Demons (Revised)

WARNING:

The following fanfiction has been rated “T” for the following reasons:

-Sexual themes and humor

-Crude humor

-Infrequent coarse language

-Grimdark elements

Demons

Ponyville Library

1:42 A.M.

A disgruntled baby dragon, awoken from his slumber, followed the sound of nervous pacing in the library below.

As Spike stepped down the staircase into the lobby, he was met with his roommate, caretaker, surrogate sister and mother, Twilight Sparkle, who had once again worn a groove into the oak floor with her nervous trotting.

“……Twilight, I thought you promised not to do any more late night pacing…” he grumbled.

“Promise?  Promise?!” Twilight cackled.  “I don’t remember how I ever said that!”

“Um, yeah, you did.” Spike refuted.  “Remember that one time when you freaked out because of your future self, warning you not to worry about the next Tuesday?  You didn’t sleep for a week straight.”

“……?!!” she paused as the metaphorical gears in her began to grind.

“Remember how you promised ‘no more late night pacing’?”

As a matter of fact, Twilight Sparkle did remember a promise made by none other than herself. She did promise to her assistant that there would be no more late night pacing after the whole fiasco concerning her future self. Twilight shook her head to snap herself back into reality.

“……I’m sorry, spike.” she apologized. “It’s just that I can’t sleep I’m so nervous about tomorrow. I’m afraid I’ll screw something up…”

Spike facepalmed.

“Twilight, listen, you have nothing to worry about.” he sighed.  “You’re Seymour’s best friend.  You’ve been this way ever since you met the guy. He respects and likes you for who you are. It’s not exactly a one-man feeling either. Look around, everypony knows that you’re the smartest, most gifted unicorn around, and that you are the most loyal of friends. I’m sure that nothing you do could turn him away from you. Trust me, I’ve seen this before.”

“Really…” Twilight cocked an eyebrow.

“Eleven times as a matter of fact.” he replied.

Twilight breathed out slowly. She tried to calm herself, but something was just getting in the way. A certain, nagging feeling was holding her back in her paranoid state.

“I don’t know Spike, I’ve just… never felt like this around him… or anyone really for that matter...”

“Feeling odd?” he asked. “What do you mean?”

“Well… I’ve kind of been… um…”

“Yeah?”

“…Forget it, it’s nothing.” she cut off.

“Twilight, I just-”

“It’s nothing, Spike.” Twilight snapped.  “Just… just go back to sleep Spike.”

Spike submitted, knowing he couldn’t win this one.

“Alright, see you in the morning?”

“Sounds good.” Twilight smiled.

As Spike walked back up to his cot at the end of Twilight’s bed, Twilight Sparkle sat on the futon she had recently purchased from the quill and sofa store. She buried her face in her hooves, sighing loudly.

“I hope you’re right, Spike…”

Paladin Comics and Collectibles

1:45 A.M.

“Everything we know…”

“The arcana incident-“

“Arcana incident”

“Arcana…”

“We can’t just put him through-”

“We have to protect our-”

“A monster”

“Monster”

“You’re not my son!”

*FLASH*

“I hate you..”

*FLASH*

“I HATE YOU!!!”

*FLAAASH*

“I HATE YOU!!!”

Seymour was now upright in his bed, drenched in sweat. He had just woken from this same nightmare for the second time that week.

Glancing around his room, he saw his partner Magnum sprawled lazily on his own bed, loudly snoring, oblivious to his friend’s nocturnal outburst.

“…Just… that dream again…” he sighed, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“But, why again in one week…?” he mumbled to himself.

Seymour looked to his side, spotting a frame on his bedside table.  He picked up the picture, a rendition of the angelic Princess Celestia, a prayer etched just below.

All have their purpose in this world

The mightiest dragon

The meekest insect

All are needed

All are loved

All are important

And none go unnoticed

Clutching the frame to his chest, Seymour shed a tear, and lie back on his bed.  After a while, he drifted off to sleep.

FLASH

“…g-gaa-aaAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGG”

-Bio-readings nominal and unaltered-

“Commander, the clock is ticking as we-”

“No, that’s not good enough!”

“The Arcana Project is once again-”

“Our uprising is beginning to falter-”

“…THOSE BLEEDING-”

FLAAAAAAAAAASH

Ponyville Square

9:01 A.M.

Seymour hastily devoured a Danish from Sugar Cube Corner on his way to the town library.  A thin film of raspberry and cream cheese coated the tip of his muzzle, which he quickly licked away.  No doubt, Seymour was never this nervous in his entire life. Ever since his return to Canterlot more than five years ago, he hadn't ever seen anything more than a friend and younger colleague in the violet bookworm he met under the princess. When Twilight Sparkle had gone to Ponyville under the orders of Celestia two years later, the two had simply fallen out of contact for the three years that followed.

After those years had passed, he had brought his companion Magnum with him to Ponyville on a journey of redemption and self-discovery, a quest to enjoy a life lost in his youth. At one of Pinkie Pie’s famous welcoming parties (held in his unrenovated storefront, of course), was when the white unicorn colt had been re-united with his purple companion. Of course, he could not have been happier to see his best friend again after so long, but something had changed between the two of them. To Seymour, Twilight was no longer just a friend under the wing of the princess, but a strong, quick-witted, and beautiful mare that had captured his heart, mind, and soul.

Turning toward his jacket, he slipped his ear buds on to calm his nerves.  Cranking his volume up to 7, he flipped through to his favorite album.

I love ya baby,

But all I can think about is

Kielbasa sausage

Your butt cheeks is warm

I checked mah dipstick

You need lubri-”

“Seymour, Dahling!!”

