near her. She was my only friend in this world.
So I told her I left home when I was sixteen, which was true, and have travelled the world all my life. I told her only half of my adventures, the ones that didn’t involve everyone I’d met die at the end of it; just the ones that made me see the most beautiful places on this earth.
She had a wide grin on her face as I told her when I ran from a basilisk, or flew from a ten-headed hydra. She giggled at all my misadventures. “Wwwooooowwwww,” she gaped once I had finished. “You must have been to every corner of the planet!”
I chuckled, trying to hide the fact that was more or less true. “Sort of.” I glimpsed at the performance before us. The newest member of the team, a filly pegasus named Spitfire, was about to make her debut the announcer said. But I wasn’t fully paying attention to that. No matter how hard I tried, my eyes kept glancing back at the pony next to me. A pony that had first irritated me, I had come to admire.
The sun was lowering from the sky by the time The Wonderbolts had finished. We both walked out of the stadium with smiles on our faces, chatting excitedly about the performance.
“Weren’t Spitfire just awesome!” Rosemary squealed. “The way she went zoom! Zoom! Zoom, all over the place! She’s gonna have a bright future in The Wonderbolts, that’s for sure!”
I nodded in agreement. “Well, Rosemary, I have to say it’s been a pleasure to have met you. But I better get going and find somewhere to stay. Take care of yourself!” I said and began trotting off to find a hotel to stay. I didn’t get far when I heard her calling my name.
“Firewing!” She hopped up to me and stood in my way. “You have nowhere to stay?” I shook my head. She lowered her head and pawed at the ground with a hoof. “Well… you could… if you wanted… stay with me for the night?” she blurted out the last part.
My eyes widened and I recall stepping back in shock. This pony, whom I barely knew, was offering to me to stay at her house! My mouth moved but I couldn’t make up any words. After a while I was going to say no, but instead my mouth said, “Okay.”
Rosemary grinned and jumped me in a hug. “Oh you’re not gonna regret I promise you.” She took my hoof in hers again. Her hoof felt soft and warm. “Come on, this way,” she beckoned me on.
So we both ran through the deserted streets of Cloudsdale to her place.
Fluttershy felt a string of emotions run through her as Firewing told her of how he’d met her mother. First surprise, then she couldn’t stop laughing at her father’s attempt at impersonating her and acting out her movements, then warmth. It was truly a lovely and rather funny way of meeting the love of your life. “That was so sweet,” she said with a smile.
Firewing nodded. “Yes it was.” His wide smile faded. “But that day I also learnt that Rosemary was like a flower. Extremely beautiful and full of life, but terribly delicate…”
The sun had gone, and the first stars had come out when we arrived at her house. It was a bungalow really, made entirely out of clouds. A small rainbow waterfall adorned the small front garden, and fell to the ground thousands of feet below.
Rosemary trotted up in front and opened up the door with a key hidden under her left wing. “Honey, I’m home,” she greeted the house with a giggle as she walked through. I remember looking oddly at her, then around the place.
It was small, the corridor being only wide enough for one pony to go through. I passed the kitchen on my left, again small but big enough for one pony cooking. I walked further along and noticed the bedroom with its bed big enough for two.
I walked into the living room as Rosemary plopped onto one of couches. The room was, like the rest of the house, welcoming, with pictures hanging the wall of her family and some of her friends. “Well sit down,” she said to me, shifting her rump out of the way so I could sit down next to her.
I walked over and sat down, my eyes drifting over the living room as we sat in silence. It was about a few minutes later that we started talking again. We talked about anything and everything. The weather, what’s hot and what’s not, the Princess and how well we think she runs the place, you get the picture.
After a while, we both started to get tired and began yawning. “Well,” I said. “I think I’m gonna call it a night.”
Rosemary looked a bit disappointed, but nodded. “Where am I gonna sleep anyway?” I asked. I immediately wished I hadn’t.
“Oh that’s easy. With me. My bed’s big enough for two,” she replied, without any hint of embarrassment. She got up and led me to the bedroom. I hoped she couldn’t see the blush on my face as we entered.
“You can have the right side, I’ll have the left,” she said, pointing to the bed. With a sigh I dropped my saddlebags from my back and fell into the bed. “Goodnight, Firewing,” she said warmly.
“Goodnight, Rosemary,” I replied in kind. I closed my eyes and instantly fell asleep.
I awoke later that night to the sound of sniffling and crying. I was used to getting woken up by young Dragonlords who were missing their families and were trying to get used to the fact they would live longer, and I was used to having to spend the nights comforting them. I thought that during my retirement I wouldn’t have to do any comforting, and get a full night sleep for once. I was wrong.
I looked over to see Rosemary with her back to me; her shoulders shook as she cried her eyes out over something I didn’t know yet. When I flicked on a light she jumped and turned over, looking at me with tear stained cheeks and bloodshot eyes. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long,” I replied.
