Karon dared not move, dared not think. All of his senses were completely focused on the unicorn facing him. The situation was so mind numbing that he couldn't comprehend what the hell had just happened. After all of his careful lying and scheming, it all shattered so easily?

And now, he was left where he was, not daring to blink as every cell of his being held its breath and waited for what was to come next.

Twilight looked at him very much the same way he looked at her, but where Karon's eyes held fear and shock Twilight's held pain and confusion. Her mouth was slightly open and moved, like she was trying to form words but found herself unable to understand what she had just heard within his mind.

Both of them remained as they were, waiting for themselves to wake up from the nightmarish turn of events the evening had taken.

Twilight got there first.

“You ... you did WHAT!?”

“Twilight ... please remain calm....”

“Calm ... calm ... How can I be calm! Why would you do this? You told me it was just a mistake, that you would fix it. I trusted you, everypony trusted you! And now I find out you've been going behind my back and manipulated Rarity into believing your lies ... Why would you do this? What else haven't you told me!?”

“Manipulated is a strong word, I'm not forcing her to do anythi-”

“NO! You're just lying and telling her what she wants to hear. Has anything you've ever said to her been true? No, no I can't let this happen. She doesn't understand what you are, she doesn't know you ... like I do.”

Twilight descended into incoherent mumbling to herself and Karon thought he heard her making a mental list again of all things. He took the opportunity to rise up from his seated position as subtly as he could but Twilight immediately noticed and her eyes snapped back to him.

“Where do you think you're going! Sit down, I'm not done talking!”

The pain and confusion in her eyes were gone without a trace, replaced instead with what looked like murderous rage and Karon began feeling very uneasy.

“Look Twilight I-”

“Sit down!”

“Hey, it's nothing worth getting upset about, the sex wasn't that good!”

Total silence reigned in the room, and from the confines of his mind, Karon heard the sound of someone slapping his own face.

“Mistake.”

Twilight's face began glowing with a dangerous red tone, and from her mane and tail, smoke began to rise like it had during his and Pinkie's munchies spree. Her teeth were grinding audibly and the usual purple color of her eyes were shifting into a glowing red as her face contorted into a grimace of pure rage.

“Whatever you do don't run, it will make you look guilty.”

With a final snap of her self restraint Twilight's mane and tail burst into actual flames and her coat shone with a harsh white color. Her now blood red eyes bored into him with a stare that spoke only of utter doom and destruction.

Karon whimpered.

“RUN! RUN AND NEVER STOP!”

No longer caring for appearances, Karon leapt from his half standing position and threw himself into the little library and slammed the door behind him. Just in time to hear the sound of what must have been a hundred books slamming into it with force enough to break bones.

Twilight meant business.

He pressed himself up against the door as hard as he could, but that could not stop Twilight as he found out. The telltale sound of a teleportation spell was heard and Twilight appeared in the middle of the room in a flash of purple. Karon may or may not have screamed like a little girl before running back out into the library with Twilight after him growling louder than any pony should be able to. She was back to her normal, flame-less self, but her mane and tail still carried black scorch marks on them.

He swerved to the left and raced up the stairs and had just barely been able to dodge into the bedroom before Twilight appeared right behind him, trying to cut off his escape. He practically jumped up to the platform in one leap and ran to the far end where he was forced to stop. He turned around and gulped as Twilight teleported again and came to stand before him. Behind him, the rising moon framed him in perfectly and made him an easy target.

“Twilight ... let's not do anything we will regret.”

“Regret, REGRET! I regret not listening to princess Luna when she told me to keep an eye on you, that you would trick us all and go behind our backs to plan something. So now you're going to stay right where you are and I'm going to contact princess Celestia and we will make sure you aren't hiding anything important.”

“We went through this already don't you remember?”

“THAT WAS BEFORE YOU WENT BEHIND MY BACK AND SLEPT WITH RARITY!”

Karon did not wish to find out whatever she planned to do with him while she waited for the princesses to arrive, and seeing the enraged Twilight standing before him with her horn glowing with whatever spell she was preparing for containing him made it clear he only had one option left.

He turned around and threw himself out the window.

He had put his arms around his head to protect from the shards of glass, but it also kept him from seeing anything. Which was why he was completely caught off guard when he hit an enormous branch and flipped upside down. He continued travelling downwards in a semi-coherent state and kept hitting branches on the way, letting out screams and yelps every time something impacted on him.

With a final smack, his still shielded head bounced upwards then everything came to a halt. Karon groaned in self-pity and removed his arms, peering cautiously around himself in a daze. He was right beneath where the window should be, and a few late straggling ponies heading home had stopped to stare at the scene that had unfolded before them. No doubt confused as to why the library tree would be shouting in pain.

But he had barely time to stand up and commend himself on his daring escape before Twilight teleported down from the bedroom. She appeared before him and instantly locked on him the same way one might expect from a hawk looking down on a rabbit.

Neither of them moved for a moment and Karon did his utmost to think of something clever he could use to distract her.

“Hey look over there, it's Princess Celestia!”

On pure reflex, Twilight's neuroticism kicked in and she turned around, already preparing an apology for the terrible state she was in. It took only second for her to turn around, register that there was no Celestia there, and turn back to Karon, but by then he was already running like crazy with his arms waving in the air like he was trying to claw himself forward faster.

“Karon get back here!” Twilight shouted and set off after him while the ponies around continued to stare after the running pair.

“No way, you're crazy!” he shouted back to her and kept running at a speed that even surpassed the one he had kept when he was being chased by the timber wolves. Twilight was scarier.

”You're crazy! And you’re going back to the library even if I have to DRAG YOU BACK THERE MYSELF!” she screamed and fired off a purple bolt of magic with an unknown purpose. Karon heard the fizzling sound behind him and threw himself to the side and came up in a roll, watching the bolt sip past where he had been running just a heartbeat ago.

“CRAZY!” he shouted at her and flung his own piece of magic at her. She didn't expect it and it struck her. She blinked a few times as the effect took hold and suddenly she was seeing seven Karons all running in different directions.

“GARH!” she screamed and began flinging bolts of purple energy after all of them, teleporting herself into better vantage points and several of them disappeared when they were hit. But for each failure Twilight's patience dropped and she got closer and closer to a complete breakdown.

When the fifth false Karon was hit and vanished, she let out a noise that sounded like two tectonic plates grinding against each other and she closed her eyes in concentration. An enormous gathering of energy formed at the tip of her horn and suddenly exploded outwards, and both Karons were caught in the magical wave and vanished just like the rest.