…oh no…

Rarity approached him from a distance, Applejack following close behind.

“The best of mornings to you!”

“Oh… hey.” Seymour sighed in a tense manner.

Applejack had noticed the nerves in Seymour’s voice.

“…You alright, hon?” Applejack questioned, genuine concern in her voice. “You haven’t been right since Twilight invited you to the library two days ago.”

“…I’m sorry.” he apologized to the orange farm pony. “It’s just, well, I’m sweating bullets over here. I’ve never been this scared of disappointing anypony before, and I really don’t want to make Twilight uncomfortable.”

“Sweetie, Twilight is your best friend, there’s no way she would look down on you, no matter what you may accidentally do.” Rarity reassured.

“That- that’s not the problem though…” Seymour began to confess. “I’ve been having these… thoughts recently. And my PTSD isn’t helping either.”

“Ah didn’t know y’all had PTSD.” said Applejack

“It’s fine.  It’s just been getting strong with all of these conflicting emotions lately.”

“Well, I’m sure y’all do just fine with helping her out today, sugarcube.” Applejack reassured. “I’d better get back to the farm now, got some apple buckin’ to do.”

“Surprise, surprise…”

With that, she was off, leaving only the two white unicorns in the square. The two began to walk back to the library.

“…I think I know what’s going on here, dear.” Rarity calmly said.

“…”

“…She’s not just a friend, is she?”

“……”

“You have feelings for her.”

“…you got me.” Seymour sighed.

“…I thought so.” Rarity comforted, putting a hoof around his shoulder.

"...uggghhhh… How can I not…” Seymour sighed in defeat. “She’s beautiful, no, KNOCKOUT gorgeous, she’s a damn genius, adorable little quirks. She… she’s perfect.  Flawless, even. But…I’ve never felt this way about her until I moved here after three years of being out of contact with her.”

Rarity looked up at him.

“Seymour, if I could just say one thing…” she stated.

“…What’s that?”

“I’d say you should go for it.”

Seymour was taken aback by his friend’s unexpected approval.

“Wha…?”

“I said go for it, darling!”

“…You really think that?” stammered Seymour.

“Personally, I think you two are perfect for each other! You are so close with each other already, you both have your little “nerd quirk” moments, adorable as they may be. You two are just like each other, darling.”

“………Wow… Thanks, Rarity…!” he sputtered.  “You’re a real good pep-talker, you know?”

“Any time, sweetie.  Now, about that look of yours…”

“…Ha?!” Seymour flinched.

“Oh, you didn’t think I wasn’t going to do something about that…euugh… emo mane cut that landed atop your head now, did you?”

“…Bollocks…”

Ponyville Library

9:25 A.M.

Twilight Sparkle was now in full panic. Desperately trying to find something cute to wear, she had now worn an additional two grooves into her floor.

“Twilight, you really need to calm down!” Spike begged. “This isn’t good for you at all!”

“I can’t Spike!!!” she barked back. “Seymour’ll be here in less than five minutes, I can’t find one thing to put on, I haven’t eaten yet, the library’s a mess!”

“Actually, the library is pretty much spotless…” he deadpanned.

“JUST LOOK AROUND SPIKE!!!” IT’S FILTHY!! BOOKS SLIGHTLY OUT OF PLACE, DUST ON THE-”

*SMACK*

Spike jack-slapped Twilight square in the face.

“…T-thanks… I needed that.” Twilight recoiled.

“Sorry.”

“…guh… better just throw something on…”

“Twilight, just keep it calm, and you should be just fine. I’m really worried about this panicking of yours. Maybe you should see somepony about all of this.” Spike spoke, concern rising in his voice.

“…Spike, I really don’t think I have that much of a problem…” Twilight protested, a twitch in her eye.

“Yeah… no problem at all……” Spike mumbled under his breath.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

“…AAACK!! THAT’S HIM!!!” Twilight yelped before running upstairs to her room.

“…This won’t end well…” said Spike.

“Um… Twilight? It’s me, Seymour.” a voice called from beyond the door. “You here?”

Spike simply let Seymour into the library without hesitation.

“Oh, um hello Spike. Could you call Twilight here for me?” Seymour asked.

“She’s on her way.” Spike answered. “She should be down in-”

*THUMP* *CRACK* *THUD* THUMP* *CRASH* *THUD*

A heap of violet unicorn tumbled down the stairs into the library, tangled in her own legs.

“OOOMPH!!” she grunted upon impact. “…Ooowie…”

“…Right about now.”

Seymour took in the sight in front of his eyes. The mare he’d secretly admired had highlighted her pink stripe in her mane, purple and pink striped socks pulled over her knees.

Damn…

Oh thank Celestia he only thought this.

Twilight Sparkle blushed as she saw her unicorn friend staring at her twisted limbs.

“Um… hehe… Morning, Seymour…” she dizzily said.

“…Uh… hi?”

Ponyville Library

9:30 A.M.

“Um… sorry if I made you feel awkward…” Seymour apologized.

“O-oh, don’t worry about it, Sey.” she answered. “It was my fault, I should have been ready a lot earlier…”

“No, no Twilight, it was just a strange… situation.”

Twilight had caught Seymour nervously staring.

“Seymour, you alright?” Twilight asked.

“OH! Uh, yeah. It’s just, well… you look awesome in those socks…” he stuttered slightly.

“…um… hehe, thank you.” she blushed. “It was kinda… last minute.”

“Well, either way, you look great.” Seymour continued. “I really mean that.”