She rolled over again and continued to cry. “I’m sorry, you shouldn’t be seeing this,” she sobbed.
I shifted around and placed a leg on her shoulder in comfort. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
She moved her head so she could look at me. “It’s just… you’re going away tomorrow. You’re leaving me, like everypony else has left me.”
“I’m sure that’s not the case,” I said. “You’ve got your sister, and your parents, and I’m sure you have friends.”
She shook her head, her eyes spilling even more tears. “My sister hates me, my parents can’t stand me and nopony wants to be my friend. I always scare them away, like I’m going to do to you. I’m gonna die alone and unwanted and it’s just… just…” she trailed off and continued to cry in her forelegs.
My eyes went wide and my heart filled with sorrow and pity for this pony. I lowered myself down so that my belly was touching her back, and I wrapped my hooves around her. “I don’t hate you, and I’m not going to leave you, Rosemary,” I whispered into her ears. I could feel her grip onto my hooves. “I promise.”
“Ponies have always said that,” she sobbed. “But they don’t mean it.”
“I’m not an ordinary pony,” I replied. “And I will keep that promise.”
I whispered the lullaby I sung to you into her ears and she fell asleep not long afterwards. I wiped the wet tears off her face, turned off the light and fell asleep next to her.
“I learnt later that they all fell out over some big argument,” Firewing said to a teary eyed Fluttershy. “And afterwards placed the blame on Rosemary for it. Cruel I know.”
“Cruel?” Fluttershy said. “That’s just despicable!” She was infuriated that her auntie, and her grandparents could ever be like that.
“Yeah, but she seemed quite happy with me by her side that day and night, and so I decided to stay, for her benefit as well as mine. We were both friendless in this world so we turned to each other. And it gave us a stronger friendship than anything else in this world…”
I woke to the sound of ponies on their own businesses, the sound of flapping wings that whisked overhead, and the loud calls of the market that was not too far down the road.
I noticed that at some point in the night Rosemary had turned over and had wrapped her hooves around me in an embrace to which there was no escape. I didn’t want to move her legs in fear of awakening her, as she looked so peaceful and content with me being there. It was as if she was making me keep that promise that I made to her last night.
A couple minutes later she opened her eyes and looked at me with a warm, loving smile. “You’re still here,” she said.
“Of course,” I replied. “I never hold back on my promises. Could you let go of me now, by the way? I really need to use the bathroom.”
“Oh, sorry.” She let go of me and let me race off to the bathroom. When I got back she was busy brushing her mane and preening her feathers. “So what are you going to do today?” she asked. “See the weather factories? See the chariot racecourse?”
I shook my head. “I was actually planning on leaving Cloudsdale and head to Canterlot.”
She dropped her brush and turned to face me, tears that were threatening to break the dam that was her eyes started to show. “Please hear me out,” I continued comfortingly. “I plan to go to Canterlot. But I really don’t want to go alone.”
The tears sucked back into her eyes, which I might add is the creepiest thing I have ever seen, and her face lit up with excitement. “You’re saying that…”
“I was wondering if you would like to come with me?” I asked her.
She gave out the biggest, most delightful squeal pony ears have ever heard and jumped me in a hug, pushing me to the ground so that she was on top of me, pinning me down. “Oh thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!” she thanked me over and over again.
“I take that as a yes, then?” I asked. She giggled and nodded. With that I let her pack some things, like bits and a few snacks for the trip there and at first back again. “Don’t worry about food for coming back,” I said. “I’m planning on staying there for a night or so.”
About an hour later she was packed and ready to go. I lead the way out of the bungalow and she closed the door behind us, locking it and tucking the key under her left wing.
“Right, so what’s the quickest way to get to Canterlot?” I asked as we walked side by side through the streets.
“Oh that’s easy,” she said with a mischievous grin that made me feel uncomfortable. “By cloud.”
“By cloud?” I asked in disbelief, tilting my head to the side. She nodded but said nothing as she began galloping to the edge of the city closest to Canterlot.
“It’s simple,” she explained to me as the long line of clouds came into view. “We jump from cloud to cloud until we reach Canterlot.”
“Okay, sounds easy. But I thought pegasi make the clouds move,” I said.
“Sometimes for quicker results, but normally we let the wind move them about. And today, they are all in line.” She lined herself up and spread her wings. “I’ll race ya to Canterlot!”
“Um, I’m not really one for racing,” I said hesitantly.
“Oh, okay.” She paused before adding with a wide grin, “Slowpoke.”
“Oh… it’s on,” I said with a grin of my own and before we knew we were in the air and hopping from cloud to cloud, laughing all the way. When I looked up to see where she was, I recall my jaw dropping as I noticed how far she was out in front of me.
She stopped, looked back and blew a raspberry and shook her rump at me, making me blush. “Can’t catch me!” she grinned and hopped on to the next one. I grinned and followed quickly.
