Dreamflyer
It was another peaceful yet beautiful sunset casting its magical spell over all of Ponyville. Right now each and every one of the ponies were sitting on top of the highest hill in their home, just gazing at the rich colors of the setting sun, which cast a different magic to all of them. Sipping the finest apple cider from Applejack's fruit farm they let out a longing sigh, at the same time as they gazed at the copper sky fire, all of them cuddled close together, and starting getting excited by the enchantment, that was cast upon them from this magnificent dusk.
The rich as well as uniquely gorgeous colors were inspiring Rarity to come up with a brand new up-to-the-minute fashion line. She was muttering over and over again that these, colors before her very attractive sapphire eyes, would become an even better unique fabric, then the one she'd created for the Manehatten fashion show. The one that disreputable mare had stolen, unlike that fabric this wouldn't be copied by anyone. This latest textile would encompass every single one the grand colors of the setting sun, the richness of the evening's colors of magenta, golden orange and stunning lilac. It'd be softer then finest silk and smoother then the finest satin. Furthermore she could just see in her mind's eye how beautiful these outfits would be. The white unicorn even smiled at her younger sister, Sweetie Belle, and she just knew it at once. That this new fabric would be the perfect thing to start a fashion line for fillies and colts! It'd be so perfect for little Sweetie Belle and her fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders, they'd be the ideal models for this new wardrobe! Oh she couldn't wait to get back home and start on. Though first she'd have to tuck her little sister into bed and read her a story as well.
Pinkie Pie was skipping about in the dying light of the day. She was delightfully thinking about her favorite subject, parties and now she'd a great idea for a new one! It'd be perfect to have one to honor how breathtaking along with extraordinary to celebrate just the beauty of nature and friendship. She was extremely enthusiastic, to get back to Sugar Cube Corner, and create right away all the new party decorations! Then once they're done she getting them into her party cannon to throw this awesome party! The only thing left to decide was when to have the party! It'd either have to be first thing in the morning, or tomorrow evening. Therefore with an overabundance of energy to burn she just continued skipping and jumping around in joy.
Applejack yawned once and snuggled her younger sister Apple Bloom tightly. They smiled a secret smile and beamed at each other. They'd discovered quite by accident last night when they'd been chasing fireflies a special apple tree. These apples were golden! As a result they wanted to protect it and see how great fruit juice along with pies they'd make when they'd came into full fruitarian. It'd be an early morning adventure but be a fun one too. Flipping her blond mane over her shoulders she winked once and yawned for a second time.
Rainbow Dash was just snoozing on a large elm tree branch with Scootaloo under her wings. They'd a very exhausting day of 'sibling bonding'. She'd spent all day with her adopted little sister, and they'd been airborne plus reading Daring Do books. Not to mention Rainbow Dash done some Wonderbolts stunts to make Scootaloo feel better when she was yet again cruelly reminded she was a 'blank flank'. So right now they'd too tired to really enjoy the sunset.
Fluttershy was at the moment just giggling lightheartedly as she was busy tucking all the creatures in for the night. She didn't really notice too much else. The pale yellow winged pony was just content to play with all the little forest animals. Humming a lullaby she cast the spell of sleep on everyone around her. "Don't worry little ones," she promised as she rocked them in her front legs. "Only peaceful dreams tonight, aren't that right my friends?"
"Yeah, Fluttershy, only peaceful dreams tonight for us all," Twilight agreed as she got up from her spot in a small wildflower bed. She used her right wing to whip the sleep from her eyes, yet she still felt sleepy all the same. She'd spent the day with Spike, pouring over their old journals with letters to Princess Celestia. Now that she was an Alicorn Princess herself she wanted to review the past a bit to make sure she was ready for anything to come.
She just wished at that moment more then anything she could sleep better. Glancing around to all of her friends she noticed they didn't seem to have a problem sleeping. Nevertheless Twilight hadn't slept properly in days. It wasn't the wings that made it difficult to sleep now. It taken awhile but they didn't wake her up anymore. All she knew was she was dead tired and didn't know why. When she was somewhat asleep she kept getting a strange vision. It was just a faint voice and a golden light. She couldn't see for the golden light was blinding, and she couldn't make out voice at all. The lavender pony princess just yawned and stretched her wings. Turning to face her assistant, she saw him busy staring yet again at Rarity, and eating a big fat gem. She shook her head and with a quirky smile on her face spoke softly so not to wake the CMC up.
