A/N: I hope you liked the last chapter. It only gets better from here on out. Well, depending on your definition of better. Also, the character that I am going to introduce, this is going to be from their perspective after the first part. I will go back in the next chapter.
Sapphire looked up to the nearest pony, who was only getting closer. She wanted to be left alone. She knew she had no choice though, as there was only one thing that could be done.
The mayor stepped up to her and stomped her hoof on the ground. "Sapphire! I can't believe that somepony like yourself would do such a thing! To kill your own sister, how could you?" She said, stopping to take a deep breath. "I can't allow a pony like that to stay here in ponyville. You no longer have a place in this village. From this moment on, I ban you from this town for the remainder of your life. I don't want to see your face again. Now, leave." The mayor said, her voice edged with grief and anger. Bitterness held the medal in her tone though.
Sapphire stood and looked to the crowd. There were most of the ponies of ponyville creating it. A few other ponies from cloudsdale as well gathered here. She located Daisy, who was hanging her head. She moved over to her, watching as the ponies parted. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to do it… I was only…" She was cut off by her friend's harsh words.
"I don't want to hear excuses. I don't want to have to listen to your words of self-pity. Leave. Never come back, I don't want to see your murderous eyes again. Just… leave." Daisy said, hatred brimming the edges.
Sapphire took a breath to reply, but decided against it as Daisy stepped to the side. She hung her head and looked to Daisy as she passed by, but something was off. It was in Daisy's face. There seemed to be a slight humor and smile, but she blamed it on her imagination. She just lost her family, all of it. How could she possibly see anything straight? Before she could confirm it, she blinked and the frown was back in the pony's hung head. She sighed and fell forward as she was shoved.
"Just leave already, don't you listen? Just go!" Daisy said, pushing her again.
Sapphire got up after she rolled from the second push. The rain plastered her mane to her face and sides. She got up and set her sights toward the Everfree forest. It was the only place that she could go. She continued further and looked back to the town after she stepped past the boundaries of Ponyville. The crowd had already started to dissipate, but two ponies remained, watching her; Daisy and the mayor.
Sapphire stepped into the forest and heard an echo, sounding much like her sisters voice, saying "No, anywhere but here. Please no…" She jumped at the sound, looking around for her sister.
"S-sis?" She called, only to be met with silence. She heard a whimper after the silence passed. "W-who's there?" She asked.
"I-I'm scared…" She heard her sister's voice again, only a little more clear this time.
Sapphire turned around to see only the field behind her. She looked back to the dark forest and sighed. She was going insane. She was losing her mind from everything that was happening. She shook her head and continued into the woods.
She found a spot where there was no wood growing, and there was sun shinging through the trees, which was weird. She smiled and went to work, taking wood from the trees nearby with her magic and giving more light to the clearing.
After about two days, she made a house, and about four more to make the furniture and a bed. The whole time, thinking of her sister and her family, but only momentarily hearing her sister's voice come in and out. She had a feeling that it was a little more deep than insanity.
Three years had passed since her exile and she had found a place in Everfree forest. It was near the old castle, but was far enough away to be undetected by tourists. She had made sure that they never visited, putting up beware signs and making things look scarier than they are with her magic, or in other words a mirage spell.
One day though, there was a tourist who found no fear in the Everfree, only joy and the thrill of danger. This tourist was a Pegasus by the name of Blitz Fire. She had been on a tour to the Everfree castle for the third time, but broke away from the tour to search the forest for some fun.
Blitz Fire followed the tour guide through the halls. She was walking in front of the tour along with the guide. Blitz was getting bored further with every passing second. "Is there anything exciting about this castle? I mean, yeah, it's got dark magic still trapped inside it, but this is sooo boring!" She groaned, bringing herself into the air. She looked to the others, who were giving her a glare. "It's true." She grumbled.
"Miss Fire, please calm yourself. We can't explore further than what is permitted, so please just follow me and listen to the wonders of this castle." The guide said.
"yes Ma'am…" Blitz said. She folded her wings as she landed back on the ground. She flipped her red and black mane over her right eye. Her blue gaze watched as the passing ponies walked by. She started up again at the back of the tour and looked out the window, seeing something move out there. It looked like a teal pony. A unicorn to be exact. She became interested and decided to figure out who the mystery pony was. She stopped and walked in place to give the image of her staying with the tour. She watched as the last pony went around the corner to the next hall and watched as the pony outside seemed to be gathering things.
Blitz flew out the doors of the castle, making no noise as she barely fit through the gap between them, as they didn't close. She flew above the castle and looked around to where she had last seen the pony. She wasn't there any longer, so she decided to see if she had really seen her. She flew down to the spot where she had seen the mysterious blue pony. She searched the ground for some hoofpirnts, but found none. She saw that some of the grass was bent though. She looked up to the dark forest as she heard the creaking of the wood in the wind. It gave her a thrill to hear the frightening sounds of the dim forest.