It wasn’t much longer till we reached Canterlot. The tall spires of the city’s towers were our first sighting of the majestic white city. We stopped on a cloud that sat just above the city and took deep breaths. It had been a while since I’d run or jumped like that. “That was fun,” I said to Rosemary, with a large smile as I laid on my back.
“Wasn’t it just?! I asked other ponies to do it with me but they always said no and that meant they were boring and I hate hanging around with boring ponies. But you on the other hoof aren’t dull, and I love you-I mean love hanging around with you,” she corrected herself. She looked away with a small blush around her cheeks.
I noticed the slip up but I decided to let it pass for now. I got up and looked down at the city below, then turned to face her. “Ready to see the sights.”
She giggled. “Firewing, I was born ready.” She grabbed hold of my hoof and jumped off the cloud, hurtling down to the city below. We arrived in relative safety and began exploring the city.
For the next two days, we saw the palace, which was open to the public back then. The fun fair. The museums, where in one Rosemary tried some of the poses of the ponies in some of the paintings, much to the other visitor’s annoyance, but I didn’t care about them. All that mattered to me was the piece of art on four legs and beautiful eyes.
We went shopping, had a lovely meal out, and went to the theatre where she told me about her parents and her sister. She cried silently for a little while but I was there to get her back on her hooves once more, and she was grateful for it.
It was in the gardens at the end of the second day though where our lives changed. The sun had gone and the twilight hours closed in with the first stars appearing in the sky. We walked silently, looking at the various statues of the gardens. I told Rosemary about some of them and what they represent, to which she was deeply fascinated by them, but seemed more interested in hearing me speak.
After a while we went to a quiet area where we wouldn’t be disturbed by anypony nearby. It was here where I decided to ask. “Rosemary?”
“Hmm?” she replied.
“You know yesterday, when we came here, that you said you loved me but corrected yourself, did you mean it? Do you love me?”
She looked sheepish and backed away fearfully. She gave a small squeak in reply and hid her face behind her mane. My heart was bleeding out now at this point as I realised she started to cry. “You love me, don’t you?”
“Y-ye-yes!” she shrieked through her tears. I remember flinching back at her outburst. “You are the only pony in my life that has been kind to me for a very long time,” she reasoned. “But now I’ve said that, I’ve probably lost you forever.” She placed her head in her hooves and continued to cry.
I walked up to her and, gently placing a hoof under her chin, lifted her head up to look at me. I gave her a small smile as I leaned forward and kissed her lips quickly, before leaning back. I realised at that moment, love was the thing I had been feeling. It was love at first sight for both of us, and it was the best feeling I’ve ever had.
“I love you too,” I replied.
She jumped me and pinned me to the ground, and placed her lips onto mine as we kissed. I wrapped my hooves around her waist as I rolled her onto the side, the kiss staying for a very long time. We parted our mouths after a while so we could breathe, and we both wore huge, joyous smiles on our faces as I looked into her love struck eyes. I moved a hoof across her face and wiped away the tears from her cheeks.
“Keep to smiling,” I advised. “Tears don’t suite you at all.”
“Are we a couple now?” she asked.
“Of course. It would seem weird laying here kissing a friend.”
“Ah, not unless its truth or dare,” she said with a giggle.
“Good point,” I agreed with a chuckle. “So what do you want to do now?”
She gave me a very seductive smile and a faint blush formed on her cheeks, as well as mine, as I realised what she was implying.
She gently rolled me over onto my back and sat on top of me, then…
Firewing stopped talking when he felt a hoof slam into his mouth. He looked down to see a yellow leg protruding from his mouth, while at the far end was the blushing, embarrassed face of his daughter.
“That’s lovely and all,” she said. “But I really, really don’t want to know… you know, that.”
Firewings eyes widened as he realised he was going a bit too far. He gave a faint nod and Fluttershy pulled away the hoof from his mouth. “Sorry, sweetheart,” he said apologetically, whilst bearing a sheepish smile. “I sometimes do get a bit carried away when I’m telling a story. But you know, you were asking for it when you said you wanted to know everything, and I thought you meant everything.”
“How I was conceived should not be something you should tell you daughter,” Fluttershy said sternly, with the blush on her face melting away.
“Well I don’t think you were conceived there. I think it was…” He was cut off again by another hoof in the mouth. “Okay I’ll stop,” he said through the hoof.
Fluttershy nodded, pulled her hoof out and backed away. “Thank you. So what happened next?”
“Well,” Firewing answered. “I think afterwards we fell asleep in each others embrace in the gardens that night. Luckily we weren’t disturbed, or found, even when the morning came. We woke up, cleaned ourselves up a bit and went back to Cloudsdale.”
