Friendship is Magic, Chapter 3

Chapter 3: New day, new life



1 year earlier:

It was a beautiful day. Birds were singing, butterflies were dancing in the air and all kinds of critters were playing in the meadow. Two young squirrels were playing hide and seek until one of the squirrels found something strange lying in the meadow.

The squirrels didn't know what it was and out of curiosity they went closer to the strange thing. When they were close enough they saw that it was a white pony with wings and something else. The squirrels only knew the winged ponies that took care of them and their other furry friends and although they had seen once a group of ponies with horns on their head they never saw a pony like this one.

The pony was lying in the meadow with its eyes closed and since they found it, it didn't move. However before they were able to take a closer look on the pony in began to move and scared the squirrels ran away to their parents.

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Slowly the pony opened his eyes and stood up. He didn't know where he was but even worse he also didn't know who he was, He looked around in the hope to see something he recognized or someone else he could talk to and who maybe even knew him but instead he found himself alone.  Slowly he turned into one direction and he started to walk. He didn't know where he was walking but he hoped and wished that somewhere he would find some answers.

After some time the pony found a lake and before he looked at his own reflection he drank some of its cool water. For some minutes he just sat there and stared at his reflection lost in his own thoughts. He tried to figure out what happened and why he had lying alone in a meadow but he didn't find an answer.

When he prepared himself to turn away from the lake to search for anyone else he suddenly had a flashback. He couldn't see anything except of fog but he could hear a voice whispering the name "Shiron". The pony didn't know the meaning of this flashback but he decided that this could be his name. Until the day he would get back his memories the pony decided that he would keep the name Shiron for himself.

One day later Shiron had already walked a long way but still he didn't find anyone else. Although he had wings all his tries to fly hadn't been successful and the few times when he had been able to leave the ground he had fallen back to it.

Suddenly he heard something. It was the happy laughter of at least two other creatures. Shiron ran in the direction where the laughter came from and when he reached the top of the hill he could see a group of ponies. There were two earth ponies, a unicorn and a Pegasus pony and from his place he could only see the cutie mark from the Pegasus pony which looked like a flower.

Shiron hoped that these ponies could help him and maybe they even knew him or were his friends. The ponies where only 100 yards away and he would only need some minutes to reach the ponies but before he was able to go Shiron had another odd flashback.

Once again he found himself in a world of fog. He was alone but once again the same mysterious voice talked to him. Shiron tried to talk to the voice but nothing happened. Instead all his hopes were crushed when the voice whispered "You are different than these ponies. They won't accept you because everyone who is different is a monster." Then he was back in the real world.

Without looking back to the group of ponies Shiron turned back and ran away before the ponies could even notice his presence. On this day Shirons long search for other ponies like his began.

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The Pegasus pony stopped and looked at the hill but she didn't see anything. For just a moment she thought she saw a pony but now she couldn't see anypony. Maybe her mind had played a trick on her.

When her friends saw that she had stopped the unicorn asked her friend "Is everything alright, Sunflower?"

Sunflower looked back to her friends and with a smile she said "Yes, I just thought I saw a … never mind. It's impossible that there are more ponies like her."

With this the happy little group of friends continued their way to the next town.

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Three month had passed since Shiron had started his long journey to find other ponies like him. He had passed forests, mountains and many other places but he was still alone. Although he had found many different creatures like zebras, dragons, griffins and even seaponies he didn't find other ponies like himself.

During the last months he had learned how to fly and although his first flights had been very clumsy he was training every day and soon he had become better and faster. It was almost like he was born to fly and the feeling to fly was beyond description. He felt like he was once with the sky and he felt free but also lonely. Every day he wished for someone to fly with someone to share the sky with but his wished had been unheard.

Thanks to his training he had been able to search more places and he was even able to escape a hydra that had attacked him one month earlier. However during the last months he also had became a creature of the night and most of the time he had traveled only when it was dark. If other creatures really saw everyone who was different as a monster then he couldn't allow them to see him.

When he had found places where ponies or other creatures could live he had watched them until he had known what kind of creature lived there. However all the time he had found creatures or ponies who weren't like him and before they had even noticed him he had been already far away.

Three months he had searched but it looked like he was alone in this world. His search had been a failure and now he was standing at the entrance of a dark forest which was called the Everfree Forest. Although it was a dark place unloved and feared by others Shiron felt an odd connection with this forest.

He was unloved just like the Everfree Forest and Shiron was sure that if others would see him they would also fear him. He was a monster and monsters hadn't the right to live in the light were others could see them. They had to live in the darkness … alone and unloved


After some more months had passed Shiron had become once with the Everfree Forest and he knew almost everything about it. The unpredictable weather and the trees close to each other had been the perfect training for Shiron and his flying skills and his stamina had become better and better. Shiron had even learned some tricks while he was practicing his flying skills but just like the months before he found this place he still felt the loneliness when he was flying through the sky.

