Author's Note: Writing is hard. Suggestions are appreciated.

Last chapter: "Are you Rarity? I'm Spirit. I've..." he trailed off awkwardly, summoning his papers from his bag. "I've come to live with you."

Chapter 3

"...eh?" Rarity said weakly, a baffled look coming over her features.

Spirit couldn't possibly feel more out of place then he did in that moment, and he awkwardly lowered his head to hide behind his mane, which was uncharacteristically wild and spiky. He was never able to tame it by himself and mostly relied on the servants to fix it, but he had set off early this morning before he could be attended to.

"You... remember Sapphire Amulet? I am Spirit Glade, her son...?" he said, not meeting her eyes. "They... they died, and... um..." He telekinetically passed her the papers, which she accepted, her own horn glowing a light turquoise.

His next words came out in a rush, desperate to be said. "You will be reimbursed, of course, they left a lot of money which you will have access to, but if you don't want to take me in I understand because-"

He was interrupted by a tight hug, unable to protest as she squeezed him tightly, and he desperately raised his wings away from his body before she could discover them.

"Oh you poor, poor darling!" she wailed, before dragging him to a door that she opened to reveal a staircase.

"Go ahead and stay as long as you like, we have an extra room upstairs. I'll decorate it for you, and I have a little sister around your age, she can show you around Ponyville. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask us, and please, make yourself right at home! Oh, I have to tell Twilight this..." Rarity paused suddenly, and made an abrupt turn, switching directions.

"You must have rode the train here all by yourself! Did you eat anything? Oh, of course you didn't, you're as skinny as a rake! Here, let me make you something to eat," she said in a flurry of words.

Spirit could only stay silent as she proceeded to fuss over him and stuff him full of food until he though he would burst. Keira stayed hidden underneath his mane the entire time. When Rarity finally realized the time, she went as far as to tuck him in with a kiss on his brow as she told him tonight. Spirit couldn't remember the last time someone had done that for him.

Before he drifted off to sleep, Spirit ran a hoof over his Cutie Mark, feeling the slightly coarser fur that made up the dark markings. He then touched his wings, feeling the feathers curiously.

Now I know why Hedwig kept pecking me whenever I tried to pet her there, he shivered, quickly burrowing under his blankets after removing a curious hoof from under his wing.

Spirit relaxed into bed, sighing contently. Keira had already removed herself from his neck and was curled under his pillow, fast asleep. Although the bed was unfamiliar, he was quite tired from his journey and was quickly succumbing to darkness.

She felt warm, he thought sleepily, a memory of a tight embrace curling his lips into a smile.

Ah, awkwardness, how I've missed you, Spirit thought sardonically.

The morning started off innocently enough. He had futilely tried to brush his mane, double checked to make sure his wings were invisible, and had hidden Keira under said mane before exiting his room, which was when he ran into a young filly. With a thumping sound they made contact and bounced off each other, landing on their behinds. Shaking his head, Spirit examined who he had bumped into.

She was young, around his age he guessed. Her mane was curly, with swirls of light pink and lavender, and her eyes were a light, spring green. Her coat was a pale alabaster, leading him to believe this was the little sister Rarity had mentioned.

She stared at him in confusion, her voice high and childish. "Um... Who are you?"

"Spirit Glade. Your cousin," he said haltingly, before taking a deep, calming breath. When he next spoke, his voice was once more smoothly controlled. "Terribly sorry for bumping into you like that."

Her eyes widened with understanding. "It's fine! I'm Sweetiebelle... Hey, it's breakfast time, c'mon!" she said suddenly, racing down the hall. Spirit saw that she seemed rather eager to leave the conversation, and wondered if Rarity had spoken to her while he was asleep.

Spirit followed after her at a more sedate pace, but sped up when a delicious smell reached him, causing his stomach to growl in hunger. He entered the kitchen, to the sight of Rarity setting the table with a delicious English spread.