He paused for a moment. “A month passed. In that time Rosemary’s parents passed away, but before they died they asked forgiveness for their actions, which Rosemary gave while I received their blessings. I got a job, while she made some good friends at last. And one day after a good day at work I came home to the greatest news I would ever hear…”
I managed to find in one of the weather factories during my retirement in Cloudsdale. My job was to make the individual snowflakes that were to be used for the winter, and I loved every moment of it. I made a few good friends there, including one whom I believe is now in charge of the entire factory.
Anyway I finished my shift, feeling proud of myself to have created around two hundred snowflakes in one day. Even the boss was proud of me that day and said I might be getting a promotion, and a raise, very soon.
The sun was descending from the sky as I arrived at my home, well, Rosemary’s home I had to keep reminding myself. I was a guest at her house, but then I had to keep reminding myself that I was more of a guest. I was a friend, and I was her lover.
I popped the spare key she had given me from my wing and opened the door. “Rosemary, darling, I’m home!” I called through the house, but I got no reply. I frowned as I looked around. I saw her favourite horseshoes were on the ground by the door so she hadn’t gone out. I walked into the living room and saw she wasn’t napping there either.
My fears came to an abrupt end when I heard the tiptoe sounds of a pony creeping up behind me, and the littlest giggle. I knew who it was instantly and I grinned.
I spun around and went, “Boo!” into her face before gently tackling her to the ground, herself giggling all the while. I planted my lips onto hers and wrapped my legs around her, not wanting to leave her side, ever. Even the Dragonlords were now a dim memory, a black stain in my mind.
I was at some moment I noticed she was trembling. I looked into her eyes and saw nervous excitement in them. “What is it?” I asked with concern. “I felt you trembling.”
She smiled and showed me something that was hidden behind her back. “Have a look yourself.” She said to me. I took the thing in my hoof and looked at it. My eyes widened when I saw it was a pregnancy test, and my eyes widened even further when I saw the plus sign on the front.
“Y-y-yo-you-your p-pregnant?” I stammered. She gave a little nod with a small smile on her face. I felt a smile crawl along my face as I realised I was going to become a father. I started laughing, for no reason; I just wanted to express my joy to the world. I wanted to run down the street shouting, “I’m going to be father!” But all I did was wrap my forelegs around her and spun her around the room, laughing all the while, with her laughing along.
I stopped spinning and looked at her in the eyes. “Rosemary? I wanted to ask you at a restaurant tonight but I think now should be right.” I lowered myself onto one leg and took her hoof in mine. She looked at me with wide eyes as she knew what I was gonna say.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she squealed, and tightened her hold over me.
At that moment I felt our bond strengthen. I thought that nothing could separate us, nothing.
I was wrong. So wrong.
“The wedding was a small, but joyous affair. Rosemary’s sister didn’t come. Heck, I don’t even think she was invited. All my friends from the weather factory came and saw us become husband and wife. As well as Rosemary’s mare friends, who congratulated her for becoming pregnant with you.
“The next nine months were quite a blur actually. We had the bungalow extended, to make a baby room for you to sleep in. We had arguments but they were small and never really got out of hoof. Our relationship was strong, very strong.
“The next nine months was an anxious wait as I watched Rosemary’s belly begin to swell. She joked about how fat she looked, but she always kept hold of that smile, like I told her to. I too was excited, but…”
“But what?” Fluttershy tilted her head a little to the side, curious as to why he hesitated. “What got you so concerned?”
“I didn’t know at first, my sweet,” he answered. “I felt that I should remember something, something about you. But it slipped my mind. I’ll come to it later.”
“Oh, okay. So then what happened?”
Firewings eyes started to glisten with water as he began to remember that day. “After nine months of waiting, you were finally coming. That day would be the happiest day, and the worst day, of my life…”
I paced up and down the waiting room of the Cloudsdale hospital, anxious about the safety of my wife, and my child. It had been nearly twelve hours since Rosemary’s water broke, and that I had to rush her to hospital, even as she felt you beginning to make your way out.
I glanced at the clock and noticed it was around eleven at night. There was nopony else around me so that didn’t help the nerves in my body. I sat down and planted my head in my hooves, worrying about what was taking so long. Had I been forgotten?
I looked up when I heard hoofsteps coming towards the waiting room. I got out of my seat and had a look of anticipation on my face as I saw the nurse coming in. “Excuse me?” I called to her. “Is there any news of my wife, and my child?”
She came up to me and looked at me solemnly. I felt my heart beat a little quicker, and I began to feel a sense of dread as she stood before me. “What’s wrong?” I demanded.
She gestured for me to sit down, which I duly did so. She then said, “I’m afraid the labour is not going well. The foal is coming out the wrong way and is stuck, and your wife is losing a lot of blood.”
I felt tears in my eyes as I heard this. “Can you do anything?” I said through my tears.
