Live A Life, or Forge It

The discussion that I had after the dinner with Celestia, thought, was quite remarkable.

While I was eating the last seeds of a cob with sour cream, Celestia poked my back, and said:

“You told me earlier that you was kidnapped by Luna because she wanted you as personal student...”

Dammit !

“But you told me a lie: my sister Luna said that she went over that desire long ago, and that she took you for another reason. I don't know why she took you, since she refused to explain what was that reason, but I know that you are lying. Now I want to know the truth: why you were took by Luna ?”

I felt trapped: what now ?

Clearly, Celestia went in Luna's room for have explanations about why she took a colt into the Palace, and using said colt as student, since the family wasn't consenting it.

Luna refused to play along, and said outright that I wasn't kidnapped for be her student.

Celestia eventually stress-tested her sister, until she was sure that Princess Luna was saying the truth, and so decided to have a talk with me at dinner.

And so I was there: between a rock and hard place.

I could tell that I was a human, because Celestia will send me back, no matter what.

If I told her about my brothers, for then omitting the Young King Fate and the fact that my brothers are humans, then Celestia will question why I decided to rely on Luna, if I could report to the Police my abuses.

But telling Celestia about Fate would make me look like a fool.

I was divided, and the fact that the white alicorn was persisting in her request didn't helped me to think about what to say to her.

I blabbered something, trying to make Princess Celestia occupied in thinking what I said, but in vain: she kept asking what was the true reason for my presence.

In a moment of desperation, I said:

“Your Majesty, the reason for why I'm here, it's for my brothers: they want me dead, and they are seeking me everywhere. I found shelter in Ponyville, and lived wit the Apple Family, a family of generous farmers,  for some years.

It seemed that I was out of the reach of my brothers

But one day, one of my brothers came, and tried to kill me during the night.

I managed to make him flee form my room, but from then on, I lived in fear of encountering them again, if I kept living there, so, at first, I tried to contact a military instructor who was also brother of one of my acquaintance Twilight Sparkle.

The name of the instructor was  Shining Armour.

I tried to ask to Shining to give me some basic combat training, but he saw my request of help as a farce, and left me alone.

So I asked to Twilight Sparkle, to give me some defenses for the night, and give me a book for train myself to combat: she gave me both.

But my mind was still tormented by the thought, and, one night, Princess Luna entered in one of my nightmares for dispel said nightmare.

Your sister Luna asked to me why I was dreaming a nightmare full of blood and death; while in most of the nightmares done by the colts, there is more anxiety and despair.

I told to her my story, and, since she was shocked by the revelation, she decided to take me to the Palace.

That's all, Magna Caelestia”

Celestia watched my sideways: it was the usual reaction of my listeners to my story, watch my sideways, but... the one of Celestia had a special degree of peeving.

It caused in me a feel of shame and disappointing that I never experienced in my life.

And, considered my life with abusive brothers that never gave me credit for anything, that says a lot.

If Fluttershy's Stare tames wild animals; Celestia's tames humans. And maybe ponies.

And that would explain why Celestia has no record of attacks even slightly hitting Celestia: she tamed the attacker with her eyes.

Anyway.

I said:

“Princess Celestia, I know that sounds incredibly stupid, but, if you can, you can enter in my mind, and see my memories ! What happened to me in the past !”

Celestia smirked:

“I don't usually use such powerful spells for things like this. After all, I have my duties to do, and I can't spend much time into looking in the pure and innocent mind of a colt, even if it would relax me”

Oh, Celestia.

You are so wrong on this: children aren't totally innocent, they are cruel as adults.

Simply, most of the times they lack of the conditions and the ways to be cruel.

But when the children have both, the things gets nasty, as I experienced on my skin.

After all, Enrico had only four years of life, when he started to beat me to the figurative pulp.

Plus, the statement offended me to no end, so I said without thinking twice:

“Princess, your thinking about children is wrong: I can prove with my past.

See it for yourself, if you don't believe to my story !”

The white alicorn snorted, and said:

“Alright, let's see what's your past. But if I don't find anything wrong, you will be punished for your intrusion in the Palace”

I nodded, and grinned: I wasn't going to be punished.

I had only to lock up the parts about humans, and my imagination was going to fill the gaps about the look of my brothers.

