Hi there Apple bloom, it's me again.

Remember what I told you last night? Well then... I am ready to grand you the first memory.

Are you ready?

I could hear the singing birds outside the window, their harmonic chirping that echoed through the forest along the fine noises of rustling grass and blown away leafs. The tender warm morning sun shining through the glass and onto my face, finally ripping me out of my sleep in the early morning.
With my mane hanging in my face and a few remains of dried drool on my lips, I slowly sat up and took a moment to fully regain my senses. I was up very late the last night, a dumb thing I used to do quiet frequent to be honest, eventhough mommy would get mad when I fell asleep during classes. Luckily for me it was vacation time and the only kind of work I had to do was bringing out the trash. But I liked school, believe it or not, especially since I was close to all of my friends. Just when I thought of it I heard a slight knocking on my door.
“Sweety, are you up yet?” It was my mommy who was slightly peaking into my room with a soft smile.
“Your friend is here to play” She continued. A part of me was a little more sleep would have been great, not to mention the state my mane or face was in which was mor ethan a little embarrassing, yet I had a feeling that my friend looked worse.
“MUD MONSTER ATTAAAAACK!”
“NUUUUU!” As expected she burst through the door packed with mus and leafs all over her face and fur, jumping onto me and only making my bad mane day worse, but hey who didnt like egtting dirty now and then? We giggled and laughed, rolling over the bed and onto the floor*
“You will never get me you monster!” I heroically raised my magical sword, which in this case was a make shift tree branch sword, and poked my friend the mud monster in the chest.
“NUUU! I WAS SLAIN! BLARGH!” In a very dramatic fashion the monster fell to the ground and died, just to get up a few seconds later giggling.
“Hehehe nice try, but you can never stop the chosen one~!” I said playfully with my tongue sticking out.
“Oh yeah? Well next time I AM going to be the chosen one and YOU will be the monster and I shall save the land from your monster...y!” She replied cockily and with a wide grin.

“Aww but you are such a better monster than me... and I haz the sword of thousand magics!” I know the name was not very intimidating, but its power was incredible. Besides it was true that my friend was a way better monster than anyone I ever met, eventhough that sounded sort of mean.
“Heh well... maybe I am a monster deep inside.” Her smile faded a bit and I could feel how the mood was dropping, maybe she took it too personal. In order to make up for it I gave her a super big hug and added: “Well even if you are, you are my bestest monster buddy in the world!”
It took a little but she finally hugged me back with a little giggle.
“Fine! You wanted a real at heart monster, you will get one! Hehe I dont want to hear any complaint if I slay the mighty knight Sir Ruby one day!”
“Pfsh, that wont happen! Instead thy will all hear the story of me, slaying the deadly Three Leaf!”

