A mysterious red unicorn comes to Ponyville the week before the Festival of the Two Sisters. Is he there just for it or what?
One day in Ponyville, a young red Unicorn with a very unique Cutie Mark comes to town leaving other ponies to wonder why. The pony might not be just a visitor to the little village... with the Festival of The Two Sisters about to be held in one week, FlameStar decides to make some friends and learn all about Ponyville but this is no ordinary unicorn...
Ponyville. A nice little village in the center of Equestria. There are Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi alike! After Twilight Sparkle, The Princess of Friendship, stood up to Chrysalis, the former queen of the changelings, Tirek, a magic absorbing centaur, and Cozy Glow, a cruel pegasus filly who tried to drain magic from Equestria, many different creatures began to visit Equestria more often. Yaks, Griffins, Changelings, Dragons and more came from far and wide to see Equestria. After Twilight's grand battle, the two former royal sisters, Alicorns Celestia and Luna, have retired and are living the rest of their lives peacefully in Silver Shoals. Now, Twilight rules Equestria and is doing a fantastic job. But something else was about to happen today.
Before the two sisters stepped down, Celestia, Luna and Twilight hosted the last Summer Sun Celebration. This celebration to other ponies was the reminder of Celestia banishing Nightmare Moon, a corrupted and darker version of Luna. It later became the reunion of the two sisters. Because they stepped down, there was no more need to continue the celebration so Twilight, who was about to take the throne, made a new holiday: The Celebration of the Two Sisters! In one week, the celebration would be hosted in Ponyville.
A young red unicorn made his way toward a white brick bridge .
"I'm tired of going on this wild goose chase!" The young unicorn whined.
The unicorn had a distinctive mane with red highlights on the top of it. He had a bushy tail with a red highlight a well and a Cutie Mark that looked like a flame. He seemed lost and frustrated.
"That's the last time I trust those two brothers." The Unicorn grumbled. "I hope this is Ponyville."
The unicorn looked up and saw a beautiful city up ahead. It has fancy housing, a castle and a large amount of ponies. What the unicorn didn't know is that he was led to Canterlot, the capital of Equestria and the home of Princess Twilight Sparkle. It didn't take the pony too long to find the castle of the princess. The guards wondered why did this pony come to the castle. They were accepting visitors today so they didn't mind.
The unicorn sighed. "I think I'm lost... this was a horrible id--" he was cut off when he accidentally walked into the throne room and the princess was there.
"Oh! Hello there." The Purple Alicorn said sweetly. The unicorn gawked unable to speak.
It took him a minute to finally speak up. "Um... hello. Are you Princess Twilight?" He asked.
"Why yes I am." Twilight answered. "What brings you to Canterlot Castle?"
"Canterlot?!" He shouted. "I'm trying to get to Ponyville!"
"Ponyville? I can take you there." Twilight said. "Why are you going there?"
"I'm looking for a place to settle down and live out the rest of my days." He explained. "I want to live in a place where I can be happy and accepted."
"Well Ponyville is the place for you then." Twilight said. "Before we go, what is your name?
"Me? Well, I'm FlameStar." He said.
"That's an interesting Cutie Mark you got FlameStar." Twilight said.
"Thanks, your highness."
Not too long after, Twilight departs with FlameStar to Ponyville so he can find a place to stay.
"Thanks again Princess Twilight." FlameStar said.
"My pleasure." The Alicorn said. "Now I must depart to Canterlot. I need to address some matters."
FlameStar looked around. He was enjoying the sights, sounds and smells. It was nothing he has ever encountered in his travels. He explored for a good hour before he felt hungry. It didn't take him too too long to find a house that looked entirely made out of various sweets.
"How can a house be made out of candy and gingerbread and frosting and.... a whole bunch of sweets?"
"It can happen." a bubbly pink pony said.
"GAH! What was that for?" FlameStar asked. "And where did you come from?"
"Hehe... sorry. I'm Pinkie Pie!" She said. "You don't look familiar to me and i know all the ponies here. Are you new? Did you come visit? Did you meet Twilight Sparkle? Are these too many questions?"