Twilight’s face was now beet red, she glanced at the floor in flattery, ears flat against her mane.

“…Well, shall we get started?” Seymour asked.

“Yes, yes we should.”

Twilight Sparkle had always looked up to Seymour as a well-learned, maturing colt. Though she was not necessarily in love with the white unicorn at the time of her studies in Canterlot five years ago, she still had held a great deal of respect for the young stallion. Seymour had even come to her aid on several occasions, whether it be to simply finish a project or re-collect her sanity after a long day of mind-bending work. In working alongside one another, the purple mare had fostered a strong, almost sisterly bond with Seymour. But, like her assistant for the day, her feelings too had been altered since their first reunion in Ponyville several months prior.

Ponyville Library

10:15 A.M.

The two unicorns had been busy for about the last hour. The library had, at first, become a slew of books, tomes, and scrolls scattered in piles on the hardwood floor, but things were coming along nicely. By now, the two had about half of the library re-organized and ready for visitors.

“So, ho have things been going at the comic book store?” Twilight asked her white friend in attempt to break the ice.

“Well, to tell you the truth, I just re-organized the store myself two days ago. Well, Magnum helped out too, of course…” Seymour answered.

“Really? What a coincidence!” Twilight lightly laughed. “Two libraries redone in three days.”

“Well, it gets done faster when you enjoy what you do. Just look at me, I can sit in a comic book filled store for nine hours a day and still love my job, and my store.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right!  Rainbow Dash told me that you were manager there.” Twilight cut in. “I figured you’d like working in that store.”

“HA!!!”

“What’s funny?” asked a now confused Twilight.

“Manager?! I own the place.”

“Really?!!” she asked incredulously.

“Yep. All the comics, all the toys, all the figurines, posters, you name it, it’s all mine.” Seymour answered, a glimmer of pride in his eyes.

“Even all of those shiny cards?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Seymour nodded.

“…Wow…” Twilight stated. “I guess that explains the tidiness of the store.”

“You kidding? Corporate Comics Incorporated would have my flank on a silver platter if it weren’t.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right about that…”

The two continued their endeavor to re-sort the entire building for another few minutes, before Twilight broke the silence.

“…Seymour?” she asked, a slight blush creeping across her face.

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you came over to help me out today, I wouldn’t want anypony else for the job.” she said, genuinely thankful.

“…Naaaw, don’t worry about it. Always glad to be of help.” Seymour responded, blushing slightly.

The two continued on with their work.

…Wow, this is going great! Looks like Rarity was right… wait, no, I can’t let my guard down just yet, whatever you do Seymour, don’t screw this up…

Ponyville Library

12:13 P.M.

After a rather mind-numbing two hours of labor, the two unicorns finally were finished.  The two sat at the kitchen table to gather their strength back up.

“Wow!  Seymour, I knew you could cook, but this?!” gasped Twilight between eager gulps.

“…Um… you’re…welcome…?” he uttered while dodging stray droplets of the dish he had created.

*GULP* “…AAAAHHhhhhhh…!” she finally sighed as her lunch was gone. “What was in that, that… I don’t even?!!”

“Ah, Thai-djindu!  The artful crafting of soybeans, paprika, spinach broth and poison ivy coming together in a delightful-”

“PPPFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!!!!”

Twilight had done a spit-take upon Seymour’s words.

“………” Seymour paused, coated in the soup he had previously prepared.

“YOU PUT POISON IVY IN THE SOUP YOU FED ME?!!” Twilight shrieked. “ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!!”

“…………” Seymour sat in silence.  “…Twilight, relax.  The toxins in the poison ivy dissolve away in the heat of cooking. It’s harmless if you cook it like I did.”

“I-it is?”

“Um, yeah…”

“How?” she asked, genuine scholarly interest in her expression.

“Easy. The heat cooks away a certain chemical known as urushiol. It’s found in the sap of the plant, and takes time to bind with the cells of the skin. So, if the Hydroxide compounds are separated out, the sap becomes harmless, much like boiling dirty water before drinking it.”

Twilight sank back in her chair, covering her snout in realization of what she had done.

“O-oh my goodness!!  I’m so, so, so sorry!!!” She pleaded.  “I didn’t mean to spit all-”

“…Twilight, it’s okay. I’ll just go rinse it off outside.”

“No, no. You’re not going to use a garden hose to clean yourself off, and neither are you going to let your jacket go unwashed.” Twilight pulled herself together and said. “You’ll use my shower upstairs.”

“…Twilight, are you sure you want me up in your bathroom, using YOUR shower?” Seymour asked nervously. “B-because I have no problem with-”

“No, it was my fault that you got this filthy, you deserve bathe like a normal pony.” She enforced. “I won’t have you suffer discomfort or embarrassment because of my mistakes.”

“…Well, okay, if you insist…” Seymour sighed. “But don’t worry about my jacket, I can clean it off back at the shop…”

“No, no I’ve got it.  I know how to clean leather, don’t worry.”

Seymour hesitated a moment before nodding his head. He headed up the library stairs toward the bathroom to clean himself. Opening the door, he approached the shower chamber, which lay next to a large, exquisite looking bathtub. He turned the knob on the shower wall to the left.

“GAAA-AA!!  ICE SHOWER!  ICE SHOWER!!!” he yelped at the sensation of the cold water on his body. He turned the knob further to the left.

“AaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!  FIRE SHOWER!!  FIRE SHOWER!!!!!”

Backside in searing pain, he adjusted the knob as best as he could.  Finally, the water turned in temperature to a perfect warmth.

“……Haaaahhhh… much better…” he moaned.

