Chapter 9: Passing

After Von recovered from his 'landing', he began talking with the girls, about how he was feeling while he
flew after the train and when he met Princess Luna. "You got to meet Princess Luna? Oh my. She didn't hurt you, did
she darling?" Rarity asked. Von shook his head. "No. But she did keep yelling at me." "Yelling?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah. It went like this." Von said, beginning to stare down Fluttershy with anger. "YOU FOUL BEAST!!! HOW DARE
YOU SHOW YOUR FACE BEFORE US!!! WE ARE NOT AMUSED!!!" Fluttershy reeled back in fright, covering her head
and hiding in the corner of the car. Von looked at everyone sheepishly, knowing that he shouldn't have done that in
Fluttershy's presence. He walked over to her, noticing that she was letting out small whimpers. He smiled, thinking
of how cute they sounded, but he knew he needed to aplogize for scaring her.

He placed his claw on her shoulder, causing her to flinch. He reached down to her forehoof and pulled it
towards him, causing her to turn towards him slightly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you like that, Fluttershy. It was
just..." She smiled a bit. "Oh no. I-it's alright. I'm easily frightened. I know you were just showing us. Thank you."

Von blushed and smiled, helping his friend back onto her hooves and let go of her. The girls all giggled, but Rainbow
Dash just smiled. "So, she was yelling at you like that?" She asked. "Yeah. She kept referring to herself as 'we' or 'us'.
It was really weird." He said. Twilight smiled. "She wasn't yelling...well, she was. But not the kind of yelling you're
thinking of. That was the Royal Canterlot voice she used. It's a manner of speech that was used by royals in
Canterlot a long time ago." Von snorted and grinned. If that's how they spoke, then there must've been earaches
all over Canterlot, He thought.

Von continued to exchange words with his friends about many things. When it got to the topic of Von's
family, he stayed silent for a few moments. "...The only family I've ever known was the elder. I never learned his
name, even while growing up in the mountains. Since he's older than me, I have to call him Elder, out of respect for
him."

They all smiled at him. "Well don't leave us in the dark, sugarcube. What was this elder of yers like?"
Applejack asked. Von smiled and looked at all of them proudly. "The Elder is a very benevolent dragon. He's wise,
kind and powerful. He always looks after us young dragons, even me. He said he didn't know where I came from,
but when he found me..." Von paused. The girls looked at him worried. Von didn't wish to finish what he was
saying, but he didn't want to keep anything from his friends. Von breathed in and out slowly. "Alright. When the
elder found me, he said that I was..."

--

Up on Dragon Mountain, the elder that cared for Von was watching over the edge, looking towards the
clouds. "He has been gone for quite a long time. But he has grown to that age where he wishes to venture out on
his own. I am quite confident in him that he will lead a glorious life." The elder sighed and began coughing. The
other dragons, old and young, looked in his direction. They were filled with great concern as they knew the reason
for that. The elder walked over to a single spot that was near a small gem pile. There were rocks formed in a circle
next to the pile. "He truly has grown. But I wonder...Will he be able to learn of his origins before my passing? I do
not wish for this to be kept from him for the rest of his life." He said to himself before coughing again. "I still
remember the day I found him. His small body...covered in blood."

--

On the train, the girls gasped when they heard what Von had told them. "Covered? In blood?!" Rarity
asked. Von nodded his head. "Yes. That's how he found me." Rarity's heart couldn't bear hearing about such a
dreadful thing, fainting upon Von's confirmation. "But why were you covered in something so icky anyway?" Pinkie
asked. "I'm not sure. Not even the elder knew." Von said, looking down. "Well, whatever the reason, at least you're
here with us." Twilight said, smiling. Von returned her smile. "Right." They suddenly heard the train whistle and
Spike, who was sleeping in one of the cars, woke up from his nap. "Huh? What'd I miss?"