She winced and placed a hoof on mine. “We’re doing what we can, sir,” she said, comfortingly and professionally. “I’m just here to prepare you for the worst.” With that she got up and left me to my thoughts.
“Wait!” I called to her. She turned her head back around. “Please, when the foal comes, let me know, please?”
She nodded. “Of course, sir.” She turned and left through the door.
My mind raced with horrific thoughts. The nurse told me to prepare for the worst, so did that mean it was possible for you and Rosemary to die? I have fought in many battles in my lifetime, and lost good friends. But those losses I endured. The loss of you or Rosemary, however, I didn’t think I could live through.
Another hour or so later did the nurse come back. “Good news, you have a healthy daughter.”
I got up and galloped past her, not even saying thank you, towards the delivery room. I had to hurry. I wanted to see her. I wanted to see you both.
I pushed the doors of the delivery room open and ran up to Rosemary, who was lying on the beside looking weak, but had a small smile on her face. It was then I noticed the bundle of adorableness in her forelegs that was you, my child.
You were wrapped up in a linen cloth and had a curious look on your face as you scanned the room around you. Your eyes were as wide as saucers and only a forelock of you pink mane was in view.
Tears of joy were in my eyes as I looked at you. I leaned my head forward and nuzzled you gently. You reacted by pressing a hoof on my nose. “She’s so cute isn’t she?” Rosemary said weakly.
I nodded, unable to say anything as I looked at you. “What should we call her?” I asked eventually.
“I thought of one earlier,” Rosemary said hoarsely. “I didn’t want to say anything till it came.”
“That’s okay, sweetheart,” I said. I brought up a hoof and ran it down her face. “What did you think of?”
“My mum once said she wanted to call me Fluttershy, but changed it, saying it didn’t suit me. I want to call our daughter that, if it’s okay with you?”
I looked from her back to you, a little foal only a few minutes old, with your beautiful cyan eyes staring back at me. “I love it,” I responded later. “Fluttershy it is.”
She smiled and was about to say something, but coughed up a bit of blood instead. I gasped and pressed her close. “Firewing,” she said. Promise me tha-”
“Don’t say that? Don’t say your goodbyes,” I whispered into her ears. I felt tears in my eyes.
“Listen to me,” she said persistently. “Promise me you’ll look after our daughter. Make sure no harm will come to her, and teach her not to harm others. Teach her to love and cherish everything in life. Do that for me, won’t you?”
“I will, but with you by my side,” I promised.
“Sorry, sir,” the doctor said. I could tell from his tone he didn’t like what he was about to say. “We’re going to have to ask you to wait outside while we check on your wife.”
I looked at him teary eyed, and then back to my wife. “Get through this, Rosemary. For your daughter’s sake as well as mine.”
“I’ll try,” she said weakly. She was going paler and weaker by the second, but I failed to notice, probably out of denial of what was transpiring. She looked at me and with a small smile, agonisingly raised a hoof and wiped my cheeks. “Tears don’t suit you, my love,” she said. “A smile’s better.”
I smiled half-heartedly. “I’ll be back, my love, I’ll be back.” I got up and watched as you were carried away, while I walked back to the waiting room. I turned my head one last time towards the room, catching a glimpse of my wife, little knowing it would be the last time I would see her.
Two hours later I was told she was dead.
“She died of the complications in childbirth,” Firewing said, looking at the ground with tears in his eyes as he remembered those words going through him like the words of Death himself. “The doctors tried everything they could but… she just lost too much blood, and she seemed to lose the will to live.”
He looked up to see Fluttershy with tears of her own. They ran down her cheeks like waterfalls and she wasn’t looking at Firewing at all. “Is that why?” she asked. “Is that why… you left me? Did you blame me for my mother’s death?”
Firewing shook his head rapidly. “Never! I would never blame you for what happened to Rosemary! The reasons I left you are an entirely different matter altogether.”
“But isn’t it my fault, though? Didn’t I cause Rosemary to die?”
Firewing walked over and embraced his daughter in a tight hug. Fluttershy returned the embrace. They stayed like that for a long time, until Fluttershy’s silent tears stopped spilling altogether.
“The doctors told me later that Rosemary’s death couldn’t have been avoided, no matter how hard they tried saving her. You had nothing to do with her passing, my child. So stop thinking otherwise.”
Fluttershy nodded, but inside she still felt a little guilty. “Look at me, Fluttershy.” Fluttershy looked up, allowing Firewing to wipe the remaining tears on her cheeks with a hoof. “Keep to smiling. Tears don’t suit you at all.”
Fluttershy gave a small smile, making Firewing smile in return. “So what happened next?”
“At first it was hard, being a single parent. But I carried on, for your sake, as well as mine. I changed your diapers, which by the way I’m so glad I didn’t have to do for long.” Fluttershy giggled. “I carried on, in Rosemary’s memory. Until a month later, on the last day I would see you for twenty years…”
I woke up once more to the sound of your crying, your pleas as you wanted to be fed. I grumbled as I got up and got your milk, then took it to the crib where you slept. I placed the milk bottle in your mouth and you started sucking. The world went quiet once more.
