Chapters “My son…look at the world…we’ve finally done it.” A dark sinister voice stated.
“Yes…we really did it…didn’t we?” Another younger voice replied. The young pony walked to the railing of the balcony and looked towards the ground. It was a mess. The streets were empty, broken, lifeless.
“Something…just doesn’t feel right…” The young stallion said to himself. He looked up the red burnt skies.
“Does something bother you child?” The dark voiced stallion asked.
“No…I’m fine…” The younger pony paused and turned away from the world.
“Father I forgot that I needed to do something.” He continued.
“Very well. But be quick. Some pony special will be here soon. And I want you present for when they surrender.” The dark voiced pony ended. The younger one nodded his head in understanding. He walked back into the large black crystal room. He stopped and turned back around his head so he could see his father. He was still standing there. Looking out into what was left of the Crystal Empire. He turned back around and continued walking. Shortly later he arrived at the door the throne room. He pushed the twin doors open and continued walking. When he entered the large room he used his magic to close and lock the doors behind him. He began moving slower. He looked around to see the surroundings. All the beautiful blue clear crystals. They were all turned black. He stopped in the center of the room. His head fell in sorrow. He began thinking to himself.
“This isn’t what I wanted…This should have never happened…” He started to cry. A single tear rolled down his cheek then fell onto the cold hard floor beneath him. A second afterwards he jerked his head back up and opened his eyes which were now completely black. He stood up on his hind legs then slammed his two front ones back on the ground. His horn began to glow. He tilted his head back and then forward as he casted a spell on the crystal on the top of the throne. The crystal it’s self then began to glow. He stopped what he was doing. He closed his eyes again and this time when he opened them they were back to their original dark red color. The crystal’s shadow began to grow. It stopped right at his hooves. Part of the shadow began to grow darker until it visibly became a stair case leading downward.
He walked over to the ledge of the dark hole and looked down it. He then backed away and teleported down to the bottom of the stair case in a flash of light. He faced the dark wooded door across from him He walked towards it and placed his hoof on the wood. He paused for a second thinking to himself asking himself of he really wanted to do this. He slid his hoof across the door and placed it on the handle. As he opened the door a faint orange light filled the space he was in. He walked through the door way. He saw it all again. The Crystal Empire. The ruined streets, the burning skies. He did his best to ignore it all. He closed the door behind him and turned left to face the grand stair case spiraling up to the top of the crystal tower. He closed his eyes and casted another spell which turned him into a cloud of smoke. And in that form he flew up the stair case. As he glided above the crystal steps he saw his father still standing on the balcony. The dark Stallion noticed that something wasn’t right. He turned around and looked up at the crystal tower fast enough to see grey bluer disappear behind the tower.
“…No…” The dark stallion said to himself. He raced back inside. Shortly after The young pony made it to the very top of the tower.
“This is it…”He whispered to himself.
“The birth place of the beast that controls me.” He continued. The spell that turned him into smoke wore off and he turned back into his unicorn self. He walked toured the center of the area. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw something that was rather shocking. Multiple sets of armor from the crystal guards, a set of purple armor, Princess Cadence’s tiara, and a tiara of another princes. He started crying again.
“What am I?” He whispered. He whipped away the tears and looked back up. He casted another spell. This time something new happened. Three small crooked pillars rose from the crystal floor, along with a black orb that was placed atop of them. He walked over and placed his hoof and the orb. He took a deep breath. And within a second a faint blurred imaged appeared on the orb. It was a memory of him when his was a little filly. He could see himself in the crystal streets playing with the other ponies.
“Stop... My child what are you doing?” His father said as he reached the top of the stair case. The young pony backed away from the orb and casted one more spell. The orb turned from black, to white. It released a pulse of energy that appeared as a ring surrounding it horizontally. The ring withdrew its self. Than in an instant the orb released a shock wave of magic. The magical blast flew across the floor of the tower down the sides of the castle and across the entire crystal empire. The tower began to shake. The celling started caving in.
“Father...” The young pony said. His father stooped panicking for long enough to listen to him.
“You have turned my life into a lie.” The orb shot out another wave of magic. This time when it passed the young pony he became transparent.
“You have taught me nothing but evil.” The young pony continued. The orb shot out a third shock wave but now the young pony started to disappear.
“You ruined my life. You destroyed everything I cared about. And now I’m going to turn everything back to the way it was. Before you took control!” The Young pony shouted. Than he finally vanished. The orb started to crack and leak black lights. The dark stallion panicked and attempted to flee but it was too late the orb exploded with a bright white light that covered everything. But the light quickly turned black and turned the world black along with it. Everything was quiet and still. And out of nowhere the young stallion appeared. Fazing into existence the same way he left it. He opened his eyes and looked around. He lifted up his hoof. And when he moved it there was a small white dot hovering in front of him. The dot grew quickly into what seemed like a gate way. Threw it he could see everything. But he only wanted to see one thing. He whipped his hoof across the flat surface and it rippled like water. After it calmed it showed him as a filly in the hospital he was born in. He could see himself as a baby being cradled in his mother’s arms. He smiled and whipped his hoof across the surface again and the same thing happened. Now it was showing him sleeping in his crib at what used to be his home. He closed his eyes and when he opened them his infant self was gone. He whipped his hoof across the surface one last time. Except this time it disappeared and when it was gone it revealed his past self-wrapped in a blanket behind it. He his facial expression changed to a nervous joy as he walked over to the younger him.
“I can’t let you stay with that family. You might like them now but…” He stopped and brushed the infants head.
“I can’t let you turn into me.” He continued. He backed away from the younger him and disappeared. But his voice could still be heard.
“I want you to find your true family.” He said. And suddenly the younger him started aging more rapidly. It went from new born to one year old.
“Find some pony who will protect you.” He continued. The younger him now turned three years old.
“Pleases I don’t want you to turn into me. Save yourself along with the world you love. Oh…and happy birthday.” He ended. The younger him was now 7 years old. The world was completely silent again. The young pony opened his eyes as if it was the first time. He stood up and looked around. He saw nothing. And suddenly a gate way opened a few feet in front of him. He walked towards it and it revealed to him a new world. He smiled and jumped through the gate way and it closed behind him.
The gate way that the young pony had gone through opened up in a new world years before his currant time. A pony jumped out of it and the portal shrank and closed behind him. The young pony looked different then all the others he had a dark gray-white coat, dark red eyes, dark red eyes, and looked like he crawled out of a coal mine, he was skinny and weak looking. As he entered the new world he began thinking to himself about what he should do now. He’s never been in any place like this. Before he did anything he looked around to take note of his surroundings. Trees, a few benches and a couple of flower beds. He looked into the distance and saw a town. He smiled and started racing towards it. And not more than a minute later he bumped into another pony and fell backwards.
“Oh my gosh I’m sorry. Are you okay?” She asked frantically. The young pony shook his head and stood up.
“Mmhmm. I’m fine.” He replied with a smile.
“Okay. I’m sorry about that.” She answered back.
“Don’t worry i-its fine…Um excuses me do you know where I am?” The young pony asked nervously.
“Oh you’re in Pony vile.” She replied.
“Okay. Thank you!” He shouted as he continued running towards the town. A minute or two later he arrived right outside the town. He smiled and slowed down to a walking speed. He walked through the town looking at all the scenery. All the buildings and all the smiling faces. For a while he began thinking that he was dreaming again.
“Well hey there. What are you doing here?” some pony asked him.
“Huh? What- I was just…umm” The young pony attempted to speak back.
“Shouldn’t you be at the school house?” The older pony interrupted him.
“Oh…uhh right…umm…w-which way is it?” He asked. The older pony chuckled.
“You must be new here. Okay follow me.” He started walking off in some direction. The young pony stood where he was for a second than quickly followed the other. A few moments later they arrived at a medium sized red building. The two walked up to the door. The younger pony kept getting distracted by everything and had to keep running to stay caught up with the other. When got to the door the older pony knocked on the wooden frame.
“psst Ms. Cheerlie.” He whisered. The mare at the front of the room looked over towards him.
“You got a new student.” He continued.
“Oh wonderful.” She exclaimed. The older moved out of the way of the door and the younger pony slowly and nervously walked into the room.
“Well hello, welcome.” Ms. Cheerlie said joyfully.
“…uh…hi…” He said quietly.
“So why don’t you tell us all your name?” Ms. Cheerlie said.
“My name…it’s uh…” His voice went quite.
“I’m sorry I don’t think any of us heard that.” She interrupted.
“It’s…umm…” Same as last time.
“Hmm…you know what why don’t you tell me your name and I’ll tell the class?” She suggested. The young filly nodded his head and whispered his name to Ms. Cheerlie. She smiled and giggled when she heard it.
“Every pony this is Red.” She said to the class. Some of them said hello and waved. While the rest of them didn’t say or do anything.
“So Red…Would you…Like to tell us a little bit about yourself?” Ms. Cheerlie asked.
“I’m… Not from here.” He said quietly.
“well DUH!” a young pink filly said out loud. As most of the class began laughing Red hung his head low.
“So Red there’s an open seat right up front.” Ms. Cheerlie told him.
“Okay…” He replied in a voice that sounded depressed. He continued keeping his head low as he slowly walked over to his desk and sat down. He could hear a pony in the row behind him trying not to laugh. He did his best to ignore it. An hour later Ms. Cheerlie announced to the class that it was time for recess and they all ran out the door. Red was the last one pout the door. He held his head high and walked out the door. As he got out side he started walking down the path that lead back to town he made it half way until some pony got in his way.
“Hello Blank flank!” She said sarcastically.
“Huh…wha- I” Red started stuttering.
“What’s wrong little baby can’t talk?” She and another pony started laughing at him.
“What did I do?” He asked.”
“Apparently nothing.” The two ponies started laughing again. Red eyes started watering as the two other ponies kept making fun of him. They constantly called him blank flank and called him a baby. He finally gave up, tears started rolling down his cheeks. He ran past them and back into the town. Every pony that was on the playground at that time noticed what happened and started walking over to the two who slowly stopped laughing. All the ponies that surrounded the two looked at them in anger and some of the shook their heads in disappointment. They nervously smiled. Shortly after Ms. Cheerlie came out side and started scolding the two. Because of all that Red didn’t want to go back there. He never wanted to go back. He kept running until he made it back to the place where he appeared first. He looked around frantically trying to find the portal that brought him to this world. He started crying even more. And every time some pony walked towards him to ask if he was oaky he’d back away from them and then run off. He wanted to get away from it all. So he did the only thing he could think of. He saw a forest nearby. And he ran towards it. He didn’t stop running for anything, not even for the ponies who told him not to go into the forest. Some of them who saw him running attempted to chase after him trying to keep him from getting there. But he managed to out run them.
When he arrived at the entrance he didn’t hesitate to stop he kept running. But every pony ells did. That stopped outside discussing with one another if it was really worth it. Some of them thought it was and started several search parties to go look for him. Others thought it would be safer to wright to Princes Celestia asking her to send a few of the royal guards to look form him. They all did the best they could to find him in the same day. During that night when every pony had decided to stop until day he snuck out of the forest and headed for the park. He was going to go back to the school house to confront the two he made fun of him. But he decided not to after he came up with what seemed like a better idea. He found a newspaper hanging off the side of a garbage can and took it. He rummaged through a few other garbage cans to see if he could find more. When he found enough he went back into the forest climbed up tree and stayed their using the newspapers as blankets. The next day another search party set out to find him. They almost did. He coughed and one of the members heard him. But they ignored it and continued searching. After that it was completely quite. He stayed there for almost a week. But one day when it was foggy he attempted sneaking out of the forest during the day time to find something to replace the newspapers he was using.
“He was lucky, the because of his color and size he almost completely blended in with the fog. His luck managed to continue. He saw a purple curly manned pony throw away a few things of fabric. He hid in the bushes outside of the building until she went back inside of it. When she was gone he snuck over to the trash cans outside her house and attempted to take the sewing materials. And that’s when his luck ended he managed to get a hold of a sheet but when he tried pulling it out of the can it fell over and made a loud metallic clanking noise. The mare that was inside heard him and came running out to see what was going on. She looked around to see what happened. She saw the trash cans lying on the ground. Red’s luck reappeared since he managed to drag the fabrics into the bush he was hiding in earlier. When he tried getting out of the bush the fabric got stuck and started making the bush rustle and make noises. The mare heard him and instead of attacking or investigating the noise she screamed and ran back inside. That was his chance he ran back to the forest undetected. He wasn’t able to get back into his tree bust since all the other ponies gave up looking in the area he was hiding in, he put some of the fabric on the ground than he covered himself in the rest of it.
He stayed there for the rest of the day and for all of that night. The next morning as he woke up he could hear several voices talking to each other. He was thinking that it was another search party but they all the voices sounded nothing like the members of the five parts.
“It’s just a bunch of cloths it’s not like you need them any way!” One of the voices yelled.
“You might think that but this “Cloth” has a special gold lining on it and it was very expensive.” Another voice said. This one sounded familiar.
“So you’re really risking going into the Everfree just to get it?” The first voice said again.
“I went to get more of it but they said the next shipment of it would come in 5 weeks. And the client who wanted it is coming to pick it up in 3days.” The familiar mare replied.
“So you knew about all this…yet you still threw it away?” A third mare asked.
“Yes but-well-you see-uggh why I’m I explaining this to-look there it is!” The familiar mare yelled. Red started to panic he didn’t know what to do.
“Can some pony please get it for me?” The familiar pony asked.
“I have a better idea. Why don’t you get it.” The third pony suggested.
“Well you see I would but I’d rather not risk getting attacked by the horrible vermin that took it.”
“What you mean a bunny?” The first pony added.
“Or a squirrel?” The third pony said. The two started laughing with each other.
“Don’t worry I’ll get it.” A forth pony interrupted.
“Why thank you Twilight that’s very kind of you.”
“Don’t worry about it I just don’t want my friend to get attacked by acute little wood pecker.” The forth pony replied. She lightly giggled as the other two ponies started laughing historically. Red started panicking even more. He began thinking that he would be in big trouble if the found him. He started thinking about what would happen if he had to go back and face the two mares he made fun of him. As the pony approached the pile of fabric she started moving more carefully as she entered the small opening. She poked the pile to see if anything was hiding in it. And that’s when Red blew his cover. He started freaking out. He started squirming and moving around under the pile until he jumped out of it and backed away from the others. They all gasped in surprise.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. Are you okay?” She asked. She slowly reached for him but he backed away. He backed up into a tree and when she tried getting close he’d just keep attempting to get away from her. He kept trying to move backwards hoping that he’d might pass through the tree. But she gave up. She backed away from him and he started to relax a bit.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to scare you.” She said softly. He kept his head low and said nothing.
“…What are you doing out here?” She asked.
“…i…ran…” He replied.
“Wait. Your that pony that all the others were looking for.” She exclaimed.
