-Sunset Shimmer POV-

We found some English books on the shelves but decided to only take the one titled, “The Children of the Sun and Moon: How the world was created” We hoped that it would tell us a basic story about the people in the art. We did find pictures of them all when they flipped through it so we assumed it would. But for now, we left it in mine and Rainbow’s tent while we went to do scary stories and s'mores around the campfire.

The thing is, no one knew a story to tell. Everyone already told all of the ones they knew last time we came. Then with Gloriosa looking around trying to fix the silence of the situation, spoke to Rainbow.

“Rainbow! You didn’t share a story last year. Know any?”

Rainbow blushed. “Yeah, but they’re either to scary for the freshmen or a song.”

 “You know songs that tell a full story?” Trixie said as if she didn’t believe her.

Rainbow nodded. “Most of them don't have happy endings but they’re full stories.”

“Well I think we can all agree any story is better than none. Even if it’s a song.” Gloriosa said witch earned nodes from some other people. Then to everyone’s surprise, music surrounded them as if it was coming from the forest itself.

“You asked for it.” Rainbow said un faised by the music then began to sing with it.

“A young man walked through the forest
With his quiver and hunting bow
He heard a young girl singing
And followed the sound below
There he found the maiden
Who lives in the willow

He called to her as she listened
From a ring of toadstools red
‘Come with me, my maiden
Come from thy willow bed’

She looked at him serenely
And only shook her head

‘See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don’t ask me
To follow where you lead’”

She sang the second verse with an occasional sideways glance at me.

“A young man walked through the forest
With a flower and coat of green
His love had hair like fire
Her eyes a Turquoise sheen
She wrapped herself in beauty
So young and so serene

He stood there under the willow
And he gave her the yellow bloom
‘Girl, my heart you’ve captured
Oh, I would be your groom.’
She said she’d wed him never
Not near, nor far, nor soon

‘See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don’t ask me
To follow where you lead’”

I was confused. The description of the maiden was exactly like me. And why does the story did me deja vu? 

“Just a warning, we're getting to the sad part.” Rainbow said and we all continued to pay attention. 

“A young man walked through the forest 
With an axe sharp as a knife 
'I'll take the blue eyed fairy
And she shall be my wife
With her I'll raise my children 
With her I'll live my life' 

The maiden wept when she heard him
When he said he'd set her free
He took his axe and used it
To bring down her ancient tree
‘Now your willow's fallen
Now you belong to me’

‘See me now
A ray of light in the moondance
See me now
I cannot leave this place
Hear me now
A strain of song in the forest
Don’t ask me
To follow where you lead’”

“What happened to her?” Someone asked as the music became a sadder note.

“She followed him out the forest 
And collapsed upon the earth 
Her feet had walked but a distance 
From the green land of her birth
She faded into a flower
That would bloom for one bright eve
He could not take from the forest 
What was never meant to leave.”   

The camp went silent none of us knowing what to say. So Rainbow ate the marshmallow she began to roast during the song then went back to the tents. After a minute, I followed her to our tent.

When I went in, I saw her laying on her bed reading a Daring Do book she brought. “Rainbow?” She hummed in acknowledgment. “Was that story true?” 

She shrugged. “Nothing proved otherwise. The last verse where she fades into a flower is a little sketchy but the dying part I don't doubt at all. There are some people that are so attached to their homes that if they're forced to leave, it can be really bad for them. The forest was her home. She knew that marrying the man meant leaving. If he had waited till she wanted to go with him rather then flying off the handle, they might have been able to be together.”

I smiled, “Never thought you'd be the kind of girl to talk about impossible romances.”

She laughed a bit then put her book away. “There's a lot you girls don't know about me.”

“Like what?” I asked slightly concerned.

She just shook her head with a small smile. “Nothing you girls need to be worried about.”

This just worried me more. “Is there something your hiding Rainbow? Cause you know you can trust us.”

“And I do trust you.” She sat up and faced me. “You just don't need to worry about it. Believe me, I'd never keep a secret from you unless it was important.”

I still didn't believe her, so as soon as she laid back down, I placed a hand on her shoulder to see her memories.