The white alicorn said:

“Now, take a seat, sit down, and close your eyes”

I complied, and waited the start of the visit of my mind.

As soon I closed my eyes, I heard a small hiss, then, I felt something circling around my head like: said thing seemed going back and forth from my extreme nuzzle, to the base of the neck.

After a while, the sensation vanished, and, in front of my eyes, my modified memories appeared: a generic moment where Franco stole my toys for no reason whatsoever when I was 2;  when my lip was broke, at the age of three years, by a hit of paddle by Franco, and I reacted by biting his testicles, sterilizing him for the good; when my computer was broke by a hit of Glock because I had forgot to take a shirt from the laundry; when, at the first year of the Biennio, my leg was broken by a Diana driving the motorbike, since she was jealous of my new Ape [a motorcycle, see the author's notes].

Then, after this memories of when  I was almost helpless, the show took another direction: it started  to show my success.

Examples ?

When I told to Ernico that he could not distinguish the good from the evil, if he beat me in the past years, thinking that it was the right thing to do; or that I actually enjoyed get beaten.

When I broke Franco's face with a kick, because he was trying to set on fire my Ape.

When I broke Diana's arms and burned her leg hairs with an heat up knife, because she was, literally, crapping on my schoolbooks.

When I sent FRanco in coma for three days, since he was trying to do so on me.

When I finally managed to have a breakfast without a coffee fight.

When the “Pax Venicea” was established.

And the fake memoir of when I escaped because I was sued for a fake sexual assault on my sister.

Then the slide show of memoirs stopped, and I opened my eyes.

In front of me, a shocked Celestia was staring at me.

I knew why she was staring like that: for a person that never experienced house abuse, and lived in a world where the peace is almost archived in every field, see something like my memoirs is a shock.

Not that I was left apathetic by that display: from my usually dry eyes, two tears exited.

I had in front of me the images of the events that made my nature.

In front of me, I saw what caused my fear of coming back.

What made me wish to have sons and daughters in quantity, over to the “bloodline pride” installed by my father: I wanted to see how my life could have been without such beasts, and imagine to live it in their place.

And what caused hearty joy in me, when I felt some love without lust on me, or he others.

Because I never really felt it.

I said:

“Now do you believe me, Princess Celestia ? Seeing again some of that scenes caused me spiritual pain. I'd wish to never experience them again”

Celestia said a bit unsure:

“I understand... you will receive a room here for a while. But I don't know how I can avoid the entrance of your brothers and your sister... they seem quite expert into sneaking in buildings... and maybe they don't care if they kill all my guards....”

“Understood, Princess, but I think that some training by my part would suffice: the only one that could beat them, is one that knows them well. But I don't know who would be my trainer...”

Celestia put a hoof down her chin, then she said:

“The one that rejected you at first: Shining Armour. He is there for a short visit, and he will depart tomorrow afternoon, unless he receives orders by me. Guess what I will do for you, my  subject.”

I nodded, only for then notice that something was missing...

“Celestia, but what about this night ? If they arrive ?”

The white alicorn:

“Well, true, right now you are exposed, and I have no time for cast said spell. However, I can ask for a reinforced patrol of guards around your room, ok ?”

I nodded again, then I watched the hour, and saw that was late night, and so I bid a good continuation of her duties to Princess Celestia.

She bid me goodnight, and left the room.

I doused the torches, and placed myself under the blankets, and drifted to sleep.

Later on , I was woke up with a jump by the sound of steps coming near the door, and a mind choir singing... something in my head.

The words that I heard sang by said invisible choir were:

“Destati! Tendi la mano

E'giunta l'ora, destati

Le porte verranno schiuse

Su rimembra tu trepida

Su sveglia! Ehi ricorda

Destati, Destati

Forza, tendi la mano

Destati, Destati,

E'giunta l'ora

E ancora una volta

Apriranno le porte

Su rimembra tu trepida

Su sveglia! Ehi ricorda

Eh? Come? Non lo vuoi?

Tuttavia t'appartiene

Cio che hai perduto

Diventerà uno!”*

The words were clear in their meaning: the choir was signaling that I had my opportunity for take back what I had lost... but what ?

How, at that hour of the night  ?

With what ?