All together like this, Spirit couldn't help but compare himself to them, looking for the familial connection.

They all had pale coats, but compared to Rarity's smooth silk and Sweetiebelle's cloudy white, his was like bone, standing in stark contrast with his inky black hair that seemed to suck in the light around it. It seemed even worse with his alicorn status, a haunting paleness lining his fur. Compared to them, he felt threatening and dark where they were light and goodness.

At least he knew his eyes were recessive. Sweetibelle's may be a different shade, but they too were were a jewel-like green.

Together, they sat down and began eating, but not before Spirit thanked Rarity for the meal.

"It's no problem, Darling. Please, dig in," she said encouragingly. Spirit noticed she kept glancing at him with sympathy, and guessed that the office's letter had reached her, along with the specific details of how his parent's died, and just who witnessed it. Spirit kind of wished it didn't. He hated pity.

There was silence except for the sound of silverware clinking and chewing food. This continued until Rarity put down her fork and gave him a slightly strained smile, as if she was desperately looking for a conversation topic all that time. Spirit was no help in that department, preferring to leave the reigns to other ponies when it came to speaking.

"So you were in Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, Darling? I remember having to sign something about transferring you," she explained.

Sweetiebelle also gave him an interested look, and Spirit prepared himself to make smalltalk. It was as good a topic to break the ice as anything, he supposed.

"I was enrolled, yes," he confirmed.

Rarity's delicate brows drew down as she bit her lip, looking confused and contemplative. "Why did you leave? Celestia's School is the best in Equestria. Wasn't there a long distance program you could take?"

"There was," Spirit agreed, "but they all required intense study and complete focus. When I lived in the dorms, it was not problem. Here, though..." he trailed off, invisible wings shuffling. "I didn't want to spend all day cooped up in my studies like I was. I want some free time to myself," he finished.

Rarity nodded, before she suddenly straightened in her seat, an expression of realization crossing her features.

"Oh, I almost forgot! You will be attending the Ponyville Schoolhouse tomorrow. Today is Sunday, and you get the weekend off, you see," she told him.

Spirit nodded in understanding, and Sweetiebelle piped up her own inquiry. "Where did you get your Cutie Mark? I've never seen one like yours." She leaned towards him, eyes shining in anticipation.

Rarity gave her a look, which Spirit thought he could understand. It was a bit rude to ask straight out like that.

Spirit thought back to the moment he became an alicorn, guiding his father's soul to the next world with a thought, feeling wings where there were previously none, having the mark of the Deathly Hallows appear on his flank...

Becoming the Master of Death again...

Spirit glanced down, throat suddenly tight. "Very recently," he said vaguely.

There was a quiet yelp, and he glanced up to see Sweetiebelle rubbing her head as Rarity glared at her. Said filly looked adorably confused, not quite getting the hidden connotation in his words.

By then their plates were empty, and Spirit left his seat before levitating his plate to the sink and washing it. Technically he could have done that sitting down, as the sink was right in sight, but one wasn't supposed to use magic at the table if they weren't trying to make a point.

"Oh no, Darling, you don't have to do that," Rarity levitated her own plate as she tried to convince him to leave it to her.

"It's fine," Spirit said shortly. "The least I can do, for what you've done for me," he amended.

Once the dishes were put away and Rarity had to open her store, Sweetiebelle began nudging him forcefully towards the staircase, practically bouncing in eagerness.

"Oh, I can't wait to introduce you to my friends!" She immediately exclaimed once they were on the street as she guided him. "There's Scootaloo, and she's really cool! She's a pegasus and when she flaps her wings, her scooter goes super fast, like she's flying!" she praised.

"Why doesn't she just fly then?" Spirit pointed out logically. By then, they were racing down the street, Spirit keeping pace easily with the small unicorn.

Her enthusiasm dimmed slightly, eyes losing their sparkle. "She just doesn't."