When Twilight realized she had been duped, she let out a blood curling scream that made everypony within hearing distance curl up in fear, imagining that the gates of Tartarus had been opened and the horrors locked away were coming for them.

Karon heard it as well but kept on running, hiding underneath a veil of invisibility he had cast when Twilight was distracted by his illusion copies. He had no idea what that huge blast of dispelling magic had been, but he knew he didn't want to be near it if it happened again. His hasty veil wouldn't keep up against such a force tearing at it.

Instead, he kept running as fast as he could, his heart thumping painfully hard in his chest and his breath pushing through his throat raggedly. At first he had been running towards Rarity, but had changed his course as soon as a semblance of intelligence had returned to him. It would be the first place psycho Twilight would look.

So instead he ran towards the only other pony he trusted to help him, Lyra. The only other option would have been Big Mac, but he knew the stallion would never choose to actually turn against his sister and would side with her automatically. He was a family pony.

Lyra on other hand would protect Karon with her life. He was the one and only human she was likely to ever meet after all, blooming friendship aside. Bon Bon was another thing entirely, if Twilight came knocking she would sell him out in an instant, and Karon wanted to stay hidden until Twilight had time to calm down.

A year or two might do it.

So when he got close to Lyra's house, Karon dropped the veil and crept along the houses and alleys silently. He was feeling very tired after the run since he had expended a lot of energy at the same time holding up the veil. Which was why he opted for the easiest way to get to Lyra without alerting Bon Bon.

He sneaked up to her window and knocked on it.

He tried doing it as quietly as he could at first but when he got no response he knocked again, harder this time. He was just about to knock a third time when he heard shuffling from within the room and the window opened to reveal a very dishevelled Lyra rubbing her eyes sleepily.

“Uuh, Karon is that you? What in Celestia's name are you doing here?”

Karon didn't answer, instead he waved his arm towards Ponyville's center and right on cue there was a large explosion and something resembling a mushroom cloud of purple magic could be seen above the nearby rooftops. Lyra gulped at the display but ushered Karon inside and closed the window, looking for any sign of danger approaching. Once inside he went over to the bed and sat down on the edge, letting go of the air he'd been holding.

“What happened? What was that?”

Karon took a deep breath and steadied his heart rate, the temporary hide out giving him a sense of security.

“Bitch be crazy!”

“What?”

“Twilight, she's gone insane. She managed to read the truth about me and Rarity from my mind and she's on the warpath. She thinks I tricked her into it and am plotting some nefarious scheme to seduce all the mares and take over Equestria or something.”

“Well aren't you?”

“This isn't funny Lyra. She said she would call the princesses to town to 'solve this'.”

“That is bad, but won't they discover that you aren't planning to end the world and make Twilight back off?”

“Maybe ... but the last time I had Twilight and the rest of the ponies on my side. Now it's different, and if Twilight tells them I'm doing something I shouldn't they will take it seriously at first.”

“It still sounds unlikely that they would do anything. Even if Twilight says you're bad, it's obvious this is personal to her. There is absolutely no real evidence suggesting your doing anything wrong. To me, it sounds a little like she's jealous.”

“You're not the first to suggest that.”

“Well who can blame her. Nopony can resist you after all,” Lyra purred and jumped on the bed next to him, giving him a smoldering look and leaned in as if to kiss him.

“Buh, gwah, huuh?” he responded and blinked repeatedly.

Lyra snorted and pushed him out of her bed. Brain still unresponsive Karon fell down on the floor and looked up at her confused.

“Remember what got you into this trouble in the first place?”

“You have a very nasty sense of humor Lyra.”

“It's your fault. I wasn't like this until you came along.”

“That's what you get for corrupting innocent little ponies.”

“You encouraged me!”

“You didn't have to actually listen to what I said.”

“Gaarh! How do I keep getting into these ridiculous situations!?”

“Is that a rhetorical question or...?”

“Never mind ... Can I stay here over the night? Judging by those massive releases of energy, I'm guessing Twilight is burning herself out pretty fast, she will have to go home and sleep soon.”

“What about the princesses? You can't hide from them and I don't think you should even try.”

“I'll wait until the morning and see if I can sense them anywhere near. If they are, I can find them. I doubt Twilight would lose her cool while in their presence. She wants their approval too much for that.”

He sighed and got back up on the bed where Lyra lied, watching him with a mixture of amusement and pity.

“You really don't have it easy huh, you know ... I only got one bed, and if you want to sleep here I think I can come up with something to distract you ... all night loooong.”

The same smoldering look was back with a devious smile, and Karon began to wonder if the unicorn wasn't a trickster herself.

“I'm not falling for that again Lyra....”

She leaned in and whispered in his ear.

“We can stay up all night and you can give me something I want ... something I really need....”

She jumped down from bed and gave him an enormous smile as her horn glowed and a notebook came hovering into view.

“You can give me answers to all the new questions I have about humans.”

“ I should have let Twilight kill me....”

                           *************************************************

Karon woke up feeling utterly drained. Lyra had obviously been saving up on questions for an opportunity like this to present itself, and he had spent almost the entire night scrounging his brain for information regarding the most ridiculous things.

Around and on the bed was a ton of notes Lyra had taken separately after she had filled out her notebook with god knows what mad scribble and ideas. The unicorn herself was sprawled over his legs with a piece of paper sticking out of her mouth which it sounded like she was sucking on.

Karon just shook his head at the sight and sat up, but before he could remove the lightly drooling pony somepony spoke from behind him and he froze when he recognized the voice.

It was Celestia's.

“Good morning Karon, I've heard you have gotten yourself into more trouble lately.”

He turned around and tried his best to look unfazed. The truth was he was just about ready to throw himself out another window but he couldn't give that away.

“That ... is one way to put it.”

“Twilight has informed me what has happened, but I wanted to also hear what you have to say.”

He sighed and rubbed his face gingerly.

“It's not that complicated. I got together with Rarity and kept it a secret since I was afraid the rest of the ponies, especially Twilight, wouldn't react that well.”

“Yes I heard. Twilight says there is a chance that you tricked the element of generosity into becoming your mate, and that you might be capable of planning something bigger and need to be investigated to be sure.”

“I didn't trick anypony. Rarity is herself and I'm not manipulating or controlling her.”

She looked him in the eyes for a moment and nodded.

“Is she happy with you?”

“She seems to be.”