The train finally came to a halt at the station. The doors opened and the girls trotted off the train and
Von followed behind them. He looked up in amazement and his mouth opened wide. "Wow." In his mind, he knew
that he'd never been to such a place before. It was like an old southern town, complete with a saloon, cowboy
hat-wearing colts and a sherrif's office. Applejack patted his back and smiled. "Yup. Welcome to Appleloosa." She
started walking over towards one of the buildings. "So, whatcha think, Von? ...Von?" She looked back to see that
Von was gone, but she could hear his cheers and excitement as he was prancing all around, taking in the sites. She
just laughed and went on her way to see Braeburn.

The others decided to go their own ways and explored Appleloosa, wondering if anything had changed
since they were last there. Rainbow Dash and Spike went to see Little Strongheart, the buffalo they met last time
and Pinkie accompanied her. Rarity, Twilight and Fluttershy went for a walk through the town. While they were off
doing their own things, Von was happily exploring the town. Von stopped for a moment and felt a bit sad.

He looked into the sky, feeling a tad homesick. He missed his elder, but he knew the elder would rather
him be happy living his life then keep living a sheltered one. "Elder...I hope you're alright. I just wish there was
some way I could..." In that moment, a bolt of inspiration hit him. "There is a way I can tell him." And with that, he
flew off, calling for Spike and Twilight.

Later in the day, the gang got onto the train that was departing back to Ponyville. Everypony spoke about
what they had done for the day, but Von, Twilight and Spike were in the back car. "Are you ready, Spike?" Twilight
asked. Spike held up a pen and scroll and smiled at Twilight. "Ready!" Twilight smiled at him and looked at Von and
nodded her head. He smiled at her and then began to speak.

"Dear Princess Celestia, I don't have much experience with giving you a friendship report, so I'm writing a
letter describing my time with the ponies. I had a wonderful time. Appleloosa was nothing like I had expected. It
was wide and I felt like I was truly part of the pony culture. I've always wanted to to learn more about Equestria
and being around all of you is helping me learn more about it and about making friends. I hope you can pass this
on to the elder. I want him to know how much fun I'm having. We'll be back at Ponyville soon. Yours truly, Von."
When the letter was finished, Spike breathed his fire on it and it magically traveled through the air.

Back in Canterlot, Princess Celestia looked up to see the letter sent by Von and read it. "...Seems like he
really likes being here. He truly is like his father. Let's hope his elder approves of him being here with us. We do not
need another tragedy on our hooves." She told herself. She closed her eyes and concentrated and her horn began to
glow. Her horn zapped the letter and it vanished into thin air and she smiled.

--

Meanwhile at Dragon mountain, all the dragons had gathered around in a circle. Each and every single
one had tear filled eyes. They didn't want to, but they had to embrace the truth: the elder had died. "He was one
of the greatest dragons I've ever known. I really looked up to him." One of the teenage dragons said. All the
dragons nodded in agreement. "Poor Von. Just think about how heartbroken he'll be when he finds out about this."
A female dragon said, sorrowfully. Another of the teens looked at her in surprise. "Von? What about us?! Who's
going to lead us now that the Elder's gone?"

At that moment, the letter arrived and fell to the ground, close to the dragons. The crowd looked and saw
a single dragon pick the letter up in his claws. He was an adult dragon with red scales and a dark blue underbelly.
He had sharp horns pointing forward, humongous wings and a spiked tailed. He was wearing a breast plate and a
helmet similar to that of Celestia's royal guard. He opened the letter and read it thouroughly. "...Ponyville, eh? So
that's where he's been..." The red dragon said. He held the letter up and burned it until not even ashes remained.
"Fraternizing with those lousy hooved beasts!!! How shameful. I should've expected as much, given what he is. But,
that makes everything easier on me. I haven't seen Ponyville in sixteen years. Time to pay them all a little visit..."
The red dragon then flew up into the air, fading into the sky as he headed towards Ponyville...

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