“Wait yah! What they hey are you even doing out here!? Don’t you know this place is dangerous!? What are you just doing this for the attention or something!?” The rainbow manned pony yelled. Red started crying.
“Rainbow enough!” The purple one yelled back at her.
“I ran because ever pony hates me!” Red interrupted. They all looked at him.
“I ran because the first two ponies I ever talked to here were mean to me!” He continued shouting. His face started turning red and he couldn’t stop crying.
“They kept saying mean things to me! They kept laughing at me! They don’t know who I am…they didn’t even try to be nice to me…they don’t care…they don’t care that I don’t have a family.” Red stopped talking. He closed his eyes and started saying things out loud.
“I just want to go home…I don’t want to-to be here.” The others looked at him and started feeling bad for him.
“Listen kid.” The rainbow manned pony said. He looked up at her.
“I’m sorry that yelled at you earlier.” She said. He hung his head low again, attempting to hold on to the fact the she might not be sorry.
“I don’t hate you.” I soft kind voice added. Red looked up and saw a mare with a yellow coat and pink mane smiling at him.
“You-you don’t?” Red asked. She nodded. He smiled and brushed away a tear.
“None of us hate you. You have to know some pony to hate them, And it would be nice to know who you were.” The Purple pony added. Red’s smile grew. He brushed away the rest of his tears and stood up.
“My…My names Red.” He announced. The Purple pony smiled back at him and stood up.
“Hi red. I’m Twilight sparkle.” She said softly.
“And these are my friends. Rarity, Rainbow dash, Flutter shy, Pinkie pie and Apple jack.” She continued speaking softly.
“Hi…”Red said to them all. They all smiled.
“Umm…Ms. Rarity…I’m sorry about taking your stuff.” He said quietly.
“Don’t worry its fine.” She replied.
“So you’re not mad?” He asked.
“No not at all.” She answered back. Red smiled at her but he stopped and started coughing.
“Poor little fella your sick aren’t ya.” Apple jack said as she walked towards him.
“Don’t worry we’ll get you back to Pony vile so we can get you all fixed up.” She continued as she messed with his hair. He started laughing but it slowly died. He had trouble staying balanced, his vision going blurry and he couldn’t stop coughing. The others started becoming more worried. After a second he completely stopped. The others looked at him His eyes rolled upward and he fell.
“Oh my gosh!” Twilight yelled.
“What happened!?” Rainbow asked.
“I don’t know! Come on we have to get him to the hospital!” She ended. Twilight picked up Red and placed him on her back. She rushed out of the forest as fast as she could along with the others
Everything was dark and still. Everything was back to before any of this started. Red opened his eyes and saw himself back where all of this started. He looked around, nothing. Than a small noise came up from behind him. When he turned around he saw nothing. Than more noises appeared. They all sounded like water, like he was drowning. He began to panic. Thinking that he was dead. But as he started to move around he saw small bubbles floating upwards. When he saw them he slowly started to calm down. He began to smile. Than as he sat down to watch them float away 6 larger bubbles formed a ring around him. When he looked at them images started to appear on them. He could see the 6 ponies that actually cared about him. Twilight, Rainbow dash, Flutter shy, Rarity, Apple jack and Pinkie pie. As he looked at them they images of his new friends began to smile and wave at him. He smiled back. When he turned around he saw the bubble with Flutter shy on it kneeling down and reaching for him like she was trying to pull him back into the real world. When he reached for it the bubble popped. Red became surprised and backed away from it. He turned to face one of the others and one by one each bubble popped. Red sat down where he was. He smiled and closed his eyes. As everything began to return to as it was he heard voices. The voices echoed. He knew who they were, and he could hear what they were saying.
“Are you sure he’ll be alright?” It was twilights voice.
“Yes I’m sure he’ll be fine.” He didn’t know who that was but it sounded like the doctor.
“He just needs some rest and he’ll be as good as new.” The doctor continued. A few seconds after he heard a door closing and everything went quite. He tried opening his eyes. He felt as if his eyes have been sewn shut. He could only open them so much.
“Every pony look he’s waking up!” Apple jack shouted. They all gathered around the bed.
“Red…are you okay? Red?” Twilight asked over and over again. Red kept attempting to open his eyes. He slightly shook his head and finally opened his eyes. His vision was blurred for a second and the voices and sounds were still echoing. He blinked a few times and within a second his sigh had readjusted and his hearing returned to normal.
“Red?” Twilight said one last time. Red looked at her and told her the he was fine. She sighed in relief. A second after his stomach growled.
“You hungry?” Twilight asked. Red shook his head.
“I’m not hungry.” He said trying to act like he wasn’t.
“Red you don’t have to act like you’re okay all the time. If you do ponies are just going to worry more about you.” Twilight told him. He looked away from her and the others. He kept trying to act like he was fine or like nothing was wrong.
“Um excuse me, can talk to you six for a minute?” the doctor said as he opened the door. As the six walked out into the hallway Red started coughing again. Twilight looked at him nervously than closed the door behind her as she stepped out of the room.
“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked.
“Yes actually. Some research has been done on the young filly and well…” He paused.
“Well?” Twilight interrupted.
“Nothing. No information about him. No pony knows where he was born, where he lived until today, who his parents were or are, nothing. All we know is what you told us. His name and the fact that he’s and orphan.” He ended.
“So what are you going to do with him?” twilight asked.
“Well. Right now all we can do is wait for him to heal then send him to an orphanage-“
“Wait…no.” Twilight interrupted.
“Is something wrong?” the doctor asked.
“Yes…well…I don’t think an orphanage would be the best choice for him.” Twilight replied.
“And why is that?”
“Well. He keep’s saying that he’s fine and that he doesn’t need anything. He might fool every pony there and they might not do anything…and he might…well die, lack of food, dehydration.” She ended.
“Hmm I suppose your right…but what other options are there?” He asked. Twilight pondered for a moment thinking of what would be best for the young filly.
“What if one of us were to take care of him-“
“Woh woh woh hold up.” Rainbow dash interrupted.
“What makes you think that any of us would want to take care of him?” She argued.
“Because were the only ones he trusts remember-“
“so is that why you’ve been so nice to him?” Apple jack asked.
“Yes. He trusts us and only us, and he thinks of us as friends. And if something bad happens to him than it will be our faults since were the only ones that can actually get him to talk.” Twilight ended. The others started acting uneasy. Twilight walked back into the room.
“Hey red…” She said quietly. He looked up at her.
“We were talking to the doctor and he was going to send you to the orphanage when you’re all healed.” She told him.
“…oh.” He said with a depressed tone.
“But I talked to him about it and now you can stay with one of us if you want.”. She ended.
“Really?” He quietly said with excitement. The others started to smile and walked in to the room.
“Yup if you wanted to you could choose which one of us you wanted to stay with.” Apple jack added.
“…oh…okay…” Red replied at the realization of that fact that he could only stay with one of them.
“You okay?” Rainbow asked as she flew in the room.
“Hmm?...oh yah I’m…I’m fine.” He replied trying to act happy.
“Red I can tell you’re not okay.” Twilight interrupted. She walked over to him.
“What’s wrong now?” She asked.
“Nothing…I’m fine.” He said attempting to make them think he really was okay. He looked away from her trying not to cry.
“Red…” Twilight said. She put her hoof on his chin to get him to face her.
“If something’s wrong than you can tell us. Were your friends.” She told him. He started to smile. But the smile quickly died. He started coughing and couldn’t stop. He started to shake like his limbs were too heavy to lift. His coughing slowly stopped. Than he passed out.
“RED!” The six shouted all at once. The doctor rushed into the room along with one of the nurses. He pushed all of the six out of the way so he could get to the young filly. And like the first time he passed out he appeared in a world of complete black. And like last time bubbles appeared floating towards the sky. The six bubbles appeared in front of him showing his friends. But three of them popped. Leaving the three bubbles that had Twilight, Flutter shy, And Apple jack. He looked at them trying to figure out why those three are still there. He almost figured it out but the bubbles popped. He felt himself falling back into reality. He started coughing again. He opened his eyes and saw the his six friends along with the doctor and the nurse standing near the bed.
“Red. What happened are you okay?” Twilight asked. Red smiled at hear.
“Yah I’m fine.” He said cheerfully. She smiled back at him. The doctor and the nurse left the room taking about what just happened.
“Twilight.” Red said quietly. She looked at him and waited for him to speak again.
“I choose to go to the orphanage.” He ended.
“Wha- Why? Don’t you want to be with your friends?” Twilight asked.
“I do but…” He paused.
“But?” Twilight interrupted.
“I don’t want to feel like I’m hated. If I choose one of you than the rest of you might be happy you’re not stuck with me, and the one I did choose might be angry or annoyed that you are stuck with me.” He ended. He kept whipping the tears off his face.
“Red…None of us are going to be angry about being with you. And the only reason we’d be upset is if something bad happened to you.” Twilight told him.
“So none of you will be mad if I choose to stay with you?” He asked.
“Of course not.” Twilight replied. Red smiled at her.
As Red laid there he lifted his hoof and pointed at Flutter shy.
“I kind of wanted to live with you.” He said softly. Flutter shy’s expression changed from worried to surprised.
“Why me?” She asked.
“I don’t know…you just seem like the easiest to trust.” Red continued. Flutter shy smiled. A second afterwards one of the nurses entered the room.
“Excuse me.” She started. The six turned to look at her.
“Visiting hours are over now, you’ll all have to leave.” She continued. As the six started to leave Flutter shy looked back towards Red. He smiled at her and waved goodbye. She smiled and waved back, than continued walking. She met up with the others as she got outside.
“So…Are you sure you can take care of him?” Twilight asked.
“It can’t be that hard. I’ve taken care of plenty of animals so it should be easy.” She replied.
“Okay then. Any way I spoke with the doctor he said Red will be able to leave in three days.” Twilight continued. Flutter Shy smiled, and started to walk home. And since they day was at its end the others did the same. For the next few days Flutter shy and the others visited Red at the hospital. And on the day he was to leave they all waited right outside the front door for him. It was about noon when they saw him. As he walked out the front door he saw Flutter shy and raced over to her.
“Ready to go?” She asked. Red nodded his head and smiled.
“Oh hold on.” She interrupted.
“Girls I’ll see you in a while I need to take Red home.” She told the others.
“Okay see you later than.” Twilight replied. After that Flutter shy started walking with Red. But when they got to town that’s when things turned bad. Red started remembering things like which way to go to get to the school house and the faces of every pony. But when he looked at some pony a vision flashed threw his mind. It was that same pony except it was either younger or older. And every time he had one of the visions he tripped or stumbled. He was just lucky that he made it out of town before he fell flat on his face. When the two made it back to Flutter shy’s cottage he was amazed. He’s never seen so many animals all in one place. Flutter shy giggled a few times every time he looked up to see the birds as the flew above him.
“Well here we are.” Flutter shy said. She opened the door to the cottage and Red was amazed. He saw just as many in side as he did outside. He took a few steps forward and walked through the door way. But when the animals saw him the fled from sight. Red’s smile vanished as well, and his head started to sag. Flutter shy took one look at him than started moving around trying to get the small woodland animals to come out.
“Come on don’t be scared. He’s a friend he won’t hurt you.” She said to all the animals trying to get them to come out from hiding. And it worked some of them started to reappear. A squirrel approached him and started sniffing him. Red noticed it and pet. The squirrel nuzzled up to him, then climbed up his leg and onto his head. He and Flutter shy laughed softly. Some of the other animals gathered around him.
“Hey Red?” Flutter shy said quietly. Red looked up at her.
“I have to go meet my friends will you be fine on your own?” Flutter shy asked.
“Yah I’ll be fine.” He replied. Flutter shy smiled and left. When she was gone Red started moving around trying to interact with the other animals. 4 hours later when Flutter shy got home everything was quite. When she went inside all the animals were gone somewhere. She turned around and saw Red sleeping on the sofa and snuggling Angle like a teddy bear. It was one of the cutest thins she saw in her entire life. She flew up the staircase, and when he came back down she put a blanket on Red and Angle.
As Red slept he began to struggle as if he was trying to get away from something. The dream he was having turned in to a nightmare. Black clouds hung above, cold winds blew and rain fell heavily. He was running from something, it was a colossal black shadow. As he ran from it, it got bigger and closer to him. He couldn’t keep running. He began to slow down due to exaction. And that was it, the shadow caught up to him and trampled him. Red woke up screaming. When he sat up angle fell of the sofa and landed face first on the wood floor.
“RED!” Flutter shy yelled from upstairs. She came racing down stairs in a panic.
“Are you okay, what happened?” she asked franticly. Red stared at her with fear and sadness on his face. He then looked away and shook his head.
“…I’m…fine” He said quietly.
“Are you sure?” Flutter shy asked again. Red looked at her and nodded his head. Flutter shy sighed with a disappointed relief. As she walked back upstairs Red sat there thinking about his dream wondering what it meant. After Flutter shy disappeared from sight angle jumped back onto the sofa. Red looked at him and smiled as he pet him. He then covered himself and angle with the blanket and went back to sleep. The next morning when red woke up he jumped out of bed and quickly raced out side. He looked up towards the sky expecting to see something, and he did he saw Rainbow dash fly overhead. He smiled and ran in the same direction she was flying in. As he ran the other five came into view, they were sitting on a small hill top talking with each other, laughing and have a good time. As he got closer he could hear some of what they were saying. They were just talking about what happened this week. Red slowed down when he was a few paces away.
“Oh Red what are you doing out here?” Flutter shy asked. The others looked at him. Red kept his head low as he approached Flutter shy. When he got close enough he whispered something to her.
“What!” She replied. Red with no expression on his face turned around and started running back to the cottage.
“Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!” Flutter shy said rapidly as she got up and followed him.
“Flutter shy what’s wrong?!” Twilight shouted. She didn’t hear her. She looked at the others with confusion an slight fear. After a few seconds they all got up and followed the other two. After they caught up with them they became even more confused. They were just standing still looking into the Everfree.
“Flutter shy what is it, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked again. Flutter shy looked at her.
“Red said something bad was going to happen.” She replied.
“How would he know that?” Rainbow dash asked.
“I don’t know he just said.” Flutter shy answered back. They all looked at Red with confused expressions on their faces. He didn’t notice he just stood there with a light expression of anger on his face. He didn’t want to brake his line of sight with the forest’s entrance. The other did the same they stared off into the dark forest waiting.
“…um…Nothing’s happening.” Rainbow dash said out loud. After she finished speaking a brown rabbit came racing out of the forest. Flutter shy gasped with worry and started moving towards it. The rabbit turned its head back to see if whatever it was that was chasing it was still there, and as it did that it tripped. It turned its head back and noticed Flutter shy slowly approaching it. It got back up and raced towards her. She stood still and it climbed on her back. She looked at it with confusion then looked back at the forest entrance. Seconds later it started. Glowing yellow eyes appeared out of the darkness. After Red saw them, he became scared. He slowly walked up to Flutter shy and hid behind one of her front legs. She didn’t notice, she just kept looking into the forest. She and her friends all knew what those beasts were. And before any of them could react the eyes leaped out of the shadows and reveled themselves to be almost a dozen timber wolfs. Flutter shy was paralyzed with fear at the sight of the wooden beats. The others slowly backed away hoping not to be attacked.