She walked for about five minutes through the forest, then set her heart on getting out, as she was probably going to get lost, if she wasn't already. She gave up on her search for the pony when she found no clues or hints as to the existence of the elusive mare. She sighed and jumped back as she looked up to see a Timber Wolf jump out of the bushes nearby. It growled and launched at her, but it didn't hit her, it just phased through her. She had let out a scream, but opened an eye to see nothing there. "I need to get out of here… this forest is going to kill me…" She whimpered. Catching herself in the moment of fright, she slapped herself. "You idiot, you're not afraid of anything. It's just a little Timber Wolf. You laugh in the face of danger. Haha! Stupid forest can't scare me off that easily." She puffed her chest out, but seemed to shrink as a cloud passed over, blocking out the light. She could have sworn that she saw a pair of blue eyes in the darkness, seemingly glaring into her soul. They disappeared within the same second, but with a flash. Blitz flew over to where the flash was, seeing the ground as the cloud passed by. She looked to where the grass was parted. She was real. I'm not going insane, thank Celestia! She thought.
She searched the area for a clue as to where the pony had gone, hope rekindled in her heart. She felt warmer as the sun started to go through the canopy. She shook the sweat out of her cyan pelt, then wiped her forehead as the humidity and heat was making her sweat. She felt like falling asleep now.
She took a breath and walked around the last tree to a clearing, amazed at the hut built before her. "Oh my Celestia, who made this?" She asked herself. She looked around and she walked subconsciously towards the hut. She reached the door and came back to realization. She opened the door and stepped inside the cool house. She found herself relieved of the heat and she felt good from the temperature change. She moved to the nearest chair and sat in it.
"You know, it's not very nice to just walk into somepony's house when you don't knock first. Not to mention that you weren't supposed to make it this far. I made this for a reason, and that is to stay away from everypony." A soft voice that was rather terrifying sounded from behind the chair.
Blitz launched out of the chair, spinning in mid-air to see the pony that was behind her. "W-who are you?" She asked quickly.
"I should be asking you that question. My name is of little importance. But I guess I could tell you it, seeing as you aren't going to be leaving." The pony said. "I am Sapphire Ruby. Or more formally Sapphire Jewel." Sapphire announced, then sat in her chair. "And you?" She asked.
"I-I'm Blitz Fire. I was on a tour of the Everfree but it was so boring. Also, why won't I be leaving?" Blitz asked, tilting her head slightly.
"Because I can't let you leave. Not now that you know my name, therefore knowing what I've done. I am sorry, but you have to stay." Sapphire said.
Blitz felt a sudden rush of anger and fear. "W-what do you mean, I can't leave? And what are you talking about? I have no idea what you are talking about, what have you done?" She asked, lifting her hoof to her chest.
"Don't play dumb. You know exactly what I have done. I know you are lying." Sapphire burst out, leaping up. "If I let you leave, you'll tell the guards when you find me, then they will take me away and kill me. I don't feel like dying today." She said, stepping up to Blitz.
"What are you talking about?" Blitz asked. "Why in the name of Celestia would I ever tell the guards? I know not what you have done, and if I do, I promise to not tell." She said.
"Y-you wouldn't? W-why not? And how do you not know what I've done? Everypony in ponyville knows what I've done three years ago. During the fire at the windmill." Sapphire said.
Blitz sighed. "I-I don't remember that… I don't remember much from the last five…" She said.
"How so?" Sapphire asked, easing back to stand evenly as she curiously waiting her answer.
"I-I… I uh… I would rather not talk about it." Blitz shied away.
"All right… well… I guess…" Sapphire sighed. "I guess I can trust you…" She said. "You can go…" She added, sitting back in the chair. "But if I find out that you betrayed my trust, I will kill you myself." She finished and looked away from her.
"I would never. And you are such a friendly person." Blitz said with sarcasm. "I'll be back sometime. I think I want to get to know you. Of course, now I have to find my way out of the Everfree." She said, closing the door behind herself.
Before Sapphire could reply, she was gone. "Why do I feel like I can trust her without knowing her?" She asked herself, but was answered.
"It's because you need somepony to talk to." A voice that sounded much like her sister's, but older.
"Yes, I know…" Sapphire sighed, putting her chin on her hoof. "Somepony other than you, anyway." She said, smiling. She was just joking of course.
"That's nice." The voice echoed in her head
"I know, sis, I know." She said jokingly then got out of the chair. "Guess I should probably finish my gardening. Besides, I need to say hi to my new neighbor, Zecora. She seemed pretty cool." She said to herself. Mainly to Ruby, but would sound like herself if others were around.
"You know, there is somepony that Blitz reminded me of… Do you think that maybe she could remind you of Applejack? How you were able to trust her so easily? Hmm… Maybe you should get to know her…" ruby said.
"You know, she does now that you mention it." Sapphire said, starting her gardening. She pulled up a carrot and set it in her saddlebag.