Downstairs, Twilight Sparkle couldn’t resist uttering a giggle at her helper’s dilemma, audible from upstairs. Approaching the bathroom door, the purple mare gave Seymour a much needed heads up, albeit a bit late.

“…Yeah, the shower’s a little temperamental.” she giggled.

“…REALLY?”

As Seymour was absorbed into the wonderful feeling of his shower, he finally had a little time to himself to think about the previous events of the day.

Well, that was certainly unexpected… Oh, no matter, it was an accident, I’m sure it was just the poison ivy ingredient that spooked her a bit. Still, that was actually pretty funny, even when I look at it.

Seymour continued to soap out his mane and coat, cleansing himself of the offending substances which had covered him shortly before.  With a final turn of the knob, the shower stopped, and he stepped out onto the rug to dry.

…so cute…

Ponyville Library

12:40 P.M.

The sky had grown into a dismal overcast above the streets of Ponyville.

As Seymour trotted down the stairs into the lobby, he discovered a lone scroll sitting upon the floor, away from its designated spot on the library shelves.

“Oh, this won’t do.” Seymour said, worrying that the past three hours of work might have been all for naught.

Realizing that the scroll was blank, he breathed a sigh of relief.  He took the scroll in his magical aura, and set aside the other blank scrolls on a shelf to make room.  It was there that he discovered a small hidden door, no more than a foot in width and height, fixed into the back of this particular shelf.

“…Seymour, you really shouldn’t open that.” he argued to himself, resisting the urge to violate the privacy of what Twilight kept within the compartment.

That seemed to work for all of four seconds, before the curious unicorn opened the hatch, which revealed a cardboard box.

Checking his surroundings, Seymour slid the box out and opened the lid gently.

Upon opening the lid, his eyes bugged right out of his head, face bright crimson.

“O-OH D-DEAR…!”

Inside of the box were various forms of… rather illicit reading materials. Most of it not even for reading, so much as for viewing. Several of these filthy pages were well organized, except for one, with a strange stain upon it… he’d rather not guess what it was. There were various books, magazines, toys, erotic fanfictions, how-to guides, even two DVDs. One a hentai labeled “Ponyville Underground”, the other a copy of “Colts Gone Wild.”

Seymour hastily shoved the offending books back away, covering the scene exactly as it were left.

“…I…Saw…Nothing…!”

Seymour turned toward the kitchen in hopes of regaining his composure after witnessing Twilight Sparkle’s “dirty little secret.” Sure, he knew that many ponies enjoyed this rather questionable pastime. Hell, being the colt he was, he’d been there himself on several occasions.  He certainly had no room to judge his lavender librarian love-interest upon what she had done in her spare, lustful time alone.

This train of thought was cut short when Seymour, being the gifted sorcerer he was, had noticed something. Just then, he had felt a slight drop in the pressure of the air surrounding him, as well as a wave of moisture along his back. He immediately shook off his daze, and headed for the balcony.

Balcony

12:50 P.M.

Exiting the second floor to the balcony, the first thing which met his eyes were a rigid ceiling of grey clouds over the entire region. The wind rustled the branches of even some of the mightiest trees in town. Thunder echoed in the distance, then seemingly moved closer and closer to Ponyville.

“…Hmmm…” Seymour sniffed at the air.  “…I smell a storm coming…”

A thin vein of light flashed in the darkened sky, what must’ve been a few miles from where he was standing.

“…I knew it was supposed to rain today, but… this doesn’t seem like your run of the mill thunderstorm.”

Just then a massive flash of light illuminated the sky directly above the library. Seymour began to feel a nudging at the back of his mind, quickly transforming into a powerful tug, then into a violent throttle. One he knew all too well…

*FLASH*

“G—G-GAAAAH!!!  UUUNHH!!!-  G-GET OUT… OF MY HEAD!!!” he grunted in agony.

Everything we know

Know

*FLASH*

“N-No!! N-N-NOT HERE, NOT T-TODAY…!!!”

*FLASH*

Arcana incident

Arcana

He mustn’t be allowed to

…You’re a monster

You’re not my son!!!

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA”

*FLAAAAASH*

Magic Kindergarten, Canterlot

9:31 A.M.

Seventeen years earlier…

“HEEEY!!!  That’s my comic book!” shouted a white unicorn foal, no more than five years old.

“Oh, you want it back, cry baby?”

“GIMMEE!!” he pleaded.

“Awww, what’s the matter? Can’t reach your widdle stowy book?”

It was business as usual at Canterlot’s Magic Kindergarten class. Foals painted pictures on their desks, learned to use their crayons with magic, and all of the little ponies were bullying a small white foal with glasses.

“IT’S MINE, BUCK!!”

“Hey guys, come look at this!” the larger grey foal tormented.

“Ooooo!!  Little Seymour having a tough time?” a friend of his joined him.

“BAHAHAHAHAAA!!!”

The two standing before young Seymour were Buck and Wedge, the two premier playground bullies at the school.

“...”

Seymour began to softly snivel, catching the eyes of his tormentors. This only increased their relentless attack. This was going to be a long day indeed.

Lunchtime

12:00 P.M.

Young Seymour sat at a picnic bench in the middle of the school playground, eating the last few bites of his sandwich, having re-obtained his comic book with the help of teacher intervention.

A shadow was cast over him at that moment, and the foal’s eyes instantly grew to the size of dinner plates. He looked up, only to see Buck standing over him, an evil twinkle in his eye.

“Awww, what’s this?” he teased. “Widdle Seymour eating his lunch all alone? Where are your friends?”

“Oops, we forgot. You have no friends!” Wedge interrupted from seemingly nowhere.

“BAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” the two bullies laughed simultaneously.

“…S-Stop it!!” he begged. “I-I do have friends…!”

Seymour was taken into a demonstrative around-the-shoulder hold. Buck pointed his hoof toward the other fillies at the playground.

“Look around ya, kid. All of these ponies playing around on the swings and the monkey bars and the teeter-totters, but none want to play with you!!!”

“…I-I just haven’t-”

“Haven’t what? Talked to anypony ever? Oh yeah, you only have your stupid daddy to play with you!”

Seymour was shoved into the dirt by a strong hoof. While on the ground, he saw his lunch and his comic book once again in the hands of his tormentors.

“Hahahahaa… ha… See you around, pipsqueak!” Buck called, walking back to the playground.

Seymour noticed a strange moisture dripping from his nose. He held his hoof to it, only to find it stained crimson upon retraction.

“…I never did anything to you, Buck…” Seymour softly sniveled. “Why you gotta be so mean…”

Nose bleeding, the young unicorn began to cry loudly before running toward home as fast as his little legs could carry him. He didn’t care if he was skipping school, he didn’t care if he was disobeying the teacher. He just wanted to go back home, crawl into his bed, and never come back out.

Seymour’s Childhood Home

1:00 P.M.

Seymour burst through the doors of his small, but cozy house. He dashed up to his room, blinded by his tears, and crawled into his bed. He didn’t want to see anypony. Only an old rag doll, shaped like a donkey with button eyes and plaid pants. A small tag extended from its leg, marked on by a sharpie.

“Smarty Pants”

He cradled the doll and cried softly for the rest of the afternoon

Four hours later

A large white unicorn stallion with a soul patch burst through the front door of the house in a panic. As he swung his leather coat upon its rack, he heard a soft whimper from upstairs.

“…Seymour?” he called, peeking his head into his son’s room. “…You in there, son?”

“……………d-daddy…?”

The stallion rushed into the room and scooped Seymour out of bed and into his arms.

“OH THANK CELESTIA!!!” he cried out. “I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!!!”

“W-what’s going-”

“The entire kingdom is out looking for you! They told me you went missing this afternoon!!” he explained after somewhat calming down. “I’m so happy you’re safe…”

“……Why would anypony want to look for me… I’m just a big stinkin’ loser…” the teary foal whimpered.

“Seymour, you know you’re not a-”

“DADDY!!!” he screamed in fury.  “I’M A LOSER, NOPONY WANTS ME, NOPONY WANTS ME TO BE THEIR FRIEND!!!......I… I am a loser…”

His father placed a hoof on his mouth to stop him from speaking.

“SEYMOUR!! YOU LISTEN TO ME YOU ARE NOT A LOSER!!!” he commanded.  “…you’re the most important thing to ever happen to me… you’re my one and only son…”

“…b-but daddy…” Seymour cried.

“Son… sweetie… listen to me. Nopony hates you. Nopony could ever hate you. You’re just as important in this world as everypony else is. Son, I love you, and I won’t tolerate anypony who makes you thing about yourself this way…”

“Buck and everypony else hates me…”

“…Buck.” Seymour’s father stated harshly. “That little pile of… son, come sit with me.”

Seymour obeyed, and the two sat upon his small bed.

“…Seymour, it appears our little talk with your teacher hasn’t ended well… has it?” his father calmed. “Is… is that why you ran all the way home from school, son?”

“…*sniff* yeah…” little Seymour snuffled.  “I… why does Buck take all my stuff and be so mean to me? I never hurt him…”

“Son, ponies like Buck are just trouble for no reason sometimes.” his father cooed.  “…Would you believe me if I told you… that I was bullied all throughout school?”

“R-Really?!” Seymour sputtered in shock. “You got beat up in kindergarten?”

“Beat up?!” his father recoiled. “Seymour, son, did that Buck hurt you?!”

“He- he hit me in the nose, daddy… It was bleeding, it was so scary…” Seymour cried into his dad’s arm. “He hit me lots…”

“…That… DICK!” he growled.

“Daddy, you told me that was a swear!” Seymour gasped.

“I know, I know son. But this time’s different.” his father re-collected himself.  “…gaaah… Promise me you’ll never say that word, ever.  Promise?”

Seymour nodded his head.

“You’re a good boy, son.” his dad chuckled. “Now, let’s get you all cleaned up, and we’ll go get us some ice cream, hmm?”

“YAAAY!!!” Seymour screamed in delight.

By the time he could turn his head, his father noticed a small trail of dust leading downstairs.

“…Works every time.”

Magic Kindergarten, Canterlot

The next morning

“And that’s why I brought my magic hat to show and tell day!” a deep blue unicorn with a silver mane cheered to the class.  She took to the restroom as her teacher ushered her off of the floor.  “The great and powerful Trixie must use the potty!”

“That was very good, Trixie.” She clapped as young Trixie Lulamoon left for the bathroom. “Up next, we have… Seymour!”

“My turn!”

“Yes Seymour, now would you care to show us all what you’ve brought into class today?”

Seymour hopped down from his seat and trotted up to the front of the classroom.

“Today, I brought my bestest friend, Smarty Pants!” he gleefully declared. “I’ve had her since… since… I don’t know!”

Gazing upon the admittedly ugly rag doll, the audience began to chuckle.

“Yeah, she’s really fun, isn’t she?” he chimed, oblivious to his classmates.

“More like funny…LOOKING!!!” Buck called from above the giggling.

“BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!” the entire classroom was now in a hysteric uproar.

