My little Pony Friendship is Magic doesn't belong to me.
Read and Review please.
Rainbow Dash couldn't help but smile. They'd finally left the Everfree Forest. And just in time as well. The last rays of the sun turned the sky pinkish before they faded and the sky turned to a dark blue. Stars lit up the silent night.
"Wonderful work Luna, as always", praised Princess Celestia. Her sister nodded thankfully, however smiled. Then she suddenly frowned and gazed back into the forest.
"She won't come tonight", soothed Destiny the Moon-Princess.
"How can you know?", asked Dash.
Destiny turned towards them and said: "Though reborn and very strong, there is one thing that keeps her from leaving the ruins for one week. And that's me. It is and will for still one week be, my very own blood that keeps her alive. And as long as I don't want her to leave the forest, she can't."
The Ponies from Equestria stared at her in awe, then Fluttershy asked: "S-So as l-long you don't want her to come and attack us…she won't?"
Destiny nodded and Celestia softly said: "Just another duty you have to carry."
Destiny looked at her and Rainbow Dash was sure she smiled under her hood.
"It's a duty I like to carry. Because I can make sure I…" She glanced at Spirit and Hope. "Make sure we can think of a plan." Her two companions nodded in agreement and then Rarity asked: "But where will you stay?"
"That lies with you", answered Destiny. "We can also sleep under the night-sky", agreed Hope. "Oh no", disagreed Princess Celestia. "You three come with Luna and me. We'll spend this night in the Ponyville Library."
Rainbow Dash could've sworn she saw how Destiny straightened up at this, but if she did, she hid it quickly. What is shocking her so?, wondered the Pegasus. But she shrugged it off when the group moved on. The moment they set their hooves into the town, they were surrounded by many Ponies. Major Mare ran up to the Princesses and bowed deep.
"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, we didn't know you would come back after you left this morning!"
Celestia chuckled at this and answered: "I'm very sorry to not have informed you of our plans Major Mare. However, it's been a long day and all of us are tired. How about we do the formalities tomorrow?"
rincess Luna nodded in agreement. Major Mare obeyed and though the crowd seemed to be eager to get to know the three unicorns from the tribe, they left. The group split up, when Princess Celestia called: "Do not forget to get the elements back to safety."
Surprised Rainbow Dash glanced down at her neck. She'd completely forgotten that she still was wearing that necklace.
Hope eagerly followed the Princesses through Ponyville. The town looked really beautiful in the night. However it wasn't the object of her attention at the moment. Destiny worried her. She seemed far more tensed since they'd arrived here. For some reason this place made her nervous. Hope saw that Spirit glanced at Destiny as well. He seemed very worried as well, however he also seemed to understand something Hope didn't. She realised that when he closed to Destiny and silently started to talk to her. They talked for a while and then Destiny seemed a bit more relaxed. Hope shook her head in confusion. After a few minutes of walking, they reached a very big tree with windows, a red door and a balcony.
"Wow", breathed Hope.
She hadn't seen this the day before since she and Spirit had spent the night on the fields.
"Impressive indeed", agreed Spirit.
Destiny just nodded and eyed the tree.
"How is it impressive", whispered Luna to her sister.
"Don't forget that they live in a different way than us", whispered the white alicorn back. The dark-blue alicorn nodded in understanding, then Celestia knocked at the door. Hope heard how someone fell down the stairs in the house, then the dragon she'd met the last day opened the door. He grumbled and rubbed his eyes. Destiny tensed up. Hope stared at her surprised. Never had she seen the leader acting like this. Something was definitely up. Spirit once again talked to her. Surprised Hope heard how soft his voice sounded. Once again the leader relaxed a bit, however seemed far more alerted than before. Sighing in confusion Hope walked up to the door, where the dragon talked to the princesses.
"…alright Spike?"
"Of course Princess", answered the Dragon, Spike.
"Hello", began Hope nervously. "I'm Hope."
"Spike", answered the Dragon grinning. "I've run the library for four years now, with the help of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash."
"Rainbow Dash doesn't seem like a pony that reads much", argued Hope confused.