“And are you happy with her.”

“Yes ... I am.”

“I believe you, but this must still be sorted out. I cannot leave Ponyville and the elements without knowing things are well with all of them.”

“So what do you propose?”

“My sister is waiting with the elements in Twilight's library. We will go there and talk things through until a solution can be reached with all of them.”

Karon nodded in turn and woke Lyra up with a few shakes. She grumbled and opened one bloodshot eye and stared at him.

“I need to go now Lyra, good luck with your notes,” he said and without thinking gave her a gentle hug. She mumbled something in response and hugged him back weakly. When he let go she promptly fell back asleep and Karon walked over to Celestia, who was looking at him with a benevolent smile.

“Don't tell anypony about that.”

She laughed delicately and flashed him a grin.

“I won't if you won't. Now put your hand on me and we will go.”

He did as she asked and with a flash of Celestias horn the world shifted momentarily, it was like looking at a shifting frame between one picture and the next. One second they were in Lyra's room, the next they were both standing in the library with six ponies and the lunar princess looking at them.

Luna stared at Karon with a blank face, hiding her inner thoughts from him well. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked angry and their eyes bore into him with open hostility. Fluttershy looked like her usual timid self while Pinkie looked a little sad and torn. Rarity and Twilight weren't looking at him, instead they were busy glaring at each other without blinking.

“Uhrm,” Princess Celestia gently cleared her throat and every eye turned to her, even Twilight and Rarity had broken off their contest to listen to the princess.

“I know everypony here has many feelings they would like to share right now, but we have to remember that we are all friends.” Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy looked a little ashamed while Rarity and Twilight gave each other one more dirty look.

Celestia looked at them all in turn before she stopped and settled her eyes on her student.

“Twilight, you called me and my sister down here because you think that Karon might potentially pose a threat to Equestria and the ponies here in Ponyville. Could you please explain to everypony here why you think so.”

This time Twilight's glare focused unto Karon and she spoke in a calculated tone, obviously having gone over whatever data she thought supported her theory.

“It was last night that I decided to practice the ability to read minds, an ability that Karon taught me. Karon had invited me to use him for this goal and so I did, but he wasn't aware I was doing this at the time, and so he didn't know I was hearing everything he thought. That was how I found out that Karon has been having a secret relationship with Rarity behind our backs.”

“I can understand why learning of that might make you feel betrayed Twilight, but I can not see why this would make you think Karon could pose a threat.”

“But Princess Celestia, Karon has been keeping this a secret for months now, and he was the one who taught me to read minds. We don't know what else he can do and what he is hiding from us! He's clearly demonstrated that he is a good liar and he has considerable magical talent.”

“Twilight Sparkle, I never doubted that Karon can be dangerous and possesses a kind of magic we have very little experience with, but just because something can be dangerous and could hurt us doesn't mean we can do the same to them. Dragons are among the most powerful and dangerous creatures in existence, and yet you have raised one from birth and care for him like he is family.”

“But why would he lie if he didn't do anything wrong!? Why would he lie to me and do that. If he isn't evil, why would he hu-!”

Twilight turned red and looked away, the rest of the ponies mistook her color and silence for anger but Celestia, Luna and Karon had caught the look on her face. Luna looked at the unicorn with pity, Celestia with understanding and Karon ... did his best to pretend he hadn't seen it.

“I believe it has become clear that Karon poses no immediate threat, and he had no ill intent behind doing what he did. We cannot find any fault in his actions. Like always, he continues to act on the borders of right and wrong, but we cannot judge him for this. Twilight Sparkle, I thank you for informing me of the events that transpired here, but my final say is that Karon is no threat and is not to be harmed.”

Twilight didn't look at her mentor, she kept her gaze firmly fixed on the floor.

“As you say princess. Thank you for coming here.”

Her voice sounded hollow, all emotions kept away from it.

Celestia looked down at her with love and sadness for a few moments before she and Luna walked away from the gathered group, but before they disappeared they gestured for Karon to come over to them. When he did Celestia leaned down and spoke in quiet voice.

“We cannot allow this to jeopardize the elements of harmony Karon. Their friendship must not be compromised. Without it, the elements will not work and Equestria would be vulnerable to danger. You are the cause and at the center of this, and it is your responsibility to make sure this is resolved before it causes any damage.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Do whatever you must, but the elements must exist in a state of harmony and friendship. They can fight and bicker amongst themselves, but as long as they remain true friends the elements will work. However, I have never seen my student look this distraught before and I fear that what has happened here could pose a real danger. This is more important than just one pony or human, all of Equestria might depend on that you solve this. If you find yourself in need of help, come to us in Canterlot, but don't fail us, this is too important.”

And with that final ominous note of goodbye, both the princesses horns flashed and they disappeared.

“Great, now our soap opera of a life comes with a mission from royalty which the fate of Equestria may rest upon.”

“Don't remind me.”

He turned and watched the ponies. They were clearly divided into camps where Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Twilight stood on the opposite end of the library from him. Pinkie Pie stood with Fluttershy in the middle and they both looked torn. Neither of them wished for this to be happening.

Rarity walked over and stood with Karon, giving him a loving smile before she turned to face Twilight.

“Come Karon, if they can't accept that we're in love then, they can just be that way and we won't bother them anymore,” she huffed and began walking out of the library. Seeing no better alternative, Karon followed her.

Behind him, he heard Pinkie shouting before the door closed and cut her off.

“Wait, everypony can't we fix this?! I'm sure if we just have some fun and play some games everything will be just f-”

Neither Karon nor Rarity spoke a word, Karon was busy trying to come up with a plan to fix this complete mess and Rarity just walked with her head held high as if to show her disdain for the indignity she had just been put through.

When they reached the boutique, Karon walked in first and Rarity slammed the door behind her. Immediately, everything she had kept in came pouring out.

“The nerve of those ponies! Just because I finally found true love and they didn't, they dare to claim it is all a trick. If that is how they want it, they can just be that way, we don't need them anymore!”

“Are you sure you aren't overreacting?”

The look Rarity gave him made a deathly chill travel down his spine.

“I NEVER overreact. I react perfectly well. It is those ponies, that know-it-all Twilight and that brute Rainbow Dash. Even Applejack told me there was something wrong with the two of us being together and we must end it. They are the ones overreacting! They are the ones who are wrong!”

“What about Pinkie and Fluttershy?”

“Oh the poor dears, they didn't say anything besides that we all should be friends. But I could NEVER be friends with somepony that would stand in the way of true love! It is just unthinkable that they would do this to me.”

