A young unicorn mare arrives in Ponyville, eager to make a start. She prepares for a life on her own, feeling independent and ready to face the world. There is only one catch to it all. She is blind...
A young unicorn mare arrives in Ponyville, eager to make a start. She prepares for a life on her own, feeling independent and ready to face the world. There is only one catch to it all. She is blind...
Although she is blind, she sees more than some ponies dream of... Hers is a very special kind of sight. She sees the flow of magic through all things living. The plants, the bunnies, the butterflies, and each pony she meets.
Little does she know what fate holds for her as a darkness spreads through Equestria, sewing the end to society in its wake. But... how do ponies hold their own against a threat that cannot be seen?
Thank you, Hoopy McGee for your excellent editing and helpful advice.
Her eyes opened, and she stretched her legs as she woke from her sleep. It was a new morning for Aurora, warm and welcoming, but it was a day she knew would be filled with many tears. Stepping out of the bed, she concentrated her thoughts and sent out a small pulse of magic. It reflected noiselessly off of each of her walls, returning to her as she focused. Her brush was just to her right, and she grasped it with her magic, pulling it alongside her.
She sighed, sending out a second wave of energy, and made her way through the door, managing to slam her right foreleg into a box just outside of her room. She bit back a curse, which probably would have been 'darn' at the worst. She certainly wouldn't ever be known as a vulgar pony.
"Is everything alright, Aurora?" She heard her mother calling from down the hallway.
"Yes, mom. I just hit my leg on something." She quickly replied.
Her mother's hushed voice traveled the hallway as she scolded her father for leaving things about again.
This was her last day to spend here with her parents. They had always loved and cared deeply for her, despite being born blind. She knew that seeing her leave was the last thing any of them wanted, but she also knew, somewhere inside her, that she needed to learn how to support herself and make friends of her own. Her parents wouldn't be there forever. If her life kept its current track, she would one day be left alone.
Her thoughts were cut short by her arrival in the main room of the house. The hardest part of each morning was behind her. Now that she was in the room with her parents, she could see their essence, the magic flowing between them and the world around them.
While she couldn't see in the normal sense of the word, her magical sight revealed glowing lines of energy traveling through the midnight darkness. As each line traveled through the dark void, it left echoes, which softly splashed across a small area along its path. This was how she saw things. It was truly extraordinary sometimes, like being at a fireworks show for an important holiday, and yet other times, it was more like a gentle trickle across a vast expanse of nothing. This was Aurora's life.
"Good morning, Aurora. Did you sleep well last night?" Her mother sweetly called from the kitchen where she was cooking a small breakfast.
Aurora followed the echoes of her mother's magic to a small table near the kitchen, almost running into it before she finally stopped and sat. She lifted a hoof which tapped the table's edge with a soft click. "Yes... I feel well rested. How late did I sleep?"
Her mother gathered the two eggs and placed them on either side of a couple daisies, setting the meal on the table in front of Aurora. She took the brush from the air with her magic and carefully began to brush Aurora's tangled mane. "Not too late. It's about an hour until noon." After she had finished straightening out the unruly mane, she put the brush aside, tying a small bow at the end.
Before she could take a bite of her meal, her mother spotted the bruise starting to darken on her right foreleg and ran her hoof carefully around it, which was her way of showing her sympathy. "I really need to talk to your father about setting things so carelessly in the hallway... This has happened too many times."
Aurora winced slightly at the contact to her sensitive bruising, but soon began eating her meal as her mother picked up the brush to begin grooming her tail. "What's the weather like today? Is it good weather for a run through the fields?"
Her mind begin to race as she remembered two days ago, galloping through the fields outside of their small village. She loved the feel of the breeze across her coat. The sounds of life around her. And the sight... The magic was everywhere, in all things alive. So much life and magic around her, she would occasionally forget her blindness in pure bliss and joy. She ran and trotted and cantered through the tall grass, humming and singing happily until she was eventually exhausted, at which point she would simply lay where she was, and enjoy all the life that was around her, feeling so completely at one with nature.
