Today was Rainbow Dash's annual day to celebrate another year of her life since the day she was born, her birthday. Just like any birthday you start with the opening of the cards.
Rainbow picked up the cards and sat on the floor of the Golden Oaks Library with her friends in a circle. They all waited with anticipation as she opened the first card. It read:
Howdy, sugarcube.
Hope y'all is having a great day t'day. Sorry, Ah couldn't be there for y'all, Ah had to pick Mac and his fiancée up from the train station but Ah'll be there as soon as Ah can. Hope y'all enjoy the present Ah got ya. By the time y'all is opening this here card Ah woulda probably got on tha train to Appleloosa, so Ah'll see ya soon.
From ya best friend,
Applejack.
"Good old Applejack. It's a shame she couldn't make it." Rainbow chuckled.
"Strange; I wonder why she didn't put Mac's fiancée's name on it." Twilight budged up to Rainbow so she could have a better look at the card.
"Maybe the poor darling doesn't know her name?" Rarity suggested giving the card a once over.
"Don't be a silly filly. Of course she knows her name. Who doesn't know the name of their future sister-in-law?" Pinkie jumped.
"Perhaps she was just in a rush to get to the train. Oh, I hope she didn't miss it!" Fluttershy wimpered.
"I think Fluttershy's right, she was probably in a rush this morning and didn't have time to write her name down. Anyway, on to the next card!" Rainbow grabbed another card randomly from the pile; she immediately recognised the hoof writing. "I think I'll save this one for later." She always waited until after the party to open HIS cards.
"And why would that be darling? You got yourself a coltfriend you don't want us knowing about?" Rarity asked with suspicion.
"Oh, time for a 'Rainbow's finally getting some party'!" Pinkie shouted
"WAIT, WHA-! I'm not seeing any pony I don't even know who this guy is he just sends me cards for my birthday every year!" Rainbow was desperately trying to defend herself from the constant teasing from her friends. "Plus if you really want me to open it then I will." She stated. She tore the envelope open and pulled the letter open. This card was just like all the others she had been sent from HIM but from this one fell a note which read:
Location: Ponyville Trainstation
Date: Your Birthday
Time: 11am
-Rainbow Flare
"How odd. Darling, that's the same time Applejack's train arrives from Appleloosa." Rarity pointed to the note with a forehoof.
"What time is it, we might have time to meet them there?" Rainbow took a glance at the clock. "10:55!!! WE HAVE 5 MINUTES, COME ON, LET'S GO!!!" Rainbow demanded before flying straight out the window for the train station. Today she was finally going to meet this Rainbow Flare character and she could great her best friend at the train station to make her birthday gang complete. Let's just hope to Celestia she can get there on time.
Meanwhile at the Appleloosa, Trainstaion.
Mac was pacing impatiently on the platform, awaiting the arrival of the Ponyville Express. As usual the train was late just like all the other times Applejack had come to visit him. Mac stopped suddenly when he hearted to sound of hoofs on the floor behind him; turned around quickly to find his fiancée, Rainbow Flare starring at his flank and jumped when he was court red-hoofed.
"Hey, handsome what's up?" Flare tilted his head in confusion at Mac's pacing.
"Eeyup." The simple but suffice reply was all that came from Mac before they both turn at the sound of the train approaching the platform.
Once the train had come to a stop, Applejack walked out waving the two stallions over. "Howdy, Rainbow Flare. Ready for ya first trip ta Ponyville?"
"Of course, I'm so glad. I can finally see your house for a change."
"Good ta hear, sugarcube. What about you Mac? Y'all ready ta come back home for a change?"
"Eeyup."
"Great, then let's go." Applejack turned and walked back into the train. The two stallions followed suit and they all made there way to a nearby table, Mac and Flare sat on one side and cuddled up together while Applejack sat on the opposite side of the table.
"Bucking coltcuddlers!" A voice came from a lone pony sat at the back of the cart.
