"SON OF A..." Crimson shouted, rolling off his cloud at the sound of an oddly familiar voice speaking to him, "Whose annoying me this...time?"

He looked at the door to the room that he had claimed as his for the night and found his mother, in all her glory, standing in the doorway, staring right at him. She looked almost identical to the last time he had seen her, the same triple colored flowing mane and tail, the same white coat, and the same golden jewelry she always wore. The only difference was that she looked less menacing, a look that had been replaced by a much kinder and friendlier tone that he was unfamiliar with. It was a look that filled him with anger, the same anger that he had felt a thousand years ago when he had discovered what his mother had planned for him.

"Oh, its you," Crimson spat at his mother, growling at her as he climbed onto his cloud, "Why don't you just go back to Canterlot, or wherever you call home these days, and just leave me alone?"

"And here I was hoping your attitude had improved over the last thousand years," Celestia sighed, clearly hoping for a warmer reaction than that, "I was also hoping you might have overcome spending your days on that cloud of yours."

Crimson said nothing, choosing to ignore his mother and hope that she eventually gave up, let him return to his life in the Everfree Forest, and then leave him to his peace for the rest of their lives. He rested on his cloud, his anger burning like the fire in his heart as he let his stick burn freely and blew out a puff of smoke every now and then. After a moment he left his cloud give out under him and he hit the ground hard, causing him to growl and look up at his mother, whose horn was glowing. He wasn't sure if she meant to cause him harm or not, but at that point he really didn't care as he got onto his hooves and spun a cloud of smoke around. The smoke's shape distorted until a fully grown smoke tiger appeared beside him, which growled at his mother and pawed the crystal ground as it prepared to jump.

What happened next was Celestia's magic raced forward and collided with the tiger, breaking it into pieces as the stick that was resting in Crimson's mouth turned to dust.

"What have I told you about smoking?" Celestia asked, raising her eyebrow as her gaze remained on her son, "It is a disgusting habit that, once started, is incredibly hard to break. Especially if somepony has been doing it for the last thousand years."

"I'm not a little colt anymore," Crimson spat, conjuring a small silver tin before pulling out another stick and lighting it, "so you cannot tell me what to do anymore, Mother. And please, refrain from destroying my Smokesticks, I only have two or three more before I have to harvest more of them."

"Give me the Sigil of Fire and I might do that," Celestia calmly said, knowing that if she met anger with anger it would only fuel her son's anger even more, "It was entrusted into your safekeeping over a thousand years ago and then you disappeared with it."

"Gone and forgotten," Crimson spat, his eyes resting on his mother and his magic at the ready to summon a flame creature in a moments notice, "just like most of the other Sigils. Forgotten like every powerful artifact that you came into contact with. Just forget about it and leave me alone, otherwise things will get nasty fast."

Celestia stared into his eyes and knew he wasn't bluffing; his anger at her was so great that he was ready to do anything and everything to make her go away. She knew where two of the other Sigils were located, as she was the one who had dived into their resting places and secured them in the safest place ever constructed. Despite what he said Crimson knew exactly where the Sigil of Fire was located, but she wasn't willing to annoy him any further in case he decided to burn something down.

"Fine, no Sigil of Fire for now," Celestia replied, knowing that she was giving him the win for now, "but in all seriousness, you need to stop smoking before you get a disease or something. Even alicorns can get sick son and when you do you'll regret not listening to me."

"Go. Away." Crimson spat at her, growling as he conjured his cloud back into the room, "Otherwise whatever happens next will be your fault, just as everything that has happened in Equestria, even the stuff I don't know about, is all your fault."

"A leader is supposed to make mistakes my son," Celestia said, watching her son climb onto the bed and growl at her again, "and I've make more mistakes then I'm willing to admit. But I have learned from each and every one of my mistakes."

Crimson huffed and rolled onto his side, choosing to close out the world so he could finally rest on his cloud, letting the smoke from his new stick fill the air around him. Celestia sighed and turned back towards the door, passing by Twilight and her friends before she gently closed the door with a really light tug. She continued walking down the hallway, eventually turning into a dining room area and taking a seat at the table, where she placed her crown and let out a long drawn-out sigh.

"Twilight darling, we had better get going," Rarity said, beckoning to herself and the rest of their friends, "Its almost midnight and we're going to need some rest so we can survive Pinkie's party tomorrow. Good night dear."

"Night girls," Twilight said, showing them to the door and closing it before returning to her mentor, "Princess? Is something wrong?"

"Oh Twilight, I had hoped that Crimson had changed," Celestia sighed, staring at the gemstone in her crown, "but it seems that even a thousand years aren't enough to change his habits. He was a smart stallion a thousand years ago, enough that ponies often suggested that he might be one of the finest strategists of the time, but then he acquired...some less desirable habits. He stared smoking, sleeping on that cloud of his, and ignoring everypony that was around him until he eventually disappeared from the eyes of the public."

"It almost sounds like he blames you for everything," Twilight commented, wrapping a wing around her mentor, "but don't worry Princess Celestia, I don't blame you for anything at all."

