Chapter 17: Visitations I understood the fact that Ember didn't want to talk to me, after all, he confirmed his fears that his best friend is a killer. I just hoped he would accept the fact before he did something too rash. I have been practicing my flight skills, and by now, I was becoming a master. I was over-joyed when Ember finally talked to me. "Ember, is it about Spike?" I finally asked. "You're smart, what do you think?" He responded angrily. I looked down to my hooves. "It's because of everything I have done, isn't it?" I asked, more contrite and quietly. "Yes, Aura. You've become a monster." He said harshly. I quickly straightened myself out. "A..." I tried to say, but I couldn't bring myself to say that horrid word. "You really think that?" "You killed two creatures in Equestria! Murdered; in cold blood!" He yelled. I scowled at him. "Come on, Ember. Zecora was going to tell everypony and Spike I killed to save your skin!" "I could have handled it myself! I don't need your help!" He screamed. I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "Well you didn't. I stepped in to help you." I said much quieter than he did. He took a few quick breaths before he spoke again. "It was unfair of you." He finally said. "It was their fault." "You don't understand. You didn't look into Spike's eyes as you stabbed him. They were full of pure fear." He said and walked away. I didn't bother to chase after him. I was right. They deserved it. Zecora didn't know how to shut her mouth and Spike didn't know how to care about others. They were both selfish. I went to my bedroom and laid down on my bed and played around with some things in my bedroom. I heard a knock at my door. I quickly put the things back and put my cape on. "I'll get it, Ember!" I yelled. I opened the door with my magic. It was Sparkle. "Aura..." She whimpered. "What do you want?" I hissed. "Spike... Is gone." She cried. I did my best to pretend to be surprised. "I'm so sorry, but why in Equestria are you here?" I snapped. She ducked her head. "I... I wanted to see if Ember was okay, and to... and to apologize." She said. I was truly surprised now. I looked to her. "Ever since I became an Alicorn, I've become self centered and a total... a total..." She had struggles finding the correct word. "A total bitch." I said. Twilight looked at me with both surprise and worry. Ponies normally don't swear ever. It normally is only used in personal coversations. "What?" She questioned. "You heard me, since you became an Alicorn you've been a total bitch. You've been arrogant, rude full of yourself. Because of your wings, you think you're so special, and just because you are the Element of Magic means nothing! You are not above anypony else." I yelled at her. She looked at her hooves. "What, you're going to cry now that I've told you the truth?" "I never realized anypony felt that way." Sparkle said under her breath. "You are truly a horrible pony, and I don't care about your feelings. To be honest, Spike had it coming, maybe not death, but karma hits hard." I said. Sparkle sighed. "I don't even know why I came." "Then leave! I don't want to see you anyway!" I yelled and slammed my door. Ember emerged from hiding. "Are you going to do anything to her?" Ember asked. "I can't. She's a Princess. They'll find out." I sighed. "As much as I want to, I can't." Ember looked to me with sad eyes. "While I have this on, want to go get some gems?" I offered. Ember perked up. He smiled. "Maybe get some cupcakes?" He asked. I was about to respond to him, but somepony knocked on my door. With a sigh, I opened it. It was Pinkie Pie. "What do you want, Pinkie?" I asked with irritation. She game me a huge smile. "Well, to give you a welcome to Ponyville party!" She announced loudly. "Since you have no friends and all." "I'll have you know, all my friends are either dead or I had to leave back in Canterlot." I hissed. Pinkie frowned. "What about Twilight?" She asked like a small filly. I winced at the name. "Listen Pinkie, I don't have time for this. Ember and I were just heading out." I said. Ember climbed onto my back. "Oh, then you have time for partying!" She said. I looked to Ember. "Pinkie, we really don't have time." I said, Ember rested his elbows on my head. "We can go the the party." He quickly counteracted me. He leaned to my ear. "Just do it so she leaves us alone." He whispered. I looked to Pinkie. "Fine, let's go." I sighed. She smiled and ran off. I quickly ran after her, still trying to keep Ember on my back. Finally, Pinkie stopped infront of Sugarcube Corner. She was fine, but I was out of breath. "You're old enough to drink, right?" She asked. I nodded, not capable of speaking at the moment. I felt Ember's grip loosen on the hood of my cape. Pinkie pulled us in and screamed "surprise" with many others ponies. Notable ponies in attendance were all of the Elements of Harmony, including Sparkle. There were a bunch of ponies I didn't recognize. Soon enough, Pinkie introduced me to everypony, and quizzed me on their names. Ember had long stopped paying attention, and instead snacked on foods. I ignored most of the ponies to the best of my abilities and nibbled on the cupcakes that Pinkie had made for the party. Eventually, Applejack approached me. She was quite drunk. "Shugarcube. Ya ain't have no