The only other creature except of the animals that lived in the Everfree Forest was a zebra named Zecora. She was mysterious and always spoke in rhymes. Unlike him Zecora left the forest every week to go to the village close to the forest and from what Shiron heard the ponies saw her as an evil enchantress because of her appearance. She was different than the ponies of the village and as the result they hated and feared her.

Somehow Zecora someday had found Shiron's cave. At first he had hide in the tunnels of his cave until she left but every time she left a basked with food, tea and sometimes even other things like a book or some candles. One time there was even a cloak in the basked. However Shiron still hide when Zecora came with a new basked because he feared that she would also see him as a monster. It didn't make much sense because since the day he had awaken in the meadow nine months ago no one actually had seen him but Shiron still could hear the whispering voice in his head.

However the next two months were different. On one day he could see the shadows of a group of five or six ponies which headed to the ruins of the old castle. Some hours later a rainbow colored light illuminated the Everfree Forest. On another day he saw a griffon flying in the direction of the village only to leave it two days later and some days later another group of ponies headed to Zecora's home.

Shiron feared that they would attack her although Shiron hadn't seen any kind of violence since he had awaken in the meadow. Luckily Zecora had told him the whole story with the poison joke and that the villagers had apologist for their behavior. Although Shiron had made the first step to talk to Zecora some weeks ago instead of hiding he still wore the cloak she had given him. Zecora also told him that she was now welcome to the village named Ponyville. However unlike him Zecora had never been a monster because there were many other zebras in towns and villages but no other ponies like Shiron.

A week later an explosion caught Shiron's attention and when he looked at the sky he could see a beautiful rainbow colored wave in the sky. Its light illuminated the Everfree Forest and deep in his heart he sent a wish to the rainbow. He hoped that one day other ponies like him would find him and save him from his loneliness but Shiron knew he was alone in this world. He was a lonely monster in his exile.

Another month had passed. It was a dark and stormy night when Shiron found a Pegasus pony that was chased by one of the most dangerous creatures of the Everfree Forest. Although Shiron had been able to banish the monster the pony was unconscious. She had a pale cyan colored coat and a rainbow colored mane and tail and it looked like she was hurt.
Shiron already helped other ponies that had got lost in the forest but this was different because the other ponies hadn't been hurt. He didn't know where this pony came from and thus he brought her to his cave to treat her wounds.

This was ten hours ago and now he was standing in front of her without his cloak on. Shiron didn't know why he had taken if off when she asked him but there was something in her eyes. Those beautiful, big eyes …

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Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron but she didn't believe her eyes. He was surely different than all the other ponies in Ponyville.  
"You also see me as a monster, don't you?" asked Shiron with sad eyes.

Instead of looking at him with fear Rainbow Dash burst into laughter which confused Shiron even more. It took a while until she calmed down and spoke again. "Sorry it's just that many ponies would do anything to be like you. You aren't a monster you are an alicorn." Rainbow Dash pointed at Shirons wings and his horn.

"I'm an Alicorn? You mean there are other ponies like me?" With a smile and a nod Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron.

With a soft voice she said "Yep, there are two more - Princess Celestia and Princess Luna the ruler of Equestria. Everypony look up to them and admire them. However we always thought that there were no other Alicorns in Equestria."
Rainbow Dash looked at Shiron and wondered how he felt at this moment. From what she knows he lived all alone for almost one year with the idea that he is the only alicorn and that others would see him as something bad.

When Rainbow Dash saw that he was close to tears she didn't know what she should say and so she put a hoof around his neck to make him feel that he wasn't alone anymore.
"I… I still can't …belief it. I searched for months without finding other ponies like me and then I find you and you told me that there are two more ponies like me and that this ponies are even the ruler of this land. Where can I find them?"

With his brown eyes he looked at Rainbow Dash and she could see the hope in his eyes. The hope that he would learn more about his origin and maybe Princess Celestia could even give him his memories back. Like all Pegasus ponies Rainbow Dash could sense the cardinal directions and with one hoof she pointed at north.
"They are living in Canterlot a town in the mountains. You can even see it from the sky. When we are in Ponyville I'll introduce you to my friends especially a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. She is the student of Princess Celestia and she sends her every week a letter. I'm sure she will tell the Princess about you and enable an audience with her. Until we can go to Canterlot you can live in Ponyville."