"Thanks Twilight," Celestia said, smiling as she checked the time, "Well, I had better get back to Canterlot and talk with Luna, she might be interested in this turn of events. Maybe she can ask where the Sigil of Fire is so we can find it later."

"Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked, something coming to mind.

"Yes Twilight?" Celestia said, looking up at her student for a moment, "What is it?"

"Do you think you'd be able to come to Crimson's 'Welcome to Ponyville' party?" Twilight asked, knowing that it might not be the best idea in the world, but also knew that the two of them needed to make up after the last thousand years.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Celestia replied, smiling at Twilight.

Twilight had no idea what these Sigils were, something that she really hated, but she knew that one day she'd find out about them and what they were supposed to do. Celestia grabbed her crown and made for the open window, leaping into the air and letting her wings catch the air so she could get back to Canterlot. Twilight, on the other hoof, retreated to her own room, where Spike was already sound asleep, and climbed into her own bed without delay. Her mind continued to wonder about Crimson and all the things that he claimed, wondering exactly how many of them were really true and how many he had made up. Eventually she went to sleep and drifted off into the dream world.

-----------------------------

Crimson moaned and opened his eyes, staring up at a bunch of trees that resembled the trees that he had always slept around in the Everfree Forest. He knew he wasn't in the Everfree Forest for three reasons; first, the color of the sky was completely wrong, two, he was feeling absolutely no familiar magical energy from the surrounding trees, and three, he had fallen asleep in a crystal castle and not a forest setting. Without being told where he was Crimson knew the answer, he only thought that he'd have some time alone before he was pulled into his Aunt's realm.

He was in the Dreaming World, where Princess Luna ruled.

"Nephew Crimson!" a vice called out, giving him little time before somepony wrapped their legs around him from behind, "It has been too long since last we saw you. Tell us dear nephew, how are you faring in the Everfree Forest?"

Crimson sighed and pulled himself free from her embrace, turning around to find his aunt, Princess Luna, standing behind in in all of her glory. She looked the same as the last day he had seen her, the day that he had left his old home to pursue his own lifestyle and chose to start living amongst the creatures in the Everfree Forest. On his first night in the forest she had come to him in his dreams, to understand why he had left her and her sister and to let him know that she was sorry for any pain that she might have caused him. It wasn't that his aunt had done anything to him, rather it was his mother and her plans for him that had eventually led him to leave the castle behind.

"I'd be much better if I was in the actual Everfree Forest," Crimson replied, puffing his stick while taking a seat, "but I can't be there on account of three young fillies found me and ratted me out to this Twilight Sparkle. Surely you've heard of her?"

"Indeed I have," Luna said, sitting across from him while conjuring a table full of snacks between them, "she and her friends were the ones that saved me from the Nightmare that had taken over. They used the Elements of Harmony and broke through my jealously that I had harbored towards my sister, allowing me to regain who I had been before. I believe those fillies were the Cutie Mark Crusaders, though they do whatever comes into their minds and hope it gets them their Cutie Marks."

Crimson laughed, it explained why the three fillies had been in the Everfree Forest in the first place. Every time he was around his mother he felt nothing but hate and anger, but his aunt, on the other hoof, was one of the few ponies that could cool his burning anger. She was the only pony, in all of Equestria, that could actually make him forget about the troubles of the normal world and make him freely laugh. That was one of the reasons he liked his aunt more than his mother, she could calm the rage that filled him at any moment.

"I've met them," Crimson said, lifting a dreamcake up and taking a bite out of it, "they seemed insane, but I guess I was a little too arrogant to believe that I could rest easy for the rest of my life without being discovered. Once this party is over I'll head back to my peaceful existence and hopefully be forgotten."

"Don't be mad at me nephew," Luna suddenly said, catching his attention more than usual, "but dearest sister asked about the Sigil of Fire and never got a straight answer. Surely you can tell me more than what you told her?"

"I could never be mad at you Aunt Luna," Crimson sighed, wondering how best to tell the truth, "Its with my royal jewelry, sealed in the ruined castle in a room that only I should be able to unlock. Seeing how my mother's latest student is the Element of Magic I bet that if she knew where the room was located she'd send this Twilight Sparkle into the ruins and break my seal. The important thing is that the Sigil is safe, just as you charged me to keep it."

"And about my daughter?" Luna asked, hoping that he could give her something, "You were the last pony to see my sweet daughter, surely you might know when she'll return to me?"

Crimson remembered his cousin with ease, knowing that she was quite the fighter, resisted orders as much as he resisted his mother's wishes, and had been lost in a freak storm when they had last flown over the Everfree Forest. That was the other reason he had been waiting in the Everfree for the last thousand years, besides remaining alone he was waiting for his cousin to return. He had been keeping watch on the skies for a reason, he was waiting for the storm to come back and bring Luna's daughter back to her.

"A few more days," Crimson replied, letting out a long puff of smoke, "I have kept watch on the Everfree Forest and I can tell that she'll be returning soon."

Tears filled Luna's eyes as she reached across the table and embraced her nephew, happy to hear that her daughter would be returning to her soon. Crimson, however, decided to accept the gesture and returned it, knowing that he was putting his aunt through a lot by just telling her the truth.