“…W-Wait, why are you… all laughing at me?” he asked, now realizing the situation.

“Because your dolly is old, and dirty, and smells like soap, that’s why!!” Wedge answered.

“My daddy says that Smarty Pants was his too!” Seymour cheerfully responded. “Of course she’s old. And she’s just been washed.”

The audience laughed even harder at this.

“Hey, leave Smarty Pants alone!! You too, Buck! My daddy said so!!” Seymour cried out, cheeks flushed red.

“Wedge, Buck, that’s enough!” the teacher tried desperately to command.

“S-stop it…*sniff*…”

“Aaaawww, what’s the matter? Gonna cry again?” Buck teased relentlessly.

“Please…stop it…” Seymour begged.

“What’ya gonna do? Cry to mommy?” Wedge laughed.

“WEDGE!! THAT’S ENOUGH!!!”

Everything went mute for the tormented foal. All he could see was laughing faces, all he could feel was envy… anger…hatred. He wasn’t sad anymore. He wasn’t embarrassed anymore.  He was only angry, filled with absolute fury.

Suddenly, a bright light and a deafening roar filled the entire room. And then… silence…

*FLASH*

GAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

*FLASH*

AAAAAAHHHHH

*FLAAAAAAAAAAAAASH*

Ponyville Library

3:40 P.M.

“GAAAH!!!”

Seymour jerked awake from his nightmare, only to find himself soaking wet on Twilight Sparkle’s couch, wrapped in a heavy blanket.

“Gaaahhh!!! *COUGH* *COUGH* Oh-OOooH GOD!!! *COUGH*” he wheezed.

“…Seymour?!”

“Guh, where the, who, what-”

Seymour was instantly enveloped in a tight, warm hug.

“OH SEYMOUR!!  THANK GOODNESS!”

“T-Twilight?!” Seymour stammered. Once he realized where he was, he returned her hug, albeit in a tangled mess of blanket.

“Gah, oh god… oh god…” he wheezed.

“Shhhh!!! It’s okay, Seymour, it’s okay… you’re inside now, you’re safe.” she tried to calm.

“What… did I… black out…?” Seymour asked hazily.

“You’ve been out for three hours almost!” Twilight explained. “I was looking everywhere for you, I got so worried when I couldn’t find you!”

“Wh-what?”

“When I wandered by the balcony, though, I found you collapsed outside in this downpour… What in Celestia’s name happened to you?!” Twilight asked, brimming with concern.

“…I must’ve, I… what’s with the covers?” Seymour asked.

“You were soaking wet and shivering out there, I had to bring you in here to dry off. So I fetched the comforter from my bed to wrap you up in.” Twilight answered. “I was worried you might get sick…”

“…I was out in the rain for three hours?”

“You must’ve fallen asleep out there after lunch, yeah, you were.” Twilight calmly explained.

Just then, one more memory hit the mind of the white unicorn like a ton of bricks. Seymour froze up, staring straight ahead at the wall, the calls of his friend trailing off into the distance.

Repressed Memories

No current time available

GA-AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

“………”

AA-A-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!

Arcane energy infusion cycle complete. Bio-readings nominal and unaltered.

“…Well, your highness, it appears that once again your ‘Arcana Project’ has failed.”

“Hnnnghh…” the taller figure grumbled. “…You should at least be dead with all of the dark energy I pumped into you…”

“What do you plan to do next, commander?”

FLASH

“Over a decade of work on this…thing, and still no results. Moreover, the resistance movement is crumbling as we speak, and we are no closer to our goal of an ultimate warrior.

“I will not be remembered as the general who lost this kingdom to those bleeding hearts!”

FLASH

“The resistance is done for! We must escape now!”

FLASH

“…Come with me, my beloved child. There is no need to fear…”

FLASH

“…All will soon be revealed…”

“…n-nuughhh…”

“…It’s time you had a second chance…”

Second chance…

Second…

FLAAAAAAASH

“SEYMOUR!! You need to stop conking out like that!

“…I… wait! I think… I remember now…”

“…Remember what, Seymour?” Twilight asked, obviously confused.

“…How it happened…”

Twilight’s eyes were lit ablaze with concern. Seymour was taken aback when he realized just how much she must have cared for him. This was unlike anything he felt from anypony else in his life.

Seymour struggled within his mind, only to come to one consensus with himself.

This was it… he had to tell her…everything.

“………Twilight…?” he sighed. “Can I… tell you something?  I really need you to hear me out on this…”

“…Of course, Seymour…” she calmly answered, scooting slightly closer to him on the couch.  “You can tell me anything…”

And so the truth Floweth forth…

“……What would come to your mind when I say… ‘Arcana’?” Seymour started.

“…Arcana…?”

Seymour now began to tell his tale.

“…Eighteen years ago, one of the most horrifying incidents in the history of Equestria took place one autumn day.” he explained. “With a blinding light, an entire room full of school fillies were instantly incinerated by an explosion of forbidden magic…”

“…The Arcana Incident, I’ve heard about that when I was only a foal…” Twilight cut in. “Yeah, I know about that, not much though…”

“You… do?” Seymour asked.

“…I was two then… so, I remember it… a little.” Twilight explained herself.

“…I see.” Seymour mumbled. “Well, that should make this explanation a bit easier to understand.”

“...Go on…” Twilight motioned.

“Yes, of course.” Seymour re-directed himself.  “One autumn morning, it is said that a young unicorn in Princess Celestia’s Magic Kindergarten, tormented by all for years…”

“…”

“…Finally snapped under the pressure of his tormentors.”

“What happened next?” Twilight asked.

