#40
Winter. Day 35. Noon. Clackerton. Home.

Five days now since my return from Light Fringe. I lied a bit in my report to the Office. Stated that I delivered the letter successfully to the Queen and said that my delay was due to the storm that surrounded the kingdom and could only leave when it cleared up. It's the same thing I told my parents and anypony else who asked. I didn't want them to know about the Other Lands and what had happened to me. What I saw and the nightmares I had.

I'm afraid of going out to someplace like that again. I'm not sure who I can talk to about it other than Celestia.

Other than that, first day of winter came around. No snow yet. I hear that tomorrow we should get some. Busy got me a few days extra days off after noticing how tired and ill I started becoming the day after my homecoming party. I've started to feel better after lunch today but my eyes still ache. I think I'll take a bit of a nap for now. Write again when I get up.

#41
Winter. Day 35. Night. Clackerton. Home.

I awoke in a cold sweat again, but good gravy was this nightmare the worst of the bunch. Somehow I can't push it out of my mind and my will to write it down is driving me crazy.

I dozed off with those bloody wisps clouding my vision. I fell into the sea, unable to use my wings. Fire roasted burned feathers and singed fur. Ashes flew upward and turned to white wisps or magic. Then the fire stopped and through the tar-like veil a shapeless being consumed and devoured my entirety. There was no pain. I found myself in a room of white floored with ash. In the distance a pair of large glowing purple eyes beckoned me and was drawn toward them. Ventured into the fog and then again there was that pain I felt before with the touch of ringing ears. I kept going despite that. It whispered garbled words in echo. Through the ash I was thrust through. Back into the fire and out into the rain with my entirety intact.

I turned my head to see Apricot, we'd been gazing at the horizon. Empty and vast. She whispered to me with pale cream eyes, “Remember when we could see the stars?”

I whispered back with a simple, “No.” And again the fire. The fucking fire. It boiled everything.

And with that I sprung awake with only my hind legs half covered. I must've kicked them off in a fit. Strange because I never dreamed of struggling at any point.

#42
Winter. Day 37. Morning. Clackerton. Home.

Doctor came by yesterday, gave me some medicine for the Feather Flu. Said that the changes in environment was bugging my wings. I took those after he left that same morning. After that a strong fever kicked in. It's still lingering but I'm starting to feel a lot better. Hopefully I'll be back to work tomorrow.

Busy told me about a new resident that recently moved in one of the old houses outside of Clackerton's walls. She had added the house to my route as the last stop instead of the fair old mare that lived right next to the entrance of town. The house was considered haunted by many of the younger colts. I remember actually going in there as part of a dare. It was to contest the amount of time somepony would spend in there. The obvious tale was that a ghost was haunting the house because his wife had moved out due to some dispute. He stayed there to wait for her return. So goes the tale.

#43
Winter. Day 38. Afternoon. Clackerton.

The flu that I had seems to gone away for the most part. The aching is still there, in my wings.

I went into work and gathered the letters together that Busy assigned to my route. Bagged them and left. I was greeted with cheer by several addressees. A young mare, my sister's age, was glad that I was well. One stallion gave me a small card wishing me well. The old mare at the last house gave me a tea kettle that I could travel with. Ponies do care for their couriers, I should become more appreciative of that. Maybe Charger was right.

I didn't get a letter from the mayor yet to welcome our new resident. I punched out of work and went their on my own. Apricot joined me, said she saw me from the clock tower. I told her about the house, she reminded me of the time I went in there to save her. How she was afraid to leave because she was so scared. She hid herself away in there because some classmates thought teasing her about her shyness was a good idea. It was after a recess and her missing class that we found out what had happened. She had run off. The teacher didn't notice but the bullies that had chased her away had been snickering the rest of the day.

I asked one of them where she had run off to, they teased me about liking her and at the time I wasn't entirely concerned with that. They told me where she went off to, though. The haunted house and its remnants. I ventured out there and entered the house and found her hiding away on the second floor, crying to herself. She said that I choose a rather cheesy line to say to her at the moment, “I'm here to rescue you.” she mocked humorously.

Aside from that, the house wasn't really haunted so much as it was old and dusty. Rendered the air stuffy though. Cobwebs filled the corners and the old piano that sat in the living room was well out of tune. It was really the only thing left in that old house and Apricot and I were both curious who would be moving into the old house. As far as I could remember, the house was never put up for sale.

#42
Winter. Day 38. Late Evening. Clackerton.

Apricot and I approached the house's rickety old porch. There wasn't a moving van. But there was a caravan and the pony who pulled it wasn't there. We could both hear an old voice echo from inside, as if they were talking to somepony. I knocked on the door and the pony who opened it was, well, a ghost. “Ah, hello there.” its voice echoed quietly.

Apricot jumped back and hid behind me, giving an ear piercing screech followed by the chatter of her teeth. “Letter...”

I remembered Light Fringe for a second. I kindly greeted him, “Hello. I've heard that you're moving in here and I just wanted to let you know I'll be delivering your mail.” I extended my hoof out to shake his.

He chuckled to himself, “Boy, I'm not the one moving in. Well, not the way you're thinking. I'll bring you the real resident. Come inside, I'm sure the cold is bothersome.”

“It is. Come on, Apricot, let's go inside. There's no need to be scared, you see?”

“B-but Letter, it's a ghost and this is that haunted house and-”

“Apricot, haven't I told you before that not everything is scary?”