“Flutter shy move.” Twilight said quietly. But she couldn’t she was too scared. As the timber wolfs got ready to pounce one of them was hit by a rock. Red turned around and saw Rainbow dash floating above the ground ready to throw another one. When he turned back around he saw the wolf shaking off the pain. That’s when Flutter shy came to her senses. She started to back away from the beasts. When she moved Red was too distracted to follow her so he was left in the open. The timber wolf stopped shaking its head and noticed him. Red thought it was going to attack him but instead it yelped and ran back into the Everfree. Red became confused instead of scared, he turned around to see if the others were what intimidated it but they were just as confused as he was. He would have looked back at the beasts but one of them wet over and started sniffing him. He froze solid with fear. But he had no reason, it did the same thing as the other one, it ran back into the Everfree. The rest of the timber wolfs followed it. Red turned around and saw that they were gone.
“…So…what just happened exactly?” Rainbow dash asked. But no pony knew. The rabbit that was on Flutter shy’s back ran off after everything ended. When it was gone the 6 went back to what they were doing and Red went back to the cottage and laid down on a patch of grass near the side of the building. They all slowly forgot about the day and what happened during it. An hour later Flutter shy returned to her cottage and noticed Red. She walked over to him and gently nudged him trying to wake him up.
“Red… Wakey wakey.” She said softly. Red woke up with a loud yawn.
“Red can I ask you something?” Flutter shy asked. Red nodded his head.
“How did you know about those timber wolfs?” She asked.
“They were in my dream.” He replied.
“What?”
“Yah…When I went back to sleep I had this dream that they would appear.”
“…oh.” Flutter shy replied quietly. Red stood up and stretched out his leg, and rubbed his eyes afterwards. Red was tired because of what happened earlier the night before. He could still remember the beast. It’s menacing red eyes and it’s evil thoughts. He could even hear them. He could hear the voices telling him to do things that he doesn’t want to do.
“Red.” Flutter shy said softly. Red shook his head. Attempting to get out of the trance he was trapped in. When he got free he looked up at Flutter shy and smiled, and she smiled back. As the two walked back inside, Red paused thinking that he heard something. When he looked around all he saw was a few animals. He shrugged his shoulders and continued walking.
“Something wrong?” Flutter shy asked.
“I thought I heard some pony.” Red replied.
“Really? Did they say anything?”
“…Sweet dreams my black prince…” After she heard those words a chill was sent down her spine, and she became more eager to get back inside. As she pushed Red inside she quickly closed and locked the door behind her thinking something was going to happen. After she thought she was safe she sighed with relief.
“Ms. Flutter shy…” Red said quietly. She turned around to look at him.
“…I’m scared…” He continued. She faintly smiled.
“Don’t worry.” She said as she walked over to him.
“It’s alright to be scared…My friends taught me that.” She continued as she held him close to her.
The next morning turned out better the yesterdays. Red managed to get a full night’s sleep without any nightmares, the sky was blue with no clouds in sight, the sun was bright and warm the day was almost perfect.
“Red can you do me a favor?” Flutter shy asked.
“What is it?”
“I need you to feed the animals inside for me.” Red nodded his head and raced off. He came back a few moments later with a big bag of animal food. Flutter shy smiled and left to go feed all the animals outside. When she finished serving them all their food Red came up behind her.
“Ms. Flutter shy look.” Red Said excitedly. When she turned around she smiled softly.
“I’m part rabbit.” Red told her with a smile. Flutter shy giggled and patted him on his head. Than unexpectedly Angle popped out from behind his head smiling. Never in her entire life has Flutter shy seen angle this happy and filled with life.
“Did you feed all the animals?” Flutter shy asked.
“Yes ma’am.” Red replied.
“Is there anything ells I can help with?”
“Well, there are a few things that I could use help with but…”
“What are they?” Red asked eagerly.
“I needed to get a few things from the market but I can’t really carry it all.”
“I can help!” Red replied excitedly. Flutter shy smiled.
“Okay then. Can you get my saddle bags for me?”
“Yes mom. Wait no.”
“What did you say?”
“No uh nothing! It was an accident! I didn’t mean to say that I swear!” Red became scared and covered his eyes thinking that he would be in trouble.
“Red…What’s wrong.”
“Nothing…I’m fine.” He replied sounding like he was trying not to cry.
“Red it’s okay.” Flutter shy uncovered his eyes.
“I don’t mind that you said that.”
“…I’m sorry. You just…you seem like a mother…your nice and…I’m just lonely.”
“Red it’s okay-“
“I’m sorry I…I just want a family.” He interrupted. He started crying.
“I can be your family.”
“What… Really?”
“Mmhmm.”
“So…You’ll be my mommy?”
“Of course.” Red smiled and whipped away the rest of his tears as he ran up and hugged Flutter shy. After that he ran back inside to get her saddle bags.
“Flutter shy!” Twilight yelled from a distance. She turned around and smiled at her as she approached.
“Flutter shy we found some pony willing to adopt Red.”
“Really…”
“Yah now you don’t have to look after him anymore.”
“…oh.”
“What?”
“Well..I kind of already adopted him.”
“You what.”
“I’m sorry but he was just so sad. He doesn’t have a family. No siblings, no cousins no family at all. And when I said I’d adopt him he just became really happy. So…”
“So…?”
“So I…I can’t give him away. He might get sad.”
“Flutter shy you could have at least told us.”
“I would of but it was just a few seconds ago.”
“Mommy!” Red yelled as he came racing outside.
“Found them.” He gave Flutter shy her saddle bags, and as she put them on Red noticed Twilight and started to hide behind Flutter shy.
“Red…Red its okay it’s just Twilight.”
“Yah don’t you remember me?”
“…yah.” He said quietly .
“What’s wrong then?” Flutter shy asked as she moved out of the way between the two of them.
“You were in my dream…And you were trying to take me away from my mommy…” He answered as he went back to hiding behind Flutter shy.
“What I would never do that-“
“The why are you here!?” Red quietly shouted.
“Well I just came to tell you that some pony agreed to take care of you.”
“But I don’t want to go.”
“Then you don’t have to.”
“…Really?”
“Of course not if you want to stay with flutter shy then go ahead.” Red smiled then hugged Flutter shy’s leg.
“Well we’ll talk to you later were heading to the market.”
“By Twilight.” Red called out as the two walked away. And just as Twilight started walking home she heard a voice.
“Bring me my son!” She looked around and saw that no pony ells was there.
“Come on. Please!? I want to pull the wagon!” Red shouted joyfully as he hopped back and forth. Flutter shy giggled.
“Okay calm down. You can pull the wagon now.”
“Yay!” Red shouted as he took the handle for the small red wagon.
“Okay here’s a list of thing I need you to buy for me.”
“Mmkay momphy.” Red said as he grabbed the list with his mouth. When he got the list he grabbed the wagon with one of his hooves than ran off thinking it was a scavenger hunt. Ran up and down the market reading the list trying to find everything. He paused for a second as he realized that the list was upside down. He put the list down and picked it back up., and when he realized with the first thing was he laughed and turned around. He walked up to a vender that was behind him.
“Well howdy little fella, how ya’ll feelin?” Apple jack asked.
“Goofd.”
“Come again?” Red spat out the list and repeated himself
“Good.”
“Well good to hear. So what do ya’ll need?”
“Uh…hold on…3 apples please.”
“Okay 3 apples it is then.” Apple jack said happily as she picked up three red apples and put them in the wagon.
“Okay that’ll be three bits.”
“Oh…um…I…don’t have any…money.” He replied with disappointment.
“That’s alright since you’re a friend just consider it on the house.”
“Oh…Thank you!” Red yelled happily as he ran off trying to find Flutter shy. A moment later he bumped into a red haired pony.
“Oh sorry I didn’t see you there are you alright?” she asked.
“Yah I’m…I’m fine…” He replied as he started coughing.
“Are you sure your alright?”
“Yah…I’m…” He tried repeating himself but he couldn’t stop coughing. And right as he tried speaking again he fainted. When he opened his eyes he could see all the bubbles again. This time they all had that one mare in them. He could see her entire life in each bubble. The day of her birth to the day she dies. He saw one with her being attacked by something and when he reached for it, it popped, and when it did all the bubbles of her being sad turned happy. Red smiled as well.
“Red!” some pony yelled in the distance. He blinked his eyes and when he opened them he saw all the others around him.
“Red are you alright?” Twilight asked.
“Yup.” Red replied with a blank expression on his face.
“Are you sure?” Apple jack asked.
“Yup.” Red replied again this time smiling.
“What happened?”
“Ya’ll fainted.”
“Oh…who was she?” Red asked as he sat up.
“Who?”
“That mare. The one with the red mane.”
“I think her name was…Tulip or something.” Rainbow dash added.
“She’s going to die-“
“Excuse me?” Twilight interrupted.
“She’s going to die happily. I fixed her future.”
“Ya’ll did what now?”
“Her future. I fixed it. She was going to get hurt. But I fixed it so she wouldn’t.”
“And how did you do that?” Apple jack asked.
“I erased that event from existence so…It’ll never happen.”
“okay…weird-“
“Rainbow.”
“What it is-“
“It’s true.” Red interrupted.
“Right…Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming?”
“Yup. I’m sure.”
“Okay then. Any way Flutters when we’re going to tell us you adopted him?”
“I was planning to but…I was just a little nervous that you would all be angry.”
“Were you friends. We could never be angry at you.”
“Unless of course you turn on them and support the dark king of crystals to help him and me rule all of equestrian and send every pony who denies are power to the abyss to suffer for the rest of eternity.” Red interrupted as he jumped of the hospital bed.
“…What?” Rainbow dash asked.
“What?”
“What you said.”
“What did I say?”
“Something about the dark king of crystals.”
“…Who?”
“I don’t know you mentioned him.”
“I did?”
“Yes…”
“When?”
“A few seconds ago?”
“No I didn’t.”
“Uh…Yah you did.”
“If I did I’d remember saying something like that.”
“Wait…So you don’t remember saying all of that?” Twilight interrupted. Red shook his head.
“Come on kid stop messing around.” Rainbow interrupted with irritation.
“What?”
“Red enough!” She yelled as her anger built.
“Who’s Red?” He asked.
“…Ha ha very funny.”
“What is?”
“You, acting like you don’t know who you are-”
“Wait...” Twilight interrupted.
“Red…who am I” She asked. Red shrugged his shoulders.
“He’s not acting…He really doesn’t know who he is.”
“What? Yeah right. I bet he’s just angry at me for yelling at him.”
“Rainbow he really doesn’t know. He can’t remember any of us.”
“Yet somehow…I still know about all of you. Strange I thought I wiped his memory?” He said to himself.
“Who are you!? What did you to him!?” Twilight demanded.
“I can only answer one question at a time you know, so which do you want me to answer first…? He’s fine, he just lost his memory, and for the other question, I’m him…just from a different time line.”
“What did you do to my son!?-“
“Easy calm down…sheesh. If I knew you ponies would be this emotionally attached to him already I would have talked to you in person. Again he’s fine he just has no memory.”
“Why did you give him amnesia?” Twilight asked.
“Well how ells was I supposed to talk to all of you. If he still had his memory than he’d start to remember all of you when I tried taking control of him. He’d break free of the mind control. That and it’s because of what he said. If he knew what he said then he’d start remembering his past-“
“Why isn’t he allowed to remember?”
“If he knew what happened, if you knew his father than you’d abandon him. His life splits into three different paths in the future. If you abandon him, than he takes the neutral path, and if he takes that path no pony survives.”
“What do you mean?”
“He goes on a rampage. Kills every pony-“
“No he would never d that!” Flutter shy yelled.
“Mother please-“
“What did you call me?!”
‘Flutter shy please calm down!” Twilight begged as she attempted to hold flutter shy back.
“I am not your mother I’m Red’s-‘
“Why do you think I called you mother? Are any of you even listening!? I’m him I’m Red! I’m from the future! I’m here to warn all of you!”
“Warn us about what?” Twilight asked.
“As I was saying, three time lines Good, bad and neutral. If he takes the neutral path no pony survives. If he takes the good path every pony will live happily in peace-‘
“What about the bad path?”
“I was just about to tell you Ms. Sparkle. If he takes the bad path, He goes back to his father, he kills all of you and the cycle repeats it’s self.’
“What do you mean the cycle repeats it’s self?” Twilight asked.
“This Red was sent back by me. In the end I was with father, I came to my scenes and moved from evil to good. I looked into the black orb and sent ‘him’ back in time, to rewrite the cycle. His father killed his real parents and then raised him in belief that he was his son, I sent him back in time to find a new family to raise him. To make sure he turns into a hero and not a villain.”
“So you chose me?”
“Mother I’m sorry to say but…You finding me and raising me was luck. Any pony could have raised me-“
“So I wasn’t exactly meant to be your mother?”
“Actually I never told you this, but. When you found me. The first time I passed out I had a vision of all of you, I was meant to meet all of you at some point. But the second vision I had three of the bubbles you were in popped. Telling me I was only meant to be with 3 of you. Twilight, Apple jack and you Flutter shy, you were three of the ten ponies that could raise me.”
“So out of the millions of other ponies in the world…only ten could raise you?” Twilight asked.
“Only ten without consequence. Only ten could raise me to be pure. Pure good, pure bad or pure neutral.”
“I thought you said neutral was bad?” Twilight added.
“Neutral path, neutral form is the form that this version of me is currently in. Grey. Not bad, not good, perfectly in between. I’d tell you more about everything but…I have to go. He’s starting to regain his consensus.”
“But wait, can’t you tell us who his ‘father’ is?” Twilight asked.
“I can’t tell you who he is. But I’ll I can tell you is that you know him.”
“We do?”
“Do what?”
“Red!” Flutter shy yelled as she ran up and hugged him.
“Hello!” He said happily.
“Red are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine- akkhg! Mom…your hurting…me!”
“Oh sorry.”
“What happened?”
“Well you sort of…passed out.” Twilight replied.
“Yeah you bumped into some pony and just completely collapsed.”
“Oh…I forgot.”
“It’s okay don’t worry about it. Come on lets go home.”
“But I thought you had to go to the market?”
“We can go tomorrow.” Red smiled and raced up towards Flutter shy. As they all walked out of the room Twilight stayed behind talking to herself.
“Why do you want Red?”
“I want my son!”
“Why?”
“Bring me my son!”
“Tell me why.”
“Bring me him…or you will all suffer-“
“Twilight!” Rainbow dash yelled. Twilight jumped back in surprise as she looked at her.
“You staying here for the night?”