Spike smirked and answered: "She didn't, however since she got into the Daring Do she reads a whole lot when she isn't training, or racing, or bragging."
Hope giggled at that and it seemed to make Spike happy. Then he stepped side and the Princesses walked in. Hope was about to follow, when she realised something.
"Destiny, Spirit aren't you coming?"
The two unicorns looked at her, then nodded and walked up to her. Hope walked in and glanced back. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion when Destiny briefly hesitated in the doorway, but then she walked in, followed by Spirit, who closed the door with his magic. Spike walked up to them and said: "Hi, I'm Spike."
"I'm Spirit and I'm glad to finally truly meet you." The dragon smiled, then turned to Destiny, who eyed everything in the library. Spirit nudged her and she looked at him. He gestured to Spike, who smiled and said: "Hey I'm Spike and I guess you're Destiny." Destiny nodded to him and greeted back: "It's good to meet you Spike and yes, I'm Destiny."
Her voice faltered slightly when she talked and Spirit glanced at her worriedly. Hope got more and more suspicious about everything, but no one else seemed to have realised it. Then Princess Celestia spoke up.
"In the top floor are two beds. Down here we just have a couch, would you want to…"
"You and Princess Luna can take the beds", cut Destiny softly in. "Hope will take the couch. It wouldn't be the first time Spirit and I would sleep on the floor."
The grey stallion nodded in agreement. The Princesses hesitated, however agreed after a while and left upstairs, followed by Spike. The moment the door closed behind Spike, Spirit fully turned to Destiny and worriedly asked: "Is it that hard?"
"It at least isn't easy Spirit", answered Destiny with a sigh. She glanced around once more, then murmured: "So many years. Though Destroyed by the Fire, everything looks the same."
She shook her head and something dripped onto the floor. Hope was speechless when she realised that Destiny, the strong Unicorn that had led them through so many dangers, was crying. Spirit closed to her and carefully pressed himself against her flank for comfort. She hid her face in his mane and silently continued to cry. Not knowing what to do and confused to no end, Hope decided to let those two be for the while and looked around. The library had really many books. She walked up to a shelf and wanted to inspect the books, when something caught her eye. A framed picture. Hope looked at it and gasped surprised.
The picture showed Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and a lavender Unicorn with violet eyes, a dark-bluish mane and purple streaks.
"Who could that be", wondered Hope out loud. Then she realised something else. The picture was burned on the sides and almost destroyed. "And why is the picture burned?"
"B-Burned", asked Destiny behind her.
Hope looked at her.
"Yes, there's a picture of six ponies and it's burned on the sides."
Destiny slowly walked up to it, but when she saw it she backed off and shook her head.
"One made…I can't believe one got through unharmed."
Spirit walked up to them as well, then looked at Hope. She hoped to hide her suspicion and confusion, however since he sighed she guessed she wasn't hiding it well. Turning to Destiny he softly said: "Hope should be allowed to know." Destiny froze, then whispered: "I guess it's only fair after all she's gone through."
"What should I be allowed to know. And why are you acting so strange since we arrived there…and…and why is that picture shocking you so?"
Destiny looked at her for a while, then raised her hoof.
The coat slid away to reveal lavender fur.
Hope gasped.
She wouldn't… Then she did it.
She pulled the hood from her head and hope gasped at what she saw.
In front of her, thought she had a different mane-stile, stood the unicorn from the picture.
Celestia woke up the next morning and yawned. The sun just started to rise, so she stepped onto the balcony and closed her eyes. She could also raise the sun during her sleep, however did it rather when she was awake. It always was such a wonderful sight. A few minutes later it was done. The day had come, the night was gone. Celestia smiled to herself, then she saw something. Destiny and Hope walked up to the library, some strange bags in their mouths. Confused she left the balcony and opened the door for them. Walking out she asked: "Destiny, Hope, where have you been?"
Destiny looked at her, placed the bag down and answered: "We went to the Everfree forest with Spirit and on the way back we gathered a few herbs for Hope." Hope nodded happily and Celestia asked: "Why did Spirit leave this soon."
"The sooner he gets back to the others, the better."
