It had been only two hours since Nova left. Thunderlane and Rainbow were fine but the both of them had to remain at the hospital for the rest of the day. Their encounter with them mysterious pegasus had left them both with concussions and Thunder had a broken wing.

Midnight seethed in rage as he looked on at Soarin, as he held his Dashie's hoof with a loving look of worry. It made Midnight want nothing more than to track down Nova and pay him back in kind for what the maverick had done to the blue alicorn's friends. Yet, to his growing frustration, Midnight knew next to nil where Nova Flame was concerned. He needed answers.

“Who in bucking tartarus is he...?! How does he know about the Whisperer, how can a pegasus posses such power?!”

“Midnight, I'm as stumped as you are," Twilight said to him gently as she put her hooves on her stallion's shoulders. "I've never heard of a pegasus having magic like Nova Flame! Pegasus magic has always been about weather manipulation and walking on clouds!"

“I believe we can shed some light on the subject.”

Both Twilight and Midnight turn to see both Prince Sombra and Princess Celestia, the married monarchs approaching woefully.

“Princess Celestia!" Twilight went over to her old mentor, who gave her a comforting nuzzle, the white alicorn saying, "We came as soon as we heard."

"Nova Flame, what do you know about him?" Midnight pressed.

“As you've seen, Nova Flame is no ordinary pegasus. He’s special in many ways like you, Midnight. I only heard rumors about him, but Celestia and Luna have met with him personally.” Sombra started off before looking to his wife.

Celestia sighed and took it from there.

“Indeed I have. You see before Luna returned, we were on the verge of war with a group of insurgent dragons, led by a most wicked dragon by the name of Albino. He declared himself the true ruler and emperor of the dragon kingdom, seeking to start a civil war. As a show of strength, and because he thought us ponies inferior, he intended to lead an invasion upon Equestria and enslave us.

"However, before he could lead his forces to march upon Equestrian soil, he was stopped by a single pony. Albino was among the most powerful and feared of his people and anypony or dragon that challenged him were either killed or imprisoned, but not this pony.  They say he possessed a power that even the false-emperor feared and was killed by him. Albino's army of insurgents fled in terror. Rumors spread and eventually reached Equestria.  The name of the pony was said to be Nova Flame and that he had come to Equestria to go into hiding..."

“Well what happened after that?” Twilight asked.

“I wanted to find out the truth for myself, and I sought him out, to thank him. But when at last we met it wasn’t a warm welcome, so to speak. It all happened at Saddle Arabia in a bazaar far from their capital…”

4 years ago

She'd glamoured herself and her two guards to make their incursion all the more inconspicuous, the marketplace was abuzz with activity. Merchants selling all kinds of goods and wares from around the world. Saddle Arabian horses, camels, ponies, zebras, even a few diamond dogs and minotaurs.

But none of them were the reason why she had gone to this trouble of leaving her nation without anypony but a select few knowing, sneaking into another, all to find this... legend.

She sensed him. She knew it had to be hi, no one else in this whole bazaar could have such power. She followed her senses to an alley. She sensed he was not alone.

"Wait here," she said to her guards who both nodded and stood at the entrance of the alley like sentries.

She proceeded alone, seeing in the darkened alley several crates stacked up, a tarp providing shade, and something inside providing light.

"Stop right where you are!"

The voice was sharp and demanding of compliance. Celestia stopped and watched as a most impressive pegasus stepped out of the makeshift shelter, glaring at her with eyes that indicated he was not fooled by her illusory disguise.

“Excuse me, stranger," Celestia said in her most friendliest voice, "are you Nova Flame?”

"Who’s asking?” the pegasus asked before adding, "And no lies."

Nodding in understanding, Celestia dropped her guise and said, “I am Princess Celestia.”

Nova Flame raised a brow in intrigue before he whipped his wing at the tarp, making it block the inside of the shelter before returning his gaze to his visitor.

“Your Majesty... an honor to finally meet you.”

“It’s an honor as well Nova. I’m quite surprise that you're not what I expected I thought I would meet a…" Celestia's statement trailed but the assumption was there.

“Unicorn," Nova shrugged. "I get that a lot and to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from royalty?”

“Well, I wanted to thank you for saving the ponies from Albino and his insurrectionists," Celestia brought up.

“I didn't do it for the ponies of Equestria.” Nova clarified with a tone that was an odd mixture of detachment and protective.

Celestia was surprised by Nova's words but went on, “In any case, I would also like to offer you a place within the royal guard. You're quite talented in combat and could have a good future-.”

“No”

The answer as so abrupt and blatant Celestia almost felt insulted but she continued to be polite.