FlameStar just blinked twice at the sudden barrage of questions. He replied with "Yes, No, Yes and Yes"
"Oooooo... so why did you come here stranger?" Pinkie asked.
"I'm looking for a place to settle down and live." FlameStar explained. "Ya see, I'm a wandering unicorn and I've been far and wide, all over Equestria and beyond."
"Oooooo. Did you visit Klugetown?"
"Nopony in the right of mind would dare set hoof in Klugetown!" FlameStar answered. "Although I do admit it made going to Mount Aris a bit of a challenge."
"Okie dokey lokie!" She said. "You seem hungry. Come on! I'll give you some sweets to eat!"
About 10 minutes later, FlameStar left the house with quite the tummyache.
"Ugh.... I ate too much cake..." FlameStar groaned. "How does Pinkie Pie have so much energy and doesn't get sick after consuming all that sugar?"
Needless to say, FlameStar felt miserable. He walked a little bit down the road until he hit a cottage on the outskirts of the village.
"What's a cottage doing out here?" FlameStar thought. "I know I'm not at my best but I wanna see what's there..."
FlameStar walked up and knocked on the door.
"Is anypony home?" FlameStar yelled. A creature with the head of a pony and a body of other things appeared before the red unicorn.
"I KNOW YOU." The creature said.
"You must be Discord." FlameStar replied. "You're famous for turning Ponyville into the Chaos Capital of the World."
"That was the old me." He said. "I'm reformed and serve to do good instead of evil." A yellow pony with pink hair walked out.
"Discord? What's going--" The pony quickly ducked her head like a turtle and hid in her cottage. FlameStar got worried.
"Hey... its ok... I'm not gonna hurt you" FlameStar assured. The pony only dug farther into her hiding place.
"Ugh. Now look what you did to Fluttershy." Discord snapped. "Fluttershy? It's fine. He won't hurt you." He turned slowly to FlameStar. "RIGHT?!"
"Yeah. I'm kind." FlameStar said. Fluttershy slowly came out of hiding.
"Um... hello." She said quietly.
"Discord told me your name was Fluttershy?"
Discord spoke up. "She's one of the Defenders of Equestria!" FlameStar nodded.
"I thought Pinkie Pie looked familiar to me." FlameStar remarked.
"So... um... if you have time, do you want um... would you like tea?" Fluttershy wimpered.
FlameStar had some fun bonding with Fluttershy and Discord. He was able to drain all the sugar he ate when he met Pinkie Pie. He felt content with Ponyville and gave serious consideration to moving there...
"So, I met Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Princess Twilight. I wonder what's that farm farther out..."
Earlier in the day, A young wandering unicorn named FlameStar arrived in Ponyville. He was a kind unicorn to all he met. At first he found the princess on accident before she pointed him in the right direction to Ponyville. He then shared some sweets with Pinkie Pie and had tea with Discord and Fluttershy. FlameStar is enjoying his time in Ponyville and is giving serious consideration to move there. After finishing tea with Fluttershy, FlameStar spies a farm not too far from him and is willing to go visit.
"Ok." FlameStar said. "I met the princess, had tea with the Lord of Chaos and his girlfriend and nearly drowned in sugar with Pinkie Pie."
As FlameStar walked down the dirt path, he started to notice a bunch of apple trees. It was mesmerizing to say the least but he thought he was in for something worse. He started to hear hooves and it sounded like they didn't belong to a pony.
"What was that?" FlameStar wondered. "I don't wanna use my 'secret skill' but I'm getting worried. " The sound of hooves grew louder and louder.
A cowgirl pony was trying to lead stampeding pigs back to their pen before they reach town.
"YEE-HAW!!" She wooped. "GET MOVING Y'ALL!"
"WOAH!!" FlameStar quickly turned around and ran back. "I wish I mastered how to teleport!!"
It was too late. FlameStar couldn't outrun them and got trampled in a crossfire. He was trampled good. The Cowgirl took it unto herself to bring FlameStar back to her barn.
"Ulch... " FlameStar groaned. "What just happened?"
"You were hit. Hard." A yellow pony with red hair said.
"I did?" FlameStar asked.
"Eeyup." A big red stallion answered.