I smiled as I watched you drink. “What would Rosemary think of you now?” I wondered aloud. “How grown up you are?” You drank down the whole thing and fell asleep quicker than I ever saw.
I was suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. I walked over and opened it, revealing the mail mare. “Morning, Mr Firewing,” she greeted me. She was old and could barely see, but had a kind heart and knew your mother and me well. “How’s the little filly? I’m sure she’s getting a bit bigger by the day.”
I nodded. “She sure is, Mrs Stamp,” I said. I looked down at the single letter in her hoof. “Just the one today?”
She nodded. “Yep, said to be delivered immediately. Sounds urgent, if I say so myself. The only problem is there’s no bleeding return address.”
“Well as long as it ain’t taxes I’m glad,” I chuckled. “Thanks, Mrs Stamp, take care.” She said her goodbyes and left. I closed the door and walked into the living room, all the while wondering what was in this strange, yellow envelope.
I sat down and opened the envelope. I took the letter outside and opened it, and my heart stopped when I read it.
All Dragonlords in retirement are to return to the fortress for emergency deployment immediately.
I couldn’t believe it at first, so I scanned the single line once more, until the message finally sunk into my mind. My retirement from the Dragonlords was over, so soon. But whatever it was sounded urgent, and the Dragonlords sounded desperate. So I had to do my duty, even if it meant leaving my peaceful life behind.
I suddenly stopped and realised with a heart stopping moment one thing. You, my child. I slowly walked over to the room where you lived and looked down at the crib in which you laid. I remember you were sleeping with your hoof in your mouth, sucking on it slowly.
I realised at that moment what I was feeling nine months ago, when I realised I was going to have you. You had my DNA in you. You were a Dragonlord, a warrior unlike any other. Born out of fire and augmented to fight the many evils this world had, and annihilate them, without mercy.
It was a life I didn’t want you to know, or have. I wanted you to live a peaceful life, living in a cloud home like your mother’s, doing ordinary things. Fall in love, have children, and die a hundred years old in your bed surrounded by family and friends, not on a battlefield where all you feel is anger and hatred for someone you don’t even know.
I promised your mother to teach you to enjoy life, and not to harm others. And you coming with me would be breaking that promise to her. I knew what I had to do, and hated myself for it. “I’m sorry, Rosemary,” I whispered aloud.
I set about boarding up the house and locking away anything of value to your mother or myself. I got hold of a basket and wrapped it in baby bed sheets. I waited till nightfall for the next part of my plan, and dreaded every second of it.
Nightfall soon came, quicker than I hoped. I walked up to your crib, gently picked you up, and placed you in the basket. I covered you up so that you were nice and warm, and then took you outside.
The streets were thankfully empty, and it was one of those rare occasions were Cloudsdale was low enough for rain to fall on it. I walked on though, my tears covered by the rain to the orphanage I knew was nearby, and where I knew you’d be safe.
When I arrived, I could see a light was on so thankfully I walked over, and knocked on the door. “Hello?” an old, kind voice called from the other side. The door opened to reveal a white old mare with huge glasses on her face. “Good evening, sir. Looking to adopt?”
I dolefully shook my head. “I’m afraid not, I’m here to place my child in your care.” I went on to explain my predicament and why I had to leave her.
The old mare’s eyes widened at the tale, but she accepted it. “I’m so sorry about that, my dear. Could I have a look at her?”
I said, “Yes,” and placed the basket on the ground and showed you to her.
The mare’s face lit up in joy as she studied you. “She has to be one of the most adorable fillies I have ever seen. I will take care of her for you, my dear.”
“A few more things,” I said. I brought the medallion out of my saddlebags and gave it to her. “Give this to her when she’s of age and got her cutie mark. Tell her it gives her good luck.” I paused before adding, “And tell her if she asks, she was found out here, alone.”
“But what if she wants to find you again?” she protested.
“She cannot. It’s important that she thinks I’m dead. For her own safety.”
She didn’t like it, her eyes told me that, but she accepted it. “I will. Would you like to say your goodbyes now?”
I nodded and bent down, and nuzzled you face. “Forget me, Fluttershy,” I choked back tears. “Forget me and live the way your mother wanted; peacefully. Maybe our paths will cross again, who knows. But I don’t want that, and if you knew who, or what I truly was, you wouldn’t either. Goodbye, my girl. Goodbye, my love.”
I nuzzled you once more before looking away and galloped into the night. Never once did I look back, out of shame.
Fluttershy was stunned; her eyes went wide as old, faded memories, ones that had been locked away for so long, began to form in her mind. The memories of her father leaving her at the orphanage, the rain she could feel fall onto her face as he had said his goodbyes.