“Yes, but, he's a ghost...” Apricot trailed off.

She continued to be hesitant, even after we had entered the house and waited for the ghost to bring the owner out. Once she got to know the owner of the house, I think she'd lighten up a bit. The ghost had more of a butler appearance than anything which made me wonder if there was some reasoning behind it.

The ghost came back, inviting us into the living room where he said she would meet us. There was some nice furniture in there. Old Victorian style chairs using the darkest cherry wood and engraved leafs in the armrests that even my father would taken note of. The chairs were a set of four with a matching tea table before them. Apricot sat in the chair next to me. She was still frightened but I managed to calm her down best I could. He left us to fetch the owner again and to prepare tea.

When he came back, he brought with him a young filly with bandages wrapped around her eyes. Her mane had grown rather lengthy as if she had never had it taken care of. Ice blue coat, sky blue mane and tail, a pure purple scarf. She wasn't a unicorn or a pegasus, but somehow she knew our names. “Letter, Apricot. Please don't be frightened or concerned. Apparition here has taken has taken care of me for many years now. I am pleased to meet the both of you. Very pleased.” She was kind and sweet, upright in her speech. “I am Dream Seer. And in spite of my looks, I can assure you I am very old.”

“Why is that?” Apricot blurted out.

“Apricot...”

“Sorry, I'm just a little nervous.” She gently apoligized.

“It's quite alright.” She took a seat in one of the empty chairs without guidance from Apparition. “Apparition, could you fetch the tea, please. I believe it's done.” Apparition did so without a word and as he went into the kitchen, wherever that was, the pot began to whistle. “Now, what I'm going to tell you may be a bit lengthy as I'm not entirely sure how to sum it up in just a few words.”

She told us then, how the place where she came from spent their lives in caverns deep beneath the earth. And her civilization sought and found a large crystal of that stored a vast amount of magical energy embedded in the framework of a building older than what they knew. They lived there happily and aided by the ghosts that the crystal supplied. As servants and guides through the knotted systems of cave and tunnel. But their ghostly companions would be given to a pony that has come of age. A side effect of the crystal however, was that ghosts could only stray so far and that age was well regressed. Slowed incomprehensibly. She said her home had called the creators of the crystals, The Designers, beings who were assumed to have partially achieved immortality. It is said that The Designers were the ghosts that accompanied them on a day-to-day basis.

“When it was time for me to complete the ceremony, The Ghost Rite, our entire civilization collapsed in on itself. The Designers Crystal was assumed all knowing and for some strange reason it had turned our companions against us and placed us in all in eternal slumber. I fled on my own, realizing that The Designers power held no effect on me. Apparition sprung out from my dreams I had that beautiful night and from the ragged clothes I wore crafted this wrap for my eyes.”

“I'm so so sorry that I asked.” Apricot fumbled over her words and moved to give Dream a hug.

“Please, Apricot. I'm fine. All I've been searching for is a cure to the plague. Sometimes I've regretted leaving but I'm leading the way for my ponies.” She sipped her tea that Apparition had brought in while she was telling the story. It was clear what had happened still makes her shake. “I come here whenever I need a break from my travels. No being has ever sought to harm me, I don't know why.” She drank the rest of her tea and placed the tea and its plate down on the table, “Letter. The stars are so beautiful, are they not?”

“They are. I often find myself gazing at them, seeing what constellations I can find.”I glanced over at Apricot. “Apricot joins me sometimes and we'll gaze at them together. Just to watch them move. She's fallen asleep a few times on that balcony. Had to take her home on my back.”

She blushed at that, “Well, it's not my fault I'm such a sleepy head.”

Dream snickered at that. “ You two would make such a great couple. I wouldn't be surprised if your fates were already entwined.”

“We've seen that happen quite a few times, haven't we, Dream?” Apparition interjected.

“Indeed we have. Others were quite a bit further apart.” She poured another cup of tea. Apparition didn't help her with this either. “What I'm getting at, is that the stars are like dreams. They lead us to what we can become. If a star dies, then a dream dies. Some of us are scared of that and therefore, we try to change it. Some may succeed at that, others may not.” She sipped her tea and took a deep breath. “With you, Letter, I could see your dreams from out here. They are vast and endless like the night sky. Many ponies who will take heart with you as you take heart with them. Your feverish nightmare of the shapeless being, is simply a fear and you're unsure of how deeply you'll fall into it.”

I recollected my thoughts on the nightmare and I stared back at her, “The nightmare. It was scary. I can't seem to get it off my mind, either. There were crazier ones but I can't remember them for the life of me.” I found myself shaking, remembering the being with its smoking eyes of purple. What was so frightening about that?

“Letter... they're just dreams. You shouldn't let them get the best of you.” Apricot consoled.

“I know.” I changed the subject back to something a bit more lighthearted, “Anyways, I think we should head home for now. I would rather not miss dinner. It was nice meeting you”

“And you as well.”

I think I'll see her tomorrow, after work of course. I want to know if she had seen more than just the nightmares I had.

#43
Winter. Day 39. Evening. Clackerton. Dream Seer's Home.