"I'm sorry but I didn't quite catch that." Flare stated.
"I said: Bucking coltcuddlers!" The pony replied getting up from his chair to confront Flare.
"Yeah, I thought you said that. Can you explain to me, how the fact that I am attracted to the same sex has an effect on you?" Flare got up from his seat, coming face-to-face with the homophobic stranger.
"Why should I explain myself to you? I've been leaving in Ponyville for over 30 years and I'm not having some featherbrain, coltcuddler coming into my town and ruining it for every pony!" The stranger advanced now only an inch or two of space between the two stallion's faces.
"You say every pony but your the only pony in this train that seems to have a problem with me." Flare smirked.
"Oh, if I get my hoofs on you: your a dead pony!" The stallion a hoof up at Flare attempting to scare him.
"If." Just that one word alone was enough to send the stallion over the edge. He throw one punch straight for Flare's muzzle but to his surprise he was suddenly face-to-hoof with Flare's hind-legs which were currently bucking him in the face! He felt a lot of pain go through his muzzle as the hoofs connected with his face, sending him flying across the cart and slamming into the door. Now unconscious the stallion didn't say another word but Flare on the other hoof was taking his place in Mac's forelegs once more as the two layout across the chair and drifted to sleep in each other's arms.
Applejack was still sitting there wide eyed at the speed Flare had dodged the punch, span around and bucked the stranger across the cart with a great amount of power. She finally snapped out of her trance, put her trusty Stetson over her face and layout on her chair.
"This is gonna be a fun week. Ah can already tell."
Ponyville, Trainstation.
The Ponyville Express pulled up to the platform and slowly came to a stop. Mac, Apple and Flare got out the train and walked up the exit. To their surprise they were greeted by a mare. Rainbow Dash had only just managed to reach the station in time to meet them.
"Hey, Applejack." Rainbow smiled.
"Howdy, sugarcube. Whatcha doing here? We were just about to leave for the library." Applejack tilted her head in confusion of Dash's appearance.
"Yeah I just thought it would be nice to meet you and welcome Mac back. Speaking of Mac, hey Mac who's your friend and where's the lucky mare?" Rainbow approached Mac.
"Howdy, Miss Dash. This here is Rainbow Flare and he's my fiancée." Mac chuckled at the reaction of the name.
"Wait, Rainbow Dash?" Flare poked up from behind Mac.
"That's my name don't wear it out. But, you're Rainbow Flare? You're the one who sends me cards every year?" Rainbow sat down in front of Flare waiting for her answers.
"Yep that's the one. Great to see you again, little sis'. What's it been, 22 years now?" Flare questioned.
"Wait, what ya mean Flare? Dash is ya sister?" Applejack pointed at Dash.
"Yeah, I was sent away to Appleloosa on the day of her birth. I got a quick glimpse of her after the birth then some strange men in black pulled me out of the room and sent me to Appleloosa." Flare confessed.
"Did ya know about this Mac?" Applejack asked.
"Eeyup. Ah promised not ta say anything." Mac admitted.
"Why didn't you say anything in your letters? You could've at least told Applejack to pass on the message!" Rainbow demanded.
"I would have said something but then you would've wanted to know why I left." Flare replied.
"Of course I would have wanted to know why you left and I still do! Now tell me! Why the hay did you leave?!" Rainbow advanced towards Flare. He trembled a little at the sight of how angry his sister was. He knew she would be angry at him but he never imagined her being THIS angry at him, she looked like she was about to punch him square in the nose just so she would get her answers.
"I know you do, I know..." He paused. "I don't know why they took me. I never had a chance to ask, they just pulled me out of the room and dumped me in front of some house in Appleloosa. In fact, it's one of the reasons I came to Ponyville. I was wondering if you'd take me to Mum and Dad's?" Flare knew this was a long shot, just turning up on his sister's birthday and expecting her to take him to Cloudsdale to see their parents.