“We are all a little upset right now. Let me think of something and I will try and make them come around.”

“I have to.”

“I wish that was true, but they are just to stubborn.”

“We will see. But Rarity this has changed some things and I need to go see ... someone.”

“What? Where are you going? And don't you mean somepony.”

“The forest, and no not a pony.”

“Hmm whatever do you ... Oh I understand, yes Zecora could perhaps help with this. She certainly seem to know a lot of strange things, perhaps she can make a potion to make those ponies see some sense.”

“Yes of course ... Zecora. I will move as fast as I can so it shouldn't take more than a day or two. Will you be fine without me?”

“Of course I will Karon. Just promise me you will be back as soon as you can.”

“I will.”

“Love you sweetie bear,” she said and stood up on her back hooves and kissed him.

“Love you too ... uh ... honey pie.”

“Eeeeeewww.”

                                   ***************************************

The journey had been quick. Between the aid of the forest mind and the familiarity Karon had gained of the forest, he managed to arrive at Eldros' cave somewhere close to sunset and without having encountered any dangerous beasts. The dragon had welcomed him back and readily listened to his explanation of what had transpired.

When Karon was finished the dragon remained silent for a while.

“Thine actions have caused much grief even though thou sought to do no harm, but now, thou has endangered the land of Equestria and it is thy duty to heal the rift thou has caused.”

“But how?”

“Has thou been practicing the powers I helped thee develop?”

“What? How is that relevant?”

“Has thou been practicing the powers I helped thee develop?”

“Well ... kinda. A little bit.”

“Has thou been studying and training in the magical arts thou old master taught thee?”

“Same there....a little bit.”

“Is it thy wish to leave behind your dedications to thine arts? To leave the path of the trickster and the path of the wise one?”

“No of course not!”

“Then why have thou not been studying, practicing, training or grown in thou skill and knowledge.”

“Well I ... I've just been...”

“Complacent...”

“Yes....”

“Thou and I are similar creatures, we are beings of transformation. Radical change and upheaval of the old to form something new. Thou has forgotten thy nature and dedication. The trickster is not complacent and the mage is nothing without study and practice.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Make a choice. Can thou leave thy chosen paths?”

“No I ... I can't....”

“Why?”

“Because it is what calls to me! I can't stop being what and who I am. It is like hearing a song in the distance and never being able to make out the words no matter how much you wish to. Then one day someone reveals it to you, and it is more beautiful and complex than you could ever imagine. I can not leave that, it is impossible. To let that beautiful song of magic, the song of both the trickster and the wizard to fade back into nothing but a distant dream ... I would die.”

“But thy nature is not compatible with that of the ponies around thee. They are not like thee, similar, but not of thy nature or energy. If thou remain on thy path, thou will change them, and it will be a change they perhaps are not ready for. A change they perhaps are not meant for.”

“But ... I love them.”

“Then thy choice is made, and only one option is left if thou wish to stay true to both thy self and them.”

“I know....”

Karon turned his back on the dragon and began walking towards the entrance of the cave, but before he could disappear into the forest again the dragon spoke inside his mind once more.

“Thou has proven thy nobility with this choice. Thy dedication remains strong despite the pain thou will suffer for it ... I grant thee the gift of my name, the complete story that is my past, present and future. The name that is a song telling of my birth, life and final death is thine. When thou will find thy self in need of me, when thou faces that which thou have no hope of besting. Call my name, and I will come to thee ... my friend.”

Rocks tumbled down and the entire mountain shook as a song echoed out from the deepest part of the dragons soul, it echoed out but only within Karon's mind was the song itself heard.

“Som solen föddes så tog jag flykt

dansade på sten, eld och blod av jord

då måne och stjärna var unga och rena

innan barnen av vår jord tog till vapen

med arga skrik av hat och advensjuka

då jag stod på de högsta bergens topp och grät

tårar i form av flammor medans våran moders

älskade jord brann och blev aska

och endast med ett sista beslut så

stoppades slutet och nytt liv kunde formas

med hjälp av varelser bortom våra stjärnor

och de nya barnen som skulle härska kom

till och under många långa cirklar av tid

kommer de möta hot och faror men harmoni

kommer regera och jag kommer vaka över detta

så som jag bidats av min moder sol till den slutgiltiga tid

då månen kommer se mig falla av ett dödligt sår

och mitt sista andetag ska jag ta i kalla havets vatten

innan jag slutligen sätts fri i ande och åter blir ett

med moder solen som födde mig.”

It was all so much. A million impressions of a life that stretched beyond that even comprehensible to Karon was suddenly stretched before him. He could feel what the dragon had felt and would feel. He felt his glorious birth, the life of power, freedom and wisdom that spanned millions upon millions of years, and he felt the dragon's end, the mortal wound that would rip upon his chest and expose his heart. Karon felt how the dragon would die, in a cold, frozen sea before his soul would take one last flight and his flame would become one with the fire of the sun once more.

When it was over, Karon said nothing at first, there were no words that could describe what he had just experienced. The honor that had just been bestowed on him. For the first time in many years Karon felt humbled.

He wanted to return the favor somehow, to give the dragon something of equal worth to show how much he ... simply felt from what it had given him. Thoughts and ideas fluttered by until finally one struck him as the best he could give. Something that was unselfish and showed just how much the dragon had given him with this single name.

“Eldros ... I have an idea....”

                                         ***********************************

When Karon finally stumbled out of the thicket of brushes and plants into Equestria, the sky had just began shifting from midnight blue to a brighter tone. He was incredibly tired but had managed to sate his hunger at least with fruit he had collected from within the forest, but he didn't have time to sleep. He needed to do what he had set out to do, but he just didn't know what to tell them.

His first stop was at Fluttershy's cottage and he had to knock loudly on her door for a long time before the pegasus finally opened the door with a frightful look on her face. When she saw who it was, she first looked relieved then confused and worried.

“Oh Karon ... I uhm ... Hi, I was just sleeping and ... Do you think you could come back a little later, that is if you want to.”

“I actually need to speak to you right away Fluttershy.”

“Oh no, has something happened? Is everypony okay?”

“They're fine Fluttershy. This is about me.”

“You? But I....”

“Could I come in?”

“If you really want to....” she answered and stepped out of the way, letting Karon in and closed the door behind him. He could hear several small animals snoring from inside their little houses, having returned to sleep when their caretaker had dealt with the noise.