“Yeah I was…um…yeah hold on wait for!” She yelled as she chased after Rainbow dash.
“Okay time for bed”
“Awww” Red sighed.
“Come on little ponies need their sleep.”
“Okay” He groaned.
“…Mommy? Can I sleep upstairs with you…The dark scares me.”
“Of course, come on” Red smiled as he raced upstairs. He looked around the room than raced over to the window.
“Hey mommy…what are those?” He asked Flutter shy walked over to join him at the window to see what he was asking about.
“Oh, those are stars.”
“Wow…can I go outside and look at them?”
“Maybe tomorrow. That way we can all go look at them.”
“Okay” Red said happily. Flutter shy took a few of the blankets and folded them up to make a bed for Red. Red jumped onto the pile of blankets than Flutter shy put one on him. When he was comfortable Flutter shy got into her bed.
“Good night Red.”
“Good night mommy” and when Red started dozing off, he started to dream. He and Flutter shy were out in a field. He was hopping and running around chasing after the butterflies, and flutter shy was lying in the grass. It seemed like they were having fun, but every second Red was running around Flutter shy’s expression started to change. It went from joy filled to a blank expressionless boredom, than after her emotion had completely changed she got up and started to walk away.
“Mommy?” Red said quietly as he noticed her walking away.
“Mommy wait.” He shouted.
“Mommy wait!” He kept running but no matter how fast he ran he couldn’t get any closer. Than eventually as Flutter shy kept walking she just completely disappeared.
“Mommy!” Red yelled one last time before he woke up. He was panting heavily, and scared. He looked around thinking he was somewhere ells, he realized he wasn’t in a field and it wasn’t day. He was still in Flutter shy’s cottage and it was the dead of night.
“Red?” Flutter shy said quietly as she started to wake up.
“What’s wrong?” Red looked away and tried not to cry.
“Red?-“
“Nothing…I’m fine.” He interrupted.
“Red…I can tell some things wrong.”
“No…it’s okay…I’m fine.”
“Come on…you can tell me…”
“…I had a nightmare…You left me.”
“Red…It’s okay.” Red turned his head slightly to look at her.
“I’d never leave you.”
”…Really?”
“Really, your my son I could never leave you.” Red turned around and smiled at her as tears continued to roll down his cheeks.
“Do you want to sleep with me?” She asked softly. Red nodded grabbed the blanket he was sleeping under and jumped onto the bed with Flutter shy. He took his blanket and ruled up into a ball under it and lied down on the top sheet on Flutter shy’s bed. As she held him close to her the two started dozing off into a deep sleep, and as Red slept his dreams started to change he was in a field with Flutter shy, now he was in some sort of castle. The walls looked like they were made out of black stained glass. He looked around and to him some how the place seems familier.
“who are you?” some pony behind him asked. He jumped as he turned around to see who it was. He was supprised. It looked like him. Except, it’s coat was complletly black and it’s mane and tale were a bright red, it had a horn,and it’s eyes lookedd like red dots on black paper.
“…why do you look like me?” It asked.
“I…I don’t look any thing like you…” Red told it as he backed away.
“Why do you sound like me?”
“I…i…uh.” Red stuttered.
“Why are you me?”
“What…?”
“Daddy why does that pony look like me?”
“…Daddy…”Red whispered to himself.
“Becouse he is you.” A dark voice said out of no where. All of the sudden a large dark stallion walked out of the shadows behind the other Red.
“You…I…I remember you…”
“How could yoou not, you’re my son-“ The stallion was cut off as Red woke up gasping for air. He looked around Flutter shy was out of her bed, the sun was shining threw the window and some how every thing seemed colder.
“Red!” Flutter shy called from down stairs.
“Time to wake up!” She continued thinking Red was still asleep. He took one last breath of air and raced down stairs.
“Good morning Red, did you sleep well?”
“Uhh…yeah…great actually…” He said nervously.
“Okay, well you better start getting ready to leave.”
“Why are we going somewhere?”
“Sort of, you have to go to school.”
“…School…?” Red replied as his ears dropped.
“Mhmm.” Flutter shy answered as she nodded her head.
“Do I have to go…Can’t I stay here with you…? Please!” Red begged.
“It’s okay it won’t last all day. You’ll just have to go for a few hours than you can leave.”
“…Okay…” Red ended, and about an hour later when Red and Flutter shy got to the school house he started remembering the two ponies that made fun of him. He attempted to back up and make a run for it back to the cottage but Flutter shy stopped him.
“Come on don’t be shy. You’ll be fine.” She told him. Red had no choice, she was the only one he could trust. So he took a deep breath, exhaled and walked to the building. When he got to the front door he turned around to see Flutter shy one more time before she left. She stood where she was and smiled and waved to him. Red smiled back and walked inside.
“Red welcome back!” Ms. Cheerlie shouted.
“Some of us were worried about you. We thought something bad happened to you.” She continued. While some of the other ponies smiled as they looked at him, four of them seemed emotionless while another two looked at him angrily.
“So Red why don’t you go ahead and take a seat o we can begin.”
“Okay.” Red replied happily. He walked over to his original seat, placed his saddle bags at the side of his desk than sat in the chair.
“Okay now before we start. Diamond tiara, Silver spoon would you two like to say something to Red. The two groaned as they got up and walked to the front of the class room.
“Red were sorry that we made fun of you.” Diamond tiara said in a somewhat irritated tone. Red smiled and nodded his head and the two went back to their seats.
“All right now we can begin today’s lesson.” Ms. Cheerlie announced, and as she spoke Red started to zone out he could hear and understand everything she was saying but he was in his own little world. If she mentioned something about Ponyvile’s heritage he could actually see it in his mind. Several hours later the bell rung and she dismissed every pony to recess. As Red got out of his seat he took his saddle bags and put them on his back.
“Red could I talk to you for a moment.” Ms. Cheerlie asked.
“Yes Ms. Cheerlie?”
“I just wanted to know how you’re doing.”
“Fine Ms. Cheerlie” He answered.
“Okay just wondering. There have been rumors about a young filly passing out in the middle of town.”
“Oh…that…sorry I didn’t mean to scare any pony.”
“Don’t worry it’s alright. Have fun at recess.” She ended happily. Red smiled and ran out the door.
“Hi!” Some pony called out with excitement. Red got caught off guard and jumped backwards.
“So your Red?” the filly asked.
“Uh…yah…”
“Howdy! My names Apple bloom, and these are my friends Scootaloo and Sweetie belle.”
“Uh…Hi” He said nervously.
“You don’t like to talk do you?” Scootaloo asked.
“What…oh uh no sorry I’m just a little nervous. Not a lot of ponies are nice to me.”
“Really?” Apple bloom interrupted.
“Yeah…My first day here Diamond tiara and Silver spoon kind of-“
“Taunted you for not having a cutie mark?” She interrupted again.
“How’d you know?”
“They do the same to us.”
“Well it’s not our fault none of you have your cutie marks.” Diamond tiara added.
“Can’t you two ever just be nice for once?” Apple bloom yelled at them.
“Why? It’s more fun to make fun of you.”
“It’s not like your better than us.” Scootaloo interrupted.
“But I am better than you. I’m richer, I’m cuter I’m-“
“Shut up.” Red interrupted. Diamond Tiara turned around, Red was standing there with an irritated expression, while the others trying to hold in there laughter.
“What did you just say?” Diamond asked angrily.
“Didn’t you hear me. I’ll be honest, I’m amazed that no pony said that to you yet.”
“How dare you! You have no right to say that to me!”
“And you have no right to treat my friends like that!”
“I’m going to tell Ms. Cheerlie on you!”
“And what are you going to tell her!? That I told you to shut up because you were being mean to me and my friends!?” Diamond Tiara growled at him than started running into the school house yelling for Ms. Cheerlie.
“Ms. Cheerlie! Ms. Cheerlie!”
“What is it Diamond Tiara?”
“Red told me to shut up!”
“He did?”
“It’s not my fault she wouldn’t be nice to me or me friends!”
“See he even admitted he did!”
“And I’m about to say it again!”
“Is that a threat!?”
“It might as well be-!”
“Okay both of you enough! I don’t want to hear another word from either of you!”
“But-“
“Not another word Tiara! No first of all Red that was not a nice thing to say.”
“But she-…I know…”
“And Tiara I thought I told you to be nice to Red.”
“But…”
“As your punishment you get to stay after class while I talk to your parents.”
“What-!”
“And Red I want you to apologize to Diamond Tiara.”
“Sorry-“
“Like you mean it.” Red sighed and faced Diamond Tiara.
“I’m sorry I told you to shut up. It was a mean thing to say and I should never had said it.” She turned away and lifted her head high.
“Now both of you can go back to recess, but I don’t want to hear anything else from, or about you two. Understand?”
“Yes Ms. Cheerlie” The two said at the same time.
“What do you want from me!?” Red screamed into the sky. He looked back to the empty desert like world he was trapped in. He panicked, he started running, he didn’t know where he was and he didn’t want to find out.
“Run my child, run. For your life shall end soon, and mine shall continue-“
“Leave me alone!” He yelled, and while he was running he tripped over something and fell face first into the hardened sand. He got up and looked back, when he did he saw something, something that looked familiar. He scurried over to it and started digging it up, when he finished he finally remembered what it was. It was the armor of a royal guard, but it was different, it was the same suit as the one he saw at the altar he was born at.
“Do you not remember your past, my son? The ponies that died to create you? That retched stallion and his wife?-“
“Shut up!” Red screamed at the top of his lungs. Everything went quite, the voice had been silenced and the only thing that could be heard was the wind. Red lowered his head and sat down, he began shaking and crying.
“I want to go home…” He whispered to himself. As a tear rolled of his cheeks and on to the stone hard ground, he could hear a voice calling his name. A familiar voice. He raised his head and looked around him. Nothing.
“…Mommy?”
“No-“
“Mommy is that you!?”
“She is not your mo-“
“Mommy! Help!”
“Silence child-“
“Mommy!-“ He yelled one last time before the world he was in started fading out of existence, and before he could do anything ells he started to wake up.
“Red…Come on wake up” Flutter shy whispered to him. He moaned and struggled as if he wanted to stay asleep.
“Come on Red. Wakey wakey.” She continued pushing him trying to awaken him.
“…No…I don’t wanna”
“Come on Red it’s time to get up.”
“Fine” Red groaned one last time before he sat up. He rubbed his eyes threw the bandages.
“What time is it?”
“A few minutes past noon.”
“…Really?” Flutter shy nodded her head.
“So…can I take the bandages off now?”
“Of course” The doctor said happily as he entered the room. Red stretched out his legs and yawned as he began to wake up completely.
“Still think I don’t have eyes Twilight?” Red asked sarcastically.
“A little bit.”
“Well. Prepared to be proven wrong.” He continued with a triumphant voice. While they all laughed the doctor pulled out a pair of scissors and started cutting threw the bandages. When he cut all the way through they fell off of Red’s face. His eyes were closed due to doctors orders.
“Okay Red you can open your eyes now.” He told him, and when he opened them, it was the most shocking thing any of them had ever seen.
“…R-Red?” Twilight stuttered
“…What?” He replied now knowing what happened.
“I don’t think those are your eyes.”
“What do you mean?” Twilight picked up the mirror on the night stand and pointed it in front of him, and when he saw his reflection he saw his eyes had changed from normal into the eyes of a dragon. He screamed and smacked the mirror away. It hit the ground and shattered, and while the other were distracted by it he jumped out of his bed and ran off.
“Red wait!” Twilight yelled as she and the others chased after him. He continued running, attempting to keep away from them. When he got to the front door of the building he stopped. His eyes began to glow, and his hair started changing colors, they went from a perfect grey to a darker shade, and from a grayish red to a brighter color. He stood there panting, attempting to catch his breath but he didn’t have time. He readied himself and jumped right through the glass doors. And as the glass shattered bits of it flew and cut Red leaving him with scars. He ignored the pain and kept running, and as he went he heard the others calling his name wanting him to come back. But he had no choice, he had to ignore them, he had to keep running.
“So my child, have you chosen to return to me?”
“…I’ll never run back to you!” He said as his eyes started watering. Just than his eyes stopped glowing, and his hair turned back to their normal colors. But he didn’t notice, he just kept running.
“Red!” Twilight yelled as she caught up with him. He faced her than turned back just in time to see the cart blocking his path. He stopped, ducked down and slid right underneath it. When he got past it he stood back up and continued running. When twilight got to it she came to a dead stop right before colliding with it. She backed away a few inches than went around it.
“Twilight!” Rainbow dash called out from above. Twilight looked up and saw her.
“Rainbow see if you can catch up to him!”
“On it!” She replied as she flew off. Red was far ahead of the two, he had just entered the park and is trying to flee into the Everfree again. Rainbow dash saw him and started moving faster, and when she was about three meters away from him, something terrifying happened. A cloud of black smoke appeared out of nowhere and incased her within it. She screamed as she struggled to free herself.
“Stay away from my child!” The voice demanded. The others arrived in time, the cloud began to shrink. It was trying to take her away.
“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled. Red stopped and turned towered them. He saw the cloud. He looked back to where he was trying to go. His mind was set. He raced over to the dark cloud and jumped in to it.
“Red!” Flutter shy yelled. She tried going after him but the others kept her restrained. She tried breaking free from them but they wouldn’t let go. Then suddenly out of nowhere there was a moaning noise, and the black cloud exploded and disappeared. Rainbow dash and Red fell straight to the ground as it vanished.
“Red!” Flutter shy yelled out again. She broke free from the others and raced over to him. She picked him up and waited for him to say something.
“Red…” She whispered. But Red didn’t wake up, Flutter shy started to cry thinking he was dead and she held him close.
“…Am I in trouble?” He asked. Flutter shy’s expression change from sorrow to surprise. She pulled him off her shoulder and looked at him, and he looked back at her with a smile on his face.
“…Hi” He said happily.
“Red!” Flutter shy shouted. She flew up into the air and twirled him around. As they both smiled she hugged him tightly as she flew closer to the ground.
“Red what was all that about?” Twilight asked.
“The me running away or the other thing?” He replied as flutter shy put him down.
“The…Both acctualy.’
“Well-“
“Why does my head hurt?” Rainbow dash asked with a groan. Red smiled as he approached her.
“Are you okay?”
“Other than my head, I’m fine. Thanks kid, you saved my life.” She answered. She pat him on the head. Red smiled and when she pulled her hoof away he unfolded his wings.
“Woah…”
“What?”
“Weren’t you an earth pony?”
“I still am-“
“Red, you have wings.”
“I do?” He ended. He attempted to look at his wings, as he tried he ended up walking around in circles like a dog when it chases its tail.
“This is…Very…strange…” Twilight mumbled.
“Red?”
“Yes?”
“Think you can tell us…what exactly is going on?”
“Oh…right sorry. I ran away because I…started turning into a monster-“
“What are you talking about?” Rainbow dash interrupted as she started getting up.