"But what about Nightmare Moon. You said it is dangerous in the Everfree forest."
Destiny nodded and said: "It is, at night. However Spirit will travel at night and rest during the day, in that way he can defend himself since she can't leave the ruins for a week and her Powers are limited to the Everfree Forest as well. I asked Spirit to also inform the Zebra he and Hope told me about."
"Zecora?", asked Celestia.
"…Hope is that her name?"
Hope glanced at Destiny before she answered. "Y-Yes I believe it was the name."
Celestia shortly narrowed her eyes. Why would the filly glance at her leader like that? Forcing herself out of her thoughts she asked: "Would you like a tour through Ponyville? I could ask Spike to guide you around."
"It would be wonderful to see the town", answered Destiny. Celestia smiled and walked back into the house. Spike and Luna were in the library and she asked: "Spike, would you give our guests a tour through Ponyville?"
"Sure thing", exclaimed the Dragon and ran out of the door.
"Are you going to join them big sister?", asked Luna.
"I will, you?"
"I guess I'll be staying here."
"Alright…enjoy the books."
Luna smirked at her and Celestia smirked back. Then the Alicorn left and followed Spike, Destiny and Hope through the town.
"This is Sugarcube Corner. It's run by Mr and Mrs Cake. Pinkie Pie lives there as well…you want anything to eat? They have almost everything when it comes to confectionary… here we have the Marketplace. Oh, hey Cheerilee!" Spike waved to a Pink Unicorn with light-pink and white mane and three flowers with smiles as cutie-mark. "Why hello Spike", greeted Cheerilee back.
"Destiny, Hope, this is Cheerilee. She is teacher at Ponyville-Elementary-School. Cheerilee, those are Destiny and Hope."
"Why hello", greeted Cheerilee. She turned to Destiny. "I guess you are the Pony that needed to be saved?"
Destiny nodded and said: "Indeed I was. It's wonderful to meet such a nice Pony. I'm sure you are a good teacher."
Cheerilee blushed a bit, then she asked: "Do you have schools where you come from?"
"No", answered Hope cheerfully.
At first Cheerilee stared surprised, then she asked: "So you are Hope? What do you mean with no?"
"With no I mean no", answered Hope. "We learn how to write and read from our parents and elder siblings, we learn what we have to do when we know what we are supposed to do in the tribe. We learn from our past by listening to the Old ones. The eldest Ponies in the tribe."
"Different than with us."
The words had left Celestia's mouth and just then Cheerilee seemed to realise that she was there as well. She bowed deeply and said: "Forgive me Princess. I didn't see you." Celestia rolled her eyes in amusement and said: "It is quite alright Cheerilee. To get to know new Ponies is always exciting." The teacher sighed in relief, then she realised the time and exclaimed: "Oh my, I have to get to the school!"
"Would you allow Hope to join your class today?", asked Destiny quickly.
"Destiny?", asked Hope confused.
"Always be open to learn Hope. Weren't those Faith's words?"
Hope smiled and nodded.
"Am I allowed Miss Cheerilee? I'd really like to get to know how things go in your schools."
Cheerilee stared at Hope shortly, then smiled and nodded. "We come with you to the school", said Spike. The five continued their way and soon they reached the schoolhouse and Cheerilee breathed: "Just in time. Hope, would you follow? The other fillies are surely already in the classroom." Hope nodded and the two disappeared. "Hope seemed quite happy", stated Celestia while they walked on. "I'm sure she is", answered Destiny warmly. "Hope's thirst for knowledge is incredible. She sometimes drives even Faith crazy with her constant question. This adventure here is a welcome test for her. For what she learned already."
Celestia nodded with a smile and said to Spike: "Reminds me of someone." Spike smiled as well, but it held more sadness and she said: "Don't worry Spike. I'm sure she is alright."
He sighed and whispered: "I miss her so much. I just hope she's missing us too."
Before Celestia could answer, Destiny asked: "You do not have to answer if you don't want but…is it possible you are talking about the Pony I've seen on this picture with the other five?"