Fluttershy put a hoof in front of her mouth to show he should be silent and tip hoofed to her room with Karon close behind.

She sat down on her bed and began fiddling with her hooves while Karon remained standing, watching her silently for a few minutes until the silence became uncomfortable.

“Fluttershy I just wanted to say ... you are a wonderful pony. Don't ever let the world or anything outside of it change you. Of all the things I have seen so far in my life, I think you are the most innocent and sweet.”

She blushed and fiddled with her hooves even more, but she gained enough courage to give him an angelic smile and said.

“Uhm, thank you ... you're really nice ... and uhm ... tall.”

Karon smiled back and put his hand on her head and ruffled it a little.

“Thank you, that was all I wanted to say. You should go back to sleep now, a lot of animals need you and I wouldn't want to keep you from your rest.”

“Oh it's no trouble, I hope everything will become better soon. I don't like it when my friends fight.”

“I promise you Fluttershy, if you go back to sleep everything will be taken care off when you wake up.”

She gave him another angelic smile with a hopeful spark in her eyes.

“Okay, good night Karon.”

“Sleep well Fluttershy.”

He turned around and walked down the stairs, but when he was about to go out the door he found his path blocked by a little bunny looking to be out for revenge. Before the furry little murder machine could do anything though Karon went down on one knee and whispered to him.

“Take care of Fluttershy Angel, you know that she needs you all as much as you need her.”

His ears twitched curiously for a few moments and he looked at Karon as if expecting a trap. When none became apparent the bunny looked him in the eyes with his head cocked sideways and considered what he had just said.

Then put his little bunny paw to his forehead in a salute and jumped back to the little basket serving as his bed. Karon opened the door and walked out from the house but before he could close it a half eaten apple came flying out of the darkness and struck him in the back of his head with a thud.

He didn't turn around, instead he smiled a crooked smile and closed the door behind him and admitted defeat. The bunny had won the war.

                                  *********************************

Next was Rainbow Dash. Problem was, she lived inside a cloud shaped like a house. So instead of trying to figure out some very complicated way of making himself able to fly Karon set up a second rate ritual area with the help of some twigs, rocks and drawn symbols in the dirt. He then performed a clumsy ritual meant to invade the pegasu's dreams and give her the message to come to him. It was done in such a way that would have had Varsif fuming with fury at seeing how sloppy it was. But Karon didn't actually care to do anything specific to Rainbow, he just needed her attention.

She wouldn't ignore it if someone decided to invade her dreams.

Predictably it took just a few minutes before a blur zipped out of the cloud house with a rainbow trailing behind her. When she spotted Karon she flew down to him and looked ready to fight.

“Okay who gave you permission to get into my dreams! I never wake up this early!”

“I just needed to talk.”

“Well I got nothing to say. You hurt Twilight and betrayed the rest of us, I don't care what Rarity says.”

“That will get taken care of before this day is over. I am here about something else.”

“Oh yeah, what makes you think I want to hear anything you got to say!?”

In an over dramatic gesture Karon snapped his fingers and cut of her connection to Equestria and the pegasus fell down to the ground, her wings unable to work anymore.

“You will listen to what I have to say.”

“Not before I buck you to Tartarus!”

“It's about Scootaloo.”

She hesitated when he said it, not understanding what she had to do with anything.

“What about her?”

“I've grown to care for her, and we had a talk recently because she was beginning to head down a very bad road. I don't want that for her and neither does she, but there isn't anypony there to help her. She has her friends and her place at the hospital, but what she needs is more, she needs a family. I ... I won't be able to give her what she needs. So she wants you.”

“Me! Uh, I don't know what you've hit your head with, but I am NOT ready to be anypony's mom.”

“Yes you are. You are exactly what she needs and you don't know just how much you need her. You are alike in so many ways Rainbow. I don't expect you to become a parent overnight, so take help from your friends all you want, but you will take care of Scootaloo and you will be there for here whenever she needs it.”

“Hey, I like the squirt and all but I don't th-”

Karon walked up to Rainbow Dash and fell down on one knee, his eyes were burning with something dangerous and entirely merciless as he spoke.

“Dash, you WILL take care of Scootaloo and you WILL help her learn how to fly. You WILL give her someplace to live and you WILL give her anything else she needs. You are going to grow to love that filly like your own Rainbow Dash. Fail me in this and I will find you ... and I will tear out your soul and rip it to pieces.”

She didn't dare to give a response first. When she looked into Karon's eyes, she knew he wasn't making idle threats.

He was serious.

“Fine ... I'll take care of her, but if you love her so much why the hay don't you do it yourself?”

“Because I won't be around to.”

“What is that supposed to ... You're leaving?”

“Yes.”

“So what, now that your game is up and everypony knows you're a liar, you're just gonna leave and forget about all of us!? I didn't think you were a coward.”

“I do this for you! As long as I remain here, nothing will be as it was for you. I will slowly change everything you have and love until nothing remains and you wished you had never met me. I do this because I love you all ... I do not belong here. I can't, not as I am now and maybe never. I want to stay. I feel ... good when I'm here. Don't think I do this for myself. I can't remain here and stay true to myself and all of you at the same time. Either way I would betray someone, so the only thing left for me to do is leave.”

“Because you're loyal....”

“I was hoping you would understand.”

“I do ... kinda.”

“So, do you promise to care for Scootaloo when I'm gone?”

“I promise, I'll teach that little squirt all I can.”

“More than that, she needs a family Rainbow.”

“Yeah yeah, that too. Don't worry I'll take care of it.”

Karon rose up and they both stood silent as they watched each other, a certain unwilling respect had begun taking form inside of the pegasus for Karon.

“Well ... Goodbye Karon.”

“Goodbye Rainbow Dash.”

Her wings unfurled once more and she took flight, but before she could fly out of his reach Karon grasped her tail and pulled her back down.

“What they hay!” she shouted as Karon pulled her down and into a hug. She remained hanging in his arms for a couple of seconds before she hugged him back. After a few moments she spoke and her voice had the slightest hint of tremor in it.

“Fine, now let me go before I start to get sappy too.”

He gave her a final squeeze and let go and she shot out his arms and disappeared back into the sky. A rainbow trailing behind her as she returned back home.

He trusted that she would keep her promise. She was the element of loyalty after all and wouldn't betray a promise.

But now it was turn for the pony who had always been able to see through him better than anypony else.