“So… you were trying to save me… from this?”
Firewing gave a sad nod of his head. “Yes. I had hoped that keeping you away from me would prevent you from learning of your Dragonlord heritage. But it seems as if fate, and destiny, had other ideas.”
“But why couldn’t I be with my auntie?” Fluttershy asked. She may not now like her aunt but she was still family.
“Your auntie never knew you existed, Fluttershy,” Firewing answered. “Rosemary and I had sent a letter to her, but we never received a reply. We assumed she just threw it away when she saw whom it was by. There was, however, enough for authorities to be able to track you down and give you the deed to the cottage in Ponyville.”
“Yes, I remember that day well…”
It was a beautiful day outside, and it was the summer also so we all had time off at school. I remember sitting on my bed in the far corner away from all the other colts and fillies, reading a Daring Do adventure book.
I looked up when I heard one of the carers call my name. “Ye-yes miss?” I asked shyly.
“Miss Foster would like to see you, my dear,” she said with a warm smile. She could see the worry on my face and laughed. “Don’t worry, Fluttershy, you’re not in trouble. You never are.”
I smiled as I got up and headed to the office where Miss Foster sat. She was always a kind mare and saw me as a daughter she couldn’t have. I recall she once said to me about adopting me herself, but couldn’t for some reason. Still I didn’t mind.
I walked up to the door and gave it a light tap. “Come in,” I heard from the other side. I entered and was greeted by a big, loving smile from Miss Foster. “Fluttershy, so good to see you.”
“Thank you, Miss Foster,” I curtsied. I walked in and sat on the chair in front of her desk.
“Now first off, my dearest condolences to you. And congratulations.” She said.
I tilted my head at a weird angle and said, “Excuse me?!”
“Firstly,” she explained, holding up a piece of paper. “This said you have an auntie living in Ponyville, but she has recently died and since she had no children or family of her own, the cottage, as well as her possessions, pass down to you.”
I recall my heart skipping a few beats, before accelerating into overdrive. My mind raced with thoughts that went too fast to remember. Only one, however, stayed.
I had a home now, my own home.
“But… but,” I stammered. “Wouldn’t that mean…”
She nodded, the pain of what she was about to say clear in her eyes. “Yes. You will have to leave here.”
My heart dropped into my stomach as I realised what was happening. I was gaining a home, but to have it I would be losing the only home I knew. “But I… but I don’t know anything about a home, let alone looking after one.”
“Fluttershy.” She got up, walked around her desk and knelt down to look me in the eye. “You don’t want to stay cooped up here all your life, do you?” I shook my head. “You’ll be fine, my dear. The carers and I here have taught you all you need to survive on your own. Yes, moving in would be daunting, but in time you will grow to love it, and I’m sure it would be as bright and loving as you are.”
I smiled and wrapped my forelegs around her in a hug. “Come and visit me, please?” I asked.
“I’ll try to, Fluttershy,” she promised. “Now go and pack your things.” I nodded and walked out of the room. I only heard the sound of her crying as I left. I knew I should be crying also, but I found I couldn’t, I shouldn’t. Like Miss Foster said I should be looking forward to this, and the more I thought about it, the more exciting it got.
I could stay up as long as I liked. I could have my own bedroom to sleep in. My own bathroom, read what I want, go where I want. Everything I could never have if I stayed here.
I packed my things, said aloud, “Goodbye,” to all the other fillies and colts, but they didn’t hear me, and left.
I walked out of the orphanage door and as I got to the main gate, looked back at the only home I knew. It felt like I stood there for a long time, for by the time I had gone and was on my way to leaving Cloudsdale the sun was beginning its descent.
Fluttershy finished talking and took a deep breath. It was very rare for her to talk for this length of time, and in that much detail. But it felt liberating to talk about something she hadn’t talked about for a long time, except with her friends.
“I know that telling you about why I left you won’t pardon me from my actions, Fluttershy,” Firewing said after a moment of silence. “But you had the right to know and it would be wrong of me to have kept it locked up. Just know that I love you. Always.” Firewing bowed his head and wept silently.
At that moment Fluttershy realised he had been in pain for twenty years. He been beating himself up for a long time over it and now, upon letting it out, it became agony for him. Fluttershy knew she had to put it right, and she knew only one way how – through kindness.
She got up and slowly walked over to her weeping father, then embraced him. “I forgive you,” she said, rubbing circles across his back.
Firewings eyes shot open. He looked at Fluttershy with wide disbelieving eyes. “I… I don’t…” He was cut off when Fluttershy gently pressed his lips together with a hoof and gave him a loving smile.
“What you did, dad, I cannot condemn, as I have done something similar, so I know how much pain you’re in. You think that you don’t deserve forgiveness, but you do dad, everypony does.” She gave him a light kiss on the forehead. “You’ve been in pain for twenty years, Firewing, and I’m here to heal you.” She wrapped her forelegs around her dad once more and gave him a tight embrace.