I came to Dream's home again, after work. I asked Apparition if I could talk to her alone for a bit. He was a bit hesitant at first but when Dream told him that it was okay, he conceded. She had some more things put up in the living room. A couple photographs of landscapes that were vast and unsettled and another bunch that were of ponies she had met along her journey. One them caught my eyes. A photograph of what appeared to be my mother and father standing beside each other. Mother looked so much younger back then. A vivid streak of blue through her curly honeycomb mane and tail was her most notable trait. He amber coat was shinier then that it is now and her blue eyes have lost some life to them. My father on the other hoof, had a light ample coat, eyes of grinder sparks, and short auburn mane and tail. He hadn't changed much from the photograph aside from some crows feet.

“You knew my parents?”

“Indeed I did. Like you and Apricot, once they met, they couldn't be broken. They had moved here when Clackerton was still young. Just a small trading post in these mountains. Here they've remained.”

“How did you meet them?”

“Rather uninteresting, actually. She sold some honey to me and my appearance didn't seem to bother her. We been good friends ever since but we don't write each other much. She's got a lot of stories to tell. I'm surprised she didn't go by another name.”

“She ever tell about the princess and the kingfisher?”

“A couple times.”

“Well, I think it's real. I was there, behind the walls. In the palace.” The memories came rushing back. The golden wall was as visible as ever.

“Oh my.” I could hear her tea cup clatter against its plate. She was seeing what I was. “Letter, I didn't realize th-” I remembered the dream I had on my way there. “By the Designers Scripture... Letter, there's so much fire, why is there so much fire? Fire and gold. Beasts and war.” I approached her and placed a hoof on her shoulder, she snapped to. “Letter, what you've shown me, they're not just dreams, they're memories. But, some are not your own.” She set her tea down. “Why would you show me this?”

“I wanted to know if you knew anything about Light Fringe Kingdom.”

“The story is true. But your lineage, I cannot say. I can only see dreams. Your mind, however, seems to be confusing the two.”

“Right.”

“Please, do stop by tomorrow. I could perhaps analyze those sinking nightmare of yours further. What you've shown me today has exhausted me.”

“I'll stop by tomorrow then.”

“And Letter,”

“Yes?”

“No. Never mind. It's nothing.”

#44
Winter. Day 40. Evening. Clackerton.

I went to Dream's home yet again and today and well, she explained what the nightmares were about. Somehow, it felt more haunting than ever before.

The first one, of the fires and my subsequent rage, was simply due to my fear of returning home to everything gone to an inferno set by a force unknown.

The second took awhile for her to figure out. She picked at it as I slept, I could feel her pausing the dream and rewinding it at certain times. The eyes represented an overbearing presence and the shapeless was a fear of the unknown. It was the part where I was thrusted back out from it that confused her. As if I were to conquer that force that sought to consume me. Then there was the part where I whispered “No” to Apricot's question. The pale cream color that covered Apricot's eyes were her eyes succumbing to blindness. My answer was because I couldn't remember what they were. The stars, that is. She summed it up as a fear of loss. Of everything that I've known, everything that I've loved.

She had a strong will over magic, despite not being a unicorn. I wonder how she's able to do this. Did blinding her eyes help her see better? I asked her a question about it, she answered that she wore the bandage because her eyes were attuned to darkness more than the light.

She asked if her analysis of my dreams were okay. I told her that they were but it meant that there are some things that just may be inevitable in my future. She told me of a friend of hers that she met in Ponyville, Prudence, who might be able to tell me more about my mother's past. I didn't tell her I met her already.

Before I left, I asked Dream if she had ever found her way back home. “I've forgotten where it is.” She answered solemnly. “All these years I've roamed this continent without a proper road and never have I found it.” She sighed. “Why do you ask?”

“I think I may be able to help with it.”

“How so?” she raised her brows.

“Princess Celestia. After what I pulled in Light Fringe, she owes me one. I'll see if I can convince her to seek out your home. Not sure when I can though because of work.”

“Ask for a package being shipped there. Better yet, I could address one to her and then you'll be the one picking it up.”

“That would work. Be sure to have it labeled as a non-stop package, though.”

“What's Celestia like?”

“Well, she certainly has a majestic air about her. From what I know, she controls the sun.”

“Ah. I think I may have met her before then. When you've lived as long as I, you tend to forget some ponies.” She smiled.

I raised a brow, intrigued, “How long have you lived?”

“Far longer than her, if memory serves correctly. Before Equestria was even established as a country. To be honest, I've grown tired of wandering. I've always wondered what keeps me alive.”

“Think you'll ever find out?”

“Someday, I hope. It's a matter of when.”

“That's true.” I glanced outside, snow had started to fall again, heavy and gust blown. “Suppose I'll head home before the storm gets worse.”

“Goodbye then. May The Designers aid us.”

The Designers. She spoke as if they held the strings to life itself, beyond death even. I suppose Apparition is proof of that. However, I have my suspicions that The Designers may never have wanted their secret to get out. I wonder how wide their influence was. I've certainly never heard of them until now but my want to know more about them was an itchy thought.

#45
Winter. Day 45. Noon. Zecora's Home.

Dream Seer managed to get a package to the post office addressed to Princess Celestia with a bit of help on my part. Thankfully, I was also assigned to deliver it. I left earlier this morning through the blizzard, which had lingered since the night I had offered my help. In all my years here, a blizzard here has never lasted as long as this.

Apricot gave me a coat to wear, a pale green with a paler collar. My uniform hat kept my ears covered well enough and my scarf would help cover my muzzle. Before leaving Clackerton, I asked Dream if had any books about The Designers she spoke so fondly of. She gave me the first volume of three. It's script contained the history of her civilization, how they came upon The Designers Crystal and why they were searching for it. It was more a history book than anything else. Important ponies and historical events that occurred in the caverns up to the just before the incident she escaped from. There were many deaths that occurred before then, they were just as frail as us.

