Cloud Flicker, a green pegasus pony all around, was an adventurer at heart. Usually quiet, shy, and modest he didn't have a lot of friends. His parents loved him, they trusted him. Whenever he left to go on a big adventure, they knew he would be back. But all that was about to change. His special talent was doing things alone, but he loves company, he loves good parties.

"Just let me finnish my packing!" Cloud Flicker exclaimed.

"But you must eat something," his mother replied. "You have a long day ahead of you honey!"

"Mom, I've eaten enough. I ate breakfast already!"

"But" his mother tried to protest.

"No, I'm gonna be fine. And where are my field rations? I swear they were right there. Hmmmm…. Oh here they are." Cloud Flicker said upon finding his field rations.

"Do you have everything?" His mother asked worriedly. "Yes mom." "Did you pick up that knew survival knife I bought you?" his father asked. "Yep! I had used that one before, so I've been sharpening it all day." Cloud Flicker replied. "Good job!" his father said with a smile. Cloud Flicker turned and looked at the EverFree forest, then gave each of his parents a hug. "if I'm not back in a week, file a missing pony report. But I should be back in about five or six days." Cloud Flicker explained. He turned and started for the forest. His parents both said 'goodbye' and he simply put up his hand and waved.

Cloud Flicker had been walking for a while now, at the most about five hours. Munching on the field rations, he thought about what he should do. "Well I should get a shelter together, the sun is going down. And I don't want to be doing it in the dark. He pulled out the map that Twilight Sparkle gave him of EverFree forest, "It looks like theres a good clearing to camp in just about a half a mile from here." and he set off to find this clearing. Arriving at the clearing, he started unpacking his saddle. After setting up the tent, he went to collect firewood. he cooked his rations and after finishing he went to sleep.

Next morning, Cloud Flicker woke up with a start. He had this horrible dream about…about his parents being murdered. He got up, thinking about what this dream meant. He dismissed it, Because it was probably just a dream. So he started packing up his things, getting ready for this new day.

"I sure hope that it's nothing." Cloud Flicker thought to himself about the dream. On his way up to the mountains, he met Twilight again. "Hi Cloud Flicker!" she said with excitement. "Hey Twilight! What brings you all the way out here?" he asked. "Well I just came out to get this exotic flower I need for my research." she answered. "Ok, just be careful. I've had to save myself more than once around here." He told Twilight Sparkle, who was already walking off in the other direction. "Will do!" she replied. So Cloud Flicker was alone again, walking, thinking about his dream. In about ten minuets he came across Zecoura's hut. Noticing that he hadn't packed as much food as he thought, he decided to visit Zecoura.

"Hello brave stallion! What brings you here, and distracts you from your travelin'?" Zecoura asked. "I need a bit of food, it seems that I have packed less than I thought." He replied. "Absolutely my friend! I can comprehend." she exclaimed. "I have just the thing for you that will help you do the things you do." she said. "Thanks Zecoura!" Cloud Flicker said. "Does the adventurer of this land have any questions?" She asked. "Actually, yes, I do. Last night, I had this dream, but it was like nothing I've ever dreamt before." He told her, explaining the dream. "With dreams that are scary you must be wary. Sometimes they are visions of the things out of your vision." She warned. "Tonight go you should head home to check up on your family my friend." she said. "Ok, well then I better get going. Thanks for the food."

Running home, Cloud Flicker tries to put what Zecoura said about the dream, or vision, out of his head. He did not want to think about his parents being killed.

Entering Ponyville, Cloud Flicker crashed into Pinkie Pie. "Hi! Haha!" she laughed. "Sorry Pinkie, no time to talk, I'm kinda in a hurry. Maybe I'll catch up with you later." He said, already starting in the direction of his house. "Okey dokey lokey!" she happily exclaimed. Hurriedly, Cloud Flicker bolted to his house, swung the door open, and yelled : "Mom, Dad!" Inside he found his mother cooking dinner, his father had just got home from work. "Cloud Flicker! I thought you said you weren't coming until Tuesday, whats wrong?" asked his mother. "Oh, I had this terrible dream, It was so real, and I thought that you were….never-mind."

He struggled to get the words out over his gasps for breath. "Well are you alright?" asked his father. "Yes. It was just a bad dream." Cloud Flicker said, relieved. "Well now that you're here could you go pick up some groceries? I hadn't planned to make dinner for three." ordered his mother. "Sure!" Cloud Flicker answered. So Cloud Flicker sets of for the groceries, but just a moment after leaving the house, He heard a scream.

