Shadow Fire
Chapter One
Shadow Fire
The first thing I see is the moon. So bright against the blackness of the night with tiny dots dancing around it. It was beautiful. Then I heard a scream. I turned my head to see a black alicorn that with flowing blue hair that shone of the stars. Her eyes were white as a white alicorn that looked the same except for her mane was pink, green, and blue. The black one disappeared in a blaze of light. I stared. Not understanding what just happened. I let out a squeal. The white alicorn turned to look at me, the disappeared. I was left alone.
The next thing I knew, a gray alicorn stood over me and whispered, “I’m sorry.” Then he touched me. A wave of shock came through me the second his hoof touched my head.
I woke up in a forest. A dark forest. I hear voices. A male and a female. I hear shuffling and the voices fade away. I don’t know what happened. I was touched, and now I am here. Alone. I cry. It was all I could do.
Hours go by and I cry. I hear footsteps. I cry louder just in case. The bushes to my right rustle and I see a red unicorn step into the clearing. She had yellow eyes and a yellow and orange mane.
“What are you doing in the Everfree alone?”
The word Everfree sunk into my head. It sounded… important. I open my mouth to speak. “Th-they w-were fighting… O-one used a s-spell on the other… A-and she v-vanished… Then h-he came and t-touched me… T-then I c-came here.”
The unicorn stared at me. “The first part sounds like Nightmare Moon’s banishment to the moon. But that happened centuries ago.”
I stared blankly at her, confused.
She saw the confused look on my face and sighed. “I am Mrs. Red Lake, nothing more. Only Mrs. Red Lake. Lucky for you, I am the owner of the orphanage.”
“O-orphanage?”
She smiled. “Yes, it’s where fillies and colts in need of homes stay.”
“Oh…”
“What’s your name?”
“Name?” I didn’t understand the word.
“You don’t have one…” Red Lake looked at me up and down. “I can give you one.”
I nodded eagerly, wanting this “name” thing.
“You are purple so maybe Violet Storm… No… Dark Sun… No…” Red Lake was deep in thought. “How about Shadow Fire?”
Shadow Fire. My name.
“It’s perfect!” I tried to get up onto my legs.
Mrs. Red Lake moved over to support me. I leaned against her flank, which had a blanket and a baby rattle on it.
“What’s that thing on your flank?” I asked.
Mrs. Red Lake looked at the image on her flank. “That is a cutie mark, they appear on your flank when you find your special talent.”
I was curious. “What is your talent?”
Mrs. Red Lake sighed. “Child care.”
“So you take care of foals and fillies?”
“Yes.” She continued to walk forward.
I smiled and walked beside her through the Everfree Forest.
I thought things at the orphanage would be great. I was wrong. I walked in ready to meet more ponies and make new friends. First off, all of the colts and fillies were doing chores, I knew I would be joining them. Second, everypony stopped their chores and stared at me like I was a Timberwolf. I shrank back and walked slowly into the bathroom. I looked in the mirror and saw what I looked like for the first time.
I was blue-violet with a ragged red and black mane, red eyes, and wings. But the wings were bigger than your average pegasus filly. They must have been staring at my wings… I probably would have been staring at me if I was in their position also. I sighed.
Ms. Red Lake came in and put me in the bathtub. I loved the feeling of warm water running over my coat. I sighed. I could hear the echo of the hushed voices of the working foals.
There was a sudden hush in the orphanage and Mrs. Red Lake turned off the bathwater and told me to get out and dry off. She quickly left the room to see what was happening.
I crept out of the tub and reached for one of the two gray towels. Then I realised I can’t hold the towel. I then proceeded to tug on it with my mouth until it fell onto the tiled floor. I lifted it with my teeth and flung it into the air and move so it landed on me. I stood there proud of my accomplishment until I realised I had no way of rubbing it against me to dry me.
I stood there awkwardly until Ms. Red Lake came in and dried me off. She looked more stressed than when I last saw her. I didn’t even want to ask what happened. I could tell she would reply with a sharp comment. I just did as she directed.
After I was dried, I walked out of the bathroom to see a gray pegasus with large wings, like mine, golden eyes, and a yellow and white mane, staring at me. Ms. Red Lake handed me a mop. I stared at it blankly.
“Umm… Ms. Red Lake?” I asked carefully.
“What is it?” She replied irritably.
“I can’t use a mop. You see, I don’t have a horn, thus no magic to control it.” I smiled weakly, bracing for a flurry of words.
She just stared at me blankly. Then left. I stared at the mop lying down in front of me. I looked back at the pegasus and realized she was new here as well. I could tell by the way she looked around scanning everything around her, taking in her new home. I almost smiled.