Chapter 2: Hooves of a Healer (Part 1)

A mountain rose high above Ponyville, illuminated perfectly by the Equestrian moon. Atop this mountain sat a grey Pegasus, clad in a purple hooded cloak that covered his dark red mane. He looked sadly down to Ponyville through bright blue eyes, to a place where he had once been long ago. He only had one friend in his entire life, and he missed that colt so much... He may have even kept his friend for all these years if he had just done the right thing. The same words replayed in his mind, over and over: "Deekin, why are you doing this?" It was so many years ago...

...Deekin, the colt, galloped as fast as he could in between customers and market stalls, nearly trampling a purple filly and spilling a pile of apples into the dust. He turned in mid stride to apologize to the vendor, and ran straight into a stallion three times his weight with equally heavy golden armor. He didn't even try to run. He just dropped the satchel of trinkets and candy he had gathered on his weekly stealing run. It was a game of his, and Ponyville didn't approve of it. Twice now he had already been reprimanded by Princess Celestia herself, and now he was caught in the act by the Alicorn Goddess in front of everypony in Ponyville.

"Deekin!" He dropped to the dirt, hiding his face.

"Deekin, look at me!" Raising his chin to gaze upon Celestia's infuriated visage, Deekin was overcome with terror. He didn't even know the Princess could GET angry. Celestia noted his fear, and softened her face just a bit. Then she spoke.

"Why, oh why must you continue stealing, Deekin? Your potential for magic rivals even that of the most learned ponies in Equestria, and STILL you insist on wasting your power to do bad things! What do you have to say for yourself?"

He was scared beyond shaking. He looked to the left and right, looking for his friend, Grovel. Where was he? He could get him out of this mess!

"Deekin, you were given a gift; You are the only Alicorn in Equestria outside of the royal blood... You could do so much good in the world. Why must you waste your talent doing-" It was true. Deekin was indeed an Alicorn, born with wings and with a horn. Celestia told his parents the night he was born that he would be incredibly gifted with magic, and she was right.

"LET ME GO! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING! YOU BRUTE, LET GO OF ME!" It was Grovel's voice thrashing about behind him, but he was afraid to look. Momentarily, Grovel was thrown to the ground beside Deekin.

"Grovel, tell her I didn't take anything! Tell her it really is all mine!"

"I... Uh... He..." Grovel stuttered. He was just as afraid as Deekin was. Deekin would have to act fast. Focusing his magic as hard as he could, he moved the trinkets and candy from his satchel and switched them with the contents of Grovel's bag. It took so much energy to displace material things, but he managed to do it. He didn't see what was so hard about magically teleporting objects... He was just a little colt, and he was already great with it. Most adults couldn't manage it.

Celestia spoke skeptically. "Grovel, is this true, or is he trying to get you to cover for him?"

"No, no! They're all his! He was just running because he was scared! I ran because I... Um... I had to get home real fast to put my school supplies away!" Deekin had a sinking feeling about what was going to happen, but he still smiled to himself.

"Oh? Then empty your bags. Both of you." This was serious; Celestia didn't talk to anypony this way. Both the colts spilled the contents onto the ground. Out of Deekin's bag came books and pencils, and out of Grovel's bags came the stolen goods. Indeed, the magic had worked. Grovel was going to take the blame. It was perfect!

"Guards, take him to my throne room and keep an eye on him. We're going to learn a lesson on stealing today. As for you, Deekin..." Relief overtook him, but the bliss was washed away quickly by the look of shock and terror on Grovel's face.

"I'm glad to see that you are finally taking your studies seriously. Perhaps you've turned over a new leaf... You can go."

"Yes, your highness." Deekin gathered up Grovel's belongings and cantered off awkwardly, not sure if he should run or walk. He turned to look at the colt who used to be his friend, kicking and screaming as he was dragged away. "Deekin, why are you doing this?"

His heart sunk once again, but still Deekin didn't care. At least he was off Scott free.

Three more weeks of stealing had passed since that ordeal with the Princess, and tonight's run had been wonderful for Deekin. He rested on his flanks as he rummaged through his satchel, coming across gems and tools and all matter of edibles.

He looked up to the moon and wondered if anypony was watching... Nopony ever saw Deekin anymore. Not since he learned the invisibility spell. It was the greatest thing ever. Not even Celestia could stop him now... Or so he thought.

He raised an apple and looked at how the moonlight glanced off of the shiny surface of the apple, and he wondered why he took it. He was in an apple orchard... He laughed to himself as he threw it over his shoulder...

...and into the chest of Princess Celestia. Focusing his magic, he tried to turn invisible, but instead his vision flickered and went black as Celestia's horn began to emit orange sparks. He was no longer in control of his body, and he was forced to turn and stand before the Princess. He couldn't even control his facial expression.

"Deekin." She seemed angry and troubled at the same time.

"I love all my little ponies, and I want the best for all of you... You may never believe that..." He didn't.

"...but I do, and as such, I have to do something to make sure you stop stealing. You're on the wrong path, Deekin, and I can't let you walk it any further. I am sorry." Deekin's familiar feeling of terror rose in his chest again as the orange sparks formed a ring around Celestia's horn and levitated toward his own. It was over in the blink of an eye.

The ring of bright light wrapped itself around Deekin's horn and constricted instantly, shattering the better part of his horn. The pain was excruciating. Blood trickled down the side of Deekin's face, and tears down the face of the Princess.

"You gave me no choice..." With that, Deekin's trance wore off, and the Princess was gone. He lay on the grass beneath the apple tree, unconscious.