Rainbow sighed, lowering her head. "Yeah, I guess I could. But, why do you want to go their?"
"First, I haven't seen them in 22 years. Second, they might know why I was sent to Appleloosa and third, I thought it would be nice for them to see their daughter on her birthday." Flare answered.
"Fair enough. We'll set out tonight, after the party. Now then, I have a party to get to. You coming, bro?" Rainbow turned to her friends as they started walking to the library.
"No thanks. Mac and I gotta get all our stuff unpacked for the week. I'll see you after. How about we meet at your place?" Flares suggested.
"Sure but do you even know where it is?" Rainbow questioned the logic of his rendezvous point.
"Rainbow, how have I been sending you cards for the past 22 years?" Flare said smugly.
"Oh right, yeah. Okay then, see ya later." The Elements made their way to the library to finish off their party while Mac and Flare set off for Sweet Apple Arces.
Sweet Apple Acres, Mac's room.
"Eeyup, Ah win again." Mac had won yet another game of 'Go Fish'. This had been the sixth time now, giving him a lead of
6-0.
"Oh, come of it. Fine, you won now whatcha want?" Flare hung his head in same. The two of them quite liked their version of 'Go Fish' it was pretty much the same as normal 'Go Fish' but if you won a game at this version, then you get to make the loser do what ever you want no matter how crazy the chore might be. Well, to an extent of course.
"Ah want ya ta kiss me." Mac smirked.
"Well, that ain't so bad. I already do that on a daily basis." Flare remarked.
"On mah hoof." Mac added.
"WHAT?! No way! You stepped in shit earlier!" Flare refused but then he remembered the penalty for refusing the chore given to the loser by the winner. Which was to be given another chore of the winner's wish but this time it could be anything, no matter how big or how small the chore was you had to do it if you refused the original chore. "Fine, I'll do it. But, are ya sure you want me to kiss the shit on your hoof?"
Flare was faced with the one word he never wanted to hear under these circumstances. "Eeyup."
Flare sighed, lent forward towards Mac's forehoof as he lifted it to Flare's muzzle. The hoof met Flare half way and he kissed the 'mess' that was spread across Mac's hoof. 'Never again.' Flare though to himself. He quickly pulled away from the hoof just after kissing it. "We are never playing this game again." Flare demanded.
"Why because ya scared ya gonna lose again?" Mac teased.
"To be honest. Yeah. I'm basically scared shitless of this game." Flare confessed.
"Nnope, not shitless. If ya remember correctly." Mac was quick to remind Flare of what it was he had just done.
"Anyway, I've got to get to Rainbow's place. I'll see you later, honey." Flare got up and gave Mac a quick peck on the lips.
"Okay, Ah'll see ya later, sugarcube." Mac waved goodbye to his fiancée as he walked of into the distance. 'Ah hope to Celetia everything goes alright him.' Mac thought.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean you haven't even proven you're my brother yet." Rainbow explained.
Dash and Flare had flown to their parent's house in relative silence; Most of the small conversations they did have, only came about through nervousness from the silence itself.
Flare nodded. Dash knocked on the door and they both awaited an answer. After a few moments they got the response they desired. Slowly the door opened to reveal a slightly disgruntled Spectrum Dash. "Hey sweetheart, what a nice surprise to see you again and look you even brought a stallion home!" Spectrum said not recognising Flare.
"Hi Dad, yeah this isn't my coltfriend. He's already engaged." Dash stated.
"Well, nevermind. I'm sure you'll find a very nice ccoltfriend one day. Why don't you both come in?" Spectrum suggested while gesturing for the pair to come in.
"That would be great, thanks Dad." Dash said entering the house. 'I wonder if he's noticed who Flare is yet?' Dash thought to herself. "Where's Mum?" Dash asked.
"She's in the kitchen. You two take a seat and I'll go get her" Spectrum showed them to the living room then quickly left down the hall for the kitchen.