A few hours passed and we began to make our way outside the house and into the small village we were living in. It really wasnt all that big of a village either, mainly a few houses, a warehouse near the rim of it and a town hall sort of thingy. We used to be a way bigger community, but one day all the elders left with their children... which is why I only had grown ups as friends, including my best friend Leafs. I never complained about it though, because I rather have one very good friend than many fake ones... or at least that is what I told myself. The ponies were all very nice to me and we tried making the best out of the situation. My daddy, the greatest party planner in all of Equestria, so he said, always made everypony smile and get along with each other, sometimes performing some stand up comedy. I never really understood some of his jokes, but the faces he made were already funny enough as they were.
“... say... do you still have to wear this contraption on your hip?” Three leafs asked.
“Huh? Oh... you mean my saddle attachment?” Its true that I had to wear this special typ of medical clothing for my leg which is connected to my saddle. My parents made it for me for spread the weight of my body over my back then my hind legs, as result, it would cover my hind legs aswell as my flanks. One might mistake it was some weird looking sort of sock. I dont remember what mommy called it, all I know was that I need it and I should never ever take it off. After all... I had troubles walking. I sighed and nodded silently as my eyes pointed further towards the ground.
“I see, you know... I think you are a very brave little filly” She smiled sweetly at me. I tried to fake my own smile but it wore off in a few seconds. Gladly the situation was quickly interrupted by a familiar happy voice.
“Oh, hi you two...” Roneo, a very kind and shy colt living in the village greeted us with a soft smile.
“Are you enjoying this wonderful weather aswell?”
“Yes mister Roneo.” Three Leaf replied happily. Roneo was usually responsible for the garden and the flowers blooming around the village. Some ponies even said he had a crush on the village's most beautiful mare miss Starlet. Giving his shy nature, I would have called that a hopeless dream.
“Have you asked her out yet?” Three Leaf suddenly asked with a big smile. Roneos cheeks flushed pink by the thought of it as his gaze nervously switched over to Starlet standing at the well.
“I... n-no.. but maybe during the next harvest celebration! Y-yes... I will do it then... t-this time for sure!” He said with a glimpse of confidence in his voice.
“But you will need something very pretty for miss Starlet in order to win her attention, maybe even her heart~”
“I... I know I know Leafs.” He smiled and placed his hoof at his saddlebag.
“That is why I ordered a special something from the rock farm vendor.”
“You mean that grumpy looking colt that could easily be Gray Hooves gramps?” The colt in question they were talking about was a old earth pony with gray fur. Every time he came through the forest he was wearing the same old timey clothes, sometimes he even had a few fillies with him. None of them looked very happy... I was assuming that a life on a farm with nothing but rocks around you all day would be pretty tiring at some point, which is why I wanted to ask them to play last time they came by, but I wasnt allowed to sadly. That was a few months ago and I havent seen them since.
“He seemed very very nice to me, so I asked him for a special kind of gem, and he gave me the most beautiful one he had.” His eyes lid up in excitement, but in the blink of an eye turned into terror.
“W-wait... w-where is it?!” In blind panic he nearly ripped the bag off his saddle and stuffed his muzzle all the way into it, his eyes filling with tears of desperation.
“ITS GONE!”
“Calm down there Roneo, I am sure it hasnt left this village. Hehe nothing ever does, right?” Leafs said surprisingly calm. To be honest, when was the last time any of us was allowed to leave this village? We barely get any visitors and after the last settlers left, there is only us left...
“You okay Ruby? You did not say a word since we came here.”
“Huh? O-oh I am okay Leafs, Im sorry I was just lost in thoughts a bit.” I smiled back, trying to hid ethe fact that I was more that curious of what was going on in this village. She would have just called me silly anyways, just as usual.
“Say... how about my and my little assistant detective Ruby here will help you find your precious gem hm? She is a real talent if it comes to finding things it seems. Hehe last time I lost my favourite doll and she found it in near seconds!” Finding her doll really wasnt all that difficult, which was mostly because it just fell under her bed, but I was still proud of it... I guess.
“Could you... really find it, Ruby?” He asked with tear filled eyes.
“Well do not fear! Detective Ruby is on the case!” I spouted out in joy. Finding things, especially during eastern, was always my favourite hobby you could say. Finding a giant red gem should have been a piece of cake. Or at least so I thought... hours have passed and me and Leafs tried our best to find the lost gem without any luck. Maybe it was not meant to be found? Or maybe I didnt have a special talent? From what I heard ponies say, is that if a pony finds a special talent they were really really good at, they would obtain a so called cutie mark on their flank, pretty much showing your talent to everypony else. Funny thing about all that is the fact nopony in this village ever had one... well except for me. The only few of us who got them left the village in the middle of the night. Maybe that was what it all was about? Once you gained your cutie mark you can leave and enter the big wide world? That would have been amazing! I always wanted to see all the big cities, Canterlot castle, see the princesses... but mommy and daddy wanted me to keep it a secret for some reason... I was not even allowed to tell my best friend Leafs, which is the reason I had to wear this uncomfortable flank-leg... whatever its called. A hip band maybe? I would have to stay here and play search the rock until I am allowed to be proud of what Im best at and stop pretending to be ill.
“Ah!” While I was in thoughts two hooves were covering my eyes from behind.
“Knock knock~” Of course I recognized the voice of my mysterious attacker.
“Hehe, who is there?”
“Tickle~”
“Tickle who?”
“YOU!” My daddy laughed and immediately started to tickle me. I couldnt withstand as usual and flopped onto my tummy, laughing and begging for him to stop*
“NUUUU! NOT FAAAIR!”
“There is no, not fair!” He replied with a wide smile as the tickle war continued.
“So this is where you were hiding.” With another female voice joining I looked up and saw my mommy standing in front of us with a big smile.
“Mommy! Heeeeeelp! Ahahaha!” I squeaked and laughed as tears formed in my eyes, my mom was joining in with her own little giggle.
“Dont break her hunny, or we have to go get a new one.”
“Aw but I like this one, its unique! The ultimate squeaky toy!” That meanie smiled but at least stopped to tickle me. The fact he mentioned my squeaking when I get tickled made me blush a little. Its just embarrassing when that happens and even though I know he only said that to tease me and joke around, it still made him a meanie.
“I think she hates you now hunny.” Mommy said.
“And its your own fault because you just wont stop messing with her.” Daddy puffed up his cheeks and kicked a tiny rock away as he played mister flankhurt.
“I just wanted to have some fun...”
“Aw hunny I know, but you should also try and save up your strength a little okay?” Suddenly mommys smile faded a bit as she looked at the bandage around daddys flank. Nopony ever really told me what happened to daddy, all I knew was that he got very sick one day. I knew that he will be okay, but as one of the very few strong colts in this town, not counting sensitive Roneo, he had to help with the crop harvest and maybe even repairs. Usually our muscle pony Gladstone could do all that by himself, but even he seemed to have caught himself a bad cold.
“I am alright Mitta dear... its just... Its just a rash and a little cold okay?” Daddy said comfortingly, yet I could see in my daddys eyes that he was worried too.
“... hmpf! Dont worry! I will find daddy a cure! I can find everything!” Both remained silent for a little while, their smiles almost gone as their eyes rest on me.
“..... heh, of course you will, my little cupcake... one day you might cure us all.”