I've stopped at Zecora's home in the Everfree Forest to get out of the aching cold for a bit. The piling snow has brought parts of the canopy down to the ground, causing me to change my route to get there. Zecora welcomed me warmly and she'd already started a fire of her own to keep the cold out. I asked her if she knew how the weather was in Ponyville. She answered that it was just as bad there as it was here. She did, however, point out that towards Canterlot, there was a clearing in the massive clouds.

I remembered the potion she'd given me. I never did drink it. Silver Liner helped me through that maelstrom in Light Fringe. Perhaps it could help me through this blizzard.

Aside from getting straight to Canterlot, I need to remember that I have to stop by Prudence's home first and ask her about my mother. And the ghosts, the ones I saw at Light Fringe. The thought of them kept nagging me. For one, how did giving that alicorn her wand back stop the maelstrom and two, why the shit did it call me their child?

Whatever the case, I just want to know what happened and what is.

#46
Winter. Day 46. Early Evening. Ponyville

The blizzard has begun to lift but good gravy has it hit hard. Half the homes here are near buried in snow except the library in the center of town. Its branches hadn't fared all too well though. Some of them had snapped and hung by fringes of their bark. Ponyville felt as if it had been abandoned but barriers around multiple homes and the hospital on the hill had kept the ground bare.

I made my way to Prudence's home. She let me in from the cold. Her husband was at the train station, where he worked as a receptionist. Her daughter, Tiva, was a nurse at the local hospital and was working overtime due to the blizzard. After she had brought out some tea, I noticed some wisps of magic surrounding her, wisps she wasn't controlling. I didn't bother to question her about it. Instead, I asked her about mother and what she knew.

“I've met your mother, yes and we were good friends. However, your relationship to the royal family of Light Fringe is something I cannot say.”

I stared her down from across the table, “Prudence. Dream Seer told me to find you. You know she wouldn't say that without a good reason.”

The air became still. Concern striking her face. She sighed, “My magic can only see fates and destinies. Not the past and most certainly not memories.”

“Never bothered to try?”

“I have and failed multiple times.”

“Then try it on me.”

Shocked, she asked, “Are you sure about that?” I nodded. “Very well. Place your hoof upon the table.”

She took a deep breath and placed hers upon mine. Her eyes closed as the wisps of magic surrounding her began to spin up around her horn. So this is what I've been seeing. So queer and strange. Being able to see the innate magics surrounding a pony. I wonder, if there's a way to measure it, to record how much one pony can hold or use. And if there was a way to train my sight to block them out. I hadn't been seeing such things until after Light Fringe. Perchance, I'm not the only one.

In my thought, she placed her hoof on mine, gently. I could feel her magic seep into me and play with my mind and dive into my memories. My bones were cold to the marrow and goosebumps sprung from my skin. This was a dangerous game. She knew it well enough. The alicorn was the last thing that flashed across my mind when she withdrew.

“That's as far back as I could see. You gave her a wand?” she raised a brow curiously after rubbing her temples.

“King Radiance said that it was an ancestral heirloom. I found it in the armory of one his sister kingdoms.” I took a moment to find the proper words. “It resonated with me and I picked it up. Used it to defeat a chimera creature of some sort. You saw the rest.”

“And that stopped the maelstrom. I'm not sure what to sure here. Wands are an ancient tool of magic, why an alicorn would need one is beyond me. It's connection with the storm is confounding as well.” She questioned me further about the kingdoms. “May I have another look?” I softly nodded again.

Somehow, this became more about me and less about my mother. Her magic flowed through me again, more easily this time. She dug deeper. I forced my eyes open to see the magic wisps flow from her and into me. Such a strange sight. A cold white river treading through different stones.

She saw the beast of bear and stag, land of golden death, and the decrepit armory. And then the wand. I felt her magic reach out to it and jolt back. “It cannot be touched, not by me. But its craft is familiar. I've studied something similar before.” The flowing wisps had receded back into her. Slaves to their master. Distinctly reminded me of the story behind The Crystal Kingdom. “I'll look into it. As for your bloodline, if you've something of your mother's with you, I can take a look at it. But I can only see as far as she's had it most likely.”

I pulled out an old pocket watch from my saddlebag. She had given this to me when I was younger. Told me then that it was older than her. “Here. She says its older than her. A heirloom, even. Don't lose it, please.”

“I promise I won't.” She smiled. “Give me some time. Objects are harder than a mind, you understand?” I nodded. “Good.”

“Well, I have a package that I must deliver. I'd stay but I must maintain a positive schedule.”

“Understood. Stop by on you way back, then. I'll have something. Also I recommend that you not take the train. The tracks have been out of commission since the blizzard began.”

I went out the door and eased it closed against the crisp and stifling wind. The blizzard had given way to a fair sky now but the distant clouds showed no relieve. Ponyville had become an eye. I continued, worried about the future here.

#47
Winter. Day 46. Midnight. Canterlot

I flew over the tracks to get to Canterlot. It wasn't always clear. A train must've barreled through here at some point. Well before the blizzard got worse. I thought about drinking Zecora's potion, but yet I refrained. Why have I not drank it yet?