"This place hasn't changed a bit." Flare murmured to himself. 'What a douche! How can you not even remember your own son?' Flare pondered to himself.
"So, when are you going to tell him?" Dash questioned the motives as to why Flare hadn't said anything yet.
"I'm surprised I actually have to say anything! I mean: how can you forget your own son?" Flare replied with a slight frown starting to form upon his face.
"I know Flare but it has been 22 years!" Dash defended their parents.
"I don't care how long it's been. They sent me off the Appleloosa without even telling me why and then when I come back they don't even remember me!" Flare stood by his side of the argument and he knew that somehow he would convince his family to think the same why even if it killed him.
"I'm sure they had a good reason for it and stop saying they didn't remember we haven't even seen Mum yet, we don't know how she'll respond." Dash understood where Flare was coming from but being their daughter she had a responsibility to defend her parents even if it was from their own son.
Before Flare could say anything else Spectrum came back into the room with their mother Firefly following suit. "Hello again, darling. It's great to see you and who would your friend be?" Firefly asked giving Dash a small but affectionate hug.
"Why don't you introduce yourself, buddy?" Dash suggested to Flare.
"Why that's not a bad idea, Rainbow. Spectrum, Firefly. I'm Rainbow Flare pleasure to meet you." Flare lifted a hoof to shake.
Spectrum pulled Firefly away stepping in front of her in a defensive manner. "What're you doing here and what do you what from us?" Spectrum questioned.
"Well, that's no way to greet your own son. Is it now? But, anyways. I want to know why you abandoned me all those years ago and you don't have to be so defensive, I'm not here to hurt you I just wanted to know." Flare replied in very calm manner considering the situation.
Spectrum sighed and relaxed stepping to the side giving Flare full view of his mother. "It's probably best you take a seat. This could take awhile." Spectrum pointed to the sofa.
Spectrum and Firefly were sitting on one sofa while Dash and Flare were sitting on the sofa opposite with mugs of tea in their hoofs. They were all silent for a few moments before Flare broke the silence with a cough. "So, why did you abandon me?" Flare asked with anger in his voice.
Spectrum sighed, he wondered how much sighing he would be doing tonight. "Do you remember the incident with Booming Mic?" Spectrum asked.
"Yeah, why?" Flare replied. He could of put more into his reply but thought it'd be best not to as Spectrum was probably about to elaborate now anyways.
"That's why left sent you to Appleloosa. You were constantly getting into fights at school and when Rainbow Dash was born we to protect her. But we also wanted to protect you, we thought that maybe if you were sent away then you'd think about your behaviour and it'd improve. Part off me doubted it but by the looks of things I was wrong. You're engaged, befriend your sister and from what your wearing it would seem that your in the Wonderbolt Academy. Am I right?" Spectrum was impressed of how well Flare was doing considering he was constantly getting into fights and his grades were terrible in school. Maybe sending him to Appleloosa was really the best thing for him.
"I am in the Academy thanks for noticing. By the way, if I remember correctly I wasn't the one who started those fights, I just defended myself when the 'bullies' attacked me and after I became friends with most of them including Booming Mic. Who'm I actually stayed great friends with to date and I'm taking Mac to one of his concerts later this week." Flare said.
"Who's Mac?" Firefly asked taking a sip of her tea.
"He's Flare's fiancée." Dash jumped in before Flare could reply. "And could somepony, please, tell me who Booming Mic is and what the incident is?" Rainbow Dash hadn't really been paying much attention to the conversation but picked up o some of the more imporant details, Booming Mic being one of them.
"Right. yeah You were so quiet I forgot you was even here."" Flare giggled. "QUEUE FLASHBACK!"
