Unity Cross, after some cooling down and time to understand us a bit better, had decided to bring us back to where she lived. When we got there, we discovered it was a tree hut, much like Zecora’s, but slightly smaller. Candles made out of common wax and leaf stems were littered around and inside the abode, and various kinds of flowers decorated the door.

Then a thought struck my mind; If she so young, then how long as she been in these woods, and why for that matter. My questions would eventually be answered. Unity had already let us inside and sat us down, and she had gone off to make some tea from some tea leaves in a bark pot she made over a fire pit she lit. Eventually, she came back and handed us some the recently brewed beverage.

“Here’s some tea for you, Mr. Midnight!” politely said Unity as she handed me my cup, also made out of bark, with her magic “It’s hot off the kettle! Oh, and some for you two Miss Scootaloo...”

“Um, thanks...” Scootaloo said as she carefully took the cup out of Unity’s magical grasp and began sipping it, an expression of enjoyment appeared on her face “Wow, this is really good!”

“*giggle*... You say that like you’ve never had tea before in your life” the young Alicorn smiled “How odd... I’ve never met anypony who’s never had tea before. Then again, I haven’t met too many people. Me living in this forest and all.”

“Actually, that’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you” I began after sipping some tea, which was actually very tasty “How did you manage to get yourself in this forest with nopony to watch over you?”

“I, um... I don’t exactly like talking about that...” stated Unity as she rubbed the back of her head with her front-right hoof “But hey, you said you wanted to ask me something, right? Well, what is it! C’mon, just tell me already!” Unity went right into my face.

“Okay, okay! Alright...” I calmed her down “We came here to ask if you could help us defeat an evil Draconequus bent on making sure I die, and will do anything, including destroy the world, to do so.”

“Oh my” said the young ash grey Alicorn as her excitement suddenly died down “That sounds serious...”

“That’s because it is” stated Scootaloo right after she sipped a bit more of her tea.

“Well, what do you need my help with?” Unity asked.

“Wait, what?" I was a little shocked our supposed 'Alicorn Sage' didn't know what to do "Honestly, we thought you already knew. A book of ours said that you’d be able to help us. How you do so is a complete mystery to us.”

“Um... I’m not sure what to do either...” said Unity honestly “Am I supposed to fight alongside you? Or maybe help from the sidelines? Ooooh! Ooooh! Or maybe I’m supposed to tell the reader that-”

XXXXXX

Pinkie Pie got a weird sensation in her body as she happily bounced down Main Street Ponyville. It wasn’t Pinkie sense, but it was something that told her somepony had just broken the fourth wall again.

“Hmm... ponies seem to be doing that a lot lately...” she said “I wonder if the writer has anything to do with it. I’ll have to ask him at the end of this chapter... or maybe not. I have a party to start planning!"

XXXXXX

Scootaloo and I sorta just sat there for a second, not saying a word.

“Um... well, that was-” Scoots broke the silence.

“Scootaloo, just don’t...” I interrupted her before turning my attention back to Unity “So, Unity... you really don’t know what you could do to help us?”

“If I did, I would’ve already told you” she said “Sorry. But hey, I’m more than willing to help you in any possible way you want me to!”

“Well then, I guess we have a new ally on our side!” I smiled and nodded “But now, we need to learn why the book sent us here. You must have something special about you...”

“Or maybe about this place?” suggested Scootaloo.

“Good point” I agreed “Okay then, let’s start looking around! Maybe there’s like a switch or something that will take us to a secret room where-”

“Or maybe this book?” said Scootaloo as she pulled out a book that said ‘Forbidden Magic’ on it.

“Forbidden Ma- Hold on. Unity,” I turned to face the orange maned Alicorn “where did you get that book?”

“Oh that? Well, you see I-”

“Hold that thought” said Scootaloo suddenly “It says ‘From mom and dad, with love. May it help you survive this cruel world’.”

“Unity?” I once again turned to face the Alicorn. However, this time she looked ashamed. She took a bit sigh and sat down on a chair behind her.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” I asked with concern. Unity nodded and began to speak.

“When I was only six years old, my mother and father were both mistaken for two ponies with a huge bounty on their heads. They knew death was inevitable, so they gave me a book and sent me off into the Everfree forest. They were executed the next day. I watched from a nearby tree...”

“Oh my Celestia...” Scootaloo said “That’s horrible!”

“After my parents were killed," the young Alicorn continued "I hid deeper into the forest, eventually making this house and living off edible plants.”

“Did they ever catch the real ponies that had the bounty on their heads?” I asked.

“No” Unity sighed “They never found them. But I took it upon myself that one day, when I was older, I would find them and kill them to avenge my parents’ death.”

“Wow...” I said “That’s some hard-core dedication. Here’s hoping you find those two ponies and make them pay for what they’ve done!”