And so the days passed, one after another... and daddy got worse... even aggressive sometimes.

Last time I saw him he was about to hurt himself with a knife, but gladly mommy was able to stop him. I have never seen him again since that night in the kitchen. I cried a lot that night. For hours and hours I was laying in my bed, hugging my magnifying glass that I got for my birthday not too long ago, unwilling to move till I would know for sure my daddy would come back and get better. After a little while I was able to hear somepony talk downstairs. Curious how I was I slowly sneaked through the door and looked down into the living room. I couldnt see the face of the pony mommy was talking to, but whoever it was, I was only able make out one sentence in the first place: “Your husband is secured in the warehouse.” Was that pony talking about daddy? After that I was able to see my mommy closing the door and walk into the kitchen.
“..... mommy?” I made my way downstairs and saw her sitting at the dining table, her face covered in her hooves.
“Mommy...? Are you okay?”
“Huh?! Ruby!” She tried her best to wipe away her tears, but she could not hide her red eyes from crying. I knew it was because of my daddy, I was still trying my very best to smile and be comforting but, who was I kidding, I was crying just as much not too long ago.
“Mommy its okay... I am sad too, but... it will be okay, right?” I asked hesitantly, but without any response.
“Mommy...? Where is daddy? … is he okay?” I continued slowly. She remained silent for a little while longer, but after a few minutes she finally smiled a little and looked back at me.

“He is alright honey, don't worry.”

“... you are lying... arent you?” And with that her smile faded away.

“I.... He is alright sweetie, really! He will be back soon. Very soon...” Maybe what everypony was talking about was true in the end... this weird infections the ponies were talking about. I was still a foal when I first heard all that, a terrible disease roaming out little village, causing trouble and... hurting others. I wanted to forget about it but... what if it was all true in the end?

“... he is infected, isnt he?” Her face turned into a surprised gaze. She probably thought I wouldnt know, but I heard the grown ups talking a bunch of times and she knows I am not dumb either.

“... listen, dear-”

“He will die... right? Just like the others, just because of this... curse!”

“Honey, there are things in the world we can't explain. Things that just happen without warning

or specific reason.” She tried to explain, but her voice was shaky. Was she afraid to talk about it?

“What do you mean mommy?”

“... one day you'll understand. Death is not the end, it's a new beginning.” Her voice turned gloomy, almost as if she drifted away with her thoughts. What did she mean by that? I felt my heart race and fear spread inside my body.

“Will... will you die, too?” Her gaze returned back to me, followed by a warm smile, her red eyes starting to tear up a little.

“No honey, I will stay with you as long as you need me.”

“I WILL, I WILL! Please don’t leave me like daddy!”

“Don't worry honey, I'll never leave you!” Never leave me...

“... what about me?”

“Huh?” For a second or two, silence claimed the room, but I had to know since I was one of the ponies carrying the dreaded cutie mark after all. Would that mean that I was bound to die too?

“Will I... die, too?” I asked hesitantly. Without any more time passing, I got greeted with a tight warm hug from mommy.

“No, no you won't! Not as long as I’m here to protect you!” By then... I believed her. I thought to myself that she would never ever leave me, but... I was wrong. At the same night, roughly past midnight, I heard the door in the living room shut close and complete silence filling the house.

“Mommy...?” Hesitantly I made my way out into the dark hallway and into her bedroom, but it was empty. Fear once again crept in and my body started to shake.
“Mommy... where are you?” My search lead me through the entire house but I couldnt find her anywhere. She was probably just getting a few things, or getting firewood, anything really is what I told myself. I was too afraid to go out into the cold dark night all alone so I decided to go back to bed. There I was, laying covered up to my nose in bed, the silent moon light illuminating my room, the wind howling outside and the tree branches scratching at the windows. Everything will be okay I said again and again, mixed in with silent sobbing of my own. And then... I eventually fell asleep.