"Come on, Spike! We better go home and get some shut eye. See you all you ponies tomorrow!" she said in a tired voice, as she threw the pudgy mauve dragon onto her back. Her friends nodded in agreement, and shook out their manes and got ready to head home. Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash, all put their little fillies on their backs to get them home, since it was already getting late, and little ones need their sleep. Rarity herself always required more beauty sleep then any other pony.
"See you tomorrow, Twilight! I'm sure tomorrow will be fabulous! Come now, Sweetie Belle let's get you home! I'll ready to you your favorite storybook. Then we both need our beauty sleep." Rarity replied kindly as Sweetie Belle's light green eyes sparkled at the mention of her favorite storybook story.
"You mean it, Rarity? You'll actually read to me the story of the "Golden Horned Alicorn?"
"Of course, Sweetie Belle!" giggled the snow white unicorn to her beloved sister, "What better way to send you off to the sugary dream world, then with the story of the famed protector of dreams himself?"
"Oh, Rarity! You're a great big sister! That's the best fairy-tale ever!"
"I want to hear it too! Applejack? Can you please read me that story too?"
"Before you leave me at home, Rainbow Dash, I'd like that to that story too! Its way better then those terrifying campfire stories you'd told us when we went camping!"
"Don't fret you silly fillies! You'll get to hear the most treasured ponytale in Equestria tonight!" promised the three older mares at the same time. The CMC cheered loudly and clapped their front hooves together in joy at the impending story time ahead of them.
All of sudden Pinkie Pie did a backflip and squealed at full volume. "Oh I remember that ponytale from the time I was a little filly too! We of course growing up on a rock farm didn't hear too many tales, given there wasn't much happiness or smiling till, that first party I threw to earn my cutie mark! But my mama did tell me and my sisters that tale too. I think I was the only one to love it though. My sisters on the other hoof didn't care much for stories. Still it was a small ray of sunshine when my mom told us that tale! Ohh! All this talk about The Golden Horned Alicorn is giving me tons of great party ideas! Got to run!" and with that the bubbly pink pony tumbled down the grassy green hilltop laughing gaily as she deceased from the top.
"Pinkie Pie is always bursting of energy, even when its way past somepony's bedtime, isn't she, girls? Nevertheless I too took pleasure in that special legend as a filly. It'd be perfect to tell all my little animal friends to send them off to a dreamy sleep. It's such a golden tale of magical storytelling. Well, you guys get your sister to bed, and I'll do the same with my animals. Bye," Fluttershy said as she flapped her wings and herded her woodland creatures home for a bit of story time.
With that all of the ponies went their separate ways. Only taking a moment to glance at the lovely silver moon and shimmering stars. It seemed now that the sun had it's playtime of frolicking it was time for the night to have its turn for fun. Seeing both the sunset and moonrise only made Twilight think of her mentor Princess Celestia as well as her sister Princess Luna. Both of them were so different yet so alike and both were equally important. A dreamy expression etched its way onto her face as Twilight flew through the crisp soothing night to her home in the library.
As they arrived back home, Spike woke up enough to ask a question. The question he was about to ask would've an obvious answer to any pony, yet it was unknown to dragons. Still he asked his question and like always Twilight was understanding and kindhearted about.
"Twilight?"
"Yes, Spike? What can I do for you?"
"What is the "Golden Horned Alicorn? Furthermore why does everyone like it? And what in the name of Canterlot is a ponytales?"
She threw back her head with a bit of a giggle and her horn glowed causing fireworks that the dragon had to put out with a glass of water. The young princess stopped laughing and grinned embarrassingly at her unintentional handiwork. "Oh, sorry."
"It's okay; now tell me who this "Golden Horned Alicorn" is?"
"Well, he's the protagonist of one of the best stories in the Equestria Book of Ponytales. It's a collection of children stories written countless years ago. No-pony alive today knows who wrote what tale, however, my scaly friend, each of them has the same basic principal. You know mothers and fathers read them to their children to teach them basic life lessons, plus to also instruct them to have strong moral values. Like what is right and what is wrong. Good verse evil, and how to be kind, honest and other lessons like that. Like the Elements of Harmony. They're the perfect example of the important values those ponytales teach young ones. Though to be honest the Ponytales do teach countless more imperative qualities in addition to attributes that are important to live by. Such as the vitally important lessons as having hope, faith, dreams and believing in oneself and one's dreams. Without those life would be meaningless."