“Yeah... here’s hoping...”

“Anyway,” I began again, trying to put the mood on a high note “do you mind if we take a look at the book?”

“Oh, um, sure!” said Unity, now smiling a bit.

I opened up the book and began to read. It was actually a pretty good read. However, many of the words and letters were either in ancient Artistian or some other language I’ve never seen before. Finally, I got to the good part that was thankfully in modern day Equestrian: The spells.

“Ah!” I said “Here we go! Unity, can you perform any of these spells?”

“Of course!” confirmed the red mane Alicorn “I’ve practiced some of the weaker spells when I'm not gathering things to survive. However, I use the word ‘weaker’ loosely. These are some pretty devastating spells...”

“Spells such as?” asked Scootaloo.

“Small black holes, tsunamis, hurricanes...” Unity stated a few off the top of her head "Remember last year's great storm that lasted ten days?"

“Wait, really?” I said in a surprised manner "That was you?"

“Yeah...” Unity said sheepishly “Sorry about that... heh..."

“Right...” I sighed before getting it off my mind and paying more attention to the book in my magical grasp “Well, I think this book may come in handy. Although, we may have to have Aunt Artsy translate some of the text.”

“So that means I’ll have to leave this place?” asked Unity.

“It's your book, so naturally...” I said “But hey, at least you can always come and visit anytime you want, right?”

“*sigh*... that’s not the point, Midnight” said Unity Cross somberly “This place is literally the only home I've had for the past eight years. It kinda means a lot to me. I understand the weight of what would happen if I stayed, but still...”

“Unity,” began Scootaloo “I know exactly what it feels like to lose something very important to you. It was a mistake I'd... rather not repeat. However, you can’t live off your past either. Instead, you should let go of your past to excel yourself into the future. Or, hold onto your past and use it to do the same thing instead of moping around.

“Really?” said Unity.

“Really” nodded Scootaloo with a smile.

“Well alright then!” beamed Unity “I believe you. I suppose it’s time to say goodbye to this old place.”

“Is there anything you want to take with you?” I asked.

“Besides the book?” wondered Unity “Naw, I’m cool! Like Scoots said; I need to let go of my past, right? But I’m still gonna find the two ponies responsible for killing my parents though.”

“And we won’t stop you” stated Scootaloo “Now c’mon! We have a lot of stuff to do and a lot of ponies to meet!”

“Yay!” beamed Unity.

XXXXXX

Scootaloo had taken the long way around the Ponyville. I explained to Unity that she was an outcast and if she was spotted, she’d be executed on the spot. The little Alicorn didn’t need to know that Scoots was a former mass murderer. At least for the time being.

“Hey Midnight” suddenly said Unity “Why are you an Alicorn? Are you, like, a princess or something?”

“A princess?!” I snickered, to which Unity responded with giggling "No, I'm not a princess..."

“Hahaha!" she laughed before calming down a bit "I was only joking anyway. I mean, you being a part of the royal family? Wouldn’t that be weird?!”

Finally, after a long walk of laughing, we reached my home. But Unity didn’t know that quite yet.

“Midnight, why are we at the big castle I always see from the forest?” asked a curious Unity Cross “Are we gonna talk with the princess?!”

“No...” I smiled as I opened the doors with my magic. My mother stood in the hallway as of currently.

“Oh, hi Midnight!” my mother greeted “Who’s your little friend?”

“...because this is my home” I finished. I turned to see that Unity’s mouth had gone gaping wide and her eyes enlarged to saucer size.

“You mean... you’re a... a..." she said in awe.

"Yep! One-hundred percent a-"

"...a princess!" she finally finished her sentence, interrupting me. I facehoofed at that.

“No, Unity” I said after removing my hoof from my face “I’m a prince. My full name is Prince Midnight Starswirl Sparkle, son of Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic.”

“Whoa!” Unity said, once again is awe “What’s the Element of Magic?”

I double facehoofed at Unity’s question.

XXXXXX

After introducing Unity to my family, we headed on downstairs where Rage Quit had already conducted some research on the tome. Surprisingly, Fluttershy, Rainy and B were here as well, Rainy being in his foal-carrier to Fluttershy's side.

“...and so, I calculated that the book is actually a spectral phenomenon” explained Rage Quit to Fluttershy and her children “There is no way an object of 400s.e. could possibly be ordinary. However, I was also thinking that- Oh, hello Midnight" he finally noticed me "Did you discover the whereabouts of the Alicorn in the forest?”

“Yep!” I said “She’s right here!” I moved out of the way to reveal Unity hiding behind my back.

“Um... hi...” she said slighly shyly.

“Unity, these are my friends Rage Quit, Spring Blossom and Fluttershy” I introduced everypony “And the cute little foal in Fluttershy’s bag is her newborn, Summer Rain.”