Celestia saw how Spike winced at the mention of the picture. A painful pang in her heart, she answered: "Yes. She…her name is Twilight Sparkle. She was my most loved and most faithful student. However…there was a huge fire and the library burned down. She lived there, together with Spike." "I was her number one assistant", cut Spike sadly in. "In the fire a photo album burned away. It was special. She'd used her magic to get her memories in there so the pictures would move when she pulled them back. But…she never got the chance to do so. It burned away and she barely got out by herself. Her friends wouldn't allow her to explain herself and…with lost memories and the anger of her friends, she ran off. No one has seen her for years. Her friends grieved long and every year around this time guilt strikes their heart. It's been almost four years since this day…"
Celestia trailed off, then Destiny softly said: "I'm sure she has forgiven."
Celestia's head shot up.
"What?"
"I'm sure she has forgiven. I see how you act. I've seen how the others acted. And when what you tell me is true…she surely has forgiven. Within four years, she had much time to do so."
"But…why doesn't she come back then?", asked Spike and tears started to run down his face.
Destiny looked at him for a while, then turned away and started walking again.
"Maybe something is keeping her from doing so. Maybe she wishes to come back and can't, I can't say. But what I can say is, you should never give up."
Hope took a deep breath while she stood outside the classroom. She had not the slightest idea what to do there, how to react, how to act with the other fillies. Especially since Cheerilee had told her the other Ponies in her class were two years older than Hope.
"You can come Hope!"
Hope took another deep breath, then walked in. She eyed the class while she walked up to Cheerilee. The Ponies stared at her. "Well young fillies and colts. I already told you, Hope is two years younger than you all. Please be nice." Cheerilee turned to Hope. "Hope would you sit next to Apple Bloom?" Hope nodded and walked up to the yellow filly with red mane and tail she knew to be Apple Bloom. She, after all, had 'met' her when she and Spirit had asked for help. Surprised she saw that this pony didn't have her cutie-mark yet. It was strange for her, considering all the other fillies and colts in the tribe got their in a younger age than Hope had gotten hers.
"Hey there. Ah'm Applebloom. We din't get to really meet when ya' and Spirit came."
Hope smiled at her, then asked: "Apple Bloom…are you related to Applejack?"
"She's ma olda sis, why?"
"Nothing. You just seem pretty alike."
Apple Bloom smiled at that, then both listened to Cheerilee. The teacher told them about how Nightmare Moon was defeated the first time. Hope listened interested, however had trouble not to wince at the name Twilight Sparkle. She, after all, knew where the unicorn was now. Half of the school-day went by rather quick and soon they had a break. Hope happily followed Apple Bloom out of the school and into the yard. The yellow earth-pony walked up to an orange Pegasus and a white Unicorn.
"Heya Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle."
"Hey Apple Bloom", greeted the Pegasus.
"Girls, that's Hope. She's from a tribe behind the Everfree forest. Hope thos two ar' Scootaloo", she gestured to the Pegasus. "And Sweetie Bell", she gestured to the Unicorn. "Uh…Hi?", tried Hope nervously. "Hey Hope, great to meet you", said Sweetie Bell, then her eyes widened: "No way, you have your cutie-mark?" Just then Hope saw that those two hadn't theirs either.
"Uh…yes?"
"How did you get that?", asked Scootaloo and eyed it interested.
"Uh…I…I'm apprentice of our Healer Faith and have a talent for herbs. My cutie-mark are Chickweed leaves just like Faith's."
"You and this Faith-pony have the same cutie-mark", asked Scootaloo in disbelieve.
Hope nodded and answered: "It's like that with the healers. Apprentice and Mentor share the same cutie-mark."
"Man, now I'm jealous", groaned Scootaloo.
"Why so?", asked Hope.
Sweetie Bell sighed and answered: "We've tried everything. Helping Zecora, baking cakes, sorting books and whatever else, but we still don't have our cutie-marks."
Hope stared at them, then couldn't help but burst out in laughter. The other three stared and Scootaloo snapped: "What's so funny?"
"You…y-you guys…you really think y-you're g-gonna get your cutie-marks like that?", laughed Hope.
"Well, how else?", asked Apple Bloom.