“In a surge of dark magic, they say he, he… lit the air on fire…”

“What?!”

“In that one instant, the temperature climbed to 8,000 degrees, incinerating the entire room and everypony inside of it instantly, and blowing a chunk out of the building.” Seymour finished.

“…M-my gosh…” Twilight stammered.

“It’s said that the foal was endowed with this unstable power from birth, but it had taken over the foal’s body and mind…and released itself on that day.”

“…So, he…wasn’t in control of it…” Twilight asked.

Seymour nodded his head.

“…No pony could ever hope to control a force like that, especially at that young an age.” he continued. “It just… happens to those poor ponies cursed with its power.”

Twilight continued to listen intensively to her partner.

“…At least, that’s what the scholars said.”

“What… happened to the foal?” Twilight asked.

“He was proclaimed guilty of mass murder, instilling terror, and was branded a threat to society.” Seymour said. “If it weren’t for his young age, they would ultimately have him put to death. But they…”

“……They couldn’t find it in them to execute a foal…? Twilight finished.

“Mmmm.” Seymour nodded in response. “They ended up banishing the foal to the furthest reaches of the uninhabited wilderness, where they counted on him dying a slow, painful death at the hands of nature.”

“I see…”

“The sad thing is, the foal wasn’t even aware that he had this power inside of him, and just because of that… incident…. he was cast out, left to die…alone…” Seymour sighed.

“……That’s… that’s the most horrible story I’ve ever heard…” Twilight said in disbelief. “I’ve seen real evil in this world… nightmarish spirits, eternal chaos, kingdom takeovers, even the events of the Crystal Empire…but, death on a mass scale? I can’t wrap my head around that… it’s horrible…”

“………Believe me…” Seymour said.  “…It… it was…”

“…Huh?” Twilight was now in a state of confusion.

“…I still remember that horrible day… the nightmares, the flashbacks…”

“You were… there?”

“…Yeah… I was there.” Seymour sighed.

“…Oh my god…” Twilight put her hoof on his to comfort him.  “I had no idea…”

Seymour shied away from her hoof.

“…Seymour?” Twilight was taken aback at her friend’s action.

“…But, they say that after that moment of fire and death… a strange mark appeared upon that foal’s shoulders… it was like a crucifix, arrows extending from its sides, spikes swirling an loops… and mysterious black eye in the center.”

“…That’s- That’s the Seal of Forbidden Magic…!!!” Twilight realized.  “But… how?  How could you know about this?  Only two ponies in the world know, the princess and I!”

Seymour closed his eyes, and lifted his jacket from above his shoulder.

In that very moment, Twilight Sparkle could not believe her own eyes.

“…I’m… I’m the one… who did it…”

And so, unable to contain himself any longer, Seymour burst into tears.

“…I-I’m t-the one, I-I killed them! I killed them!” he sobbed, hooves over his face. “I-I-I killed them!”

Seymour continued to cry, whimper, and sniffle, until he felt two hooves around his midsection, a warm weight settling beside him.

“……S-Seymour…” Twilight gently muttered.

“…*Sniff* I- I’m so sorry… so sorry... Twilight I’m so sorry…!” he continued to cry.

“SEYMOUR!” she shouted in order to get his attention.

Seymour uncovered his face, and slowly turned his face toward her.

“…I- I’m a monster… a monster…” he stammered, a slight hiccup every now and then.

“……Seymour… it’s…it’s…”

“…It’s what…” he cried.

“…I-I don’t… I don’t think you’re a monster…” Twilight cooed.

Seymour couldn’t understand her reaction to his confession.  In his mind, he was the menace, the monster.

“…Wh- What…?” he paused, tears streaming down his face.  “Y-you…you…”

“You heard me…” she smiled up at him.  “I…don’t think you’re a monster…”

“…B-but, I, I…” he stammered.  “I killed an entire room full of children, I’m a murderer!”

“…Seymour… you weren’t in control of your own body, there is no way that I could ever blame you for your deeds that day, it wasn’t you…”

Seymour was stricken by silence, absolutely speechless, and absolutely infuriated…

“…..don’t…you…GET IT, YOU THICK-HEADED BOOKWORM?!!!” Seymour berated his friend.

Twilight Sparkle couldn’t believe the radical change in Seymour’s voice.

“THIRTY-TWO SCHOOL FILLIES, ONLY FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OLD!!!  ALL DEAD, DEAD AT MY HOOVES!  I’M A MURDERER, TWILIGHT!  A FUCKING MASS MURDERER, DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!!” he continued to bellow.

Twilight Sparkle simply could not accept this.  There was no fighting it now.  He was everything to her, the most important thing in her life.  And damn it, she was going to make him feel the same, whether he wanted to or not.

“NO, SEYMOUR! QUITE FRANKLY, I DON’T!!!” Twilight shouted back.  “OPEN YOUR FUCKING EYES, FUCKING LOOK AROUND YOU!!!  YOU ARE NOT A MONSTER, SEYMOUR!  AND YOU NEVER WILL BE!!!”

“SO MANY INNOCENT CHILDREN, NEVER TO REALIZE THEIR LIVES, THEIR DREAMS, NEVER TO SEE ANOTHER DAY, ALL BECAUSE OF ME!!!”

Twilight was now in tears herself.

“SEYMOUR, WE BOTH KNOW DAMN WELL THAT THAT WASN’T YOU!!!  IT JUST WASN’T!  I,I,I…”

“YOU CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WAS LIKE! YOU DON’T KNOW THE GUILT THAT…JUST CONSUMES ME EVERY-”

“MAYBE I CAN’T!” Twilight snapped back.