Rainbow Dash thought that Shiron would be happy to hear those words but instead he looked back into the fire before he spoke in a low voice.
"I'm not sure. I mean, except of this cave I have nothing and I don't have any money for a home in Ponyville."

With a slap on Shiron's shoulder and her usual confident attitude she looked at Shiron
"Don't worry. You stay with me in my cloud house. It's good-sized and there exist no better bed than a cloud. By the way cohabit with a friend sounds like fun not to mention the flying sessions." With a wink she added "Maybe you even know some new tricks you can show me."

Shiron didn't know what he should say. Out of the nowhere he met this confident young Pegasus pony who told him that he wasn't the only pony with a horn and wings. Now she even invited him to live with her and her friends in Ponyville. After almost a year Shiron had hope for better days
"Thank you Rainbow Dash." said Shiron who wasn't only referring to her invitation to live with her in Ponyville but for everything she did for him.

"You're welcome." she said with a grin.
Rainbow looked at the entrance of the cave and then back to Shiron "The storm will at least persist till dawn so I can tell you some things about Ponyville, my friends and me of course. You can tell me something about you like your hobbies or something else."

With a nod Shiron said "That sounds good."

Rainbow Dash looked into the light of the fire and thought about her friends. She knew many stories about them, many adventures and all the good times she had with them. After she knew what would be the best way to talk about her best friends she began with her story.

"I think I start with Applejack. Applejack is an earth pony and she was my first new friend when I came to Ponyville. She is working on the apple farm Sweet Apple Acres and just like me she is an athlete although I'm the better athlete. She is a helpful pony and sometimes she is very stubborn but she is one of my best friends.
The next pony is Pinkie Pie and like Applejack she is an earth pony. She is the most cheerful pony I've ever met. You never know what she is going to do next and she loves sweets. Every week she throws at least one party especially when she meets someone she doesn't know." With a grin Rainbow added, "I'm sure when she sees you she will run away to make a welcome party."

A flash illuminated the cave and after some seconds the sound of thunder broke the silence of the night. With his magic Shiron put more firewood into the fire and both ponies enjoyed its warmth.
After some more moments, a hot tea and some food Rainbow Dash continued.
"Rarity is a unicorn and a fashion designer. She is generous but sometimes a bit too girly especially when there is mud or dirt.
I don't have a problem with mud or dirt and you can make some good pranks with it.

Fluttershy is a Pegasus pony like me and she also comes from my hometown Cloudsdale. Even if she is most of the time very shy she can be very assertive when someone needs help. She tamed a manticore, a dragon and she even intimidated a cocatrice with her special power – the stare.  She really cared about all animals and ponies and she is a good friend. However she should be a little bit more assertive. I mean seriously this pony is even afraid of her own shadow.

Well, the last one is a unicorn named Twilight Sparkle. Twilight really loves books and science but sometimes she is like an egghead. She has a book for everything you can image.
When she first came to Ponyville she wasn't interested in making friends, parties or anything funny. It took some time for her to make friends but now she has many good friends just like me and the pony gang."

"Sounds like you have many good friends" said Shiron before he offered her more fruits which she gladly accepted.

"Yeah I'm really happy to have them. Every day with them is awesome and we have a lot of fun together.
What about you? What have you done in the last year except from hiding in a cave?"

While she watched Shiron she bite into a juicy pomegranate. Shiron started to chuckle and it took her some seconds before she realized that her face was full of the juices of the fruit. For some time both ponies just sit there and laughed.

After some time Shiron broke the silence
"Well, there isn't much that you can do in the Everfree Forest. In the daytime it's very boring but at night I usually read some books explore the Forest or" Shiron closed his eyes for a moment and with a smile he said "or I fly.

There is nothing better as to breeze as high and fast as I can. At night you can see the star-spattered sky and at day you can see the sunrise or the sunset. The feeling of the wind beneath my wings and in my face, the increasing speed and the feeling…"

"…and the feeling of freedom and peace." finished Rainbow Dash who was also smiling. "It looks like we both love to fly as fast and high as we can. We have more similarities than I though."
After a brief look to the entrance and the discovery that the storm was almost over Rainbow Dash stood up and removed the bandage.

She looked back to Shiron and with a wink she said "The storm is almost over. How about some fun? Ponyville is only half an hour from here and I can't wait to see how good your flying skills really are."
"Sounds good to me." With this both ponies left the cave and took off. Together they flew towards Ponyville.


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Some minutes after the two ponies left the cave a cloaked creature left the shadows. The gold under her cloak glittered in the light of the sunrise and with her turquoise eyes she looked after the two flying ponies.
"Now Shiron you aren't alone anymore, because you a friend and soon even more". With a smile Zecora went again into the shadows back to her house.