A/N: Hi everyone! Missed you all soooo damn much. lol. I'm back with the next chapter for my MLP fanfic! I meant to put it up sooner but I caught so caught up in a gravity falls story I've been working on. So many ideas to put down on paper, you know? :)
But anyways I hope you guys like it! Please enjoy! Yay!
Twilight slowly opened her eyes to the sun gently sweeping across her body. She turned her stiff neck to face the sky and could see the white clouds that were now beginning to roll past the sun, making the light dim. A light breeze flew though her mane, making the tallish grass shiver and small bits of green leaves blow across the ground. The young princess took a few breaths in and out before finally shifting her body on the soft ground. She did so cautiously, as if afraid that she would break something if she moved too fast. Twilight lifted her leg in the air for a minute, getting rid of the slight stiffness that still lingered. Once she knew that her limbs were properly functioning, the pony slowly lifted her body off the ground. She was still a bit disoriented but that passed very shorty. Twilight rubbed her head with her hoof, the small headache still nagging at her. She couldn't believe that she had just done that. The young princess wondered how many miles she had traveled. She rubbed her head again, remembering the myriad of different places that she had seen before arriving. Even now, those images still danced in her mind, reminding her that she must have been a ways away from Equestria. She took a few wobbly steps forward before finally feeling stable enough to walk normally. When Princess Luna had told her she would experience some discomfort that was a major understatement. She quickly shook off the rest of her dizziness and continued walking, turning her head in every direction to examine the scenery. The river still ran strongly a few feet away from her, large rocks and tree trunks in its deep water. Twilight already knew that the river was not anywhere near Ponyville. She wondered where the spell had taken her exactly. There were a few tall oaks tree in the distance that seemed to lead deeper into an unknown forest. Large bushes and mountains of dirt covered some other places in the area. Twilight took a breath out, stopping for a moment. She closed her eyes and relaxed, her mind beginning to focus on the main reason she was here in the first place. She had to find the alicorn…she wanted to.
Princess Celestia had told her that remembering the feeling of the stallion's magic would help her find him…and it did. Twilight already knew that she was in the same area where the unknown alicorn was. She didn't know how…but she just knew. He was around her somewhere….and she was going to find him. She just needed to find out where he was around here exactly. The young princess turned her body in a small circle, once again looking at the location. This place was huge and most likely very remote from anywhere else she knew. It was a lot of ground to cover. If she just looked around random places, night would quickly come and she could be out here for the next two days. Twilight placed a hoof to her mouth, thinking. The spell that the other princesses had done…it got her this far. Maybe it could get her even closer to the pony she wanted to meet. Twilight had never done the spell herself but…she had read about it in books. In addition to that, she had clearly felt the way it felt on her own body. If she concentrated enough and used her memory of the spell, she could be able to reenact it. It might just be enough to work. Her hooves dug into the soft dirt, as she took a determined breath out. Twilight grit her teeth, filling her horn with her own magic again. She felt her own power taking over her body now, and the young princess could feel the distinct similarity of the spell that was used on her. Again, energy swirled around her, as her mind urged her to lead her where the alicorn was. Her horn sparked with magic, as she felt bubble of magic surround her body. The young princess closed her eyes. This time however, instead of seeing different places before her, images of the alicorn filled her head, as she felt her body being lifted into the air. Twilight could see him laying underneath a large tree peering out into the horizon. That was not definitely not something from what she recalled…that had to be from right now. She increased the magic in the horn, causing her to move faster. In a moment, the young princess felt herself shift and teleport to somewhere else. The tingling in his horn soon faded, and she blinked her eyes a few times, again, not knowing where she had gone. Twilight instinctively gulped, feeling that she was still in midair when the bubble disappeared. She didn't have any time to flap her wings before she felt her body grow heavy and fall to the ground.