Then I thought to the steps heard before, and realized something about their sound... they were different from the hoof steps of the armored guard: the steps had the familiar sound of vulcanized rubber on marble.

That meant one thing.

Shoes.

And so another human in the area.

Since I knew that the only possible human right there with shoes was one of my brothers, I immediately got up, and took a knife that I found in one of the drawers of the artistic bookshelves.

Well, it wasn't really a knife, it was much more a paper cutter, but it was likely to still work, as weapon.

Anyway, I slowly moved towards the door, and opened it: I saw that no guard was passing, and a long, dark shape going away from my door... said shape was nicely dressed, judging by the few light that came in: smoking; coordinate trousers; and military boots that jarred with the rest, form said boots, the ivory handle of a knife peeped out.

No doubt: the shape was around for kill.

But I didn't knew is specific identity, if he was Franco or Enrico, and that was a bit problematic.

Why ?

Because, while Franco is cocksure of what he does, and he never checks if he is doing it right; Enrico always double check everything, before doing anything.

And so following Enrico was a problem, because he was likely to catch me, while Franco was less likely to notice that I was  shadowing him.

Anyway, I waited tow minutes, and saw that he didn't turned around, so I assumed that he was Franco: grinning madly, I started to go behind him, and see his moves.

After some time of shadowing, he opened slowly a door, and entered...

I was tired of that shit, and of that haunt for Venicio.

Really.

Four years have passed since the start of this haunt for that weakling, but it seemed that I had passed centuries in exploring everywhere this crazy world filled of colored equines, from forests that competed in wildness and size the rainforests; deserts; industrial cities that had a very clear distinction between rich areas and working-class district; villages in the middle of the wildness; sometimes cities on the clouds... and, every time, I didn't found anything.

My sister alwasy killed the wrong kid, cuasing a meltdown in fate; and Ernico had always an excuse for not work.

I was always in the wrong place; in the wrong city; in the wrong forest... every time, I failed to report anything of matter.

And that was starting to make nervous Enrico; Diana, and my new boss Fate.

That kid.

I hated him: he was just a spoiled tyke that never, ever, talked correctly.

Just like Venicio: since he was born, he was always covered in toys, and he received all the attentions that were once on me, while I needed to became the “man of the house”.

They told me that Venicio had a very weak immunitary system, and so he needed more care than anyone else.

And that raised the question “Why not suppress it ? He is weak !”

My parents said that, no matter what, a parent needs to take care of his son.

Yeah, I know, a very stupid logic: keep living the weak parts of the DNA, because you love them, even if they pester the bloodline.

And since I hated the spoiled kids and weaklings, and Venicio was both, I was merciless with him, like he deserved.

But Venicio still dared to say that he was suffering abuse from me, Diana and Enrico.

Also, when he turned 14, he dared to take the arms, and defend himself at all costs with everything in his power.

And so my last trace of my power in the house  vanished: not only I wasn't the favourite of of my parents, and so capable of reclaiming the best part of the estate; but the youngest also toned own his physical power with his scarce one, AND WON.

For two years no other fights went on, since we all feared a brutal counter attack by Venicio, but, in heart, we all wished his death.

And when he disappeared in the nothing five years ago, we rejoiced, while our parents cried like idiots on the empty coffin for the weak Venicio.

But, one year after the disappearing of Venicio, that snotty kid named Fate contacted us, and told us about our destinies.

The destinies, unlike how you would expect, are represented by toys of various materials and size: each material signals for how long its memory will last, and his size is related to his wideness to other fields, the special features indicate the details.

Our destinies ? Not so good, since we were represented by coarse spiked dolls made of fool's gold: we are flashes in the pan, quickly forgotten by History, and lives full of sorrow and regrets.

And Venicio ? He had two toys to represent him.

The human form was made of gold mixtured with copper, hinting that he will be remembered, but it won't last long, and a crow with a lily in its beak specified his early death.

A destiny not so different from ours.

But “Pony Venicio”'s form had a completely different destiny: a long life, with both a strong mind and flesh; memoir of his life spanning for a very long time, and his privilege of creating a new bloodline.

That destiny pissed us off, but, according to Fate, Venicio's destiny was already thwarted once, so he could not do much for modify his destiny as pony.