Smiling Hope answered: "Concentrate on what you know you can, on what you like, not what you've never tried."
The other three stared again, then Sweetie Bell groaned: "With Celestia you are just like Rarity. All this stupid stuff of finding out who you are and…"
"That's not stupid", snapped Hope. She didn't even blink when the three winced back. Stupid, how could she dare to say this. "To get your cutie-mark you have to find out who you are, who you really want to be. You have to know it in your heart! Our tribe wouldn't be any more when everyone would think like this. You do what you like and like what you do. It is like that!" Breathing heavily she took deep breaths to calm down, then said: "Just…try to really do what you love and do it with all your heart." She turned away and said: "If you excuse me. There's something I want to check up on."
With that she left. It wasn't a full lie. She really had seen a few interesting plants, however also wanted to give those three time to think. Sitting down near the fence, she looked through the grass and smiled. Chickweed grew there. Lowering her head, she carefully ripped a few leaves off and stored them in the small bag she decided to permanently have with her. It was easier than carrying everything around in her mouth all the time. Then the break was over already and the fillies returned into the classroom.
The rest of the day Cheerilee taught them about the old castle of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Suddenly one of the students started to cough. At first no one thought of anything bad, however Hope knew about the difference between occasional coughing and an illness. Fast she was on her hooves and ran up to a light-blue earth-pony with dark-blue mane and tail, violet eyes and a golden bow and arrow cutie-mark. She almost fell down onto the ground, but Hope caught her with her magic and placed her gently to the ground. Cheerilee screamed in fear while Hope tried to remain calm and do everything Faith had taught her. Carefully she checked the filly through.
"Sore throat…bad coughing…no rasping noise in her lounge when she breathes…pain in throat when I push…same in chest…breath scents like…old apples…that's…" Hope nodded to herself in understanding. That illness was quite common in the tribe. It was called Apple-Fever.
It came when a filly or colt had a cold but didn't get the right medicine or hid it. The best way to cure this was a tea out of Blueberries and Chickweed leaves. However the water had to be brought to the boil through magic so the herbs could have their full effect. Calming she stroke over the filly's mane and called: "Miss Cheerilee please, I need a cup with water, fast." The teacher nodded and ran off.
"Calm down", whispered Hope. "Everything is going to be okay."
The filly nodded nervously, then broke out in new coughing. "Wha-What's wrong with me?"
"You have Apple-Fever. Where I come from it's quite common. You had a cold lately, not?"
The filly nodded.
"And you told no one about it."
Another nod.
"Then I'm right. When a cold isn't treated right or at all, it can easily turn into Apple-Fever." The next moment Cheerilee came back and placed the cup with water down next to Hope. "Thanks. Now Miss Cheerilee. You have to calm down and continue to comfort your student." The older earth-pony took a deep breath and nodded. She cowered down next to the filly and softly repeated what Hope had done already.
With both of her hooves free now, Hope took Blueberries and a few Chickweed leaves out of her bag and used her magic to get the water to start to boil. Soon it was steaming and she pressed the sap of the blueberries into it. A delicious scent flew through the room and she heard how the ill filly started to breathe easier. Then she threw the leaves into the cup and started to heat up the water once more. That done she used her magic to place the cup in front of the ill filly and instructed: "You have to drink all of it. It should work in a few minutes. Luckily Apple-Fever is an illness that is quite easy to cure. The medicine should take effect in a few minutes."
The filly hesitated, however Cheerilee softly instructed: "Don't worry Golden Aim. Drink it. Everything will be okay."
Golden Aim hesitated, but then took the cup and started to drink. The moment she was done, Hope levitated the cup to Cheerilee's desk and sat down next to the older filly. After a few minutes she asked: "Do you feel better now?" Golden Aim smiled brightly and exclaimed: "I feel great!" She jumped up and grinned. Hope smiled happily and then walked back to her place.
While passing by Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Apple Bloom, she whispered: "Do you understand what I meant in the break. This is what I work for. To see the Ponies I could help smile. This is what fills my heart with warmth."
The three were too stunned to answer.
Hope just sat back down.
She didn't want to show off with her abilities like that, however was happy that she had been able to help.