Her mother's calm voice pulled her back in to reality when she spoke. "It raining outside, but not hard enough to prevent you from enjoying yourself. Just don't stay outside for too long."
Aurora blinked as she realized she had already finished her food, then grasped her plate with her magic and started to try to take it to the sink, but her mother quickly pulled it away from her. "I'll take that, we have enough broken dishes already." Her voice contained a small giggle in it as she spoke.
As she got up to go outside, her father got up from his meal as well, walking to the sink and placing the dishes there. "We need to talk to you , Aurora, but I don't want to stop you from enjoying the time you will still spend here. It can wait until later."
She opened the door quickly with her magic and raced outside, nearly running into one of the town's retail owners. She ducked around him and turned her head back shouting in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, Mr. Cross!" Travelling more carefully, she made her way to the edge of the village, stopping a moment before jumping around excitedly.
She raced through the fields, completely ignoring the weather as she felt each hoof as it contacted the ground. The earth felt amazing underneath each step as it pushed up to meet her, sinking only very little under her light weight. She galloped along, lapping the city multiple times, loving the flare of each deep breath that filled her lungs. She felt so alive.
Eventually, her bounding energy faded, and she found herself idly cantering along. It didn't take long for her to notice that the rain was starting to come down in sheets. It drenched her coat, and she immediately made for the city again, the familiar patterns running through the grass below her telling her exactly where she was. She made her way into the streets, swerving to avoid other rushing ponies by as much girth as possible, ensuring that she wouldn't bump into any of them.
As she was weaving right to miss a small group galloping by, she hit her left forehoof on the cobbled path, tripping herself and causing her to smash her bruised foreleg against a large apple cart that had come from Appleoosa to try its business in the small town. The pain elicited a cry from her lips and drew tears to the young mare's eyes.
Eventually, Aurora made it back to her home, bursting in through the door with tears soaking her cheeks along with the drenching rain dripping from her body. "M..mom? It started raining harder! I-it's cold..."
Her mother gave her a warm smile and covered her in a towel. "I'm glad you came back so soon. I wouldn't want you to get sick."
Aurora smiled at first, but it quickly faded as she limped across the room. Her bruise had now spread across the entire leg, and burned with intense pain at any pressure applied to it. Her mother quickly grabbed a small bag and filled it with ice using her magic, and, after applying a pain relief medicine, pushed it gently against the damaged leg.
"I'm fine..." she managed, after a couple minutes of letting the ice and salve work against the bruise. "I can handle it now..."
Her father quickly walked to her side and sat next to her. He nuzzled her affectionately, a solemn look spreading across his face as he spoke. "We know that you have made up your mind about this... and your mother and I think you are right. You need to learn to take care of yourself and make your own friends... We can't keep you here forever, treating you like a little filly. You have grown up so fast... All I know to do is send you off with our love and best wishes. You are so important to us... to me..."
As the words left his mouth, Aurora's eyes filled with tears, and she softly cried, burying her face in her mother's coat. "I know, daddy... I know I'm ready... But where will I go? What can I do for money?"
Seeing his daughter so broken at his words ripped at her father's heart. It took all of his fortitude to hold back his own tears from falling. "I've found a place where you can go. It's not too far, so we'll still be here if you need us. And I've put a few dozen bits in your saddlebags, which should be enough for food until you can get on your own hooves. I talked to a pony who lives in the town, and she said she could let you stay with her until you are ready. She is a very kind pony and I trust her with your safety. I have your things packed up here..." He laid the saddlebags across her back, slowly and carefully. "... And... Aurora... I know you'll be okay... You are a very strong pony... You didn't even let blindness hold you back, and found your own way to see... And now... now... It's time for you to be grown up... and make your own life..."
With these words, his strength gave way, and the entire family cried together and hugged each other tightly. Her father held the door for her as he told her, sadness permeating his voice. "Follow the river, little angel. It will take you to Ponyville. A pegasus named Fluttershy will be waiting there for you..." His tears flooded again for a moment, and he grabbed her as she passed. " I love you so so very dearly...."