Flying to Canterlot was the longer trip, for me at least. Although it's always visible in the distance, today it became a faint shimmer in thin white burlap. Even when I began to get up to the main roads of the castle, the blizzard kept it cloaked. The moon was more visible with its glow behind these clouds. Eventually I grounded myself, to save my fur from wind burn.

I arrived at the gates to a familiar face leaving them. That brilliant yellow mane and white coat. It was Charger. We passed each other without a word. I'm not sure if he recognized me or not. Apricot's jacket may have made that difference. The jacket I was wearing might. The howling wind here could take the breath from you if you're not careful. It seemed odd without Wrecker by his side.

I continued on and made my way into the foyer. Sitka was working the reception desk. She kept herself warm with a robe red and dulled. A contrast to her bright blue-green fur and dark brown mane and tail. She looked like she could sleep there. But she held her eyes open, weary as they were. I approached.

“Evening, Sitka”

She jerked her head up and refocused her eyes. “Oh, evening. You've an appointment?” Her groggy voice mumbled her speech.

“No, I'm here to deliver a letter to the Princess.”

She squinted her eyes, “In this weather you've- Letter! I didn't recognize you at first with that sweater. Go on ahead to the throne room. She hasn't been all too busy with this crazy snowstorm. She could use some company other than her sister, for once and Twilight Sparkle is off somewhere looking for love.”

“Best of luck to her I suppose.” I glanced around the foyer. “Which way was the throne room again?”

“Straight up the stairs behind me. She'll likely provide you a room for the night as well. Blizzard might get worse.”

“Right, thank you. Get some rest, Sitka. You could use it.”

“Thanks, Letter.”

#48
Winter. Day 47. Morning. Canterlot.

The howling blizzard still hasn't let up much since last night. Somehow I'm feeling more worried about Ponyville than my own home. We've grown up used to such weather and its prolonged stays.

I should get on about the letter and rather small package that Dream Seer addressed to Celestia. She was delighted to help out, though she expressed it through voice more than body. Minding her manners I suppose. As for how long it would take, she'd send a letter to her pupil, Twilight Sparkle her assistant. She'd glance through the library and archives here. Her pupil was a bookworm and Celestia has had plenty of time to read on her own. Dream had packaged a small charm along with the letter, opalized wood. Celestia liked it. After that, she had a servant lead me to a chamber I could stay the night in.

Breakfast was nice, but short. I spent the time eating alone in the guest chamber and staring out the window. I'm thinking about telling Celestia about my new ability to see wisps of magic. I'm not really sure who I should tell, to be honest. Maybe she might know or at least point me in the right direction. I think I'll make my own way to the library here, I'm curious to know if there's anything about Light Fringe and its royal lines.

#49
Winter. Day 47. Late Noon. Canterlot.

Well, Celestia managed to find something. A fair bit of information about The Designers and their influence on the world. Aside from the scripture that Dream had given me, the books Celestia found related to their architecture and science. What seemed unanimous was that all of their work had been painstakingly built and then buried. A cursed blessing, perhaps. I had Celestia look over the book that Dream had given me. She cross referenced it with what she had but what connections were there were vague and weak.

“I've come across the tale before and actually finding a Designers work is extremely unheard of.”

“You sound like you found one before.”

“Luna and I have, yes. What we found we used to free Equestria from the reins of evil.”

I took an educated guess, “The Elements of Harmony?”

“Correct. While in six separate pieces, they function as one. My brightest pupil, Princess Twilight Sparkle, holds the strongest one, The Element of Friendship.”

“Nice. Which actually reminds me,” Here goes, “After I got back from Light Fringe, I started seeing these little wisps of magic surrounding certain ponies. Would you happen to know what could cause that?”

“Wisps of magic?” she repeated quietly. “In a casted sense or innate and natural?”

“Innate, I guess.”

“There's something you didn't tell me about Light Fringe, isn't there?”

So I told her about the ghosts of the alicorns I saw and how the one that lead them took a wand from me, which cleared out the maelstrom that cloaked Light Fringe. I even added that it called me “their child” . And then I told her about how I had caught a rather fierce Feather Flu when I got back home.

“I will admit, you do have a sense of royalty.” She said that half jokingly. “And these 'wisps', do you see any around me?”

I stared at her chest for a moment, and slowly counted aloud each of them. “One, two, three,...” kept track of their color in my mind, “ten, eleven, twelve,..” and their size, “forty, forty-one, forty-two...” Until the last one sprung from her form. “One hundred seventy wisps, Celestia. Give or take, may have recounted one or two.” It seemed my mind was training my eyes without notice.

She whispered the number to herself, “One hundred seventy. Seems oddly specific. I don't know if that number would correlate with myself.” She lost herself in thought.

“Celestia?”

“My apologies, Letter. I'll have to consult Twilight on the matter. I'll look through my archives further. If neither turns up a result, then report your findings on it when you can.”

It was a hefty task, I wasn't really sure where to start. As far as I'm concerned there's no specific cause of the wisps. I'm not really sure what to call them either if it comes down to that. “Will do. Still, it's hard to determine what the main cause is.” I glanced at the book Dream had given me. “Well, I need to be heading back home and I'll need that book back, unfortunately.”

“I understand, Letter. I'll let you know what turns up. For both you and Dream.”

“Thank you, Princess Celestia.”