She continued as if nothing happened, switching topics. "Then there's Applebloom! She lives on Sweet Apple Acre, she's of the Apple family you see, and she has this humongous pink bow she always wears on her head! And she has an accent, like you, but not the same kind of accent. It's like... all slurred and long, and yours is clipped and breathy but not like Rarity's, you know?" she tried to explain, almost running into a stallion. The teal pegasus dodged just in time, before with a huff pushing himself into the air with his wings.

"Sorry Mister Thunder Sir!" she called after him, but quickly resumed her dash.

"It's a Canterlot accent, where I'm from everyone has them. To me, you're the one with an accent," he said, amused. He had to forcefully restrain the urge to let his wings open and carry him as he jumped a wagon, but he shook of the unsatisfied feeling quickly.

Suddenly, a thought struck Spirit. "Where are we going, anyway?"

Sweetiebelle skidded to a stop, and Spirit's forward momentum caused him to crash into her with a muffled oath.

As they picked themselves up from the ground, Sweetiebelle answered him cheerfully. "Right here!"

Walking towards a building covered in confectionery decorations, she pushed open the door with a jingling sound and Spirit resignedly followed after her.

Spirit glanced around the welcoming interior as Sweetiebelle happily moved towards a back table. Sitting there was a pegasus and an Earth pony, both of whom were chatting animatedly with one another. Spirit hesitated, but soon enough approached the group of friends as they greeted Sweetiebelle.

"-and this is my cousin, Spirit Glade!" she was saying when Spirit finally joined them. "He's staying at my place from now on, so introduce yourselves, okay?"

The Earth pony was the first to do so, hopping out of the booth and smiling widely. "Hi, I'm Applebloom! Let's be friends!" she said with what Spirit recognized as the Southern accent Sweetiebelle was talking about. Her coat was creamy butter, and her mane was apple red. In it was a bright pink ribbon, and her eyes were a mix of her mane and coat, all shining violet orange.

The pegasus went next, leaping athletically to the floor and giving him a daredevil smirk. "Scootaloo, of the Cutie Mark Crusaders," was all she said. With violet hair, purple eyes, and a burnt orange coat, she was the image of a rough and tumble tomboy.

Spirit smiled slightly. With forewarning, nothing could penetrate his perfect manners to see the social anxiety carefully hidden underneath.

He made sure to hold himself confidently as he spoke. First impressions were important, after all. "As Sweetiebelle said, my name is Spirit Glade, but please feel free to call me Spirit. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he said evenly.

Of course, at that exact moment Keira decided to make herself known by slithering out from under his mane and wrapping herself around his horn.

-And I am Master Spirit's Keira- she hissed.

They watched, one with amusement and the other exasperation, as all three fillies flinched back in surprise. Scootaloo slipped as she did so and fell to the floor, ruining her earlier cool mood.

Applebloom recovered quickly and leaned forward, eyeing the snake carefully. "That there be a rattler around your horn, Spirit?" she asked.

Spirit snorted in dark amusement before he answered. "Technically, she's an Atra Mors, but don't worry. She doesn't bite."

Much, he added silently.

"I've never heard of a snake like that," Scootaloo said, pointing emphatically with a hoof.

"She's from the Everfree forest, so that might be why," Spirit said. Defensively, he lifted her from his horn and wrapped her loosely around his neck, where she was partially hidden in his hair.

That seemed to be the wrong thing to say. All three of them stared in awe, with Scootaloo looking intrigued and Applebloom nervous. Sweetiebelle seemed the most scared of the three of them, blanching in shock.

"The Everfree forest?!" she whisper-screamed, looking terrified.

"That is so cool," Scootaloo said, leaning forward to get a closer look.

"Are ye sure that be safe?" Applebloom said carefully. "It ain't a very nice place."

Spirit tilted his head, emerald eyes curious. "What do you mean?"

Scootaloo looked more than happy to explain, her voice pitching ominously. "I heard the weather over there appears by itself, with nopony guiding it."