Aurora could only nod, fearing that she would cry if she spoke, but mustered the emotional strength to say one thing before she left. "I know, daddy... I won't let you down."
The open door revealed the skies now clear, the storm from earlier had ended. She ran as fast as she could, tears falling down her cheeks onto the street as soon as she was beyond the sight of her house. She would do it for him... she had to...
Aurora took a deep breath. This was really happening. She stood just outside of her village, reliving her memories. The fields that had made up her entire foalhood stretched out before her...
She lay down a moment, taking time to enjoy the warmth of the sun on her coat, as it just began to peek out from behind the clouds. She was leaving her home for the first time. This was a big step for her. She sighed and lowered her head, stopping to collect herself. After a sharp breath she stood back up and made her way through the fields to the softly flowing river, the sound keeping her on track. She walked the side of the river, slowly and carefully. The soothing flow of the small stream calmed her nerves and kept her focused on her journey.
After an hour of walking, she began to feel extremely lonely. She hadn't seen anypony for over a mile. In her loneliness, her thoughts wandered to her parents. They had always been kind and loving. She couldn't remember anything other than positive feelings and encouragement. Her father ran a small shop, where he sold small intricate sculptures, made with his own magic. Her mother stayed home, always making sure she was taken care of and not hurt. She had no idea how her life would continue without them, but she was determined to try her hardest.
Aurora's mind snapped quickly back to reality. Where is the river?, her mind raced. She couldn't hear it anymore. Her thoughts raced together as she began to panic, and she called out for help, the empty air around her returning nothing. She stopped and took a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, she focused on the flow of magic through the life around her. Her horn glowed a soft lavender as she expanded her mind, firing out small pulses of magic through the grass around her. The bolts of energy ran through the plants and reflected off of a wide surface, returning to her as she sighed thankfully and followed the traces back to the riverside.
Her progress stopped completely as she stood still, a large forest now blocking her path. Normally, this would be no issue, and she would simply walk between the trees, the magic that flows through them glowing brightly to light her path. However, this forest was... wrong... She couldn't find another word to describe it. She sent out a pulse to light her path, but the trees seemed to suck in the magic and it vanished. The entire forest before her was a black void, an expanse of nothing as it pulled in magic from around it and simply... destroyed it.
Aurora swallowed the knot in her throat and shook her head. This must be the Everfree Forest... It's so dark... She thought about the tales she'd heard of this forest. They were old foal's tales that she never truly believed had any merit until now. How could a place so completely twisted exist in the beauty of Equestria? Darkness and evil permeated the atmosphere. The most evil and horrid of creatures lived in there. As she pondered, a icy chill ran down from her spine to her hooves and she shivered softly. I should go around...
As if to prove her right, a fierce growling came from deep withing the woods. She could hear something getting closer, most certainly not a pony by the sound. She screamed and started running around the outskirts of the dark vortex. The steps following her just inside the forest grew louder. I'm not fast enough! Her thoughts screamed at her. I'm going to die!
She started sobbing dreadfully as she fled for her life, tears flowing behind her and falling on the grass below.
I can't let him down...
The thought came from nowhere.
I CAN'T let him down!
She planted her hooves, turning and skidding to a halt as she screamed. "I can't let him down!" She lowered her head and gathered her magic, streamers of light filling the air around her. They swirled and dodged through the air, a truly beautiful display, though she couldn't see its majestic appearance through her blindness. The dark creature, a vacuum in the magic she felt pounced from the void, and the streamers fell like spears, striking it down and impaling it on pure magic, then faded away, leaving the lonely mare standing shakily alone. The shadow fell lifeless on the ground, falling to pieces without the twisted magic that previously held it together.
"I.. I can't... Not again..." She cried softly, tears streaking down her cheeks. She then fell roughly to the ground, which suddenly felt so welcoming to her, and lost consciousness.