                            **********************************************

“APPLEJACK! YE GOT SOME COMPANY WAITING!” The frail old form of granny Smith shouted loudly enough to be heard over in Ponyville. When Karon had arrived, the withered old pony had been sitting in her old reclining chair on the porch and was busy watching the sunset. Farm ponies were early risers and she had insisted on getting Applejack when Karon told her he was there to see her.

She went back to her reclining chair after the shouting and spoke to him with an approving voice.

“Ever since ye got us going on making those fancy drinks of yers, we've gotten more bits than ever before. Soon we'll have enough to maybe send to the rest of the family and help 'em out.”

“Glad I could help.”

Karon heard creaking behind him and turned around, but instead of Applejack it was Big Macintosh that came out the front door and looked at him with the same unfazed expression as always. Something was slightly different this time though, Big Mac's eyes looked to be just a little bit more focused as he looked on Karon.

“Yer leaving.” It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

“How does he do that?”

“Yes.”

The stallion nodded sagely and walked up to him and put a hoof on his shoulder.

“Ya do what you think ya gotta do.”

Karon nodded in response and Big Mac turned to walk away and begin working on the needed chores.

“Hey Big Mac!”

“Mmmm?”

“Remember that drinking game of Vodka we did? The one where I won all those bits?”

“Eeyup.”

“....I cheated, every second glass I drank was water.”

The stallion got a small smile and spoke back.

“Ah know, ah did too.”

“Wait, what? How?”

The big farm pony walked away after that and whistled to himself as he got to work on the farm he loved. Karon scratched his head and turned around and saw Applejack standing in the doorway with an unpleasant look on her face.

“What do ya want?”

“I won't be here long, I just came to tell you that I want my portion of the earnings of the alcohol sales to go to Rainbow Dash from now on. She will know what's it for.”

“Why would ya ever wanna do that for?”

“Doesn't matter, it will do more good with her than me, and Applejack ... it's been a pleasure working with you.”

“Ya don't mean that.”

“Fine you frustrating little lie detector, it's been okay working with you, but I still wish you the best. Maybe for a few apples to fall out of the tree and hit you on the head every now and then, but the rest should be good, hows that?”

She gave him an encouraging smile and her voice just dripped of infinite patience, the same way a teacher speaks to a very slow student.

“See, wasn't that just a heck of a lot easier, just to tell the truth?”

“Goodbye Applejack,” he said and turned around and walked away quickly before the sickeningly honest pony could infect him with her alien philosophy.

                                **********************************************

He was about halfway through the ponies he needed to see now and decided it was best to go see Pinkie Pie next. The sun had begun its ascent into the sky and he was getting a little nervous about the time. He wanted to get all of this done before everypony would be up and about on their regular schedules.

Karon had become something of a regular at Sugercube Corner lately, and the Cakes didn't object when he entered the shop despite that it technically wasn't open for business yet.

“Good morning Karon, in here for an early breakfast are you?”

“I actually came to see Pinkie Pie, is she up yet?”

“No I don't think so, she should be in her room sleeping.”

“Thank you.”

He headed up the stairs and into Pinkie Pie's room at the top where she was snoring loudly with her pet alligator gummy wrapped in her arms like a plushy. He walked up to her and poked her neck carefully, she mumbled something about sugar but didn't wake. He poked her again several time before she finally opened her eyes and looked at him.

“Oh, hey Karon. Fancy seeing you here.”

“Yeah ... I wanted to talk.”

“Oh about what?” she asked and bounced up with more energy than should be allowed for anypony that had just woken up, while Gummy bounced of the bed and unto the floor.

“Pinkie, I wanted you to know that no matter what, you will always be my friend.”

“Oh no, something bad is going to happen,” she said and her usual happy face sunk a little in synch with her mane.

“Pinkie, you saw how they all behaved yesterday and I ... I can't stay. I need to leave.”

“You can't leave! All your best friends are here and if you leave you will be all lonely and no pony will be there to cheer you up!”

“I know Pinkie, and I will miss you.”

The pink pony bounced of the bed and launched herself at him, her hoofs wrapped around his legs in an iron grip and she exclaimed in triumph.

“AHA! No pony can escape from Pinkie Pie's patented hoof trap! Now you will have to stay or you will be stuck foreeeeeeeeveeer.”

“Really? What about all the rest of your friends? What if they get really sad and you won't be there to cheer them up? Or what if there is a new pony in town but they won't make any new friends because you won't be there to greet them and throw a party? “

“But, but....” she sank visibly and everything about her seemed to turn a few shades darker, as if Pinkie's entire being was tapped into her happiness and without it would collapse into darkness.

“I will be fine Pinkie, but it will be your job to make sure everypony get back to their normal happy lives when I am gone. I trust that you can fix whatever damage I might have done and make everypony friends again. It might take time, but if anypony can do it ... it is you.”

“But where will you go? What if there's no cupcakes or cakes or parties there?”

“I'm going to Canterlot. Celestia offered to help me if I would need it, and I think this constitutes a need, so don't worry Pinkie, I'll manage.”

“Hmmmm Canterlot ... I'm sure I could find a way to throw you a party there somehow....”

“...Maybe later, but if you really want to, you could come visit. The Cakes make deliveries there from time to time right?”

“Of course, all the time.”

“Then this isn't a good bye really. We will see each other again, don't worry.”

“Pinkie promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.”

“Okey dokey lokey,” she said, perfectly satisfied and happy again now that she knew she would be seeing him again.

“Hey Pinkie.”

“Yes?” she asked but didn't have time to say anything else before Karon fell upon her in a furious tickling attack. The defenseless pony squirmed all she could and giggled during the entire assault. Karon relented when she began trying to tickle him back and grinned down at her.

“I guess I will be seeing you later then.”

“yuppy duppy guppy!”

He gave her a final tickle before he left her on the floor giggling and walked down to the shop where he waved the Cakes goodbye and left.

There was only three left he needed to see now. One was Rarity, the other was Scootaloo and finally ... he needed to see Spike.

                                          ***************************************

When he arrived at Rarity's boutique, it had just opened and Karon's heart was squirming inside his chest. What he was about to do would crush Rarity. There was no way around that and he felt his resolve beginning to crack ... After all he COULD stay if he really....

No! The decision had been made, and it had been the right one. He couldn't quit now just because it would hurt him ... and Rarity. In the end, he would have hurt her worse anyway, and he knew that.

So he walked into the boutique with a heavy heart and prepared himself for the worst.

As soon as Rarity heard the door open she turned around and her face lit up when she saw Karon enter the store.