"Yikes!", Twilight let out, falling. She sighed, feeling herself land in a soft bush…well it was soft enough anyway. The young princess breathed out, rubbing her head. Her neck felt stiff again. She moved to stand and took a few steps. Her eyes curiously scanned the new area. It was a bit dark where she was...and small. Twilight guessed that she was in some sort of grassy enclosure. Streaks of sunlight poked through the soft leaves that covered the outside. The young princess turned her head to see nothing but dense shrubs behind her. It looked like she only had one way to go. Twilight moved closer to the source of light and used her hoof to push back the leaves in front of her. Her eyes immediately widened in surprise and excitement, as she gasped. Only a few feet away, laying under the same tree she had seen…was the alicorn that had saved her. The young princess pulled her hoof back to allow the darkness to return, as she took a moment to collect herself. She didn't even know what she was going to say to him. The best thing she could say was hello, right? Twilight peeped through the bush once more, seeing that the stallion was still laying in the same spot. She let out a heavy breath. She didn't come all this way just to start second guessing herself now. Before she could start feeling nervous again, the young princess pushed the leaves back with both hooves, this time making a space large enough for her to get through. She took one step before her mouth began moving on its own.
"Excuse me…", Twilight began, walking closer to the stallion. She jumped slightly, seeing him suddenly stand. The young princess let out a surprised, hitched breath. He was taller than she had remembered. A moment later, the stallion turned his head to face her and she was caught off guard by somber expression on his face. Twilight immediately felt twinges of worry beginning to eat at her. Why did he look like that? She wondered what was wrong.
"Why are you here?", he asked, in a low voice. He turned his head back in the other direction.
Twilight swallowed before speaking again.
"I…It's just….you saved us…everyone in Ponyville…I wanted to thank you. We all wanted to thank you", she said, taking a few steps closer. A gut feeling was telling her that he wasn't dangerous. His head turned back in her direction, his gaze softening.
"I was…relieved that you were all unharmed", the alicorn said.
"And that's all thanks to you", Twilight said, giving him a small smile. Her legs moved towards him a few more inches. She was now standing directly in front of him, more closely than she had thought she was brave enough to. Again, his amber eyes seemed to pierce through her. She suppressed an inward shiver. Something about them…no…everything about him evoked a powerful aura that could only be created by those of pure royal blood. How could she have doubted this for even a second? The young princess blinked in surprise, seeing the stallion lower his strong neck down to her level. His eyes briefly scanned her body before he straightened back to his full height.
"You…you're an alicorn, as well", he said, still casting glances down at her.
"Uh…Yes…I was made into one…by Princess Celestia", Twilight said, feeling almost hypnotized.
"Princess…Celestia?", the alicorn repeated, as if trying to recall a pony by that name. His brow furrowed, in deep thought.
Twilight nodded.
"Yes. She and her sister Princess Luna rule over Equestria", she said. The young princess craned her neck to look up at the horse. A moment later she saw him blink in realization.
"King Cosmos and Queen Galaxia…", he breathed out, in a hushed voice.
"So you do know them", Twilight said, looking at him. The stallion shook his head, his expression straining.
"No...I don't…their names…they just seem so familiar. My mother and father knew them", he said, his face looking pained for a moment. Twilight took a breath in before making her legs move in his direction. She nervously stood by his side, looking up at him. His face…it looked so sad even from the mere mention of his family. She wondered how much pain he had endured by himself all this time. Again, his eyes were looking off into the far distance, searching for something that didn't exist anymore. The young princess felt her heart throb in her chest. Right now…more than anything…she didn't want to leave him by himself…not anymore.
"Um…I…I've spoken with the other princesses…the other alicorns", Twilight began.
"I…we'd like it if you would come back to Equestria. You probably have a lot to talk about and it might make you feel-", she began but stopped when the stallion's long legs took three large strides away from her. He turned to face her, his eyes full of confusion and pain. He shook his head slowly.
"No…I…that's alright.", he said, his amber eyes glancing in the opposite direction.
"It's unnecessary", he said, turning his head away.
"Maybe but…we want you to. Everypony wants to thank you for what you did", Twilight said, coming towards him. He looked at her, his eyes full of doubt.