“My eyes. They changed. I thought I was turning into a monster.”
“Well you WERE turning into a monster. Your eyes are back to normal.”
“They are?”
“Any way think you can tell us about that…black…smoke thing?”
“Y-Yeah…that uh…that was my dad-‘
“Your what?” Rainbow dash interrupted again.
“My dad!” Red yelled.
“Hew’s my dad okay! I know he’s evil I’m sorry, but I’m nothing like him!”
“Well why did he attack me?”
“He doesn’t want me to stay. He wants me to come home. But I don’t want to go, I like it here. I…I want to stay with my mom.” Flutter shy smiled.
“Who is he?” Twilight asked.
“He…uhm…-“
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I bumped into some pony when I was running. I feel dizzy…Nope never mind, I’m fine.”
“What was that about?”
“I fixed there time line. Whoever she was, her future will be better.” He ended. The others looked at each other.
“None of you remember what I can, do don’t you?” Red said with irritation. They remained silent for several seconds, but Twilight spoke up.
“N-No sorry.” She answered. Red sighed.
“I can see the fate of others. Their entire life forwards and backwards, and I’m able to alter it. Remember?”
“Oh yeah…So what happened to her?”
“It was kind of hard to tell but, it was something about…huh…I can’t remember.”
“Strange-“
“Hey quick question. Did that cloud do anything bad I should know about? Since if it did I want to make sure it doesn’t affect my flying.”
“No, you should be fine.”
“Good” Rainbow dash replied. Red yawned.
“You tired?”
“No…I’m…I’m fine I just need to…” Hr started mumbling as he dozed off and collapsed onto the ground. Flutter shy giggled, she went over and picked Red up.
“So now what?” Twilight asked
“Well…I think I should take him home. After everything that happened I think that would be best.” The others agreed and walked off.
“No…cauliflower bad.” Red said out loud in his sleep. Flutter shy smiled and started her walk home.
About an hour later when school got out Red rushed outside and towards the edge of the school yard. He started to slow down as he reached the end of the campus.
“Hey Red!” Apple bloom shouted. He turned around to see the three rushing over to him.
“Hey.” He replied happily.
“Were going out to earn our cutie marks. Wanna come with us?”
“…Maybe later I’m waiting for my mom.” He answered as he turned back towards the town.
“Alright your choice. Come on girls!” She yelled. After that she and the other two raced off. Red pondered on a thought about joining them but he decided to stay there and wait.
“Oh Red what are you still doing here?” Ms. Cheerlie asked as she approached him.
“I’m waiting.” He replied without even facing her.
“For who?”
“My mom. She said she’d come get me after school.”
“Oh…okay. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye!” Red yelled as she walked away. Red remained there after that. Motionless. As he sat there time started moving faster. Hours turned into minutes, and minutes into seconds. He continued sitting there, starring off into the distance, and before he knew it the sky grew darker and the air became colder. He didn’t move an inch, no matter how could it was.
“…mommy?” Red whispered to himself, and in an instant the sky lit up in a sudden flash. Red jumped onto his hooves in fear. He looked around the sky and noticed the clouds rolling in. The sky flashed again as it started raining.
“…Mommy?” Red said again, this time louder. He started crying. He sat back down in the muddy path. He sat there crying whispering to himself. He looked up towards the town and all the lights started going out. He started crying more, he began to panic, thinking that Flutter shy left him. He tried standing up, he took a few steps forward but fell face first in the mud. He got up and whipped the mud off his face, and as he kept crying his tears turned red.
“Mommy…make the pain stop…” Red whispered to himself as his red tears rolled down his cheeks. He stood up and looked up towered the sky.
“MOMMY!” He yelled at the top of his lungs hoping that Flutter shy would hear him.
“Red!” Some pony yelled back. He looked forwards. It was too dark for him to see anything.
“Mommy?” He said quietly.
“Red! Are you okay?! I’m so sorry! I forgot about you-!
“Mommy, it hurts make the pain stop…Please!’
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t see…It hurts, please make I stop!”
“Red it’s okay. Look at me-“ Flutter shy froze when she saw what happened to him. His eyes were gone, and he was bleeding out of his empty eye sockets.
“Oh…my…”
“Mommy…I’m scared-“
“Shh, it’s okay come one lets go.” She whispered to him. She placed one of her wings over him to keep him dry and she took his hoof and guided him through the streets of Pony Ville. The next day, the sky cleared up and the sun was shining. The ground was still a little muddy but it wasn’t as bad as during the rain storm. Red was in the hospital due to what happened. While he was in one of the many rooms Flutter shy was in the main lobby of the building pacing back and forth. Panicking, worrying if Red is okay or not.
“Ms. Flutter shy-“
“Please tell me he’s okay! Is he alive?! He’s not going to die is he?!”
“It’s okay calm down. He’s fine. It’s a miracle he survived that incident thou. It’s also amazing what happened-“
“What happened?!” Flutter shy interrupted again.
“His eyes grew back.”
“I-is that a bad thing?”
“Well no but…it’s not really…normal…is all”
“Red isn’t normal. He’s special. He’s gifted-“
“Be that as it may. No pony is capable of re-growing there eyes in a completely working state.”
“…Hmm…So he’s fine?”
“Yes, he’s fine. All he needs is a little rest.” As the doctor ended Flutter shy sighed with relief knowing Red was alive and not horribly injured, anymore, and just as she was about to sit down the others came racing in.
“Flutter shy, We just heard what happened! Is he-?!”
“The doctor said he was fine.” Flutter shy interrupted. The others started relaxing knowing the same thing.
“Excuse me doctor?” Twilight called out. The pony faced her awaiting her question.
“Are we allowed to see Red?”
“Of course. Just don’t stress him, he might still be in pain.” After that he guided the six threw the hospital. When they got to a door labeled 12. He stopped the group, then turned around to face them.
“He’s right in here.”
“Okay…Thank you.” Twilight replied. The pony smiled nodded his head and walked off. When he was gone she opened the door to the room.
“Red?” There was no response. She opened the door wider and looked inside, she saw Red sitting up in his bed eating the food the doctor brought him. When he noticed her he waved.
“I thought you lost your eyes?” She asked.
“I did.”
“Than shouldn’t you be blind?”
“Do I have to be?” Red sighed with a little bit of irritation.
“Well…I mean not exactly but your kind of supposed to be…I’m not trying to be mean but-“
“But I lost my eyes and I have not actual way to see and, yap yap yap.” Red interrupted with sarcasm. Twilight giggled.
“Where are the others?”
“Oh right.” Twilight looked out into the hallway and allowed the others to enter the room. Flutter shy pushed past all of them and raced up to the side of the bed.
“Red! Are you alright?”
“Yup” Red replied as he hugged her. Flutter shy started to calm down, and when she was completely calm she hugged him back.
“So…Red how are you able to see exactly?”
“I use my eyes.”
“Didn’t you lose your eyes?” Rainbow dash interrupted.
“I never said that.”
“No, but we were told you had no eyes when Flutter shy found you.” Rarity added.
“But…I didn’t.”
“Yer not lien to us are ye?” Apple jack argued.
“The doctor said that the bandages will be removed tomorrow at noon. So come back then and you’ll see that I have eyes.” Red ended. The others were trying to think of a rebuttal.
“I can tell none of you trust me.”
“No, Red of course we trust you it’s just that…well it’s just a little hard to believe.” Twilight suggested.
“I can take the bandages off now. The pain is gone, the doctors just want to be safe.”
“It’s an option but I think it would be best if we wait till tomorrow.” Red smiled than went back to eating.
“Hey kid the food here any good?”
“If taft like bleff.”
“Sorry what? Can you say that again?” Red swallowed.
“It taste like bleugh.” He said again. Rainbow dash laughed and left the room to join the others.
“Why do you enjoy the company of these pests?” a sinister voice said out of nowhere.
“Hello-?”
“You disgust me! You are my son! Act like the prince you are!”
“P-Prince?”
“You should be here ruling by my side! But instead you’re here with these…imbeciles!”
“My mommy is not an imbecile…” He said quietly with anger.
“Maybe not but her friends are-!”
“Who are you?”
“I’m your-“
“Father…I know that…but who are you really?”
“My name is-“
“Red!” Twilight shouted into the room. Red broke his concentration on the voice and looked at her.
“Me and the others are leaving now. We can bring something back for you in a while if you want?”
“…Ms. Twilight…Why are you so nice to me?’
“Well, at the moment your actually like a friend to all of us. As a friend I thought it would just be the right thing to do.” Red smiled.
“No…I’m good.” Twilight Nodded her head and left. After she was gone Red continued talking to the voice. It never told him it’s name but it kept telling him to leave the six and join him in ruling Equestria. He denide the offer, several times and kept pushing one question, and in the end the voice finally told him who he was.
“…No…You are NOT him!” Red denide the fact with anger.
“Face it my child I am he-“
“I am NOT your son. You are NOT my father, nor will you ever be.”
“Child here me! You will do as I say-!”
“MAKE Me!’
“Insolent brat! How dare you speak to me in such manor!”
‘What are you going to do about it!? You aren’t even real!’
“Oh, I am real.”
“…W-what?”
“I am real. But I’m dead-“
“So you can’t do anything!?”
“So you think! I might be gone…But a shard of me lives!”
“…Shard?”
“My horn…YOU!”
“Me?”
“When I created you I used my broken horn to forge your dark soul!”
“y-you.”
“So my child…What are you going to do? I Will find you no matter where you are, I will be able to speak to you no matter what.”
“I’m…-“
“You my son, are truly a piece of me.” After the conversation had ended Red started becoming drowsy, he was hardly able to stay awake. The voice started laughing manically.
“Sleep tight my son. For tomorrow is the next dawn to the others, and the last for you.”
The next morning felt different. Red didn’t have any nightmares, his father hadn’t spoken to any pony and everything was about normal. He got out of bed early so he could do something nice for his mom, and when she woke up she noticed he was gone, and as she went down stairs she could smell something.
“Good morning!” Red shouted, he had a wooden spoon in his mouth and he was running back and forth in the kitchen.
“Red, what are you doing up so early?”
“Making Breakfast.” He replied in a muffled voice.
“Excuse me?” Red spat out the spoon.
“Bleugh should stop carrying stuff…” He said to himself.
“I’m making breakfast!” He said again.
“Oh. Well you don’t have to do that-“
“Mom.” He interrupted.
“You’re really nice to me, and…you’ve been treating me as if I really was your son. Because of that I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“You already help me so much when I’m tending to the animals-“
“But it isn’t enough. I wanted to show you how much you mean to me, and to be honest this WAS supposed to be breakfast in bed but oh well.” He ended. He went back to running back and forth. Flutter shy stood on the staircase watching him, and before she could take another step down wards there was a dinging noise and Red shouted that breakfast was done.
“Okay take a seat on the couch and I’ll serve it!” It called out happily. Flutter shy smiled, flew down the rest of the steps and sat down on the coach. A few seconds later Red came out holding a plate with pancakes stacked on it. He placed it on the table next to her, then he ran back into the kitchen. This time balancing a glass of water on his head, he did the same and placed it on the table. He then took a few steps back and watched Flutter shy waiting for her t take the first bite. She leaned closer to the food and sniffed it.
“Wow, it smells incredible.”
“Made it with love!” Red replied while smiling. Flutter shy picked up the fork and picked a piece off the top pancake, she ate it and smiled.
“This is incredible. Where’d you learn to cook like this?”
“Don’t know. I just followed the recipe.” Flutter shy smiled again and continued eating.
“I made enough for the others. Do you think they’ll like them?’
“Of course. Who couldn’t?” Red ran into the kitchen one last time and came out with a wagon filled with his cooking.
“What’s that for?”
“Well I was kind of thinking that you might like them so a made some more and kind of…prepared a picnic.”
“Really?”
“Yeah…sorry, but I just thought since the others were my friends to I could invite them and we could all hang out.”
“Hmm…Good idea.”
“Really?”
“Of course. Come on lets go.” Red started cheering as he pulled the wagon outside. Awhile later they arrived at a small hill in front of the Everfree.
“Okay you get everything set up, I’ll go get the others.”
“Okay…-oh wait mommy!” He called out right as she started leaving. She turned around.
“There were these three other ponies that I wanted to come.”
“Who are they?”
“They were…uh…wait uh… I can’t remember. Awhile ago they said something about earning their cutie marks.”
“Oh, I know them.”
“Can you tell me their names?”
“Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo-“
“Oh yeah, I forgot their names. So can you invite them too?’
“Sure, just get everything set up okay?”
“Okay!” Red replied. After that Flutter shy walked into the town and started gathering the others, meanwhile, Red was still at the hill getting everything set.
“How pathetic-“
“Shut up dad! I’m having fun and that’s all that matters.”
“Fun? You really are pathetic-“
“You know what! Be quite! If I want to spend time with my friends and my mommy I will!”
“Listen to me child-“
“No you listen to me! Your mean, your evil and honestly, your annoying!”
“How dare you-“
“Blah, blah, blah! You know what just stop talking! If you aren’t going to be nice to me or my friends Just…Just leave me alone!”
“My son-“
“And another thing…Stop…calling me…Your son! You are not my father!”
“And that pony is not your mother-“
“She’s still a better parent than you.”
“How dare you-!”
“Here we go again with the “How dare you” Scene. Listen…whoever you are, just stop…okay…I’m not going to join you in taking over the world or, whatever it is your trying to do. I’m eight years old, if I didn’t want to be a ruler when I was seven what makes you think I’m going to want to be one when I’m eight?!”
“…”
“Exactly, So either be nice, or just stop talking.”
“Very well. If I you won’t join me on your own, I’ll force you.”
“Uh-hu. Yeah. You and what army?” he ended. The voice growled and faded away. Red started laughing sinisterly, when he looked back he saw all the others standing there with blank, suppressed and confused expressions on their faces.
“Uh…I was…just um…talking to…my…dad, so…” He kept pausing trying to think of an explanation.
“H-how long were you all standing there?”
“Just in time to hear you call yer dad annoying.” Apple jack answered with a laugh.
“Sorry about that. Again my dad is evil.”
“Don’t worry about it-“ Twilight started.
“Yeah your dad can be that mean Sombra. Even then you’ll still be a friend!” Pinkie interrupted. Red smiled.
“Thanks. So, any pony hungry?” Red replied as he point at the blanket stacked with pancakes. The others moved past him and started eating, Red stared angrily at the sky.
“WOW!” pinkie yelled out. Red was snapped out of his trance and faced her.
“This is SUPER yummy!”
“Yeah, where’d you learn to cook like this?” Rainbow dash asked.
“I just followed the recipe.”
“Huh…some recipe.” The others laughed, Red joined them and started eating. Everything was going well, every pony was having fun. But it all ended with a single voice.
“Well well well, look at that. Ever pony’s together.” They all looked in the direction the voice came from, and standing there was a mare, she had a white coat, an almost shining curled blue mane and tail, sparkling eyes and when she spoke her voice was soft and smooth like silk.