Rainbow Flare was at his locker picking up and dropping off the usual things for the day: work books, pens, pencils, rubber, sharpener, etc. He wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing and just daydreaming until the locker door suddenly slammed shut in front of him pulling him back into reality. "Hey, look. It's the flightless bird!" Booming Mic snarled. Mic had always been the so called 'big colt' in the school but he never really picked on Flare because Flare had always been known as one of the wimpier ponies in the school, so picking on him all the time would lead other's to believe that Mic's too weak to pick on anypony other than Flare.
"What do you want Mic?" Flare asked in a depressed tone.
"Ahh, come on Flare. I thought we were friends? Are we not friends, Flare? Because you know what I do to ponies who don't want to my friend, Flare." Mic advanced on Flare.
"Yes, Mic I know what you do to ponies smaller than you that don't what to be your friend. You beat them and make them beg for forgiveness, then you beat them some more. Did I miss anything?" Flare replied. Flare really had had enough of this guy, Mic had never actually attacked Flare but he has threatened to before and Flare's certain it'll happen again.
"No, you haven't missed anything but you have added something: I don't only hurt ponies smaller than me. In fact most of the ponies I fight are bigger than me." Mic was starting to lose his temper and when he lost his temper he turned to his go to thing for annoying little ponies, violence.
"Your telling me that over half of the ponies you've bullied are bigger than you?" Flare asked. Mic nodded."Like who?'
"Ugh..." Mic couldn't think of a single pony he'd thought that was taller than him.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm going to class now." Flare turned away but before he could start walking a rather large light brown hoof grabbed the side off his head slamming him into the locker. Slowly, Flare got up turning around to face Mic. Mic was fairly tall for his age so the chocolate maned stallion thought that made him stronger than the other ponies in the school. It did for the most part but there was a few exceptions, Flare included.
"No pony mocks me and especially not a flightless blank-flank!" Mic shouted throwing a punch at Flare but Flare avoided the hoof and gave Mic a well deserved upper cut knocking him out instantly.
"I love it when ponies that deserve a good arse kicking get a good arse kicking."
"I visited him in the hospital, he apologised and we became best friends." Flare finished. I hadn't taken him long to explain what the incident was but then again that really depends on how fast a reader you are.
"Wait, you said he called you a flightless blank-flank. How old were you for that to be a problem?" Dash asked.
"I was four. Which obviously Pegasi normally start flying around six months and I was four years old. Therefore, making me the perfect target for a bully. Plus being a blank-flank never helped even though I was only four most of the ponies in my school already had their cutie-marks and those who didn't instantly became targets of the bullies." Flare replied. The memories of the taunting played back in his head 'Blank-flank, Blank-flank, Blank-flank!'
"So, how come you became like best friends straight after everything had happened?" Dash was slightly confused with the two contradicting facts.
"Well he was pretty much my first friend. You know, with me being a rainbow maned, sky blue coated(Sky blue not cyan. I know what you're thinking), flightless, bisexual, blank-flank. It wasn't exactly easy for me to find friends." Flare answered putting Dahs's confusion at easy.
"I can imagine." Firefly was quiet throughout most of the night, still slightly shocked that her son had returned and was now doing so well considering he'd been thrown out of his house and dumped with some random family in Appleloosa which can be quite traumatising.
"Anyways, now we've got all of that cleared I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you. I've got to go see Mic about front row seats to the Maroon 5 concert." Flare walked to the front door giving his father a hoof shake, his mother a hug and Rainbow Dash a brohoof before he opened the door to leave.
"Wait a second, you said Maroon 5. Are you seriously telling me that your foalhood bully and present best friend is the Booming Mic?" Dash questioned.
"Yeah, why?" Flare answered.
"Oh, nothing. Just that, that's awesome. You're best friends with the most famous singer in Equestria, your sister is the Element of Loyalty, your sisiter-in-law is the Element of Honesty and you're in the Wonderbolts Academy! You're really not doing that bad for yourself are you?" Dash was with the amount of accomplishments her brother had and the fact that she had only just realised all of this.
Flare knew the one word that would quite easily some up his reply. "Nope."