"I heard the plants tend themselves, too," Applebloom said, sliding a hoof against her leg in an unconscious movement.

They all turned to Sweetiebelle, who floundered for a moment under their stares. "Um... I heard the animals their, eat each other," she murmured.

The three gasped, turning towards Keira fearfully. Keira, who had had quite enough of the ponies' rudeness in the face of her polite greeting, hissed at them threateningly before hiding herself once again in his mane, sulking.

"While that may be true," Spirit said, more than amused, "Keira is quite satisfied with magical sustenance. She's a Familiar species, you know."

"Oooh..." The three relaxed, nodding in understanding. It was common knowledge that Familiars were able to live off their master's magic once they've bonded fully.

Once they all finally settled down with a platter of sugar cookies and gathered in the booth, Applebloom easily took charge of the conversation.

"Let's get to know each other! I'll start first," she said and cleared her throat. "I like drawing, and arts and crafts. I've got an older sister, her name's Applejack. There's also my big brother, Big McIntosh, and Granny Smith. Together, we tend the apple farm over yonder," she gestured animatedly.

Attention turned to Scootaloo, who sat beside her. "Well," she said with relish, a smirk appearing on her face. "My sister's name is Rainbowdash, and she's the fastest flyer in Ponyville, no, in Equestria! As for me, I like riding my scooter around town and I'm pretty decent at a bunch of sports, if I say so myself."

Sweetiebelle went next, pausing in her munching of sugar cookies. "I like to sing, but not in front of people. Um... I'm not very good at sewing and stuff, even though Rarity, my older sister, is a seamstress."

Spirit nodded along to all their introductions, and reached a hood up to stroke Keira habitually. "Before moving here, I lived with my parents in Canterlot. I also attended Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns there. I guess you could say I like magic," Spirit finished softly.

"What kind of magic?" Applebloom asked engagingly. Spirit noticed that she seemed the most talkative of the three.

He thought about it, and shrugged. "Just... Magic. More practical application than theory, though, because I like how it feels when I manipulate it."

They nodded, before Sweetiebelle spoke up eagerly.

"What was Canterlot like?" she asked.

Spirit's eyes had a far away look as he thought back to his 'native' city. "Very busy, for starters," he began. "Carriages bustle down every street and taxis race each other for bits. There are a lot more unicorns as well, compared to Ponyville. The population is heavily weighted, with Earth ponies being the other dominant type. Still not as much as unicorns, but more than pegasus," he explained. "Everyone there is pretty wealthy, too. I've noticed a lot of Cutie Marks are things that are either expensive or scholarly in nature, probably because of the large amount of unicorns."

Sweetiebelle smiled, and Applebloom made agreeable noises. Scootaloo was fidgeting the entire time he was speaking, and burst into action when he finished. She leapt onto the table and spread her wings dramatically, positioning her face a few inches from his own.

"As for us, we're the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" she said proudly.

"Together, we search for our Cutie Mark everyday!" Sweetiebelle chirped.

"So join our club!" Applebloom finished, giving him an expectant look.

"How long have you been practicing that?" Spirit deadpanned.

"A few months. Applebloom wanted to make sure our sales pitch was perfect when we're recruiting," Sweetiebelle clarified.

"Can he even join us?" Scootaloo said skeptically, now sitting sedately in her seat. "I mean, he's got a Cutie Mark already."

"That doesn't mean he can't help us find ours," Applebloom pointed out.

"If you say so..." Scootaloo capitulated, eyeing him suspiciously.

Applebloom slid out of the booth and trotted off. "Come on, let's show Spirit around Ponyville," she called over her shoulder.

I feel... Dirty. Writing tips anyone? I feel like this is just a filler chapter... *sigh.

*Warning: Spoiler

I want to make the OC shipped with Spirit a Zebra. Any name suggestions? I'm thinking to make his personality mature and soothing, and he'll be pretty large by Zebra standards (he's the seme).