“Who are you?” Rainbow asked.
“My name. (you reached tramp)” She mumbled to herself.
“Is Violet-“
“I would have guessed White but oh well.” The others started laughing.
“Ha ha…amusing.” Her face changed from an un amused boredom to anger.
“I’m here to get Red.”
“What do you want with him?” Twilight stepped in.
“He’s my son-“
“He is?” They all shouted at once.
“I am?’
“Of course, don’t you remember me”
“uh…no not really.”
“You poor thing, must’ve hit your head and got amnesia.”
“No…I just don’t know you.”
“Well it has been about seven years since we were last together.”
“Wait lost him…Seven years ago?!” Twilight asked in surprise.
“I’m afraid so. I’ve missed him so much.”
“How’d ye lose him?” Apple jack asked.
“I was with a friend of mine, and this monstrous stallion came up took him from me, and ran off! It was terrible. I was thinking that I would never get him back.”
“How’d you know he was here?” Twilight asked.
“Well there were rumors about a small gray pony disappearing into a forest, I knew it had to be him. He was always really scared at times, and he always gets away from his fears by climbing somewhere high up.”
“Hmm well that might explain how you lost him and found him, but I want to ask you something. How DO you get your mane like that, it’s simply GORGEUS!’
“I tend to dose off with curlers in my hair, seems to help. Okay now come along Red it’s time to go home.”
“But…”
“What is it?”
“Nothing…” Red ended he got up and walked over to the mare. When he turned around the others started waving goodbye. A few of them were trying not to cry. He smiled and kept walking. When he got past the strange mare she turned around and started walking along besides him.
“…Wait. Would I be alright if I said good bye to my mo-I mean Ms. Flutter shy?”
“Sorry kid not time.”
“…But-“
“But nothing! I have to get you back to your dad before sun down.”
“…Your not my mom!”
“Oh boo-hoo! What are going to do about it?” She replied. Red grew angry, he stopped where he was, turned around and ran back to the others.
“What the- Hey!” The mare yelled as she saw him running off. She casted a spell and thick thorned vines grew out of the ground and formed a cage around Red.
“Mommy!”
“Red!” Flutter shy yerlled back as she started rushing towards him. The mare used another spell and teleported the cage of vines along with Re towards herself.
“Little brat! You try something like that again I swear-“
“Give me back my son!” Flutter shy yelled as she ran towards her at full speed.
“Sorry lady, this kid ain’t yours.” She taunted as she ran off. Flutter shy along with the others chased her into the Everfree.
“Mommy help-!”
“Put a sock in it kid!”
“Mommy!”
“What did I just say?” She snapped seconds later she arrived at a clearing.
“Shoot, which way?!” and without knowing she ran left, and since the others didn’t notice they continued running forwards.
“Good lost e’m-“
“Mommy!”
“Red!?” Flutter shy shouted from a ways away.
“You little brat! Are you trying to give me away!?” She whispered angerly at him. He taunted her by sticking his tung out. She became irritated and bounced the cage he was in, he hit the top of it.
“Ow, this thing has thorns on it!” Red whined. As the mare smiled Flutter shy appeared from behind and tackled her to the ground, and on the impact she dropped the cage Red was in and it started rolling while he was still in it
“Give me my son!”
“Get off me! He isn’t your son-!”
“Where is he-?”
“Mom, help.” Red cried out quietly, when the two looked over to him they saw that his cage was just about an inch away from rolling down the side of a large hill.
“RED!” Flutter shy yelled. She got up and stared racing to him.
“Oh no you don’t!” The other mare yelled as she reached up and grabbed her hind leg and tripped her. She pulled her back as she got up and tried getting Red. Flutter shy did the same to her. But she pushed Red’s cage and it started rolling down the cliff.
“uh…mom” Red said nervously as his cage slowly rolled backwards, and right as it hit the edge Flutter shy grabbed it.
“Thanks.” Red said with a relieved sigh, and right as She was about to pull him away from the edge Violet ran up and shoved her along with Red off the cliff. The two tumbled down the slanted cliff. When they reached the bottom, Flutter shy lied there while Red continued rolling until he crashed into a bush. As Flutter shy started getting up Violet came sliding down the slope and jumped onto her.
“oops sorry, didn’t see you there.” She said sarcastically and with a chuckle. She stepped off her and walked towards the bush.
“Okay you little brat time to take you-…What the!” She yelled as she saw his cage empty. She backed away and looked around, and suddenly out of nowhere Red jumped out of the ground in front of her and tackled her.
“You hurt my mommy!” He yelled. When she saw him he was different. His Coat was pitch black, his eyes and mane were a bright red color, and his eyes had changed back to serpent shaped. He rapped his legs around her neck and attempted to choke her.
“Get…Off…Me…You…Brat…”She attempted to yell but couldn’t breathe. She ran around trying to throw him off her back. But in a few seconds she fell to the ground attempting to breathe. Her face started turning blue. Her movement started slowing down, and eventually her head fell. Red than unwrapped himself and she started gasping and coughing, trying to pull air back into her lungs. He jumped off her back and landed with a heavy sounding thud on the ground. The noise woke up Flutter shy, and she lied there staring at the pitch black pony in front of her.
“Don’t you EVER hurt my mommy again!” He yelled. The mare nodded her head rapidly. Red made a quick movement and the mare flinched and ran off.
“…Red?”
“Oh…mom, your…awake.”
“…What happened to you?”
“It’s complicated…Can we go home, I’m…I’m not feeling well…” Red began crying.
“Red are you-?”
“I’m a monster…”
“No you’re not-“
“I almost killed her, and look at me, my eyes changed back to this and my hair changed color. I’m not normal.”
“Red of course you’re not normal. You’re a special little pony, you having amazing gifts that others don’t.”
“…so I’m special?” He asked as he whipped away his tears.”
“More than that, your incredible, amazing, outstanding, wonderful.” Red started smiling.
“Hey Flutter shy! What is that thing!?” Rainbow dash yelled. Red went from happy to angry with that comment. After that he got up and walked off. Flutter shy then looked up at Rainbow dash and scalded her.
“What?”
A few seconds after Red left the forest Flutter shy came running out trying to catch up with him.
“Red Wait!” She yelled. Red faced her as she slid past him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…I’m just not in a good mood.”
“Why?”
“Because she didn’t know who I was.”
“Who didn’t know?”
“Rainbow dash. I look completely different. I look nothing like myself anymore.”
“You still look a little bit like yourself.”
“Gee thanks. Now I can sleep at night knowing that I don’t look completely different.” Red replied with sarcasm. He walked past Flutter shy ignoring the look on her face.
“Red-“
“Leave me alone. I just want to be by myself right now.” He ended the discussion and continued walking. Shortly after he left the others came out of the forest and joined her.
“Flutter shy, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked.
“…I think I just lost my son.”
“How?”
“I don’t know, he’s just angry for some reason.” She walked off and headed towards Pony-ville, The others quietly followed her. As they entered the town some of the ponies that were there started giving them looks as if they did something wrong.
“Psst, Twilight. Do you notice anything…strange?” Rainbow dash whispered.
“Sort of.” She replied. And suddenly out of nowhere she tripped and landed face first into a pile of mud. She lifted her head, spat out some of the mud in her mouth and whipped the rest of it off her face.
“Alright who did that!?” She yelled.
“I know one of you tripped me! So who was it-“
“Twilight calm down-“
“Don’t tell me what to do Pegasus!”
“Sorry what was that?” Rainbow dash replied angrily.
“You heard me you winged freak!” She yelled again. The suddenly Rainbow dash tackled her and the two started fighting.
“Both of y’all knock it off!” Apple jack tried separating the two, and when she attempted a glob of mud flew out of nowhere and hit her.
“What in tar-nation-who threw that!?” When she whipped the mud away she saw Pinkie pie and Rarity standing next to each other, Rarity was whistling and Pinkie was attempting not to laugh. Apple jack stood up and started running towards the two. Pinkie ran off sp Apple jack ended up tackling Rarity and as they fought Pinkie and Flutter shy caught up with each other.
“Pinkie what’s going on?!”
“I don’t know, one second every pony was in a good mood, now there all just grumpy-“
“Hey watch it!” A random colt yelled out, when they looked over in his direction they could see him arguing with another colt.
“I’m standing here!”
“Well you can move somewhere ells!”
“Make me!” And suddenly the two started fighting each others. Then they bumped into a few other ponies and they started fighting each other. Than in an instant the entire town turned in to a mad house. Ponies were fight each other left and right, Flutter shy and Pinkie attempted to flee but there was always two ponies in their way.
“ENUGH!” A young sounding pony yelled, than in an instant the entire town went quiet. Pinkie and Flutter shy Started moving past every pony, and when they were out of everything they saw something menacing. Standing on the bridge was Red, but he was almost unrecognizable. His eyes had some sort of purple mist around them, his eyes were green and red, and his mane was moving like it was fire.
“…Red-“
“Flutter shy, shush. He might be evil-“
“That’s Red!”
“It is-?”
“Flutter shy!” Red called out. She jumped onto her feet as the young demonic pony announced her name. She took a few steps forward and stopped, and after a second Red started moving forward towards her. He stopped and looked up at her, and when she was just about to back away he e jumped up and hugged her. She was surprised seeing that he still cared about her. He started crying.
“I’m sorry...” he whispered. His hair went back to normal. Purely grey and dark red. His eyes also changed back. When he let go of Flutter shy every pony started getting up and apologizing to each other. While they were all busy the others moved past them and came up to Flutter shy.
“Are you okay?” Twilight asked
“Don’t worry I’m fine.”
“Okay, good. What was all that about?”
“Sorry that might have been me.”
“You?”
“Yeah…iv been threw A LOT today so…Long story actually.”
“okay…so what happened?”
“Well…Turns out I have some sort of power and…guess I’m capable of giving my emotions to others.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well I was angry…and so were all they, so…yeah.”
“That could have been coincidence.”
“That or it was because of my dad.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s all my dad’s fault! He was never my father! He killed my real parents and adopted me. He then gave me all these powers for some reason.”
“How’d you know that?”
“He kind of told me…at least once…maybe twice. Anyway, what happened to all of you?”
“Well we kind of got into a fight…with each other.”
“Oh…ha ha woops. Sorry”
“I guess it’s okay.”
“Sorry. I’m going to go, I think I caused enough trouble.”
“Go?’
“Yeah. I’v been nothing but trouble since I got here. I think it would best if I leave-“
“Red you can’t!”
“Why?”
“You’re my son! I won’t let you!”
“Thanks but…I really have no choice. I’m a time bomb. Right now the smallest of things is capable of setting me off. Some pony says no I’ll end up getting angry.”
“But Red-“
“Mom…I’m sorry. Maybe it would be best if I go back to...Dad…who ever that freak is.”
“Who is your dad?”
“I think it would also be beast if I didn’t tell you.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I don’t want to be hated. You all know who he is. He told me that you were all evil and attacked him-“
“Attacked him? Why would we do that!?” Rainbow dash interrupted.
“Beats me. he just told me that.” He ended and started walking off. The others started running after him.
“Come on, kid. You can’t go”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re our friend-“
“I’m a freak.”
“Don’t say that! You’re my son, not a freak.”
“That’s not what dad thinks.”
“Who cares what the meany thinks. He’s just a big meany.” Pinkie pie interrupted trying to be cheer full.
“Meany, jerk, brut, monster, villain. Doesn’t matter. I’m too much like him.”
“Red.” Flutter shy said softly.
“You are NOTHING like him.”
“You don’t get it do you. I’m part of him.”
“Part?”
“He broke his horn and used it to forge me. Again he killed my parents and adopted me. He used me in a ritual and used his horn as a sacrificial relic. So I’m Literally a part of him.” He continued walking, trying to get away from the others. But they kept pushing him, trying to get him to stay. And every time they attempted he became more angry. And it only took so long for him to finally snap.
“Kid please just stay-“
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why do you think?
“Kid-
“Enough! I told you, all of you. I can’t stay! I have to leave, I’m to dangerous, not safe to be around any pony. I’ve said this to many times now! Just go!”
“But-“
“ENUGH!” He yelled loud enough for every pony in Pony-Ville to hear. His voice caused a loud ringing noise and the six that were following him started feeling pain because of it.
“Why can’t you all just take a hint!” He screamed. His voice started changing and he started growing.
“I’m sick of all this! Why won’t any of you just leave me alone! You think I want to leave?! I don’t! I want to be able to stay here, I wanted to be with all of you but no! I HAVE to leave because of the freak that made me! I hate him! I don’t want to be raised by him but I have no choice!” The loud ringing noise continued, and now they were begging for it to stop. Red finally noticed them.
“…no…No…you see! I have to leave!” He shouted as he began running.
“Red wait!’ Flutter shy yelled as she ran after him. He entered the forest, and right as he got past the tree line large wooden spikes covered with thorns grew out of the ground blocking Flutter shy’s path. She flew over them and kept running. Every time she got close vines would grow out of the ground and restrain her legs and hold her back, and when he gets far enough ahead the vines die. She kept running after him. She got to an open grotto, and somehow, he disappeared.
“Red!”
“Just leave me alone!” a large sounding colt yelled. She became confused. She stopped talking and moving, and waited. She sat down and remained completely quite. And eventually she heard sniffling. She looked around trying to find out who it was, she heard it again. She got up and walked over to the tree line and pushed away a few bushes.
“Red?”
“Why won’t you leave me?” The colt asked. He was trapped in a cage made out of thorned plants and vines.
“Who are you?”
“Even you don’t recognize me. Here I am thinking you cared.”
“What-“
“How could you not remember…” She walked around the cage and eventually saw some his face. His mane was a mess, he had cuts running down the side of his neck and across his snout.
“…Red?”
“I guess you do care about me…”
“What happened to you?”
“I’m not normal. I can change my age, what breed I am, I even have these strange powers. Like with the plants.”
“…Plants?”
“Didn’t you notice? The tree roots, the vines.” He raised his head and looked at her. They stared at each other.
“Red?”
“What?” He looked back down wards.
“Don’t you care about me?”
“What?” He raised his head in shock.
“Red, I don’t care what you are. I love you, your family. You’re my child.” She reached the vines and placed her hoof on his cheek. There stared into each other’s eyes, and eventually he smiled and got rid of all the plants surrounding him, when he stood up he was twice her size. She looked at his legs, they were covered in scars and cuts.
“It was kind of hard to summon these things.” He said, She giggled and the two walked out into the forest. Hours later when the moon rose they finally made it out.
“Flutter shy!” The others yelled as they saw her. They raced over and hugged her.
“Where’s Red?” Twilight asked. Suddenly they heard rustling coming from the bushes. Red stepped out.
”…Hi?”
“Who are-“
“You mean you don’t know me?”
“Rainbow, that’s Red.”