"We don't mean you any harm", she said, quietly. The young princess didn't even know if it was possible to pose any to this strong alicorn.
"I'm not trying to force you to do anything but…can't you at least meet with the princesses? I know it's so sudden but…when I saw you…I didn't want to leave you alone like that", the young princess said.
"Is being by yourself such a terrible thing?", the stallion asked, his back towards her.
"Everypony needs sompony", Twilight said.
"Of course…and at one time I did have it…it is now lost to me", the stallion said, his voice low.
"I understand but-", Twilight started but stopped when she felt a large gust of wind on her face. The young princess could feel her eyes watering from the sheer force of the wind on her skin. She blinked a few times before realizing that the alicorn had spread his large white wings, his eyes looking to the clear sky above.
"Go home, child. You still have a place to belong to…I do not", he said. Before Twilight could say anything else, the stallion had flapped his powerful wings, launching himself into the air. The grass and trees bent to bow before the strong wind created from him taking off. The young princess woefully looked after him. He seemed be miles away in less than a moment. Her eyes never left his disappearing figure. It was quickly getting smaller and smaller. Soon he would disappear for another millennia. After all she had done to find him…he would be gone in a matter of seconds. He'd be alone again for another lifetime. A kind soul like him…shutting himself off from everything to be by himself….maybe forever. Just thinking about it made her stomach quiver. She was not going to let that happen. Twilight took a quick breath in and filled her horn with magic. At her side, her wings flapped feverishly to catch up to the swift stallion, something that would have seemed impossible if not for a spell to momentarily increase her speed. She felt her eyes redden at her increasing momentum. Twilight was not used to going this fast in the air by herself. The air seemed to sting at her skin, as she raced to catch up to him. The young princess squinted her eyes, finally seeing his approaching figure. Determined, she increased the power in her horn to get closer…she had to speak to him. Her lips pursed together…dry and chapped from the cool air bombarding against them. Every time she tried to call out, they quivered against the harsh wind. The young princess could only numbly grit her teeth, hoping to get even closer to him. The stallion was still ahead of her by a good number of feet. She might never be able to catch him if she didn't try something else. Twilight furrowed her brow, thinking. She could probably use another spell…but that could deplete her energy completely. Was she really willing to risk it? Her eyes traveled to the alicorn up ahead. The distance that she had closed between them was quickly growing again. She didn't seen any other way at this point. Twilight breathed out, feeling energy surge around her body. In another moment, she had teleported only a few feet away from the stallion. Her eyes blinked in shock, both happy and devastated to feel her own body losing speed. The young pony felt her wings tiredly move, in attempt to not fall behind again. She desperately called out the alicorn.
"Wait!", she yelled.
He didn't stop. The wind from his wings seemed to push her back even further.
"You…you don't have to be by yourself like this anymore!", Twilight called out to him.
Still no change. She sharply breathed in, trying to keep her stamina up. Her heart beat loudly in her chest, telling her to stop. Twilight ignored it.
"I…I know what it's like…thinking you'll be alright if you're always by yourself….But I was wrong! I…I needed others around me…so do you!", she called out after him. Her wings ached in pain as she pushed on. She blinked, seeing the alicorn getting close…was he slowing down?
"The life you're living right now…even if it's eternal…it'll be empty unless you learn to let others in!", Twilight said loudly. She saw his head turn in her direction for just a moment before facing forward again, as if changing his mind. The young princess could feel that she was getting through to him, even if it were just a little.