"Are you ok?" A purple unicorn asked.
"I'm... well ive seen better days..."
"Hmm... y'all wait right here." The cowgirl pony said before going to fetch something. She returned with what looks like Apple Cider. "This was Granny's recipe." She explained. "It'll perk y'all right back up." FlameStar unable to argue just drank the cider. The pony was right. It did perk him back up.
"Wow!" He exclaimed. "It actually works!"
"I'm Applejack by the way." The cowgirl said. "That yellow pony is Apple Bloom and that stallion is Big Mac with his wife, Sugar Belle."
"Nice to meet you!" They all said in unison.
"Choreography much?" FlameStar snickered. "I'm FlameStar. Nice to meet you."
"Although..." Applejack said sternly. "Y'all did cause some damage here... is this true?" FlameStar was furious.
"WHAT?!" He exclaimed. "I was visiting and then your army of pigs nearly killed me!!"
"Nah, I'm just horsing around, you little knucklehead." Applejack explained before giving FlameStar a noogie. "Just some farm humor."
"Awwww.... ya got me!"
"How's about some apples for the road, FlameStar?" Sugar Belle asked.
"Sure. I can go for some apples." FlameStar answered. Apple Bloom looked contentedly at FlameStar's Cutie Mark.
"That's a cool mark you got there, FlameStar." Apple Bloom said. FlameStar, uncomfortable with ponies so close to his mark covered it with his tail.
"Thanks, Apple Bloom." FlameStar said. "Say... haven't I heard of you before?"
"You probably know me as a Cutie Mark Crusader!" Apple Bloom explained. "My destiny in life is helping ponies find out their true talent with my friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo."
"That explains your Cutie Mark then." FlameStar remarked. "I've seen that emblem somewhere before." Sugar Belle returns with a saddlebag of apples for FlameStar.
"Safe travels now FlameStar." Sugar Belle said.
"Eeyup."
"Sorry Apple Bloom." FlameStar said. "I've gotta get going."
"I understand." Apple Bloom said contentedly.
After meeting farmer ponies, FlameStar took one of the apples that Sugar Belle gave him and bit into it.
"Wow!" FlameStar exclaimed. "How do they do it?! All they did was wash it but this apple is amazing!"
Needless to say, FlameStar was enjoying himself. He passed by a boutique store when a white unicorn with a purple mane pulled him in.
"Oof... What now?" FlameStar groaned.
"Terribly sorry darling, but your mane... it could use some work." The unicorn said.
"OH NO." FlameStar flat out said. "NOPONY TOUCHES MY FLOWING MANE!"
"I promise to be gentle dear." She said.
"Well... I was frightened by Discord, nearly ate enough sugar to die, met the princess and got ran over by Applejack's pigs." FlameStar recalled. "So sure... I'll let you--" FlameStar choked to get the words out. "I'll let you... UGH! I'll let you touch my mane..."
About a half hour later, the unicorn showed FlameStar what she did.
"Woah! It looks better than before!" FlameStar said. Really, all she did was touch it up and it looks almost the same.
"A mane like that needs an excellent vest to go with it." The unicorn said.
She revealed a vest with two hoofbands to go with it. Awhile later, FlameStar showed off his new vest.
"Wow! Now this is a vest." FlameStar said impressed. "You did a good job miss... um...."
"Rarity."
"Ah."
"Well darling, you must show off that vest at the Festival of The Two Sisters" Rarity said.
"Wuzzat? The Festival of The Two Sisters?" FlameStar asked. "I'm familiar with The Summer Sun Celebration."
"Ever since my closest and divine friend, Princess Twilight took the throne, she changed the holiday to the Festival of The Two Sisters." Rarity explained. "You are familiar with the story right, darling?"
"Of course" FlameStar scoffed. "When Celestia, the first ruler of Equestria defeated and banished Nightmare Moon, Ponies were so grateful, they made a holiday about it." He started. "Then Twilight defeated her and she turned back into Luna, Celestia's sister and the holiday became about their reunion."