“It is?” They all looked at him in surprise.
“I’m ugly aren’t i?”
“What?! No way! Dude you look awesome!”
“Really? I’m covered in scars and I’m five times the size I was earlier-“
“Exactly!”
“…Okay I’m confused.”
“Red, all the scars just make you look a whole lot cooler.”
“They do?”
“Totally.”
“Huh…”
“Red, what happened to you?” Twilight asked as she approached him.
“Guess it’s just one of those weird powers I have.”
“Weird powers?”
“Yeah, me making every pony feel the same emotion I was feeling, summoning those weird plants, changing age.”
“You did say you weren’t normal.”
“I did didn’t i?...Any who, I can change my age at any time so I can go back to being eight-“
“I think that would be best-“
“Yes it would.” Red replied, he started to glow with a faint light and his size reduced until he was back to his original size.
“Ta-da!” He cheered.
“Well, I guess everything is pretty much normal now.” Twilight said out loud.
“Now what?” no pony could think of anything and as the sky grew dark they all just decided to call it a day and started heading home.
A week passed since that day, every pony forgot about what happened. Red was at Flutter shy’s cottage, she left to go the market trusting he would be fine on his own. He sat peacefully on the couch waiting for her to come home. He started dozing off, and before he could fall asleep there was a loud knock on the door and the fear jolted him awake. He got up and went to answer it. When the door opened he saw Twilight standing there.
“Oh hey Red is Flutter shy here?”
“No sorry…she went to the market.”
“Oh okay. Why didn’t you go with her?”
“I have a cold, not really feeling well.” He answered right before he sneezed.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, did you need something?”
“Well I was going to ask Flutter shy but I guess I could ask you.”
“Ask what?”
“Well, Apple jack was going on a camping trip with her sister and she invited us to go along with her.”
“Real-“ Red sneezed than sniffed.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm…okay I’ll ask mommy when she gets back.”
“Alright than, see you later”
“Bye.” He replied right before he sneezed again. He closed the door and went back to sitting on the couch. When he got back up he started dozing off again and this time fully fell asleep. He started dreaming, he saw himself and all the others in the forest. They were all happy but his view started shifting. He was seeing through the eyes of a beast. It started moving forward and suddenly one of the ponies sitting in the circle screamed as it saw it, and suddenly more beast started moving out of the tree line, they were all timber wolfs and there were about 20 of them they surrounded the others, and suddenly the one he was controlling jumped up and attempted to pounce, but before it could hit the pony Red woke up. He looked up and saw Flutter shy standing there.
“Good morning.” She said with a smile. Red yawned.
“I don’t see what’s so good about it.”
“Come on cheer up. Here I brought you something to help your cold.”
“More medicine?”
“Nope something better.”
“good…that stuff was terrible. Didn’t taste like apples at all.” He continued. Flutter shy pulled a small bottle out of her bag and handed it to him.
“What’s this?”
“Orange juice. The doctor said it has a vitamin in it that can help cure a cold.” Red opened the bottle and started drinking it. In a minute flat he finished the bottle.
“…I don’t think it worked-“ He was interrupted by his own hiccup. Flutter shy giggled.
“Well it did something.” She smiled. She reached into her bag and pulled out another bottle and handed it to him.
“Just keep drinking them, they’ll do something eventually.” She told him. Red tried opening the second bottle but his hiccup almost made him drop it.
“…Mommy, I forgot to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“Twilight came by today and she asked if we wanted to go camping with her and the others.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, can we go?”
“…Hmm. Well I guess we could. We don’t have much to do.” Red smiled and opened the bottle. Flutter shy started heading upstairs.
“Oh Red, if you want to go, you’re going to have to start packing everything you want to take.” She shouted from the second floor.
“Okay!’ he shouted back. He go up and went upstairs to. Two hours later, they finished packing everything, and just in time. There was a knock on the door, Red flew down the steps and raced to the door. When he opened it he saw Rainbow dash.
“Oh hey Red. Where’s Flutter shy?”
“Upstairs packing.”
“Oh, guess you two did remember about the trip. Any way, you two ready?”
“Yup!” Red said cheerfully. After that he raced back up the stairs.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Rainbow dash is here.”
“Really? What does she need?”
“She’s wondering if were ready to go.”
“Yup, Ready.” She said as she packed away that last few things. Afterwards Red puffed out his wings and flew back down stairs.
“Oh…I forgot you had wings.” Rainbow dash said with little amazement as she laid on the couch. Red Smiled at her then folded his wings up. Flutter shy came down the stairs and handed him his saddle bags.
“You two ready?” She asked as she got up. Flutter shy nodded her head.
“Alright let’s go!” She yelled as she flew off. Flutter shy and Red followed her out the door. She closed the door behind her and started walking.
“Hey mom?”
“Yes Red?”
“Why can’t we fly with her?”
“Do you want to?” Red smiled and unfolded his wings.
“Alright lets fly then.” She crouched down to allow him 5o climb onto her back. But Red jumped up and started hovering. Flutter shy giggled and stood back up. She then jumped up and started flapping her wings. Red hovered towards her and the two started flying towards Sweet apple acres. When they saw the others they flew downwards and landed.
“Alright were all here, let’s get going.” She said happily as she began walking. The others followed her. Red started falling behind flutter shy but was joined by the crusaders.
“Hey Reed!” Scootaloo shouted joyfully.
“Oh, hey”
“Where’ve you been? It’s been a week since we last saw you” Apple bloom asked.
“I had a cold for a wh-while.” He sneezed.
“Still have it.”
“Oh, sorry to here.”Apple bloom replied with a sad tone.
“Twilight said the same thing, But I’m fine. It’s just some sneezing and some coughing. Nothing bad.”
“Shouldn’t you be staying home if you’re sick?” Sweetie belle interrupted.
“Why? There’s nothing to do. All I do is sit around doing no-“He was interrupted by another sneeze.
“Nothing. Besides, I wanted to spend time with my friends, I barely see any of you anymore.” The others smiled knowing that he still likes them.
“Hey! Ya’ll ‘r slowing down!” Apple jack yelled from a distance. The four just now noticed and rushed over to rejoin the group. Five hours later, when the sun started going down they stopped in an open area.
“Alright every pony. We’ll stay here for the night.” Apple jack announced.
“Rainbow, why don’t you and Scootaloo go find some things to set up the campfire. The rest of ya’ll can start set’n up” Rainbow dash and Sooctaloo rushed off into the forest, and the others started unpacking their tents. Rarity pulled something out of her bag and placed it on the ground, and in an instant it turned into a large house like tent. The others were setting up their stuff the old fashion way. When they were all done Rainbow dash and Scootaloo returned. One of them was holding a few rocks while the other was carrying branches.
“About time ya’ll got back. It’s start’n to get cold out here.”
“You know it takes time to dive into a river to get damp rocks ya know.”
“For us maybe, for you it would only take about a second.” Twilight interrupted.
“Yeah yeah, whatever.” She replied sarcastically. The two then went over to the middle of the opening and placed everything perfectly. When they were finished the others joined them.
“Spike would you kindly light the fire?” Twilight asked politely.
“Sure thing.” He replied. As he got up red sneezed and a ball of fire shot out of his mouth lighting the dry branches. The others looked at him with amazement.
“…What? I have a cold.”
“I didn’t know you could do that.” Flutter shy told him.
“Do what?”
“That. How you lit the fire.”
“Oh, I thought Spike lit it-“ He was about to sneeze again, it built up for a minute, than when he released it the campfire went up in a giant column of fire. The others flew off their seats while Red was just sitting their unimpressed and whipping the snot off his nose.
“Sorry.” He said out loud. Spike sat back down and the others got back in their seats.
“Alright, time for camp fire stories.” Rainbow dash said happily.
“Is that really the beast idea, considering there are young fillies here?” Twilight argued.
“Come on, their just stories.”
“Still.”
“Hey Scootaloo, are you scared of camp fire stories?”
“No way, like I’d be scared of a few lame stories.
“Fine.” Twilight graoned.
“Alright, this is the story, of the headless horse!” Rainbow dash paused as Red raised his hoof.
“What?”
“What’s so scary about a headless horse?”
“What’s so- Kid it’s a pony…with no head!”
“So?”
“So-it’s scarier than the…uh…scarier than the dark.”
“It can’t be that scary.”
“You right it isn’t. It’s A LOT scarier.”
“Prove it.”
“Prove- how do I prove it?!”
“I don’t know, find a headless pony.” The others started laughing, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t amused.
“Okay, how do you suppose I do that?” Red shrugged his shoulders than sneezed loudly and shot out a small wave of fire which disappeared into embers.
“You know what, I think we can go without stories”
“What?! No way, it isn’t a camping trip without them!”
“Rainbow, shush!” Red whispered.
“What?”
“I heard them.”
“Heard who-?”
“Uh, mom I’ll uh…I’ll be right back, there were a few birds over there and uh…yeah be right back.” Red ended as he ran into the brush. Flutter shy was confused about what just happened. She tried figuring out what he was talking about, but got distracted and started talking with the others. While they were laughing and having fun there was a loud howl that sounded close.
“What was that?!” Flutter shy panicked and started looking in every direction.
“That sounded like-“
“Timber wolf!” Spike yelled as he saw the wooden beast appear out of the shadowy canopy. All the others started screaming and panicking as 3 others appeared. One of them slowly approached them, and when it was close enough I ducked down and leaped forward in an attempt to pounce Rarity. As she screamed the others heard a colt yelling from nearby. And in a blink of an eye he appeared and tackled the Timber wolf to the ground.
“Red!” they all cheered. Red struggled to keep the timber wolf pinned down. And as it attempted to break free it lifted its paw and slashed him across his eye. He yelled in his pain but tried to ignore it. And using all of his strength, he tossed the beast into the air and flew into it at a high speed and shattered it into pieces. He landed a second later and at random he looked into the air and caught one of the falling sticks with his mouth.
“Red!’ Flutter shy yelled with fear.
“Hey mom.” He said with a muffled voice.
“Look out!” Red turned around just in time to see one of the other beasts charging at him. With a sudden reaction he flipped backwards and landed on his front to legs and with his hind legs in front of him. When it got close he extended his front legs and his hind ones hit it and knocked it’s head off. It broke into pieces and he landed on the ground hind legs first the front legs. He spat the stick out of his mouth than smiled smugly. And without him noticing the two timber wolfs started reassembling them self’s and fusing to form one larger timber wolf.
“Red!” Flutter shy shouted again. He turned around and in an instant he was tackled and pined to the ground. The timber wolf snapped at him as he attempted to get up. And once more with the rest of his strength he kicked the beast flying and it hit the other two. Every pony started cheering.
“Red, that was awesome!” Rainbow dash yelled as she approached him.
“Yeah, it was nothing.”
“Red what happened to you?” Apple bloom asked.
“Long story, turns out I can change how old I am.”
“Where’d you go” Twilight asked.
“I heard one of them out in the forest, turns out it was a decoy.”
“How’d you know about the attack?”
“I had a dream about it.”
“Than why didn’t you tell us about it?!” Rainbow dash yelled in anger.
“I…don’t know actually. Something just told me not to.”
“Uh, I’d hate to brake it to ya’ll but we ain’t done yet.”
“What do you mean-…oh…not good.” Red mumbled as he saw the four timber wolfs reassemble into one colossal wooden beast. The others hid behind him as it approached.
“Um…nice puppy?” He said with a nerves smile. It roared at him, it’s foul breath caused him along with the others to start choking.
“Bleh! Sweet queen of Canterlot that ree-ree…” He was about to sneeze and like with the camp fire he held it in for a minute than finally sneezed. And when he did the colossal wooden beast busted into flames.
“…Oops.” Red whispered. The wolf started howling in pain and running around attempting to put out the fire. But by then time it was out it was nothing more than a pile of ash.
“…double oops.” He said to himself.
“…so…any of ya’ll think we should get goin?” They all silently agreed. The packed up all their stuff than started walking home.
“I’m bored.” Red groaned. He stared out the window into the gloomy land. The grey clouds that hung above and the heavy rain that fell.
“Well you can help me tend to the animals.”
“Fine!” He groaned again as he got up.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just so Bored!” He continued groaning.
“I thought you liked helping me.”
“I do but. I don’t know it’s probably because of how much older I a’m.”
“Then why don’t you change your age.”
“If I did I’d be a lot more bored due to the fact that outside looks like me, all grey and blob like.”
“You don’t look like a blob.”
“You probably haven’t seen me in the mornings then.” He chuckled as he poured food into one of the animal’s bowls.
“There just isn’t anything to do anymore. I’m like, twenty years old right now and there’s no action in Pony-Ville. It’s all gone.”
“You just haven’t been here long enough. Trust me, the longer you’re here the more that will happen.”
“…Okay. Can’t really argue about that.” He replied. He continued going around pouring out the animal food.
“You know what. I’ve been studying some stuff, since I’m a Pegasus, I can go up and get rid of the rain clouds. Animals get to go outside I get to sun bathe. Win-Win.”
“Well maybe. But the storm was actually schedule to start today and end in three days.’
“Darn. Well I could always go above the clouds. Win-Lose.” He sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“It just isn’t fare to the animals. What if they want to see the sun?”
“Well, I hues it would be alright if you made a small hole in the clouds-“ Red screamed as he dropped the bag of food. He held his head.
“Red what’s wrong?!”
“…No…He’s coming.”
“Who?”
“…My dad.” He replied with fear in his voice. The two raced outside in an attempt to get to town. As they got to the town square they split up into different directions. A few minutes later flutter shy got to the front door of Twilight’s library. She started banging on the door. When Twilight opened it she got tackled to the ground.
“Twilight!”
“Flutter shy, what is it what’s wrong!?”
“Red’s dad…he’s on his way! You have to help!” She yelled. She got off of Twilight and ran back outside.
“Spike, where’s my spell book at!?” A while later Red got to Rarity’s house and did the same. When she opened the door she saw Red leaning on the frame panting.
“Rare-…Rarity…Dad…here…bad…evil…get…others…no…time…explaine…hurry!” And with the final word he flew off. Rarity went back inside then came back out with a rain coat and an umbrella. The rain stopped. The clouds were still hanging above but there was no rain. Flutter shy arrived back at the Everfree with Pinkie pie Twilight and Rarity, when Red got there he was with Rainbow dash and Apple jack.
“Red what’s wrong?!” Twilight asked.
“My dad. He’s here, coming, on his way. He’s evil, bad, mean. We have to stop him.
“You’re dad?” and then, out of nowhere there was a quite moan.
“Wait…I know that moan…I know who that is!” Twilight shouted. Then suddenly, black crystals started shooting out of the ground forming a wall separating them from the Everfree.
“That’s Sombra!” The others started panicking. As he climbed up the crystal wall more of them appeared forming a balcony.
“My son.”
“…Father.” Red replied with irritation.
“I’ve come to take you home.”
“I’m not going. I’ve said that too many times-“
“I will not take no as an answer.”