Cloud Flicker whipped around, and flew back home. Again he swung the door open, only this time to find his parents dead. His father was barely holding on, and knew it was over. "Dad!" Cloud Flicker screamed. "C-C-Cloud Flicker..don't feel hatred for the one who did this. But take care of yourself, I know you will." and with that, Cloud Flicker's father slipped away. He immediately called 991, the emergency number and told them what he saw. The police were there in minutes, taking pictures, collecting samples, but there wasn't much to work with. Everypony was gathered around the scene. Cloud Flicker just couldn't comprehend what happened. The dream, it came true!

"I can't believe it!" Cloud Flicker yelled. "I need some time alone…." Cloud Flicker thought to himself. So he ran back, back to the EverFree forest. Some of his friends saw him and called for him, but he just kept on running, "Go away!" he yelled. His friends understood. He needed to be alone.

Cloud Flicker noticed that he still had all his stuff packed and went back to the spot where he camped the night before. He realized he was talking to himself, and couldn't help it. "When I find the fucker that did this, I'm gonna kill him slowly, painfully." Then his fathers words rang in his mind again, "C-C-Cloud Flicker..don't feel hatred for the one who did this. But take care of yourself, I know you will." He sighed and looked up at the sky. "Then what am I supposed to do?" Tears started swelling in his eyes. "To start, you could talk about it." Fluttershy appeared. "Sorry Fluttershy, but I'd rather not. How long have you been standing there?" Cloud Flicker asked. "Long enough," she replied. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "My parents were just murdered about ten minutes age, how do you think I feel?" He yelled. He could see Fluttershy was starting to cry. "I mean, I don't feel very good. Not good at all." Cloud Flicker said, but this time quieter.

"Could I just be left alone for a while?" Cloud Flicker asked Fluttershy. "Oh, o-ok then. If you need anything, you know where to find me." she replied. Again, Cloud Flicker was alone. He started to cry. "Oh, what am I going to do? My parents are dead, I have no family!" Cloud Flicker sobbed. That night, he mourned all night, then finally cried himself to sleep at around 3:00 am.

Waking up at about 11:20am, Cloud Flicker got up slowly. Remembering the events of last night, he whimpered. He got up, staggered beck to the ground, then stood. Cloud Flicker slowly walked back home. Arriving home at almost 12:40, he sadly went back inside. The police had cleaned everything out of the house, there wash't a single trace of the struggle. He sighed. "Who could have done this?" Cloud Flicker thought. There must be some sort of clue. He went back outside and thought about it. "I just don't understand." Cloud Flicker said to himself. "Don't understand what?" Rainbow dash had just come out of nowhere. "Oh, hi Dash. Nothing. Its nothing." He told her. "I heard about last night, Is there anything I can do?" She asked. "No thanks. I'm fine." He replied.

"Are you sure?" Asked Rainbow Dash. "Yea, I'd rather be left alone. So again, Cloud Flicker was left alone. Cloud Flicker had gone back inside, sighed, then went upstairs to his room. He saw a picture of him and his parents in Cloudsdale and started to cry. "Why? Why me?"

Cloud Flicker thought about his future, how different things will be. He is going to have to take care of himself! But that wouldn't be too hard, because his parents mad sure he knew what he was doing when he left for his adventures. He could cook, he did his chores regularly and could keep his house in check.

But instead of living in his house, he decided to leave and go live in the EverFree forest. While packing up his things, he heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" he said, irritated. "Its me, and ya'll best be letin' me in before i kick this dang door down." It was Apple Jack. "Hello Apple Jack," he said with a sigh. "What do you want?" Cloud Flicker asked. "I came to asks if you were getting on ok. And to invite you to a party. Hosted by Pinkie, of course." She said. "Thanks, but I'm not in the mood. I was actually thinking about leaving Ponyville for a little while." He told her. "Leaving? But where will you go?" she asked. "I'm gonna live in the EverFree forest for some time. Tell the others not to come by my house, cause I won't be there." he replied. So Apple Jack went to tell the others like Cloud Flicker instructed.

Cloud Flicker figured it was best just to leave for a bit, he couldn't handle the pain. He needed to what he does best, be alone. So he thought about his life, remembering his favorite moments with his parents. One of them was probably his fifteenth birthday, cause he got most of his survival gear.