"Your majesty! Please! Listen to me…letting other ponies be in your life…if you just give them a chance…they…they can make you feel at home!", Twilight yelled. She gasped, feeling as if her wings were about to fall off. Her body felt like it was on fire as she breathlessly panted. Her horn sparked one last time before her body became heavy like lead, the skin tingling in exasperation. Oh no. She suddenly felt completely drained of every ounce of energy in her. Twilight knew she was in trouble. The young pony flailed her legs in the air, panicked, only to find that they could barely move an inch. She let out a surprised breath, feeling herself suddenly falling to the ground. Again, she moved her legs to no avail. Twilight strained her muscles to lift her wings. The only response she got was pain in every one of her nerves. They didn't budge one inch. She grit her teeth, trying to use her magic, only to find that it also failed her. Twilight had used up everything she had. A moment later, she couldn't even feel her magic. The young princess blinked her eyes, as she saw herself falling closer to the ground, letting out a horrified yelp. She was still so high up…and she still had so far so fall. She was going to hit the ground. Twilight closed her eyes, not wanting to see how she would now meet her end…falling to the earth so quickly…not being able to convince the alicorn that he didn't have to seclude himself from everypony else. She shut her eyes tighter, seeing nothing but blackness. Twilight made a small noise, feeling her body thump gently against something. Had she already the ground? If so…it was much closer than she had thought…and much more comfortable. The young princess wrinkled her nose, feeling her face buried deep within something silkily soft. With her eyes still closed, she gently ran her hoof along the firm yet soft area. It felt familiar…like…security. It wasn't the ground at all. Twilight could still feel the breeze moving somewhat steadily along her body, quietly running through her mane. She was moving. The young princess blinked once and opened her eyes slightly to see the earth passing by below her. She blinked again, raising her head to see a flowing silver mane surrounding her. It had a bluish tint to it this time. Twilight slowly looked up to see the male alicorn flying through the air, as if he were the wind itself. She was on his back again. It was the second time he had saved her now. Beside her, his wings flapped slowly yet powerfully, steadily propelling them forward. Twilight wanted to say something but she didn't know what exactly. She remembered the way he looked when he mentioned his family. What could she say to truly convince him? The young princess blankly stared into the same direction as him, the never ending sky in front of them. Her lips moved to say something but stopped when she heard him speak.
"My home was gone long ago", he said, his amber eyes, looking into the sky. Twilight looked away for a moment, her own heart stinging from his saddened expression. She took a deep breath in before speaking.
"That may be true…but you can always make a new home. You just have to find the right place", the young princess said. She saw the stallion cast her a glance before looking away again.
"And how would one…find the right place?", the alicorn asked, slowing his speed. Twilight smiled.
"Well…only your heart can tell you that", she said.
"My heart…", the stallion let out, looking forward.
"The answer doesn't always come to you right away. But it will", Twilight assured him.
"I...we just want you to know that you're not alone…not anymore", she said.
"I must have forgotten what that is like", the alicorn said. The young princess felt them dive downwards. She looked further ahead and saw that they were quickly approaching a secluded grassy hill. The stallion landed softly, puffs of dirt blowing around them, as his wings flapped a final time before elegantly retreating to his sides. A few moments passed before Twilight realized that she was still on his back. She blinked once, quickly sliding herself onto the ground. The young princess saw the stallion move to the edge of the hill, once again looking over into the sky. His amber eyes burned as brightly as the sun itself. She took another breath in and went to stand at his side, cautiously looking up at him.
"Do you think…you'd maybe want to meet with them…the other princesses, I mean", Twilight said.
"I…perhaps. Are they truly interested in such a meeting?", the alicorn asked.
"Yes, very much. Up until today…they…no pony even knew that there were more alicorns...pureblood alicorns out there. You probably have so much to talk about", she said.
"I…would also like to know more about them…about everything", he said, his eyes shining brighter.
"So…you'll come back with me…to Equestria?", Twilight asked, feeling excited.
"I will", he said, looking back at her. The young princess smiled brightly. Even though she was in the presence of ancient royalty, the young princess couldn't stop herself from hopping up and down a few times.
"Great! This is great!", Twilight said.
"You probably know so much….I have so many questions for you! I-", she stopped gushing and quickly composed herself.
"I mean…the other princesses and I are so delighted that have agreed to have an audience with us", Twilight said, bowing.