"But now that the two rulers of day and night have retired and gave responsibility to Twilight," Rarity explained, "She took it on herself to make the Festival to commemorate all the two former royal sisters have done." FlameStar was amazed at all Twilight has done.
"It is darling." Rarity said. "Now then, I suggest you try this." Rarity gives FlameStar a card for the spa resort in Ponyville.
"A spa? I don't need a spa" FlameStar said. Not to long later, he was at the spa resort. A spa pony gave FlameStar the best massage he had in ever.
"Woah..." FlameStar sighed. "I had no idea how much tension built up in my flank..."
"You said it, my little pony..." A rainbow pegasus said. "Practice with the Wonderbolts is the hardest thing to do for the day. Once I'm finished, I'm so exhausted, I can barely stand up."
"Hmm... I feel ya." FlameStar said. "What's your name?"
"I'm Rainbow Dash. Leader of the Wonderbolts." She said. "Who are you?"
"I'm FlameStar."
"Ah... you're that new unicorn everypony won't stop talking about."
"How do you know?"
"Word travels fast in Cloudsdale"
FlameStar and Rainbow Dash spent the rest of the day bonding and sharing some memories with each other. Rainbow Dash never left FlameStar's side. Later the two ponies went to the front door feeling totally blissed.
"Thanks for staying with me Rainbow." FlameStar said. "It'd be boring on my own."
"Anything with me in it is guaranteed to be aweso--" Rainbow Dash was cut off when she saw Applejack and Pinkie Pie walk in.
"A sports massage, dashie?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Deugh...!" Rainbow Dash dashed away quickly.
"She'll be back..." FlameStar said.
"Hang on now, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Where will you spend the night?"
"Oh... that's right. Well, I got my cart. It isn't the best place but at least I can sleep in it." FlameStar said sounding slightly sad.
"You sure?" Applejack asked.
"I'm sure." FlameStar answered. "So... I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Sure thing!" Pinkie said. "Good night red flame!" Pinkie and Applejack left while FlameStar waved goodbye.
Later that evening, FlameStar was about to curl up for his siesta. He was tired and worn out but he couldn't sleep. He was wondering about Ponyville and The Festival of the Two Sisters as well as his new friends. He eventually found his eyes shut and he was dreaming peacefully. Or so he thought. While he dreamed, he dreamed about Ponyville and his dream soon grew into a nightmare as ponies feared him and his Cutie Mark.
"No... no please!" FlameStar cried. "I'm not a bad pony! NOOOO!!" Time halted in FlameStar's dream and everything stood still before disappearing. A dark alicorn descended before the frightened red unicorn.
"You... you're Princess Luna!"
"Not princess. Just Luna." She said. "What troubles you, young FlameStar?"
"First off, how do you know my name?" He asked. "And secondly, why are you dream walking anyway?"
"I can learn a pony's name just from a dream." Luna answered. "And nopony, not even Twilight has the ability to dream walk other than i. So I do it from time to time."
"I see."
"So, what brings you despair?"
"Its Ponyville and I'm scared of losing my friends." FlameStar explained. "They're the only friends I've ever met." Luna nodded softly.
"Is that all you're afraid of? Or is there something else that could be bothering you?" Luna asked.
"Well... it's my Cutie Mark." FlameStar said. "I... haven't really had a fun experience ever since I got it but I refuse to go into detail."
"I see." Luna said. "Perhaps you should speak with Twilight. Friendships can help with problems deep down." She explained. "If left untreated, you could be stuck with this nightmare for as long as you live."
"I understand..."
"I see a lot of myself in you, FlameStar." Luna replied.
"How?"
"When I was healed by Twilight and the power of The Elements of Harmony, I returned to Ponyville but it was hard to fit in and loosen up to others." She explained. "I attended Nightmare Night and everypony thought I was Nightmare Moon. I made some friends and learned how to be a regular pony to fit in, even though I was royalty at the time." FlameStar was amazed.
"So a few friendships can help my fear?" He asked.
"That's up to you to find out I'm afraid." Luna answered. "I must be off now. Good luck on your journey." FlameStar woke up feeling more relaxed after hearing what he needed to hear.
"Thanks, Luna." FlameStar said quietly. He then drifted back to sleep.