"Well, I had better let you sleep," Luna said, pulling back and wiping the tears away, "You've got a big day tomorrow. Knowing Pinkie her party could start early and go well into the afternoon."

Crimson nodded and the Dream began to fade, returning him to his peaceful rest until the morning came and he'd be forced to hang out with the lavender alicorn and her friends.

-----------------------------

When Crimson woke up he felt the sting of the sun's rays hitting his eyes, causing him to lift a hoof to block it before he eventually climbed off his cloud. It was something that he had blocked out with the trees in the Everfree, but now he had to deal with the sunlight and it only made him want to leave the town even faster. He growled and shrunk his cloud, stashing it with his tin before he made his way towards the door of his room, only to find a baby dragon staring at him.

"Are you okay?" the dragon asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I'm not much of a morning pony," Crimson replied, not sure if he should be angry with the dragon or just neutral, "So, what does your Princess want of me this morning? More questions, or are we going to hit the party and get this over with?"

"You mean Twilight?" the dragon asked, "She wanted me to get you and direct you to Sugarcube Corner, where Pinkie has put together a party for you. I guess once the party is over your free to do whatever you want, like return to the Everfree Forest and ignore Ponyville."

"Very well then," Crimson said, knowing that he wouldn't be left alone until the party was truly over, "lead on then."

Crimson had expected the town to be silent, but the moment that he stepped out of the crystal castle he found dozens of ponies walking around the street. They seemed to be going about their daily lives, buying whatever items they needed while chatting with others that they passed. One or two ponies noticed him and the dragon, but instead of freaking out that there was another alicorn walking the streets they accepted him with a simple nod. He was confused, having thought that ponies feared the alicorns at one point, but it seemed like his mother had broken that down and now they were accepted.

"Here we are," Spike said, beckoning to a building that reminded Crimson of ice cream with sprinkles, "Sugarcube Corner. The girls are inside waiting for you, so I wouldn't keep them waiting."

Crimson sighed and walked through the doors, finding at least a dozen ponies, six of which he recognized immediately, while the others stared at him in wonder and awe. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were sitting near what he assumed was a tub of water, but they attacked the water and came up with an apple in their mouths. Rarity and Fluttershy sat at a table, sipping on cups of tea, while Spike ran over and joined whatever conversation they were having at the moment. Twilight, on the other hoof, sat at a table alone, shuffling through some paperwork that Crimson was sure came with her kingdom. That left the mare known as Pinkie Pie, who spotted him from across the room and came right at him, appearing next to him in an instant.

"The pony of the hour is here!" Pinkie loudly said, strapping a party hat to his head before directing him to a cake that sat in the back of the room, "Ponies will say hi, want to chat with you, and then we'll all eat cake before the party is done."

Crimson moaned and sat near Twilight for the next few minutes, watching pony after pony come up to him and officially welcome to the town of Ponyville. He met with the Mayor, a pony called Mayor Mare apparently, and a house builder at the same time, as if they wanted Crimson to move into the town. After that he really didn't care who the other four ponies were, despite that one of them controlled the towns weather and one of them knew the best plants. He drowned most of them out, wanting the party to be over so he could go back to the forest and be alone.

"Princess Celestia! You came." Twilight exclaimed, noticing her mentor enter the building.

"I told you I'd make it," Celestia said, walking towards the table with a piece of parchment floating behind her, "Hello son, I hope you've enjoyed the party so far."

Crimson had noticed his mother entering the building and had hoped that she would converse with the town's Mayor, but instead she came right to Twilight's table. The moment she was near them he growled at her, his earlier anger returning as the end of his stick produced a flame of its own. He was positive that either the pink mare had invited her or Twilight had, but he was willing to bet that it had been the alicorn, as she had been his mother's student at one point.

"Unfortunately I cannot stay," Celestia said, dropping the scroll next to Crimson, "I have matters in Canterlot to deal with and am needed back before noon. I came to give you this son, in the hopes that you'd forgive me."

Crimson watched his mother leave the building and take off, no doubt to return to Canterlot and tell the nobles of yet another alicorn they could pester. For a few minutes he remained angry, but then he finally cooled off enough to glance at the scroll that had been left behind and noticed that Twilight was looking at it as well. He sighed and grabbed it, pulling it close to him before unwrapping it and reading what his mother was trying to bother him with this time.

"Let's see; 'A public notice to all the Provinces of Equestria that Crimson Flare, son of Princess Celestia, has been named the Prince of Fire and the Co-Owner of the Everfree Kingdom.'," Crimson started reading, realizing exactly what move his mother had played on him.

His mother was a crafty one, issuing a notice to all of Equestria and telling everypony that there was another alicorn that was residing in the Everfree Forest. There was no way that he was going to get any peace now that the entire world knew of his existence, which was the complete opposite of what he wanted. The fact that his freedom had been smashed into pieces with this once act just made him even more angry than he had already been. He tried to burn the blasted parchment, but the flames just rolled off it and the parchment looked the same, yet just another trick from his crafty mother.

He'd play by her rules for now, but she had no idea that his cousin was close to coming back and that the same moves she was making on him would fail on her.