“Karon you have absolutely the best timing! Close your eyes I have a surprise for you.”

“Rarity, I....”

“Shh later, now close your eyes.”

He didn't want to argue with her so he complied and closed his eyes. He heard how Rarity moved around a little and the small chiming sound of levitation magic before she spoke.

“Open your eyes now.”

He did and before him hovered the red crooked wizard hat he had wanted Rarity to make together with his robe. He had forgotten all about it long ago.

“Tadaaa! I was going through my old designs and found the one we made for this hat and decided to surprise you. I personally wouldn't have chosen it after that insufferable Trixie showed up wearing one like it, but I know you wanted it. So what do you think?”

Karon grasped the hat hard and his knuckles cracked as he pressed it against his chest. He was struggling as best he could to keep his emotions down, but it was so hard.

“Rarity ... I love you.”

“Well thank you Karon I love you too, but it is just a hat. Even though it is probably the most stylish one of it's kind.”

“No, I ... I'm so sorry Rare, I must go.”

“But you just got back? Where are you going now?”

“Away ... Canterlot. I can't stay here any more....”

“W-what do you mean?”

Karon's mind was struggling to find words that wouldn't hurt, that wouldn't make this so painful. He watched as Rarity began to understand what he was saying but didn't want to. She wanted to hear him say something to reassure her. She wanted him to say something that made her laugh at her rising fear and know everything was as it should be.

He couldn't, so instead he did what he had always done with Rarity. What he thought she had always wished from him, to act like a gentlecolt should. So he said what a gentlecolt was supposed to when in this situation.

“Lady Rarity, you once captured my heart and you will always have a place within it, but circumstance and fate has shown that we can no longer be as we were. It is my deepest wish that although we may no longer be mates, we can remain friends and confidantes ... I'm sorry ... I love you.”

He turned around and walked out the store, and behind him Rarity feel down on her knees as her perfect dream of love was crushed before her eyes. Once outside, Karon put on the hat and pulled the brim down over his eyes, hiding away the pain in them.

                            ***************************************************

His next stop was the Ponyville Library. It was late morning now, but Twilight usually slept in late. Which was good, she wouldn't want to see him. He was there to see someone else, someone he needed to apologize to.

A certain fire breathing, sharp clawed member of the dragon species.

Karon didn't knock, but opened the door and didn't try to limit the squealing sound the door made. Inside the library Spike, stood on a ladder in almost the exact same way as when Karon had first met him. The baby dragon turned around when he heard the sound, but when he saw that it was Karon that stood there his face darkened.

“What do you want?”

“I'm here to give you a chance.”

“A chance huh, a chance at what? You? Come on I'll show you what a dragon can do!”

The love struck dragon exclaimed and jumped down to the floor where he stood ready to charge at Karon.

“A chance with Rarity.”

“Gwhu, what did you say?”

“Let me explain.”

                                       *************************************

“An idea?”

“Yes, I think there is something I can do before I leave. But I can only do it with your help.”

“Explain.”

“There is a baby dragon living in Ponyville named Spike. He has been in love with the unicorn who is ... was, my mate, but he is still only a baby and she looks on him more as a little brother than a real potential lover. If you agree to help me, I wish to leave with you all the experience and knowledge I have with and of Rarity. I also want to leave everything I know about romance, seduction, females, mating, everything. Whatever it takes to give the little guy an edge. He is just a baby and it would take countless years for him to gather all the experience and knowledge I have right now, but with this, he might have an edge, a small one, but it might still make the difference. I have learned much about Rarity and know her in a way only someone who has been intimate with her could.”

“But he will still only remain a child, and his mind might reject much of thy knowledge because he has not reached maturity.”

“I know but ... I want to give him this chance. It's the only thing I can give.”

“I can fix this problem.”

“What?”

“A dragon does not age as thou lesser creatures do. We age in stages per century, but there are ways to speed up this process. We can morph and grow if we are lost to our passions of power, greed and hatred, but there are other ways, more controlled ways. If thy dragon friends truly loves the unicorn, then he can use that love to grow until he reaches a mature age.”

“But won't that ... make him really big? I mean he won't be able to ... you know, if he's too....”

“Dragons reach sexual maturity at their second century when they are slightly larger than a normal pony. He will be the size of a large stallion should he not lose himself to his emotions and grow to his stage completely.”

“How can he do this? Is there a way for me to....”

“I shall teach him, send him to me and I shall guide his process, and when he is ready I shall give to him thy knowledge and experience.”

“Thank you Eldros...”

“No, thank thee. After all, he is kin.”

                         ***********************************

“So wait you mean that...?”

“Yes, go to Eldros and he will help you grow to the point you would be a suitable mate for Rarity, and he will also give to you all that I have learned of her ... and some more. You'll appreciate it when your older.”

“But he lives in the forest, and it's fully of large scary monsters.”

“Eldros is ancient, one of the truly old dragons. He will know when you have entered the forest and make sure you find your way to him safely.”

“But what if-”

“Spike. This is the chance I will give to you, will you take it?”

The dragon struggled with himself for a few moments before he straightened his back and an iron hard look came over him.

“I will.”

“Good ... and Spike.”

“Yeah?”

“Tell Twilight ... I'm sorry.”

“No problem bro. Here, let me get your things.”

The dragon sneaked up the stairs and into the bedroom to get the few knick knacks and purse of bits Karon had managed to gather during his time in Ponyville. The dragon seemed to have forgiven Karon entirely now that he had been offered a real chance, a REAL chance, at Rarity. Not just remain as a hopeless childhood crush, but actually let it mature and become real love.

The dragon came down the stairs a few minutes later with a bundle made out of his spare shirt and all his things inside it. There wasn't much really, perhaps Karon had always known subconsciously that he wouldn't remain here, but the purse of bits would be needed and he accepted the bundle gratefully from the dragon.

“Thank you Spike, and goodbye.”

“Goodbye? Won't you stop by later? Where will you be staying?”

“No, I'm leaving Ponyville. My time here is over.”

“Ohhh....”

Karon didn't say anything else and turned around to leave, when he reached the door Spike spoke a final time.

“Hey Karon ... how does it feel to ... kiss Rarity?”

Karon gave him an encouraging smile.

“You'll know soon enough.”

                                           *************************************

Only one good bye remained, and it would be the hardest. Even breaking up with Rarity hadn't hurt as much as what he was about to do. He stood outside the schoolyard and waited for the foals to come outside for lunch. He watched the door from underneath the shadow of a tree and pondered if there was a way to do this without breaking her completely.