“No?”

“Listen closely, Princess... I've had just about enough of you ponies only thanking me just because you're looking for some extra muscle," Nova said rather coldly.

"You aren’t the first to offer me a job to be part of your military and just like you I turned them down. I am not some weapon for you to unleash on your undesirables... I use my powers to help ponies that need help. If you can't respect that get the buck out of my sight.”

Celestia couldn't remember the last time a pony spoke to her with such insolence but she was not angered or offended. She only wondered, What happened to this poor pony...?

Sighing, she nodded.

“I will respect your decision but the offer stands should you change your mind."

“And that was the last time I saw him.” Celestia wrapped up sorrowfully “He's been through such turmoil and it breaks my heart to see a pony suffer. A month after Luna returned Nova was last seen in Manhattan and she went to greet him. Surprisingly, the two of them had a much more pleasant conversation, about what I do not know. Apparently, Luna promised him that she wouldn’t reveal anything to me or anypony about his powers or his secrets.”

“Well if Luna knows him more than anypony then why isn’t she here helping?” Midnight asked with a testy tone while he was pacing.

“It’s been two years since she last saw him, and remember considers him a friend," Celestia explained, "But I doubt she would tell us anything; she’s been acting different since they met.”

“Well then what do we do then?! We practically know nothing about him. Don’t we have files, documents, or anything that can give us a lead to where he is!?” Midnight demanded with such anger, Celestia stepped back, her husband stepped up protectively.

“Midnight..." Sombra gave his apprentice a stern look, "Mind your attitude."

Midnight suddenly felt like a colt getting scolded and sighed with an apologetic look.

“Forgive me, Master... It’s just what he did to Rainbow and Thunder, it makes me...!

Midnight took a deep breath to calm himself.

"Not only that - I underestimated him! I should've been...”

“It’s okay, I know how you feel.” Twilight assured as she nuzzled him.

“Your Majesties, this just arrived for you.” a mail-pony interrupted as she handed the package to Princess Celestia and looked at the postage, an intrigued look dawning on her face.

“I believe this is for you, Midnight.”

“Who’s it from?” Midnight asked as he accepted the parcel in his aura.

“There is no name.”

Midnight began to open the package cautiously. Inside was a pink crystal, a small vial with a blue substance, a ticket to Saddle Arabia, and a note on the crystal that read 'Tap Crystal three times'. Midnight followed the instructions on the note and tapped the crystal, causing it to glow. It then projected an image above them of Nova, a cheeky smirk on his face.

“Ah, Midnigh! Since I’m speaking to you, it means my little project works. Fantastic!!”

“What do you want Nova?” Midnight asked, showing his fangs.

“Down, boy! I just wanna talk, pony to pony. Well, figuratively speaking, of course. Hehehe. Anyways I decided to give a bit more time, so! You have until tomorrow night, Midnight. In the box, as you can see, is a first class ticket to Saddle Arabia, and once you arrive, tap on that crystal again to get my location. And to show I'm the bigger pony there’s a small vile in there for your friends. It can heal them instantaneously... if they don't mind the temporary dizziness, vomiting, and wing spasms.”

“I am not in a joking mood, Nova...” Midnight threatened.

“No jokes! Y'know, I could have given them the nice and none-side-effective healing formula instead but since they attacked me...” Nova chuckled deviously. "Anyway, just give them this stuff, they'll be fine by tomorrow.”

"I'm going to find you, Nova," Midnight swore, "and after I kick your sorry plot six ways from sunday I'm gonna drag you, kicking and screaming if I have to, straight to Tartarus! Celestia might be naive enough to see you as some kind of a hero but I have no doubts you didn't stop Albino's little invasion out of the goodness of your heart!"

"I never claimed to be a hero, hero!" Nova said with brows furrowed, as though Midnight had touched a nerve. "Let's continue this 'chat' in Saddle Arabia... T-T-F-N!"

The image vanished and the crystal dimmed.

“My apprentice," Sombra spoke, "it would be unwise to meet this Nova Flame's challenge blindly. Remember Stud Tzu's teachings, 'Know thy enemy'."

“Then we go to somepony that has the knowledge," Midnight declared. "Celestia, we need to head to Canterlot to talk to Luna. She might be the only pony that can help.”

“I don’t know, Midnight," Celestia worried, "she won’t tell anypony about Nova Flame, not even me!”

“We have to at least try.” Twilight said, Midnight saying darkly, "Luna will talk, one way or another..."

End of Chapter Next Chapter: Nova's Origins Part One Estimated time remaining: 56 Minutes