She had no idea how long she had been out, but she ached all over. She raised her head slowly and looked around her. The room had many creatures in it, none of which emanated foul intent, so she rested her head down again, feeling safe. Wait... When did I get into a room...
"Um.. H-hi. I um... heard you screaming... A-and I came as fast as I could... I brought you to my house... I h-hope that's okay..."
The voice came from behind her. Gathering her strength, Aurora turned around and saw a pegasus pony hiding behind her flowing, intricately curled mane. "It's... It's alright... Who are you...?"
The pegasus eeped softly and hid more behind her mane. "Oh, um... I'm F-fluttershy. This is my house."
Aurora thought for a moment about her father's words. This is the pony he told me about!. "I'm Aurora. I was supposed to meet you, wasn't I?"
Fluttershy slowly relaxed a bit and nodded. "I wasn't expecting to find you passed out though... What happened? I-if you don't mind me asking, that is..."
Aurora rested her head softly against the table. "Something jumped out of the woods at me, and i reacted with my magic. I... think I may have overexerted myself... I'm exhausted." She took in a ragged breath. Her throat felt extremely dry. "May I have some water?"
The winged pony nodded and left to get some water for her. "Of course. I'll be right back..."
Her eyes began to feel heavy again, and she soon began to sleep once more, this time much more restfully, without the threat of death stalking mere steps behind her.
Fluttershy soon returned to the room, holding a tray with a steaming cup of tea and larger cup filled with water. Upon seeing Aurora fast asleep, she began to softly stroke her mane, "oh... uhm... I guess she must have been really tired out. She didn't even wait for her water." She laid on her couch, carefully sipping her tea as she waited for the unicorn to wake again, eventually falling asleep herself as well.
When Aurora woke up, the pegasus with the flowing mane was sleeping on the couch. She took a moment and pinged her environment, trying to get a feel for where she was. As the image returned to her, she found that she was now in a spacious cottage with a few rooms and many small animals. She rolled upright and rested her head on her hooves, content with making herself comfortable until Fluttershy woke up.
Remembering where the cup of water was from her earlier pulse, she levitated it to her and took a deep drink. The cool water relaxed her throat, and she soon felt her thirst recede. She hummed quietly as she watched the flow of magic through the room. As her focus settled on the sleeping pony in front of her, she began to note how the magic moved through her. It flowed and curved softly, never making a sharp point, never rough or sharp edged. It told of a pony who was always kind and selfless. Most ponies are simply unorganized chaos when it comes to magic, but Fluttershy was at peace, and never thought to harm a living soul.
She was ripped from her thoughts when a knock at the door grabbed her attention. "Fluttershy? Are you home, dear?" A mare called from the other side. "You seem to have forgotten entirely about our weekly spa appointment. Is everything alright in there?"
"Oh, yes, Rarity. I'll be right there." Fluttershy's soft voice answered the mare's question as she walked to the door, which she opened to reveal a unicorn waiting most impatiently. "I'm very sorry that I didn't make our appointment, but I found this poor unicorn completely unconscious not too far from the Everfree Forest. I just couldn't have left her there all alone. She could have been eaten by a timberwolf. Or worse..."
The curious unicorn trotted daintily into the house until she spotted Aurora. "Hello, dear. Might I ask what you were doing so close to that dreadful forest? Don't you know how dangerous it is there? My, you are very lucky Fluttershy found you as soon as she did."
Aurora listened carefully to the unicorn's words, but was deeply intrigued by the state of her magic. It was not so far from Fluttershy's, but it flowed and crossed itself in such intricate patterns. It was very beautiful to watch as it weaved this way and that, making various lovely designs. It told very vividly of a pony who focused much on visual aspects and beauty.
She flinched shyly as the unicorn repeated a question she had not heard in her fascination. "Where did you come from? Darling, are you listening?" Her voice seemed to carry much frustration at having to repeat herself.