Then he told us his deal: he said that he was going to carry out the fate that he put on us... unless we killed Venicio, who caused Fate's anger. In case of our success, our dolls will be made with gold.

Since we hated see our lives wasted, while Venicio prospered, we accepted the offer, and started to look for him.

We never considered the length of our research.

Anyway, I was finally, for the second time, in the building where Venicio was sleeping: he was going to wake up dead.

But there was one problem, related to the building:

IT WAS FUCKING HUGE, AND FULL OF GUARDS.

Now, I wasn't afraid of combat and such.

But I wasn't stupid, either: if a guard spotted me, and cried havoc, then I was done for the good, since I was going to be killed, or lifelong imprisoned.

Not a good end to a searching that lasted for five years, and forced me and my brothers to jump between our  home dimension, and Fate's “Playroom” everyday.

That “jump” was so annoying that, in fact, when I found Venicio for the first time, I was relieved that I didn't had anymore the duty of having only five hours of interrupted sleep a day; than the fact that Venicio was near to death.

And I was quite pissed off, when I was kicked out from that room, since it meant coming back to go back and forth.

Anyway, thankfully, I was capable of slipping past a group of ten guards patrolling an hallway: by their number, and weapons, I could tell that the hallway contained the most important inhabitants of the house, and the hosts.

And so, the guards were patrolling the bedrooms: I arrived in the right place, now it was time to figure out what was the room hosting Venicio.

The first door that I found said: “Diplomat's Room”.

I guessed that it wasn't the room where Venicio slept.

And so I moved on.

Next door: “Service Room”.

Of course not.

I finally reached the end of the hallway, where there was a door, with a sign saying that the room behind the door was the guest room.

Bingo !

The last time that I saw, Venicio was in a farmer's house.

Since Fate said that it was sure that Venicio was in that Palace, the only room that could be his bedroom would be the guestroom of said building.

So, I slowly opened the door, and took out my knife.

In front of me, thanks to the weak lunar light, I could see two  ponies sleeping hugged tightly together in a round, king-sized bed, and, near said bed, a smaller one where a little shape was sleeping.

I could not tell if said shape was Venicio or not, but, hey, it looked like a lot !

And so I moved slowly towards the bed, licked the blade for check its sharpness, then kneeled down, on the foal, saying:

“Sweet Dreams...”

But, soon after saying that, I saw the shape yawning, only for immediately retreat at my face.

Thinking that it was Venicio seeing his death in the face, I laughed madly.

My laugh was interrupted by a sharp pain in my left leg, followed by a hit on my back that made me drop the knife, bend over, and shout.

I tried to rotate my head, but I could not see the aggressor.

In fact, as soon I rotated myself, another pain distracted me, this time on the back.

Mu senses were undecided about what to do, if see the location of the first attack, or the second one.

I opted for the first option.

I touched with my left hand the still paining leg, only to see that was bleeding.

I still wondered what hit me, until I bed over, and avoided narrowly an hit on the back of my head.

I lifted my head, and saw in front of me my true target, armed with a knife, and a determined look on his face.

Venicio.

Even as foal, he humiliated me.

I said to him:

“Put down that knife Venicio: you will only get hurt”

He charged me with said knife, and hit my lower hip, and made me collapse, then he said:

“Franco, you still suck in combat. Stay still: a group of guards will come here, and make you visits the dungeons soon”

I spit on him, saying that it wasn't going to happen.

He jumped to the left, then kicked my nose, cracking my  nose bones with great pain and making my nose bleed.

I could not stand it anymore.

I felt took weak for keep fighting Venicio: I kneeled, then hit with my face the floor.

Yes !

I had stopped Franco from killing an innocent  filly !

Actually, I was disappointed by the ease with I stopped him: it took only a hit on the leg; one on the lower hip, and, finally, one on the nose.

When he finally fell down on his face, I sighed of relief, and moved towards the door for call in the guards.

But, as soon I reached the doorstep, a squeaky voice said:

“Who are you ? What was that monster ?”

I looked at the source of the voice, and saw that the filly that I had just saved was asking me something.

Since I found not polite not answer to her, but I still wanted to catch Franco, I said:

“I am Venicio, and that monster was a human. If you want to know more, you find me in the Dinner Room at the Seven o' clock. Good night”

Then I exited, and reported the intrusion of Franco in the guest's room.