As soon as I finished my sentence, Unity looked at Fluttershy’s direction and squealed! She immediately ran over to where Fluttershy stood and began gushing over Rainy.

“Oh my goodness!” she said as she began playing with Summer Rain, much to his enjoyment “Who’s a cute foal? Who’s a cute foal? You are!”

“Mmm...” Fluttershy hummed softly “He is pretty cute, isn’t he?”

“Yeah!” said Unity “He has your mane and... Rage Quit’s coat?”

“No, his coat is of my... um... dearly departed late husband” Fluttershy had to lie in order to keep Unity safe of the knowledge Oberon was the kid’s father “Rage Quit and I, however, are getting married soon.”

“M-Married?!” Rage Quit jumped back in surprise “I thought you merely wanted Summer Rain to have a father figure for him to be around!”

“Yeah, that’s what marriage is!” smiled Springy “Didn't ya know?”

“NO!” shouted Rage Quit.

“Okay, Rage Quit” I brought along a totally different subject to get his mind off things “How goes the research on the tome?”

“Ahem... well, I have discovered some interesting things about the book-” began Rage Quit before he was interrupted by the sound of Scootaloo falling down the secret tunnel. Both Rage Quit, Springy and I shot open our eyes wider than frying pans. We had to get Fluttershy out, but it was too late. Scootaloo opened a secret door and walked out. She turned to see me and everypony else with her bruised skin and slightly unkempt mane.

"Hey you guys, I'm ba-" she said before staring right at Fluttershy.

We all just stood there for a good minute and a half.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Finally, after a whole 30 seconds of staring, Fluttershy took of her foal-carrier, gave it to her daughter, pushed Spring behind her and broke the silence by saying “Please, I beg of you... don’t hurt Springy or Rainy... please...”

“Um, why would I hurt them?” asked Scootaloo “Wait; don’t tell me you guys haven’t told your parents about my recent escape!”

“Well...” I began “We kinda... y’know... didn’t want our moms and dads to freak out, especially since they all helped with your capture... so...”

“Scootaloo?” asked Unity “Why is Fluttershy afraid of you?”

“*sigh*... Well, you see kid; I did a lot of horrible things in my past” confessed Scootaloo “Heck, I’m not even supposed to be here! But Midnight and his friends, as well as my own friends, helped me let go of my past by giving me a second shot at life. I promised that day that I would do anything to make up for what I did...”

Fluttershy then looked up and said “You mean... Midnight and Springy... helped you?” she asked “You want to... make up for all you’ve done?”

“Yes, for real” nodded Scootaloo.

“So... you’re not going to hurt Springy or Rainy?”

“No mom” spoke B “She isn’t going to hurt me, or my baby brother, or anypony! She's fully reformed.”

“Oh... okay then...” Fluttershy slowly got out of her (somewhat) defensive position and settled down a bit “Scootaloo...” she walked over to Scootaloo and gave her a hug “...it’s been too long...”

“Yeah...” Scootaloo patted her on her hugger's back “It sure has, hasn’t it been?”

While Scootaloo and Fluttershy were distracted by their hug, I turned to Rage Quit and asked him “Can you continue with your research thing?”

“Yes, of course” slightly nodded Rage Quit “Now, as I was saying, I had discovered something interesting about the book. It appears to radiate vast amounts of spectral energy, 400s.e. to be exact.”

“And what exactly is spectral energy?” I asked.

“It’s the life force that surrounds all living and inanimate objects” explained Rage Quit “I suppose they don’t teach you this in school anymore. Anyway, us as living beings have varied spectral energy, but it’s around 30-50s.e. depending on what species you are. It doesn't matter how powerful of a magic user you are, you'll still hold the same amount of s.e. in your body. Inanimate objects usually have 10-20s.e., but this tome has roughly400se.!”

“Okay” I said, slightly confused “And this means?”

“Midnight, that book is not from this world...”

Author's Notes:

Oooooh, spooky scary stuff that may or may not be answered. If it is, yay! If it isn't, then you can continue pondering on what it may be and even come up with your own thoughts (please write those in the comments). So, it's a win-win situation!

And if you're wondering if Unity will follow the same tropes as a regular Alicorn OC that's super powerful and is basically a Mary Sue, I promise that time will be put into her character so she won't fall into any of those tropes. She'll have weaknesses, while at the same time having strengths. Yay!

Be sure to Favourite, Comment, Thumbs up and Follow, and until then, I'll see ya later Scraggsters!

By the way, to anyone reading this chapter who Favourited this story, may I kindly ask you to Thumbs up it as well if you haven't already? Thank you!

If you spot any flaws in my story, comment down below and I'll fix it immediately (at least when I finally do see the comment).