“Before you go, I want you to have this.” She pulled a small jewel out from one of the books. “It is a Parchment Stone. Use it for whenever you need to send me a letter.” It was small as a pebble but white as a pearl. She attached it to the pendant I forgot I wore. “Just say the words: “Dear Princess Celestia” and it should send it to me.” I took a blank page from my journal, scribble something illegible and repeated the words. It worked. Two quick puffs of vanilla colored smoke. “Great! I'll be able to send it back just as easily. Thank you, Letter. I may just have to assign you as the Royal Courier.” Another joke, she enjoyed humoring herself.

“Perhaps.” I played along. “Maybe after I move here or Clackerton falls under your jurisdiction.” Jurisdiction, reminded me a moment about my old friend, Idol. I wonder how he's doing. I hope he's well, I really do.

“Perhaps. Anyways, go on home. I can't keep you here too long.”

“I'll be seeing you some other time then, Princess Celestia.”

#50
Winter. Day 47. Late Evening. Ponyville Library.

I left Canterlot with best regards from both Princess Celestia and Sitka. Trekking through the snow and the howling winds was difficult. It prevented me from taking Silver Liner and flying home. It also took away any chance of flying with my own wings. I'm beginning to wonder when Flight Gear will have those pieces of equipment left for me. It has been quite some time since he had first shown them to me.

I trudged my way through the snowstorm with the wind at my face. I was glad I had brought my goggles for this. Prevented my eyes from watering up. This wind was different than home. It was harsh and unrelenting. Whistled at times akin to a siren screeching. I thought I heard lightning at one point. But no. But I swore I saw the ghosts of the storm coming to taunt me. I'm not sure to say it was instinct that guided me here or if it was the petals that Abner's mother had woven into the chain of my locket. Even then, the faint trail of light I could see may have just been my new eyes leading the way.

When I saw the station against that darkening blanket of salted gray, I ran. I ran despite my exhaustion. The numbness was no factor and the wind's breath stealing gust couldn't keep me now. I was in excitement, to see civilization in after this long walk. I don't know how long I've walked and I could've given into the snow and become buried in it all. Perhaps it was part of my stubborn nature that I kept going. Perhaps it was my fear of losing something important. Somepony, rather.

The train station was abandoned. The snow had found its way inside from the bay. Wind seemed to had forced the doors off their hinges. They were quite aged and they worked well enough. The panes were cleaned and the panels polished well but the small holes went unrepaired.

I made my own way to the front door like a slow burning fuse. It was a bit warmer here and the wind was quieter. It was a relief for the most part. But still, I needed to find other ponies. I felt that if I could, I'd know that the ponies here at least okay. I pressed myself up against the door and it eased open. Ponyville had become almost entirely buried save for a single path that split apart like streams to a river and fed into the hospital. Shields against the storm had ceased. Magic like that could only be maintained for so long.

The storm had lightened up a bit when I left. It has gotten lighter since and my gut tells me that it'll open up more. And vaguely, a large wisp of magic circling at its center. A mass of foam to a whirlpool.

From this rather dystopian scene, I cantered over to the library. The curiosity of my eyes was something I wanted to know soon. Unknown knowledge could eat away at you if you let it. A dangerous thing if it carries. But also disappointing if you're let down by the fact of it. the map I pulled from my first visit here was a good idea after all and I had almost forgotten that I had it in first place.

From outside I could see a candlelight's glow from one of the windows in that large tree. Oak, I think. What pony would be here instead of seeking the comfort of the hospital? The door was left open so I let myself in before easing it shut. The light came from behind a short stack of books and the smell of lilac, faint as it was. Still a refreshing scent. Mother's garden always had a few good batches of the stuff.

“Hello?” I asked. No answer. I moved closer. “Hello?” I peered around the books to the sound of the soft flame upon the wick and the smell of vanilla wax.

A figure there, lying in a dress. Pink, white and gold. Flowing and short and adorned with small ribbons. Hooves in shoes bejeweled with glimmering purple stones. Funny that they'd match the coat of this pony or perhaps coincidence. She dreamed away over an opened book. Her eyes were weary from a long day and her pink and purple streaked indigo of a straight mane had curled and frayed. Had this pony come back from a meeting of sorts, I wondered. For some odd reason I remembered something Celestia remarked about her pupil, Twilight Sparkle, and how she was a bookworm. Quite the way to get introduced to somepony. Especially royalty.

#51
Winter. Day 48. Morning. Ponyville Library.

I nudged Twilight awake last night. She was rather out of it. Perhaps she had used a teleportation spell that left her exhausted after casting it. I helped her to bed. She didn't seem to care who I was. Perhaps the weather was having us ponies work together without a care who was who. I was a bit nervous about it, when she asked me to help her get the dress off. Surprisingly, it wasn't all that difficult. A small button and a zipper and a hook. All hidden under a single seam in the back of the dress. She had taken off the golden shoes herself and in one fluid motion, the dress flopped to floor. The wind seemed even quieter now and vaguely, the light of the moon softly blanketed her from the window. Dull as it was.

“Princess, are you well?” I asked, feeling some chivalrous tone come through. It was clearer

“I'm fine. The dress is a bit heavy sometimes.”

“Ah well. You're certainly not alone in that matter, I think.”

She huffed a breath and smiled, “I suppose you're right. There's a guest bedroom on the other end of the stairs. It may be a bit dusty.”

“I understand, Princess. I'll take my leave then.”

“Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

I left her then and heading to the guest room. From what I could see in her eyes, As I said before, I'm not sure if she cared who I was, but I think I'll be seeing more of a reaction out of her after she gets up. It's a matter of when, really.

Aside from waiting on her to crawl out of bed, the window of this room gave a pretty good view of sky and the fountain. The latter being used as a meeting place in town by those trying to clean up the mess. The sky was clear above us at least. That was nice but as my gut was bugging me about earlier, the blizzard still lingered over the forest and well into the mountains of Canterlot. It was just like Light Fringe but on I think, a smaller scale. And Ponyville was in the center of it.

Should I fly up there, I wonder. See what that wisp is about or just wait to see what happens?

Oh, I think she woke up. I think I heard her yawn, rather loud about it.

#52
Winter. Day 48. Noon. Ponyville.

“Princess Twilight?” I called from outside her room, keeping out of sight. “Are you awake?”

“I am awake. I don't believe I caught your name, sir.” A princess calling me sir, that's new.

“Letter Bee. Courier of Clackerton. At your service.” My formal tongue slipped through again. I suppose I have my old friend Idol to thank for it.

She yawned again, “Ah. Celestia sent me a letter about you. Mentioned the something about wisps and The Designers. I think I got something last night, but I must go through the books again to be sure. Let us chat more after a decent breakfast.”

“Very well. I'll be ready when you are.”

While I waited I started thinking about last night. When she had me help her undress. Some stallions would have taken advantage of that. I'm thankful that I didn't. That would've been an extremely terrible idea, for many reasons. One being that Celestia would be pissed and two being that my head would wind up in a handbasket or two. Although, I still wonder why she let me in that close to her. Perhaps I can ask before we delve into what information she found.

“Alright, Letter. I'm all set. Meet me by the door.”

I made my way down the stairs to see her quick purple light flash before the door. Revealing a clearer image than what I could last night. Her eyes seemed brighter now but her light smile hid a melancholy feeling. I opened the door, “After you.” She thanked me and lead the way. She groomed her mane and tail straight and true. A dull sheen came from them. My guessing that she had come back from some royal ball.

I was a quiet walk, excluding the damned wind. We were making our way to the hospital. Recovered food had been stored in the cafeteria, served during the typical periods of the day. The cafeteria was pretty standard. Long folding tables with attached seats that could be rolled around or flushed into the walls. Two lines to get what food you wanted and make your own way to a seat. Twilight told me to take a seat somewhere and wait for her to come back. The lines were both lengthy and I'd probably have to wait longer than it took for her to get ready this morning. Funny.

After a bit, I was approached by a white mare, blue eyes matching their shadow, mane a touch lighter than Twilight's coat and ribboned. “Good morning.”

“Morning, miss.”

“May I?” I nodded and she took a seat across from me. “I saw you walking in with Twilight. Have you a relationship with her?”

“No, I'm already taken by somepony else.”

She eyed me then, I saw a wisp peak from her horn and fire off. But no, my imagination got the better of me then. “Ah, well. Don't go playing with a mare's heart now.”

“My mother has told me plenty about that, I assure you.” I cut into her interrogation. “The name's Letter Bee. Yours?”

“Rarity. It's a pleasure to meet you.” Somehow, she was relieved that I wasn't putting on a show.

We went over this strange introductory ritual I was all too familiar with during my school years. She asked about my home, I asked about hers. Grew up in Ponyville. She asked about family, I about hers. Younger sister, Mother and Father. She asked about my job and I asked about hers. A seamstress at the local boutique. Her speech was a bit more formal than the average pony. Preferring more sophistication than most, more so than Celestia, I think.

And then she asked about the friends I kept. I told her that I've met a lot of ponies, hard to know who is. However I listed Apricot and Idol Find as two that were closest to me. Idol seemed to ring a bell to her. “You know him?”

“Oh do I.” She exclaimed excitedly. “He's such a nice stallion. He's helped out a lot of ponies over in Manehatten. Even helped my sister and I set up a new boutique there as well. He's even been taking care of this young colt at a foster home.”

“Sounds like you've got a thing for him.” I smiled. “Funny, he said he'd write me every once in awhile. Well, I know he'd be alright anyways.” A lie if there ever was one.

It got quiet then. The entire place did. Rather strange. “Pinkie Pie, You're welcome to introduce yourself, dear.”

Pinkie was a quick talker, vibrant in personality as her pink coat and blue eyes. She veered her conversations around parties and references of things unfamiliar and at random. It took my mind a moment to keep up with her speedy mouth, until I took my hooves and clamped her muzzle shut. “Pinkie, I understand your excitement, but please do settle down a bit.” She agreed with a muffle. When I let go, she took a seat next to Rarity. “The name is Letter Bee. And if I caught it right, Pinkie Pie?”

“Yes!”

Twilight came back with food for the both of us then. “I see you met two of my best friends. Rarity, Pinkie.” She glanced at both of them before sitting down beside me.

“How was the ball, Darling?” Rarity politely asked.

“Terrible.” Twilight groaned.

She went on about how grand it was but strongly remarked about how rude some of the other guests were. Rarity shared her agreement with that. Especially the ones that approached her to dance. She would play along until she managed to pull away. Then moaned about her aching legs before speaking about the letter Celestia sent to her. “Sheer coincidence I would run into Letter not too long after I got back here. You're kinder than any of those stallions.”

I hid my face in a glass of milk then. Compliments always made me a bit shy. “Oh, what's this? Letter's being shy, how cute.” Rarity teased. My cheeks blushed up more. Pinkie giggled at that just as Rarity did.