"Please save the formalities. They are not necessary", the stallion said, with a small smile. The young pony smiled back, still holding in her excitement. She was both relieved and happy to hear that the alicorn would meet with the others. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of conversations they would have…what things they would be able to learn from him. There were so many things they didn't know yet. Like where he came from...what kind of magic he did, what his cutie mark meant…and….his name. The young princess gasped in realization, feeling her face grow red. She had practically chased him down, in hopes of making him come back with her but she didn't even know who he was. It didn't even say anything in the book about it. Of course she wouldn't know…no pony would know it. Twilight quickly blinked a few times. Her body soon tingled with delight, knowing that she could be the first pony in thousands of years to know the name of last living prince of the Mediean family. Twilight looked up at him, her eyes twinkling in wonder.
"I know this is overdue but…my name's Twilight Sparkle. Can you tell me yours?", she asked smiling. She same him look towards the sky again and back at her, his eyes growing gentle. The young princess heard him speak in a deep voice, much different than the one he had usually used. It was dignified and proud, one that only those of the oldest of royal blood could possesses. He must not have any reason to hold it back anymore.
"Artemis…My name is Artemis", Twilight heard him say.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance your majesty", she said, giving him a small bow once more.
"And you as well…your majesty", Prince Artemis replied, returning the gesture. The young princess couldn't stop her cheeks from flushing slightly.
"So…Equestria, yes?", the stallion said, raising up again.
"Yes. I-", Twilight began but stopped her, thinking. She had come all the way here with the help of the other princesses' magic…but she had no idea how to get home. The young princess thought for a moment. She could use a path finder spell but she still felt drained from pushing herself earlier. Twilight concentrated her energy in her horn, feeling it weakly surge within her but unable to make it manifest itself into anything useful. All that talk about taking him back we her yet she had let them get stuck here! She sighed out loud, giving Artemis a weak and embarrassed smile.
"So hey…you know how I said I would take you to Equestria and all that…well I actually seem to be out of magic for now to get us back. You…wouldn't know where it is, would you?", she asked, smiling.
"Unfortunately, no. I do not recall ever going there…even after all this time", Artemis said. Twilight blinked in surprise, feeling herself gently lifted into the air by the alicorn's magic. A second later, she had been teleported onto his back. His large wings loudly flapped to his side, ready to take flight.
"Um…Prince Artemis…where are we going?", the young princess, asked, confused. The stallion took a few steps towards the edge of the small hill, looking into the distance. Twilight let out a silent gasp, feeling the wind brushing up against her body. It felt different this time, however. The air surged around them, engulfing their bodies before dispersing on the ground. She blinked, feeling her body tingle with the electricity of the stallion's magic. Artemis closed his eyes and upon opening them, a brilliant blue light shown in both. His lips silently moved, whispering in a language that Twilight had never heard. He blinked once and his eyes returned to their usual brilliant amber color. The stallion glanced over his shoulder at her and smiled.
"We are going to Equestria", the prince finally answered. Twilight furrowed her brow, feeling confused.
"But…I thought you didn't know how to get there. You've never been there before, have you?", she said. The young princess knew that they must be thousands of miles away from the designated location.
"I haven't", the male alicorn said, taking another step forward.
"The wind will tell me where to go", he said. Before Twilight could ask another question, they were already flying high in the sky, the breeze swiftly moving through both their manes. She instinctively held onto his neck, catching a glimpse the high altitude, one much higher than she have ever been. The young princess blinked her eyes in awe, feeling a bubble of magic surrounding them. Streams of different shades of blue swerved and darted past her, slowly closing in to conform to their bodies. Just like last time, Twilight found herself completely mesmerized by the alicorn's powerful and pure magic. The colors danced around them before the energy grew large and then shrank around them again, sweeping over their body and then forming another bubble around them. It was beautiful to even look at. Twilight couldn't suppress a shiver, feeling the magical energy increase. In another moment, they had disappeared in a flash of blue light, the wind whistling after them.
A/N: Please rate and comment! ^0^