Firewing at first was stunned, but he returned the embrace just as tightly. In that moment he felt twenty years of pain and heavy torment on himself go away, he felt lighter than he ever had done in his life. He felt relief, and all of this from three words he thought he would never hear for his actions.
They stayed like that for a long time, weeping silently in each other’s shoulders, while the owls howled and the mice scurried about. Fluttershy eventually let go and gave her father the loving smile that reminded him of Rosemary. “Feeling better?” Fluttershy asked.
“A bit, thanks to you,” Firewing said. He looked up towards the night sky and sighed. “It’s getting late; I think we should call it a night.”
Fluttershy nodded and shifted herself closer to the fire to keep warm. “Dad?” A grunt was the reply. “What are you going to do, when this over I mean?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “I know that after this I don’t want to take up my sword again. Why?”
“Because, I was just wondering.” She paused for a moment before blurting out, “Would you like to live with me in Ponyville?”
Firewing opened his eyes and looked at his daughter. He could see the pleading look in her eyes and smiled. “I would like that, a lot.”
Fluttershy beamed and let out a little squeal of joy. “Oh, you’re gonna love it in Ponyville. It’s full of lovely ponies; delicious foods and great places to just relax and enjoy the day. Maybe we could play games of ‘shh’ and…” She stopped upon noticing her father was fast asleep. “Oh.” She placed a hoof on her mouth. “Sorry. Goodnight, dad.”
She set herself down on the grass, tucked her legs into her stomach, rested her head on the soft grass, and fell asleep. Her dreams were full of things that she as going to do with her father once they’ve returned home. Things, which she never could do in her childhood.
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Hello everyone, here it is the thirteenth chapter.
A special thanks to phantompony for proof-reading and re-editing grammer errors etc
Anyway i hope you enjoy
I haven't even READ this story yet, but DAYUM I have to read this.
867250 i hope you enjoy it, its my first move into literature ever, so i hope it's not a bad start
Anyway, just noticed its in the feature box. wow
Must. Read. Story. I will get to this ASAP and tell you exactly what I think about it.
sweet
874601 I'm sorry about the grammer and the spelling mistakes, i'm not the best when it comes to that sort of thing. A friend is actually going proof-reading for me at the moment so those errors will be fixed in good time.
867429 sorry about the insult to the brilliant norwegian language, I hope it didn't put you off too much. thanks for the pointing out of the msitakes as well, I shall fix them right away.
870205 Thank you, sorry to hear you were crying
867272 I think Appleoosa is named after the colour, or breed of a horse.
I am a grammar nazi, so i would like to help with editing. Shoot me a PM if your interested. If not, I tried.
Also, is Ch.12 pt.2 your math was off. 14+1+4+3=22, not 20.
896976 thank you for favouriting
971098 I would be grateful of the offer, send me a personel message if you still want to
He's going to die just saying
I hate school! Messes up my schedule...
Anyway, after reading this chapter, I can't help but stop and read again to see if saw the 'Elizabeth' references properly. Not saying there is a reference but did you put it there?
Not gonna stop saying 'great chapter' again, so Great Chapter!
My feelings are playing pingpong with me now.
I'm happy that Fluttershy and Firewing are discussing everything now and that she forgives him, but I just can't get the pain out of my heart because of Firewing's story of Rosemary.
Oh all those feelings. They want to kill me.
Bronydragon
>>>“She died of the complications in childbirth,” Firewing said, looking at the ground with tears in his eyes as he remembered those words going through him like the words of Death himself. “The doctors tried everything they could but… she just lost too much blood, and she seemed to lose the will to live.”>>>
You just had to use that line, didn't you? The cheesiest, most cliche melodrama death line trope from every soap opera ever created and the single most stupid line out of the last Star Wars movie prequel...
I shall now have to execute you on principle.
Yeah, Firewing is so dead now.
He gave the Montana Speech, he's as good as done.
dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40553515/pony/Reactions/mlfw7625-manlytears.png
Even in the most emotional moment, you just couldn't let a Star Wars reference slip away, do you?
I watched enough Doctor Who to know that this means Firewing will 100% die. Which I predicted from the chapter they met as they either get shipped or he dies. And since he is the father... he will die. (Or not, but then you miss out the coup de grâce for a cathartic ending. )
Great. According to Disney movie rules,now the father has to die.
Firewing is practically guaranteed to die now, isn't he?
And that the story of him and Rosemary was so wonderfully perfect too...
867117
if fluttershy's dad is going to die i will never let you hear the end of it ever again
4733853
I second that notion, but at this point... he would be a powerful martyr.
NOW THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE ME CARE FOR AN OC!!! Bad writers take note of this! OH, god this is so good!!