"What do you mean he left?" Fluttershy asked Applejack. "I mean he just packed up and left. Headed for the EverFree forest." she said. "Poor stallion, he must feel terrible." said Rarity. "Yea," Fluttershy said, thinking about something. "I don't think he has intentions of coming back," said Applejack. "The tone in his voice kinda told me that. And I don't think he is going to stop at the EverFree forest." she finished. "We should go and remind him where he really belongs," said Twilight. "Ponyvill just won't be the same without him." she said. "Umm, no, I think we should leave him alone." said Fluttershy. "It's settled then, we go and find him tonight." said Twilight Sparkle.

Cloud Flicker was nearing Zecoura's hut, but turned the other way to avoid being seen in any way. "Cloud!" Twilight yelled. Cloud Flicker froze. He ran, then flew up into a tree and hid. "Phew.." Cloud Flicker said. "Cloud!" that was Rainbow! he knew they had come looking for him. "Come on, can't I just be alone?" he whispered to himself. He dropped out of the tree, and ran. Twilight saw him. "Cloud!" she yelled. "Leave me alone!" He yelled back, disappearing into the forest. "I thought I heard him." Applejack said. "Yea. but he disappeared." Twilight replied. "Lets go this way. Thats where I saw him go." said Twilight. Everypony followed Twilight, except rainbow, who was watching the skies. Little did Cloud Flicker know, Rarity followed them at a different pace, so when he jumped from his hiding place, she alerted the others. "Just get away from me!" Cloud Flicker yelled. He jumped up and took to the sky, keeping in mind that Rainbow was going to see him. "Cloud! Just wait a sec!" she yelled. "NO!" he yelled, angry. So began the game of chicken, a game where two ponies run, or fly, straight at each other. Whoever bails first looses. Cloud Flicker has never lost, and he easily won this one. "You're not the only one with the best flying skills in Ponyville!" Cloud Flicker yelled as he darted away from her.

Cloud Flicker tore through the skies, if he couldn't hide then he would just have to run. "Not the only one with epic flying skills, huh?" Thought Rainbow, who was already speeding after him. "I see him!" Rainbow yelled to the others. Cloud Flicker could already hear the others hoof steps below him, and he knew that he was being followed by Rainbow.

Cloud Flicker hit the brakes and darted the other way. Rainbow went right past him, and was taken by surprise. Now he was chasing her, and he easily caught up with her. Cloud Flicker ran her into the ground, "Stay away from me!" he said aggressively. Then he disappeared into the sky. "Rainbow!" It was Rarity. They all gathered around her. "You ok?" asked Applejack. "Yea, but I lost him." RD replied. "Shucks, we were so close." Applejack said. "Hey, Where's Fluttershy?" asked Pinkie. Everypony looked around. Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen.

Cloud Flicker landed back at his camp. "Finnaly." He thought to himself. "Um, h-hello." appeared Fluttershy. "Oh come on." Cloud Flicker said, already turning to run. "Wait!" Fluttershy said. "I mean, don't go. I just want to talk. I know you are still grieving about you parents, but I just can't stand by and watch a friend beat himself up over it." Fluttersy explained.

Cloud Flicker sighed. "Fine," Cloud Flicker reluctantly said.

"Oh thank you." said Fluttershy.

"But I honestly don't see why you are doing this, and I'm not exactly in the best shape to talk right now. So I think I'll just go home." Cloud Flicker said.

"Ok, maybe later." Fluttershy replied.

Cloud Flicker walked away, wondering why Fluttershy was being so nice to him. He guessed it was normal behavior for Fluttershy. Sure, they were friends, but they were more like acquaintances. They never really talked, except at parties, or other big gatherings. He decided it would be best to go back home, and leave the others to think he is still hiding in the forest.

Back home, Cloud Flicker prepared some dinner, which he had quickly finished. After putting his plate in the dishwasher, he went to his room. There he found the picture of him and his parents, that's when his whole body got a sinking feeling.

"Was it Discord again?" Asked a worried Luna.

"No, I actually don't know who it was, whoever it was they were was smart, because we don't have much to work with. All we have is a note with a location." Said Princess Celestia.

"Well, what did he take?" Asked Luna.