"Oh, I'm sorry... Something... caught my attention. I came from a village just up the river from here. I didn't think that being coddled like a filly in my small village was a wise path for me, so I left. Father talked to Fluttershy about my arrival and gave me some bits to take care of myself, as well as telling me how to get to Ponyville. He said it would be easier to make friends here than in other cities." She kept her eyes lowered to the floor as she spoke.
It surprised her when she heard Rarity's voice from nearly behind her. She hadn't heard the pony walk across the room. "Dear... I don't know how to ask this without offending... But I must ask. Are you... blind? I only ask because you have not seemed to pay attention to anything most ponies would be unable to ignore. I, for one, could not hold my gaze in one place while somepony walked to another as she spoke."
She turned to face the unicorn as she slowly nodded. "Yes, I am... in a way... blind. I don't know what colors are, and I can't see shapes, but I do have the ability to see magic as it flows through Equestria. I see it travel through ponies, animals, trees, and even the grass. It works it's way through nearly everything that lives. Except that forest.... I could not see anything in it. It was like a black nothingness."
Rarity took a step or two back, then spoke once more. "That sounds like a truly unique talent, Miss..."
"My name is Aurora." She quickly completed for the unicorn.
"A lovely name, indeed." Rarity replied a spark of approval in her voice. "Excuse us a moment, dear. I'd like to speak with Fluttershy for a moment in the next room."
She heard hoofsteps leading elsewhere in the spacious cottage and perked up her ears so she could hear what the two ponies were talking about.
"How is a blind pony going to take care of herself all on her own?"
"Oh, well I was going to let her stay with me until she figured that out. She definitely needs somepony's help if she's going to survive."
"Fluttershy, you hardly make enough bits to care for yourself, surely I could take care of her."
A bit of embarrassment flooded Aurora's cheek with a blush. They were talking about who's burden she would be. They didn't think she could pull her own weight or provide for herself. She stood up and walked into the room with them, clearing her throat softly for attention.
"I have a spare room at the bou-... Oh um... Hello, Aurora..." Rarity cut herself off as soon as the blind unicorn entered the room. "We were just talking about... Where a friend of ours could sleep over." Her lie was poorly made, but Aurora didn't care, she already knew what she was going to say.
"I can take care of myself. While a place to stay is nice, I can find work and pay for my own living costs... I'm not a burden, and I'd hate to hold somepony back. I thank you so much, Fluttershy, for your kindness and care. Thank you for bringing me inside after my exhaustion, and thank you so much for a place to stay. I promise I will do my best to take care of my own costs as long as I stay here, but thank you for giving me a home. I am a somewhat skilled..." Her voice trailed off as a loud thud sounded from the cottage's roof, followed by a strained groan.
Fluttershy quickly responded. "You're very welcome, Aurora. I'm glad to have you, but somepony might be hurt, so I'll be back in just a few seconds..." She raced from the room and took flight outside of her door, leaving Rarity and Aurora awkwardly standing alone in silence.
It was only a couple minutes before Fluttershy walked back in through the door, practically dragging another pegasus behind her. She seemed to be vehemently refusing to be helped and insisted she was okay, but Fluttershy wasn't one to let it go at that.
"Come on, 'Shy! I crash all the time... I'm alright, I swear!"
"No, Rainbow Dash! You might be hurt. What if you broke a wing?"
Rainbow gave a frustrated sigh, before responding. "If I broke a wing, could I still move them like this...?"
Fluttershy stopped moving to watch and finally surrendered. "I guess not... I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were okay..."
Aurora trotted back to a chair and sat down, making sure she wouldn't be in the way of anypony. She watched the new pegasus with interest. It was very obvious that the two pegasi were not compatible. One's magic was soft and flowing, the other was jagged, and seemed to shoot off in random directions. She wondered to herself how the two ever maintained a friendship, or if this just happened to be where Rainbow Dash had crashed. Had they ever even met before? The nickname that had been given to Fluttershy seemed to indicate that they had seen each other in the past.