"She seems like she could even help you be brought back into Ponyville." Ruby said.
"If she can, then good, because I am tired of this stupid place. I want to be able to talk to somepony else…" Sapphire said. She pulled up some more carrots and a thing of cabbage.
"You know, she looks a little like that one filly we watched do that Sonic Rainboom… Rainbow Dash, I believe. I don't know, maybe a sister, cousin, something like that." Ruby said.
Sapphire ignored her sister and her curiousity. "I'm going to focus on my work now." Sapphire said, continuing her farming then reseeding.
After Sapphire finished her farming, she stretched her muscles a little. "Guess we should pay Zecora a little visit?" She asked.
"You're choice, not mine." Ruby said.
"Then let's go." Sapphire nodded. She closed the door to her house and walked down a little trail. After making her way down the hauntingly dark trail, she came across a hut. There were masks and other voodoo-like things around the yard. She knocked on the door and waited for the zebra to answer.
Zecora answered the door and found Sapphire there. "Ah, my friend Sapphire, unless my eyes declare me a liar." She said, smiling and letting the unicorn inside. "What is it that has brought you here, I do not fear." She finished, looking past the door to one of her masks.
Sapphire came in and smiled. She set her saddlebags down and magicked out a few vegetables and handed them over. "I brought some things." She said, magicking them onto her table.
"A great help you are to me, that is plain to see." Zecora said, looking over the food items that she would turn into a stew later. "So what is the purpose of your visit, is there something interesting in it?" She asked, looking to her visitor.
"Actually, yes. I came here because I decided that today I would find out about that spell that I used three years ago. I didn't read it fully and I want to know why Ruby is still with me, and only I can hear her." Sapphire asked.
"Three years you say? Sit in the seat and stay." Zecora said, motioning to a nearby chair. She took one herself.
"Thank you." Sapphire said. She moved to the seat and sat in the chair, magicking her book out of her saddle bags.
"Hmm... so that book holds the spell? Looks like some of those spells can leave a nasty smell." Zecora grabbed the book and opened it, flipping to a page that was marked with a piece of paper.
"That's the spell, right there." Sapphire said, pointing to a set of words that were circled.
Zecora read it over and fell silent. She set the book down and went in the back of her hut to reappear after about a minute. "This book should hold the answer to your question, and maybe you'll have learned your lesson." She said, handing the book over to her friend. "I need more herbs and spices, all of which entices. Now I must go, for my stock is low." She said, nodding and walking Sapphire out the door. She then closed it and locked it.
"I'll see you when I figure it out, okay? Bye." Sapphire said, smiling as she galloped off. Her smile was soon replaced by a frown as concern hit her like a brick wall. "What if it's something serious, like I'm going crazy?" she asked.
"That'd be my guess." Ruby joked.
"Oh haha, let's just get home and read this book so that I can figure this thing out." Sapphire said, keeping her pace.
"You're in control, not me. Don't tell me to go anywhere." Ruby said, holding a kind of smart-ass tone.
"Oh, right. I'm just used to it, I guess." Sapphire lightly chuckled in slight embarrassment. She made it to her door and went to open it as she caught a cyan colored flash in the corner of her eye as she spun to open her door.
"Heya!" Blitz said, leaning against a tree. "Told ya I'd come to visit. I just knocked and you weren't home, so I figured I'd wait." She said, pulling herself away from the tree.
"Oh… You. Okay, well come in. I'm sorta busy, so I don't have much time to hang out." Sapphire said, opening her door. She walked in and allowed her visitor in after her. She shut the door and she brought the book out of her bag. It was a lighter white color, almost creamy white. She set it on the table and opened it, placing her coal-black book next to it. She read the first page, which held a spell for healing a broken bone, and decided to read further. Before she knew it, she had read half the book and remembered that Blitz was still there.
"That book looks quite interesting." Blitz said, watching as the fire in the fireplace burned on.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry. So, why exactly did you come over here?" Sapphire asked, not to be rude, but just curious.
"Well, I thought that maybe we could talk about some things. Possibly take a walk around the Everfree." Blitz said. She looked to Sapphire with a bored, yet slightly pleading look.
Sapphire looked to the books on the counter and groaned. She looked back to Blitz and looked out the window. "I guess. I mean, I have a little while before I have to sleep to plant new seeds tomorrow. All right, let's go." She said.
Blitz smiled and jumped out of the chair, flapping her wings a few times to keep her from hitting the ground too hard. "Cool, I was thinking around the Everfree castle." She said.
"I don't know… Aren't there tours going on?" Sapphire asked.
"Yeah, but not this late. The tour's already over. Besides, we don't have to go in the castle if you don't want to." Blitz said.
"Okay, then we won't." Sapphire said, opening the door with her magic. "Now, let's get going before it gets too dark. You don't want to be out here at night. Trust me on this one." She said, following Blitz outside.
"okay, I'll trust you." Blitz said, smiling as Sapphire stopped at her side.