But if there was, he couldn't find it in time because the door was suddenly flung open and a stream of foals rushed outside to play, eat and relax. He watched as Scootaloo, Sweetie Bell and Applebloom came running outside and took a seat in the sun where they talked, laughed and ate their lunch.

“She looks so happy....”

“I don't deserve forgiveness for what I'm about to do.”

“There is a lot of things for which we don't deserve forgiveness....”

He walked slowly towards the group of fillies and all the foals that saw him went quiet and inched away. The aura that clung to Karon dampened the mood of anyone that looked at him.

When Scootaloo first saw him coming she smiled and waved at him, but when he didn't smile back hers faltered and her wave became hesitant. When he came to stand before them he looked from Applebloom to Sweetie Bell and avoided Scootaloo's eyes.

“Girls could you give us a minute to talk?”

“Sure thing. We'll be over there until yer done talking,” Applebloom replied and dragged Sweetie Bell with her.

Karon forced himself to face Scootaloo and despair threatened to seize him when he saw the unsure look she wore. She knew something bad was about to happen but didn't know just how bad.

“Scootaloo....”

“Yeah Karon, what's up?” she asked with forced cheerfulness.

“I ... I love you, I have never told you that before but I need to do that now.”

“Karon y-you're scaring me. You never talk like this.”

“Scoots ... I need to leave.”

“What? I thought you wanted to talk?”

“Scoots ... I need to leave Ponyville.”

“No. No, no, no, no. You're just making a joke.”

Karon's heart broke at seeing the filly come to realization of what was happening.

“I can't remain in Ponyville without destroying it. I was never meant to live in such an innocent place. I will corrupt it.”

“No, no, no, no. You can't leave me, take me with you! I can come with you and we can be together then and you can never leave me!”

“I can't. I must leave Ponyville and ... everypony here.”

“YOU CAN'T! You promised you wouldn't abandon me! You said I wouldn't be left again and you LIED! YOU PROMISED!”

“Scoots please,” Karon's voice cracked and he could no longer hold back the tears that now flowed down his cheeks freely.

“I thought you cared about me, I thought you loved me! And now you just abandon me like everypony else! I HATE YOU! I hate everypony, I hate everything!” The little filly shouted and ran away with tears streaming down her face. She ran out from the schoolyard with her wings flapping furiously as if she wanted to take off into the sky and disappear into it forever. But she didn't.

She couldn't fly....

Total silence reigned over the schoolyard and Karon stood unmoving with tears flowing and a heart that felt like thousand frozen daggers were tearing apart. The silence was broken when a voice spoke up behind him.

“Ugh Who cares about that blank flank. She's soooooo over dramatic.”

Karon slowly turned around and faced Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara that looked on him with haughty, uncaring expressions.

Cheerilee was inside her classroom cleaning up when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon came rushing in wailing. She stood frozen in uncertainty at the sight before her, both the fillies had been turned into a bland gray. Coat, mane, even the eyes looked like they belonged to a raincloud.

But the most shocking of all were their cutie marks, they were gone.

Behind them Sweetie Bell and Applebloom came in and Cheeriliee turned to them.

“Girls explain what has happened!”

“Karon cursed them,” Sweetie Bell said and looked on the wailing fillies with pity and just a tiny hint of smugness.

“What!?”

"Karon cursed them. They made fun of Scootaloo after she ran away crying after he told her something and Karon turned to them and said....”

Sweetie Bell did her best to imitate the dark and pitiless tone Karon had spoken in.

“...You mock others pain and do not care for anypony. You do not deserve any future. Until such a time when you have learned what it truly is to care and love someone. What it means to give and sacrifice everything for them, you will have no future, no hope and no pony will ever look at you as if your are special. You will be bland and boring, nothing about you shall ever be worth noticing and no pony will lay eyes on you twice.”

Cheerilee could only look at the two hysterically crying fillies in horror when she realized just what Karon had done to them. He had taken away the only thing the two fillies loved.

Their pride.

                                    **********************************************

Karon stood outside the train station and waited for his train to arrive. He had bought a ticket for the first train to Canterlot and it was due to arrive within minutes. He didn't know what he felt at the moment. It was too much, everything was just ... numb.

He could hear the whistling of the train in the distance at the same time he heard somepony shout his name. He looked to his right and saw Pinkie Pie come running towards him with a wrapped package in her mouth. He turned to face her just as the train rolled into the station and stopped, it would wait for just a few minutes before going away.

He would be on it.

“Hey Karon! I wanted to give you this before you left.”

“How did you know where I was?”

“My Pinkie sense told me something really sad was about to happen on the train station and I was right. You're leaving and that's really sad.”

How she managed to speak with the package still in her mouth was beyond him, but he took it and looked it over.

“What is it?”

“That's a whole bunch of my super duper special I-am-sad-that-you're-leaving-but-we're-still-friends-and-will-see-each-other-again cupcakes!”

Despite the numb feeling in the center of his chest Karon managed to crack a small smile at the pony. Nothing would ever manage to keep her down for long.

“Thank you Pinkie. Could you do me favor and find Rainbow Dash. Tell her Scootaloo needs her right now and has run off somewhere.”

“You got it!” she said and gave Karon a final hug before disappearing in a pink blur to look for Rainbow Dash.

Karon got on the train and sat down next to a window, outside he saw the sunlit hamlet of Ponyville. Unmarred in its peacefulness by the things he had done there and he felt a little better at the sight. Yes, whatever he had done would heal, and things would return to normal for the inhabitants of the town.

Scootaloo would even find a family in Dash, and Spike would get his chance at Rarity. Perhaps he had even managed to leave the town a little better, a little more hopeful than he had found it.

The train began moving and for a brief instant Karon saw a flash of orange and thought he saw Scootaloo come towards the train, her wings pumping furiously as she flew through the air after him. Desperation to see him one last time giving her the final push she had needed.

But it lasted only for a brief second before the train gained in speed and left Ponyville behind.

Karon used his small bundle of things as a pillow and lied down in his seat. There was something at the back of his mind nagging at him, telling him there was something he had forgotten, but in the emotional turmoil Karon was in, it was hard to make sense of anything and he fell asleep from exhaustion.

It was only half way to Canterlot that he woke up and remembered he had forgotten to say good bye to Lyra. Next Chapter: Chapter 22: The jewel of Equestria Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 25 Minutes