A Place To Call Home

A Place To Call Home

Prologue

Dearest Princess Twilight Sparkle,

Hey Twily! Sorry I haven’t been able to write in a while, you know, having duties as both prince of the Crystal Empire AND Captain of the Royal Guard and all that. Anyways, on to business.

Ever since the events at my wedding and with King Sombra, we’ve had to scatter a lot more troops around Equestria in case of a follow-up invasion from either party. With that in mind, I’m sending a guard over to Ponyville, as ordered by Princess Celestia, though it’s not likely she’ll actually need to guard anypony considering how small and peaceful the town is. Quick Fix will be arriving in Ponyville with her son Bass Chord in about a week, so I wanted to ask you to help them get settled in and comfortable. They’ll be arriving on the 7th of June, around noon. Give them the Pinkie Welcome Wagon

treatment. I’m sure they’ll love that. I hope they aren’t too much trouble.

With love,

Prince Shining Armor

P.S.

Bass Chord has had to move around Equestria with his mother his entire life, even before all of these security measures, so he might not be the happiest camper when he gets there. If you can, try to cheer him up a little. I know you’ll find way to help him smile.

**Week of move to Ponyville,

May 31-June 6**

“BUT YOU SAID THAT WE WERE DONE MOVING LAST TIME!”

“I know honey, I know, but with everything that’s been happening the past couple of months, the Royal-“

“EVERY YEAR I GET MY HOPES UP, THINKING I’LL GET TO STAY SOMEWHERE AND LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT BEING SENT AGAINST MY WILL TO WHEREVER IN TARTARUS THEY TELL US TO GO, BUT- I- J- GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

*sigh* “Oh dear…”

I ran up to my room and bucked the door shut, nearly breaking it off of its hinges in the process. I furiously leapt onto my bed and started sobbing quite heavily, burying my face in the nearest available pillow.

“EVERY YEAR! EVERY BUCKING YEAR I HAVE TO PUT WITH THIS, HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE TO MY FRIENDS, HAVING TO PACK UP AND MOVE TO CELESTIA-KNOWS-WHERE AND START A NEW LIFE EVERY BUCKING YEAR, I- I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT!!”

I could barely make out my mother’s hoofsteps through my wrathful rant as she made her way up the stairs towards my room. I knew that she felt the same way as me. Neither one of us ever wanted these things to happen, but we couldn’t do anything about it. It seemed every year or so, the Royal Guard contrived some reason for her to transfer to someplace new.

At first, I didn’t mind. I was poised and ready to take on the exciting new locale with ease. But that was back when I was young, before I had to take on a new city with more frequency, before I realized how few a number of friends I had, before my brother left for college.

Now I felt as if it was a never-ending cycle of pain and despair, a sort of punishment for whatever crimes I had committed in some sort of past life. Of every question I’ve ever had in my life, the one I’ve wanted answered most was always “When will it end?” When would I get a chance to finally stay, to set down some roots, to NOT have to say goodbye yet again?

My mother sat on the edge of the bed and started stroking my mane. I know all she wanted to do was comfort me, tell me it wasn’t my fault, console me and make me feel better. But she promised me we were done this time. She promised that we could stay in Canterlot.

“It’s ok, honey, I know how you feel. If it’s any consolation, this is another chance to make new friends and meet new ponies. Don’t you like making new friends?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s- it’s just- I-“

“What’s wrong? You know you can tell me.”

“I feel like I’ll never have a home.”

“But of course you have a home. You have family all across Equestria. Anyone of them would gladly accept you into their homes.”

“No. *sniff* I mean, someplace where I feel comfy and relaxed, where I can stay for as long as I like without somepony barging in telling me to leave at any point. Someplace where I could live like a normal pony. Someplace where I could feel like I… belong.”

“Don’t worry. Eventually you’ll find wherever you feel you belong. I’m sure of it.”

“*sniff*… I guess. Thanks.”

I didn’t want to find this special place eventually. I wanted to find it soon. I wanted somewhere where I could find peace. I wanted a place where all of my troubles would just float away like so many leaves in the wind. I wanted a place to call home.

Mother wiped the tears from my eyes as I lifted my head up.

“You gonna be okay, Bass?”

*sniff* “Yeah, I guess…”

“Alright, I’m going to go get started on packing my bags. You should get started as well. Can you do that for me, sweetie?”

*sigh* “Sure…”

“Alright, I’ll be back later get your bags in the cart.”

“Wait, before you go…”

“Yeah?”

“Where are we staying anyways? Trottingham? Las Pegasus?”

“We’re going to be staying in Ponyville.”

“Ponyville? Where’s that?”

“It’s a small village bordering the Everfree Forest.”

Wow, I haven’t even arrived yet, and I’m already somewhat suspicious of this place, if the rumors about the Everfree are hold true.

“Captain Shining Armor said you could see Canterlot from there.”

Well, at least the train ride won’t be too long. I can’t stand having to sit around on my flank forvever waiting to arrive to wherever we’re headed, like that ride to Appleloosa. By Celestia, that was one tedious ride.

“Make sure to have everything packed when I get back, alright?”

“Yeah, sure mom.”

Mother walked out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I knew how the next few days were going to play out. I would pack up all of my belongings, as usual. Mother and I would move into a hotel for our remaining time here. I would spend most of that time sitting in the hotel room moping, sleeping, reading, listening to music, and whatever else I could do without leaving the comfort of my room. Maybe once I would have one last hang-out with my friends here, and I would try to make the most of it, however short it would seem. The day I leave, my friends would come to visit me at the train station before my departure. There would be hoofshakes, hugs, maybe even a few tears, before my final departure.

It was a role I knew all too well. I was well-rehearsed in acting when it came to farewells. I knew how to play my part so well, I could practically recite it without a script, as I had done so many times before. “I wish I could spend more time here at (enter city name here). I’m really going to miss you, (insert pony’s name here). I’ll make sure to write when I can. Until we meet again, buddy.” I would try to write, but at one point, it just started to seem meaningless. It wasn’t as if I would see them again. And I would have had to keep up with so many people, I didn’t think I could do it.

After a quick nap, I started packing up. I figured instead of whining about it until dawn, I might as well get the process over with as fast as possible.

Well, let’s get this over with. Here I come, Ponyville.