“Girls, come on now.” Twilight interjected. “Rarity, how has Spike been?”

“Quite well, actually. The darling has been oh so very helpful with my designs.”

The rest of breakfast was a blur after that. Wound up meeting Twilight's other best friends as well. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. Seems they've all made names for themselves around here. Fluttershy cared for animals of all sorts, timid as she was. Dash was the lazy one, but loyal nonetheless. Applejack was an honest farmer of the local apple orchard.

Twilight and I headed back into the library. Her friends went their own ways to help with cleaning up the snow. It had stopped, but that doesn't mean that it hasn't caused damage. The roofs of several homes had collapsed and smaller ones had the peaks of their roofs or chimneys peaking through. Before we went into the library, I found myself staring into the open sky, just thinking of the reason behind the storm. It still reigned everywhere beyond Ponyville. Twilight called me to come inside, then. I hadn't realized I was shivering from the cold.

#53
Winter. Day 48. Late Evening. Ponyville Hospital.

Last night, like Light Fringe, I saved Ponyville. Now I'm in the hospital for it this time though. It had cause some terrible fever and my wings, well, they've gotten much larger. Larger than Celestia's I think. Rather sore too. Anyways, to go over what happened.

After getting back to the library, Twilight and I went through the dozen or so books she had on the wisps issue and then we delved deeper into the issue of The Designers. The ability to see wisps appeared to be well documented but the cause was elusive. However, it was noted that most of the ponies who had the issue were members of royalty reigning from certain areas, mostly Light Fringe and Topazi Lazulia. A place further that stood at the north end of the Flatwall Cliffs. Some theorized that it occurred as a gift from some ethereal power unseen or something related to a pony's blood. Some shunned it, thinking it a curse that slowly drained one's sight. Although it was well documented, it was still incredibly rare.

Perhaps Celestia was right in her jokes. Perhaps mother was right about our bloodline. Why then, did we live out in Clackerton? I'll have to ask her once I finally get back home.

The Designers, on the other hoof, were a bit more elusive. History of their culture was limited to the few discoveries of their relics and written script, which dumbfounded archeologists. Even the volume that Dream let me borrow didn't hold much information. As it more about the history of her ponies than The Designers. I told Twilight about it, figuring that it would help. But no.

Taking a guess, I flipped over to the last pages of the volume. There sat the scripture of The Designers. A short chapter's worth, at least. Every individual word was written vertically and connected by a left standing line. Each character angled upward from it and hashed with either a specifically placed hashes or semicircles. Only two had a full circle in them. Unfortunately, these eyes couldn't translate such scripture, as convenient as that would be. Twilight plucked the letters from the page and tried to decipher them herself, no avail there either. The last page of the script was different from the rest though. Boxes surrounded the words, side by side. Two lines placed at the top and bottom. The writing was the same but appeared a lot more shorthanded. Some sort of hierarchy as well, from the looks of it.

Then I recalled written magic. “Twilight. Does this seem like written magic to you?”

She eyed it over, squinting hard before pulling away from the page. “You could be right. Magic spells can be written out. You just need the right words. A proper key. I'll give it a shot.” She mouthed the words quickly to remember them. I saw nearly a dozen wisps dance around her then and pushed down upon the page. An orb of light spewed out from the book. “Well, that seems to have done something.”

The orb faded then. Apparently unable to sustain itself. That gave me a crazy idea. I flipped to the last page of the spells. The entire page was a single spell. “Let's try this one.” She fired again. A blast of light came out from the book. Blinding us both for a few seconds. There was a faint ghost then, looking similar to Apparition. It trotted outside, leaving a trail of sparkling green mist. “Twilight, are you seeing what I am?”

“No. What are you seeing?”

“A fine mist of green. A ghost leading outside. Stay here.” Twilight moved to object but understood.

I followed the trail out, then up into the sky. I flew up until Ponyville was nothing but the dots of roofs and a hospital. “My child.” That voice again. The alicorn came forward once more, but only her head peaked from the giant wisp that rested up here. “You've freed one of my children. In doing this, I shal-”

I cut her off. “I've got questions for you, you know.”

“Speak, then.”

“Why do you keep calling me 'your child'? Why did that wand I give you get rid of the storm? And the what's with the wisps?”

“Everypony is my child. The other questions are beyond me.”

“Beyond you? That sounds like a load of crap.”

“It is not. They are answers you must discover on your own. The wisps are no gift of mine, either.

I sighed, dissatisfied. “Very well. Excuse my rudeness then. As you were saying?”

“I grant you two gifts, for both the wand and my son. You'll find out what they are soon enough.” Her magic lit up and encased me. My vision turned white. Then black. I lost my consciousness then too.

Twilight said that she watched from below. Said the clouds all vanished, puffed away by magic far beyond her own. She saw me fall, flew to my rescue. I forgot that she too, was an alicorn. Maybe I didn't care that she was. Said I that my wings bled from the joints. Her coat is still stained, don't think she bothered to clean up after taking me here. The doctor had to make new splints to accommodate the size.

Twilight, despite our short time together, was incredibly worried over my well being. I think I tell her in the morning what happened. I think its been a long night for us both. I'll have to figure out where the heck I can get those questions answered. Prudence may be able to help with that. I need to visit her anyways. Gotta get my mother's pocket watch back from her after all.