“To bad. You know I’m stronger than you. You said so yourself.”
“Red…” Flutter shy whispered to him. He turned and faced her.
“Why didn’t you tell us Sombra was your father!?” Rainbow dash yelled.
“Because, I knew you would all abandon me. He told me about all of you, he told me how quick you all judge. That’s why I couldn’t tell you.”
“So that’s why you didn’t tell us!?”
“Yes! That’s why I didn’t tell you.”
“If you told us we wouldn’t have abandoned you!” Twilight interrupted.
“You’re lying.”
“Of course she’s lying! Your dad tried to kill us! Why wouldn’t we leave you?!”
“Because I’m nothing like him! I wanted to save the world not end it!” He started backing away from them.
“How would you have saved the world?!”
“Because I’m from the future! He took control of me and made me turn the world into ruins! I sent myself to this day to stop him!”
“And how are you going to stop him!”
“Rainbow Red stop fighting-“
“Forget this! I don’t need any of you anymore!” Red started changing colors again.
“I’ve been the one helping all of you! Without me you’d all be dead! If I didn’t come with you on that camping trip you would all have been killed! I saved your lives and this is how you pay me back! Forget it, forget all of you! Kill them!” Sombra looked at him with slight confusion.
“You heard me, kill them all! Start with that rainbow one!” He continued. He flew up onto the crystal balcony and stood next to him. His wings started to disappear and instead he started growing a horn that looked like Sombra’s. He smiled at him and formed a cage around them.
“I know you don’t!” Rainbow dash attempted to rush them. But Red used his own spell and in an instant a black crystal pillar rapidly formed and skewered her.
“Rainbow!” Twilight yelled. Red did the same to the rest of them. One-by-one he killed them.
“You forgot one.” Sombra told him sinisterly.
“No. We need a sacrifice. The past. Send her to the past and use her to form the black stone.” He replied as he walked off.
=Five Years Later=
“what have I done” Red said to himself.
“I started all this…this is all my fault…” he continued. He was lying in the dark, his hair was back to its grayish color, his mane and eyes were back to their dark red color. As he lied there he heard voices from outside, and suddenly the door to his room opened.
“My son, come with me.” He got up and followed him out to the terrace.
(Guess what, you read the bad ending, which means you did something wrong, but what…hmm…You took the wrong path. Go back to the last chapter (Orange, Purple or yellow, doesn’t matter) than see if you can find the good ending.)
“I’m bored.” Red groaned. He stared out the window into the gloomy land. The grey clouds that hung above and the heavy rain that fell.
“Well you can help me tend to the animals.”
“Fine!” He groaned again as he got up.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m just so Bored!” He continued groaning.
“I thought you liked helping me.”
“I do but. I don’t know it’s probably because of how much older I a’m.”
“Then why don’t you change your age.”
“If I did I’d be a lot more bored due to the fact that outside looks like me, all grey and blob like.”
“You don’t look like a blob.”
“You probably haven’t seen me in the mornings then.” He chuckled as he poured food into one of the animal’s bowls.
“There just isn’t anything to do anymore. I’m like, twenty years old right now and there’s no action in Pony-Ville. It’s all gone.”
“You just haven’t been here long enough. Trust me, the longer you’re here the more that will happen.”
“…Okay. Can’t really argue about that.” He replied. He continued going around pouring out the animal food.
“You know what. I’ve been studying some stuff, since I’m a Pegasus, I can go up and get rid of the rain clouds. Animals get to go outside I get to sun bathe. Win-Win.”
“Well maybe. But the storm was actually schedule to start today and end in three days.’
“Darn. Well I could always go above the clouds. Win-Lose.” He sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“It just isn’t fare to the animals. What if they want to see the sun?”
“Well, I hues it would be alright if you made a small hole in the clouds-“ Red screamed as he dropped the bag of food. He held his head.
“Red what’s wrong?!”
“…No…He’s coming.”
“Who?”
“…My dad.” He replied with fear in his voice. The two raced outside in an attempt to get to town. As they got to the town square they split up into different directions. A few minutes later flutter shy got to the front door of Twilight’s library. She started banging on the door. When Twilight opened it she got tackled to the ground.
“Twilight!”
“Flutter shy, what is it what’s wrong!?”
“Red’s dad…he’s on his way! You have to help!” She yelled. She got off of Twilight and ran back outside.
“Spike, where’s my spell book at!?” A while later Red got to Rarity’s house and did the same. When she opened the door she saw Red leaning on the frame panting.
“Rare-…Rarity…Dad…here…bad…evil…get…others…no…time…explaine…hurry!” And with the final word he flew off. Rarity went back inside then came back out with a rain coat and an umbrella. The rain stopped. The clouds were still hanging above but there was no rain. Flutter shy arrived back at the Everfree with Pinkie pie Twilight and Rarity, when Red got there he was with Rainbow dash and Apple jack.
“Red what’s wrong?!” Twilight asked.
“My dad. He’s here, coming, on his way. He’s evil, bad, mean. We have to stop him.
“You’re dad?” and then, out of nowhere there was a quite moan.
“Wait…I know that moan…I know who that is!” Twilight shouted. Then suddenly, black crystals started shooting out of the ground forming a wall separating them from the Everfree.
“That’s Sombra!” The others started panicking. As he climbed up the crystal wall more of them appeared forming a balcony.
“My son.”
“…Father.” Red replied with irritation.
“I’ve come to take you home.”
“I’m not going. I’ve said that too many times-“
“I will not take no as an answer.”
“To bad. You know I’m stronger than you. You said so yourself.”
“Red…” Flutter shy whispered to him. He turned and faced her.
“Why didn’t you tell us Sombra was your father!?” Rainbow dash yelled.
“Because I just couldn’t. I knew you would leave me if you found out.” He turned completely around.
“You all mean to much to me. You’re the closest friends I ever had. I couldn’t lose you.” They all started smiling.
“Red…” Flutter shy attempted to whisper.
“Red look out!” Twilight yelled. When he turned around he was shot with a beam of black aura.
“Okay…ow…that hurt.”
“You will join me or I will kill you.”
“You know- ow…you know what. Kill me. Go ahead try it. We both know you need me alive. I know your plan Sombra. If I joined you, when you die you would take over my body and continue your rule. I won’t let that happen.”
“You have no choice!” And in an instant he used his magic and levitated him up into the air.
.
“Woh, hey! Put me down!” H demanded. Sombra ignored him and used some sort of spell. Black smoke started coming out of the ground and covering Red. As they coated him he screamed in pain. He screams grew louder each second. But his screams died and turned into laughter. And then his laughter turned sinister, as if he was enjoying the pain. Sombra smiled and released him and he fell to the ground with a loud thud.
“Ow..Okay that hurt!” He laughed. His voice changed. It sounded as if there were two of him speaking at the same time. He started standing up, his body was completely black, His mane and tale were moving as if they were fire just like before and his eyes were glowing red. He was laughing, he was in pain but he was laughing.
“…Red?”
“What did you do to him!?” Twilight demanded.
“Since he would not join me on his own, I forced him to.”
“Blah, blah, blah. Stop talking and kill them father!” Sombra leaped of the platform and landed roughly on the ground.
“My son, will you help me?”
“Help you kill or help you rule. Meh, you can go ahead and kill them on your own, I know your stronger than them.” He suggested ass he lied down. Sombra turned towards the six with a sinister smile.
“There’s no way we’ll lose to you.” Rainbow dash said triumphantly. She than attempted to tackle him. Sombra turned into black smoke and she flew right threw him and into the crystal wall.
“You mind I’m trying to sleep.” Red said with a loud yawn. Sombra turned back to his normal form. As he turned back around he saw Apple jack charging at him. He moved to the side and she ran right past him. Than in an instant he used a spell and managed to trap all except Flutter shy and Rainbow dash in a crystal cage.
“Red please we need you!” Flutter shy pleaded. Red’s ears perked up when he heard her.
“Mom?”
“Red!” when she tried flying towards him Sombra shot her down with a bolt of black lightening. Red’s eyes widened as Sombra started laughing maniacally.
“Hey!” Red’s yelled with rage. Sombra turned around and faced him.
“I don’t care who you are, but there is one thing you should know. Never NEVER hurt my mother!” and in flash of an intense white lite he rushed forwards and tackled him to the ground.
“Release me!”
“Make me!” He argued back. He picked him up and flew into the air. When he got to the cloud line he threw him downwards and started flying downwards. Sombra turned into smoke before he hit the ground, and Red flew right through him and landed face first.
“Insolent brat, how dare you challenge me-“ He paused as he noticed Flutter shy trying to stand back up.
“But, since I have no chance to beat you, I’ll brake you.” He walked away and Red lifted his head out of the ground. He looked over to Sombra who just turned back into smoke. He then dashed forward towards Flutter shy. He stopped a few inches away from her and out of nowhere a crooked crystal pillar shot from the ground and smacked into her.
“NO!” Red yelled as Flutter shy was knocked back almost 3 yards front where she was standing.
“I’ll kill you!” Red screamed as he got up and rushed him. He turned into smoke but Red somehow managed to tackle him and pull him out of that form. He slammed into the ground and almost broke his skull. When he tried to get up Red took his front legs and flew into the air again, this time up past the cloud line. He spun around and released him and he flew strait down. When he landed most of the bones in his body broke due to the impact. He opened his eyes and saw Red flying at an intense speed. He tried to dodge him but sins he couldn’t get up Red landed right on his ribcage and completely shattered it. He leaned in close to Sombra and started whispering to him.
“:Listen to me Sombra, I put up with everything you’ve done to me since we’ve met. And now I’m sick of it. Here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to free all my friends and leave her, leave and never Ever come back. Got it?!’ Sombra nodded his head. Red got off of him and he turned into smoke and flew away. A second after he was gone all the black crystal shattered and the ran returned. The others ran towards him and started cheering for him.
“Red!” Rainbow dash called from above. He looked up and she pointed towards Flutter shy.
“oh…No…NO, Mom!” He ran over to her body and picked her up.
“Mom, wake up, please I know your still alive.” The rain started falling faster.
“…Mom…Please.” Red started crying. He held her close to him.
“…Red?” She quietly moaned.
“Mom?” He pulled her away and saw her eyes opened slightly.
“Are you alright?” Flutter shy asked.
“Yeah…I’m fine…”
“Good…I was worried about you. I thought you would leave us.’
“No, I would never leave you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I would stay with you until I die.”
“…thank you.” She closed her eyes.
“Red-“
“She’s fine…come on, we should get her to a hospital just in case,” he said. He picked her up and started carrying her to the hospital.
“Mommy?” A young pony said.
“Red?” She slowly opened her eyes. As she did she saw Red when he was 7, they were in her cottage.
“Your okay,” He said with what sounded like disappointment.
“Red.” Her eyes started closing.
“Mom?” His voice started changing from young sounding to older.
“Mom wake up, come on I know you can hear me. Please wake up.” She started opening her eyes again, this time she saw Red at his currant age, and this time they were in the hospital.
“Good morning.” Red quietly laughed.
“Red? What happened?”
“Sombra almost killed you. The Crystal pillar shattered your rib cage, punctured your lungs.”
“Where’s Sombra?”
“Him? Don’t worry, he’s gone, for good. After our fight, he’ll never come back.”
“And the others?”
“Home. Safe. Going about their day, and praying that you’ll be fine.”
“Really?” She said excitedly. She tried sitting up but Red forced her to lie back down.
“You need to rest, the doctors said you’ll heal but you need to rest.” He got up and started walking towards the door.
“I’ll, see you in a week, when you get out.” Flutter shy smiled and lied back down. Red smiled back and left.
The week had past and She was officially being released from the hospital. When she got out side she looked up and saw her friends waiting outside for her. They all smiled and started approaching her.
“Flutter shy, how are you feeling?” Twilight asked.
“I’m feeling okay.”
“That’s good to hear, we thought we lost you.”
“Where’s Red?”
“I don’t know, we haven’t seen him since the fight.” Flutter shy’s head fell with sorrow. When she looked back up she saw him standing where the other’s were. His Eye’s were a bright red color, they were filled with life and joy, his mane and tale were the same color, and his coat was a bright white color.
“Red?” He waved to her. She smiled. She pushed past the others, and ran up and hugged him.
“So, you feeling okay?”
“Mhmm.”
“Red, where have you been?” Twilight asked.
“It’s a, long story. Point is, my metamorphosis is finally done.”
“Meta- what?” Flutter shy asked in confusion as she looked up at him.
“Metamorphosis. My body had all these powers. My appearance changes depending on karma, my wings grew since I’ve been living with a Pegasus, few other things and blah, blah, blah. Also do you al remember those weird powers I had?”
“Yeah?”
“Well few things, First: do you remember when all the ponies in Pony-ville started fighting?”
“Yeah you said it was one of your powers that did that.” Rainbow dash interrupted.
“Yeah, turns out it was a defense mechanism that my body had, when I’m angry so is every pony around me, when I’m scared every pony will attempt to defend me, sadness makes every pony try to comfort me to make me feel better, and when I’m happy every pony ells is happy.”
“Is that why I’m so filled with joy right now?” pinkie asked.
‘Maybe, that or your just being yourself.” They all started laughing.
“Okay, second thing: When I started yelling at all of you and there was a loud sharp and painful noise, also a defense mechanism. Third: all those wired powers I was constantly using like the fire and the plants, turns out I’m stuck with those.”
“That it?” Rainbow dash interrupted sarcastically.
“I think so. The last few weeks have been really confusing. Oh I almost forgot, Princes Celestia offered me a job as a private body guard,” Red said with enthusiasm.
“She did?” Flutter shy asked.
“Yeah, I’m going up to Canterlot tomorrow to meet with her”
“Oh, that’s good to hear.” Flutter shy said with slight sorrow.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh nothing it’s just that, do you have to go?”
“I’m sorry but I can’t refuse something like this. Celestia herself came to Pony-Ville to offer me the job, Good pay, free food, I don’t think I can refuse.”
“Oh.” Flutter shy replied with a depressed tone.
“Mom, it’s okay. She said you and the others can visit any time you want.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I had to bargain to get her to agree to that but, it was worth it.” Flutter shy’s face lit up with joy. She leaped forward and hugged him. The others smiled, and when Flutter shy let go of him he yawned.
“Are you tired?” Flutter shy asked.
“Yeah, a little. I couldn’t sleep not knowing if you were okay or not.” She smiled at him.
“Come on, let’s go home.” She said as she started walking away. Red yawned again and followed her. When they got home the day started moving slower, when dawn of the next day rose Red packed all his stuff and said goodbye to all his friends. When he was ready, he expanded his wings and started flying towards Canterlot, and at the end of every week Flutter shy got a message from Red, telling her what happened during the week, and at the end of every month Red would come home to visit, but he would have to report back to Canterlot before the next day. Everything was perfect, every pony was at piece, and Red’s life was perfect.