"So I ask once more, Twilight, please tell me about this legend of "The Golden Horned Alicorn" What's it about and why it is so important that everyone commented on it?"
"Well, it's probably the oldest tale in the book of Ponytales. It's about a mythical paradise, greater and more beautiful then all of Equestria. It's called The Golden Enchanted Sovereignty of Dreams. It has beauty beyond measure! The landscape described in the story is absolutely magnificent and out of this world. In the Enchanted Sovereignty has crystal trees made up of all the finest dream gems, the ground around the Crystal Trees of Dreamers is amazing as well. It is by far the most wonderful grass ever, for it has the softest emerald green grassland every to be trotted on. If that wasn't enough all around are all these incredible divine scented flowers decorating each and every one meadow. All of the water in this land is a rich obsidian color and is always the perfect temperature. Then best of all the whole heavens about is a forever dancing rainbow of light."
"Sounds pretty enough. So it's a pony's dream paradise? That makes sense. So what else is in this story? I mean there's got to be more to the story then it being such a fantastical land to dream about at night. So what else is there to the story?"
"Well the main protagonist is the sovereign of the Enchanted Sovereignty. He lives in a shining golden castle flouting far above the ground in the dancing multihued heavens. His name is Prince Fledge Dreamwings, and he's the immortal prince eternally protecting the dreams of children. His wisdom and kindness is only matched by love of his subjects. He's everything a prince should be, wise, compassionate, just, and strong. His heart is pure as gold. Not to mention he's incredibly handsome! Chestnut body with a blazing bronze mane and tail, and his soulful eyes and wings are the most stunning shade of copper ever seen. There for, Spike, just about anypony would've fallen in love with him no problem. Even I had a small crush on him when I was a filly and my mom read me the story."
"You'd a crush on a mythical storybook character? You, Twilight?" the tiny dragon chuckled with the lavender pony blushed and narrowed her eyes. She then zapped him with a magical bolt of magic to silence him. "OUCH! Why did you do that?"
"It ain't funny to make fun of a childhood crush, Spike. Matters of the heart shouldn't be treated with such disrespect! I mean do I make fun of your crush on Rarity?"
"No, sorry."
"Apology accepted. Now in the story the Dream Sovereignty is endangered of being wiped out by the darkness that is disbelief. Everything is becoming extinct as the shadow epidemic born from lack of belief spreads throughout the realm. One and all that call this enchanted land home, panics and believes this to be the end to their home. The Prince then tells them he must find a pure maiden with dreams of gold and heart just as pure. For only this maiden has the power within her to restore the Golden Crystal's power. The Crystal is the horn on Fledge Dreamwings's head. Devoid of its shining illumination all of the Enchanted Sovereignty of Dreams would cease to exist and dreams would all fade from the world too."
"Wow! Sounds like a powerful story! It sounds so amazingly cool and must've had a number of pleasant illustrations too! So how does it end? Does the Prince find the Maiden? Does he save the kingdom from dying? What happens?! Tell me!"
"That's just it, Spike; no-pony knows the true conclusion. It was ripped out of the original book and all subsequent copies have the ending ripped out too. Parents try to make it sound like the Prince found his Maiden, nevertheless no-pony alive nowadays knows if he succeeded in his quest. As a result it leaves the ending open to children to dream about what they think the ending might be. It has a magnificent opening, as well as a glorious middle, although sadly no real ending," she finished explaining as her horn's magic lifted her copy of "Ponytales" off a very high shelf. The book was old in fading golden leather. The book popped open and flipped to the story.
"As you can see the final few pages are missing. It leaves off at the time Fledge leaves his kingdom to travel to lands unknown to find this Maiden. He reaches the portal at Pegasus Glen and flies off through it. But that's where it ends. So again no-pony knows what happens next," yawning the little pony used her magic to put the old book back on its shelf. "Well, goodnight, Spike. See you in the morning." The princess and her dragon went to bed to sleep.
All of Ponyville was now asleep and dreaming, so no-pony noticed a bursting golden star above or a velvet voice saying "I've arrived at last! Now to find the Maiden who will be able to save my world and all of Equestria as well!"