It wasn't until she turned from her thoughts to focus on where the conversation has headed that she noticed that the other ponies seemed to be waiting on her for something. She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. What was the question?" She blushed sheepishly as she asked.
"I asked what your name was." Without waiting for a response, she added. "I'm Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in all of Equestria!"
Her eyes widened at the grand claim. It was probably mostly gloating, but the general atmosphere of the room around them seemed to back up what she had said. Nopony said anything to her about exaggerating, and nopony laughed at the claim.
"Wow, really?" Aurora asked, turning her eyes to the floor again. "I've always wondered what flying is like. From what my parents told me, it sounds like a thrilling experience. I can't even imagine how it must feel..."
Rainbow shrugged. "It feels kinda like a normal trot... without your legs... a lot higher up."
The thought of walking without her legs fried Aurora's brain for a moment, trying to figure out how that was possible, before she remembered that pegasi have wings. So in her mind, she was imagining her legs on her back, walking on nothing and making her float. The notion seemed ridiculous to her. She would have to ask about it again later.
For now, she looked up from her thoughts towards the pony to ask a question that was immediately forgotten upon a chaotic flow of magic appearing that seemed to be... bouncing... two inches from her muzzle. The new arrival let out a long excited gasp before letting flow a torrent of words.
"Hi, who are you? I haven't seen you here before! You're Fluttershy's friend right, because we're in Fluttershy's house and she wouldn't have you in her house if you weren't her friend because she doesn't usually have ponies in her house unless they are her friend. I came by because my tail was a twitchin' and that means something was gonna fall, and I was going around to warn everypony then I saw Rainbow Dash fall and my tail stopped it's twitchin' and so I knew it was Rainbow Dash so I came in the house to see if she was okay and you were here and I've never seen you in town before and that means you must be new. If you really are new, then that means I need to throw you a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party since you've never been to Ponyville before and if I'm going to throw that party I need to go get it ready so I'll be back in a while it was good to meet you.... umm... umm... Oh! I forgot to ask you your name! Who are you?"
Her mind in a flurry, she couldn't think of much, and in the absence of the ability to thought, she simply answered the question. "I'm Aurora..."
Like a rocket that runs on an infinite fuel source, the words took off once again.
"Aurora?! That's a really unique name! I've never heard of an Aurora before. I've heard of a Flora. That's a lot like Rose, because they're both flowers, but your name doesn't have anything to do with flowers... does it? Is there an Aurora flower? Anyways, I need to go get the party ready so I'll see everypony later!"
As the floodgate of words closed, the pink anomaly in the universe shot out the door. Aurora turned back towards the other ponies mouth agape, unable to form a thought. Thankfully her face gave her feelings away and the others giggled softly and explained for her.
"Pinkie Pie can be a bit much to newcomers." Rarity was the first to speak.
Rainbow was simply laughing as she rolled on the floor, apparently thoroughly entertained by Aurora's confusion.
Fluttershy nodded to Rarity's statement and apologized. "I'm sorry. We should have warned you that she might have done that..."
Aurora paused a moment, taking in the information and trying her best to rearrange her thoughts. "Did she say she was throwing me a party...?"
Rainbow spoke up rather quickly. "Aww, yeah! Pinkie throws the best parties!"
Rarity had made her way over to Fluttershy at this point. "We need to get moving, dear, if we want our spa trip to be completed before Pinkie is ready. I really do think we should be looking our best for Aurora's first Pinkie Pie party."
Fluttershy responded with a soft "okay", and followed the unicorn out the door, leaving Rainbow and Aurora alone.
Aurora made her way to the door, feeling a bit awkward being in the shy pegasus' home without her there. As she left, she turned back to Rainbow Dash. "Is there anypony else I should meet before I settle down?"
The pegasus only thinks for a split second before her response. "Yeah, you should probably meet Twilight. She's the librarian here, and a huge part of our group of friends. Just follow me."
Aurora responds with a tilt of her head. "A librarian...?" She didn't know how this would go at all, but she followed anyway...