"Nothing. All we have is this location, from this note." Said Celestia. "I plan on putting together a kind of scout team, and I have already called upon my most trusted student."

"Spike, I don't understand. They left a note leaving a location. Why would they do that?" Twilight asked.

"I dunno." Spike said in reply.

"No matter, I'll just gather the others. By the looks of it, we have a long trip. And we are gonna need someone to help us get there." Twilight confidently said.

"Who?" asked Spike.

"Cloud Flicker." said Twilight.

"Cloud!" called Twilight. "Where could he be?" She said, a bit annoyed. "Cloud!" She yelled.

"What?" He answered from the tree above.

"There you are! I have been looking for you everywhere!" Twilight exclaimed.

"Yea, I know," Cloud said. "What for?"

"I got this - wait, you knew I was looking for you?" She asked.

"Yep." He answered.

"Oh. Anyway, I got this message from Princess Celestia. She needs me to go and investigate something." Twilight explained.

"Investigate what?" Cloud asked, not really caring.

"She doesn't know. Somebody broke into the castle only to leave her a location. She wants me and the others to go there and report back our findings. But It's very far, the trip would take days. So I came here to ask you if you could help us get there. Please, we couldn't get there without some help." She told him.

Cloud Flicker looked at her for a long moment, then said with a sigh : "Alright, fine. I'll go. It will give me a chance to explore new places anyway."

Twilight, surprised at his answer cheered in excitement. "Thanks, I'll go and get the others." she happily said. "Meet us at the library when you are ready."

"Wait, are you planning to leave today?" asked Cloud.

"Yes, why?" She replied.

"We will need more time to prepare for the journey. Find the others. I'll meet you at the library, so we can plan for the trip." He instructed.

"Ok, but we must leave as soon as possible." She said.

"Understood." Cloud nodded.

Cloud Flicker ran back to his house for the first time in two years. He opened the door and all he could hear was the sound of silence. "I'm home." He sadly called out, not expecting any reply. Walking in, he started to remember. He remembered the last day that he spoke to his parents.

"C-C-Cloud Flicker..don't feel hatred for the one who did this. But take care of yourself, I know you will."

He remembered those words all to well. Shaking himself out of it, Cloud proceeded to prepare for the upcoming quest. He had found the MRE's (Meals ready to eat, just add water) and put them into the pile of things necessary for this trip. Most other things he kept on his person, like his knife, compass, cantine, razor wire, and for emergency, a magnesium fire starter. "Well, I guess that pretty much sums it up." He said, satisfied. Next he went to the basement to get the BIG tent. He figured that the others wouldn't want to sleep outside. The problem was, that tent had only enough room for six of them. "Eh, I guess I'm sleeping outside." he said to himself. Besides, it would be just a little weird for me to be in there with them anyway. He thought to himself. "I better meet Twilight and the others at the library. they are probably waiting."

Twilight Sparkle heard a knock on the door. "Cloud! You actually came!" She sounded surprised.

"Yea, you asked me to, remember? And where is everyone else?" He asked.

"Still getting ready, I bet. Well I'm just about finished." She said.

"Books?" He questioned to himself. "This is gonna get worse before it gets better." He thought to himself after seeing what she had packed.

Both of them looked at the door for a minute until Cloud finally motioned to the door, "It's your house." he said, and Twilight went to answer it. There stood Applejack.

"Well howdy!" Said A.j upon entering. "I'm all packed and ready to go."

"Well what did you bring?" Asked Cloud.

"Apples!" She exclaimed.

How the hell didn't I see that coming? Cloud thought to himself.

"Hey, don't start the party without me!" A jovial Pinkie Pie called out.

"Party?" Cloud looked at Twilight.

"She's just being Pinkie Pie." Said Twilight.

Pinkie giggled. "I brought the balloons!"

Next entered Rainbow dash. She had nothing with her.

Upon seeing that, Cloud just couldn't take much more. "You do know where we are going, right?" He asked them, and hearing a solid 'nope' from them. "Then why even think to bring this stuff? If we bring that, it would turn into a big suicide mission. The key to survival is the knowledge and preparedness of the area. So I guess I'll provide the supplies, but I'm going to need some help to carry it." He told them, a bit annoyed.

"Carry what?" Fluttershy walked in, just catching the end of Cloud's sentence.

"Our life support." He replied. "And while we are out there, please no complaining. Because you all volunteered for this, and I could definitely do this easier by myself."