Days have passed yet again, then a week, then two... but my mother never returned. Not only that, but whatever was left of the village was starting to become restless, almost nervous in their actions. Roneo became even more silent as usual, Starlet seemed so stressed, even upset very quick. Even calm mister Gladstone said he could not sleep anymore which his dark eye rings only made more clearer. One night I decided to do it, I would go to the old warehouse near the village's entrance and look after my daddy. I know I was not allowed to but... I had to know what was going on!
And so, in the shadows of the next night I made my way over to the old building. The front doors were tightly chained shut, maybe to protect us from being infected. But being a clever path finding little filly that I was, I had no problems finding a spot at the side I could at least peek my head into.

Inside the warehouse was nothing worse bragging about, except for old dusty crates and-
“ D-daddy...?!” What I saw would forever be burned into my eyes. There he was, my once so energetic and happy father, tied to a dirty bed. Covered with blankets and wires, parts of his flank missing and covered in what could only be described as dirt dried blood. His fur was changing, his eyes aimed at the ceiling, filled with madness and despair. I could feel my heart stopping and my eye tearing up. Was what I saw really the truth?
“Hey, is somepony over there? Ruby is that you? Mitta?” My terror got interrupted by the voice of Three Leaf who was patrolling the area . I couldnt let her spot me so I grabbed every last bit of strength I had to run away, back home and into my room. I was shaking, my heart racing as wild as a fire, spreading pain through my chest and heat in my lungs with every breath I took. Sharp bursts of cries struck my throat as I bit into my pillow, trying so badly to make myself believe it was just a dream and to wake up, but it never happened. My whole life turned into one living nightmare right in front of my eyes... Mommy and daddy left me... I was all alone... all alone...
“Ruby...?” Three Leafs asked silently as she stood by the door, but I could not bring myself to answer her.
“... so it was you afterall... oh Ruby dear.” The sound of her hoofsteps moved closer to me until she reached my bed. The soft mattress giving in to her weight and made it sink in a tiny bit but I did not move, even as her soft hoof was gently running through my sweaty mane.
“I know this is not easy for you to understand Ruby... but your dad is... he is not himself anymore.
It is okay if you hate me for that, but its for your own good.” For my own good she said... how could whatever I have seen down there be good in any way?
“There... is nothing about being good about this.... nothing.”
“Ruby-”
“NOTHING!” I screamed.
“... Ruby your daddy is-”
“Infected?! With what? He was just sick! A cold! Nothing more! How... how could you do this to him... his... his flank... why?” My sobbing grew harder and my body shook more, twitching with every touch my Leafs hoof.
“Its the only thing we could have done, we need to make sure his disease, this curse, will not spread!”
“Curse...”
“Yes... the cutie marks.” She continued.
“.... cutie marks...” I frowned deeply, wa sthat really it? Just because my daddy got a cutie mark? Because he was good at something and just so happen to become sick?
“Believe me Ruby, I know what Im talking about. Every pony with that plague will turn into a monster...” A monster she said... calling my dad a monster? At this point I did not care about hiding, I did not care of what would happen, so I ripped the piece of cloth off my saddle and revealed my cutie mark to Leafs. Her eyes grew bigger and she immediately jumped off the bed.
“Ruby... y-you...”
“Yes! I have a cutie mark Three Leafs! I had it for a long time! … I got it when Ive found my mommys pendant... its my special talent, my gift. And? Am I a monster in your eyes?” I frowned at her, but I did not receive an answer. All she did was stare at me in terror, looking down at her own hooves.
“I... have touched you...” She stuttered.
“... how dare you lie to me... to us? Do you know what you have done to our community Ruby?”
“WHAT HAVE I DONE! YOU TOOK MY PARENTS AWAY!” Suddenly Three Leafs grew quiet.
“... Mitta really left... didnt she? She left the village. I see...” And with that she finally turned around and walke dout the door, not giving me another gaze or word.
“T-three Leafs...? …. THREE LEAFS! C-come back please! Im sorry I didnt mean to get loud I-” But the sound of her hooves already ended with the loud slamming of the door.
“... I just... want my parents back... my friends... Three Leafs... come back.”

Everything else that happened after that night... was a story on its own.

A chase, A prayer, the flames and tears... and lastly darkness.

This was my last memory as a pony. All I can remember from the time when I was still alive.

There's nothing else left... I'm losing myself, I can feel it deep inside of me...

Apple bloom listen.... No... no, it's okay...
I will tell you the rest some other day...

... promised.