drinksh?" She slurred out. "I'm sorry, I was just enjoying these cupcakes." I said, lifting another with my magic. She quickly took it from my magic and set it back on the table. "What you need ish mah famoush alcoholic apple shider." She said and tottered over to the table and picked up two bottles of what I was avoiding. She opened one on my horn, which I glared at her for, and the other with her mouth. She gave me the one she opened on my horn. She began drinking the other. I sipped it. When she noticed me she slammed her bottle down, and it shattered, luckily it was empty. She tipped my bottle a bit, forcing me drink faster or risk staining my cape and/or my coat. When it was finally empty, I dropped the bottle and coughed. It was strong stuff and I only drank once before with Luna. I got ready to hit Applejack, but Ember held onto my hoof which made me stop. "What... what is wrong with... with you!?" I yelled loudly through my coughs. Applejack let a sly smile form across her face. The whole party was staring at me. Applejack picked up another bottle and trotted away. I was still coughing, trying to get the alcohol sensation out of my throat. Pinkie walked over to me and gestured for everypony else to continue partying. I finally was able to stop coughing when Pinkie walked over to me and put a hoof around my neck. "You okay, friend?" She asked. "Yeah, I'm fine...just a little *hic*." I started, but stopped. Ember started laughing. Pinkie joined in. I glared at them, while I tried to control my hiccuping. Pinkie quickly stopped. "I'm... I'm sorry about that. Applejack can be like that when she's drunk. Here, this stuff isn't as strong, and here is your cupcake back!" She said and jumped away. So far, I had my impressions of glad of the elements. We all know about magic, but Laughter was so far the nicest of the three I had interactions with. Honesty is just as bad as magic. I don't care if she was drunk when I met her, but I want nothing to do with her. I looked at the drink Pinkie had given me to try, but decided against it for now and instead ate the cupcake. I still was hiccuping, but is was now more spaced out. Next Rainbow Dash approached me. She glared at the drink I had and laughed. "Can I help you?" I asked. "That's all you can handle? Can't take the real stuff?" She laughed. I looked at it. "I've just came to legal drinking age." I fought back. "So? I've been drinking since I was 16, unless you're a wimp." She said. I assumed it was a dare so I quickly chugged the drink I had in my magic and began coughing again, though it wasn't as strong, it still hit me. Rainbow continued to laugh. Well, Loyalty was just as bad as Sparkle, but in her own way. Fluttershy came over and tapped Rainbow. "Rainbow, how about you leave Aura alone. You need to be nicer to ponies." She said in her hushed tone of voice. Rainbow stopped laughing and got to her hooves. She walked over to the table and picked up a bottle. "I wasn't messing with her, I was just getting a drink." She lied and picked one up. She flew off. Fluttershy looked to me. "I'm sorry, she can be like that often." She muttered and walked away. Kindness was well, kind. However, she was a little too shy for me. I could tell we would be on even ground, I was indifferent to her. The last I would have to deal with was Rarity. Ember climbed up on to my back so he would avoid the shattered glass. I had managed to avoid any cuts or anything. Rarity had finally approached me. "Darling, why are you wearing such an austere cape?" She questioned. "Comfort, I'm not big on fashion." "But you are from Canterlot!" "No, I'm from here. I moved there for my studies." "Oh, what did you study?" "Magic." "Really? Twilight never mentioned you." "Hmm, odd." I concluded our conversation. Generosity was nosy. I walked away. I couldn't wait to get out of the party and go home. "When can we go home?" He complained. "Soon." I said. It was another two hours and at least three more cupcakes before the party ended and we could go home. I walked home slowly, I had a bit of a headache and I just wanted to relax. When I got home, I began to take off my cape, but somepony knocked on my door. I open it. It was Pinkie again. "Pinkie, what are you doing here?" I asked. "Well, as a thank you for coming to such an AWESOME party, I brought this for you." She said. She showed me a cupcake. I quickly ate it, expecting the same taste as before, but it was better. "This is really good, why is it different from the party?" I asked. "Well, I was running out of my special ingredient for them, I only had enough to bake one batch, and well, I ate ten of them. So one is for you, and the other is back at Sugarcube Corner if you want it." She offered. I shrugged. "Let me say goodnight to Ember, I'll be back in a second." I said and quickly ran to Ember's room. "I'm going out one more time, I'll be back later. If I'm not back by morning, don't worry." I said. "Okay." He said tiredly. "Night." I called to him and left his room, he didn't respond, but I didn't care. Pinkie and I once again returned to Sugarcube Corner. I waited in the lobby and Pinkie hurried into the kitchen and returned with another cupcake. I excitedly took it and ate it. Something wasn't right. "Pinkie... did you... put something..." Was all I managed to say before I passed out.