Seymour was struck silent at this.

“MAYBE I WASN’T THERE! MAYBE I CAN’T KNOW HOW IT FELT IN YOUR SKIN! FINE!”

Twilight broke into a soft cry.  “But…I... I know you, the real you…”

“…How could you even-”

“SEYMOUR!  Listen to me! You… you don’t know just how important you are to me…” she spoke in a softer tone. “You don’t know just how much I care about you… I’ve only known you for three years, and I can already tell you that you’re the greatest, most reliable, most honest, most wonderful colt I know… *sniffle* I- I really like you, you know…?”

“…But, Twilight, I…”

“…Nothing could ever make me think any less of you… you’re my irreplaceable…No, you’re more than a friend… so much more!!! Seymour… I… I…”

Twilight closed her eyes, and began to cry softly again, burying her face into Seymour’s chest.

“…now… do you realize… *sniff* how important you are to me…?” she cried, looking up into his cerulean eyes. “…just how much you mean to me…?”

Seymour couldn’t believe what he was hearing. All of the years he faced alone, with no companionship, no direction, no one to care about him. All of this just seemed to feel just the smallest bit further away. The anger, the torment, the guilt and the pain, seemed to becom just a little more bearable.

“……..I…Twilight, I…” Seymour stammered.

Twilight continued to cry into Seymour’s white coat.

“…..Twilight… I…. I’m… I’m sorry, Twilight… I’m so sorry…”

Twilight’s eyes went wide as he returned her embrace.  This was not her run-of-the-mill kind of hug, the kind of warmth she felt on a daily basis. No, this was something entirely new, something much, much more powerful.

“Twilight… I’m so, so sorry…” Seymour shakily apologized.  “I… didn’t… mean to hurt you…”

Twilight Sparkle had never experienced this kind of warmth in her entire life. Something in her crush’s arms just swept her off of her feet. In his hooves, she was walking on air.

“…It’s… it’s bad enough that I’ve had to go through… my life.” he said. “I…It was wrong of me to… to drag you into my grief… Twilight… believe me…”

“S-Seymour…?” she muttered.

“…I’m so, so sorry, Twilight…” Seymour apologized, getting up from the couch. “I’d better be going… I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted me around the library again…”

As Seymour made for the door, a strong set of hooves stopped him dead in his tracks.

“…Seymour…” Twilight calmly whispered. “I… I don’t want you to go…”

“…But, after everything I’ve put you through… How? How could you possibly want me here…with somepony as amazing as you…”

“I…I just don’t want you to go…” she answered. “Please, why don’t you stay here with me? At least a little while longer…please…”

Ponyville Library

5:00 P.M.

The storm outside had not given the town of Ponyville an inch. The super-cell thunderstorm was raging out of control just outside of the cozy kitchen of the library.

“…I don’t think this storm’s going to calm down any time soon…” Seymour stated.

“Yeah… I think you’re right.” Twilight replied.

The storm was fierce.  Lightning illuminated the sky every other second, it seemed.  Wind howled against the walls of the tree, and the rain could be heard indoors, even with just a tree’s foliage to catch it.

“Well, sure doesn’t seem that way.  Why don’t we get ourselves something to eat?” Seymour suggested.  “I could cook us up something again.”

“YEEES.” Twilight gasped.

“…Ooookaaay… shall I get the baking materials?”

About an hour later…

“Wow… Seymour, this is… amazing!” Twilight sighed.  “What do you call it?”

“It… really doesn’t have a name yet, hehe…” Seymour strained his mind.  “But, I’ve known how to cook it for about two years.”

In reality, it was a simple dish, consisting of stuffed green bell peppers.  The pepper itself, being exceedingly mild, brought a crisp texture to the dish.  Inside of the hollowed out fruit, rice of both brown and white were smothered by a rich red sauce.

“Well, you’ve made a fan out of me, Chef Seymour!’ Twilight giggled as she finished off her meal.  “Looks like Spike’s got some competition.”

“Speaking of which, I wonder where that little dragon of yours has gone…  I haven’t seen him all day.” Seymour pondered.

“Oh, him.  He’s just helping Rarity out with some project.” Twilight answered, sipping on her drink.  “He should be back by tomorrow.”

“Hehehe….”

“What’s so funny?” Twilight asked.

“…So that’s what they’re calling it these days…”

Twilight sat in confused silence for a moment, before her cheeks turned a bright crimson.

“PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT!!!!”

She sprayed her tea once again at Seymour.

Seymour stood firm, a stern expression on his face as the tea soaked through his jet black mane. Thankfully, his jacket was hanging in the bathroom drying from its earlier predicament.

“…I’m so sorry!!!” Twilight pleaded, once again.

“…………” Seymour nodded his head.  “…Yeah, I probably deserved that one…”

Twilight couldn’t help but chuckle at this.

“He’s only ten, you know…hmhmhmhmm!” she giggled.

“In pony years…” Seymour mumbled.

Lightning flashed intensely, illuminating the eyes of Seymour and Twilight Sparkle. The air in the library was charged with emotion as the two peered into each other’s eyes. The deep, heartfelt conversation between the two unicorns was interrupted by this dazzling flash of brilliant white light, followed shortly by the blaring of the town warning siren, somehow triggered in the midst of the violent gale.

“…Seymour, do you hear that?” Twilight checked.

“…Yeah… I did.” Seymour answered. “And I don’t like the sound of it.”

Seymour raced upstairs and threw open the glass doors to the balcony he had sat upon earlier. Fighting the wicked wind and pelting rain…no, this wasn’t rain anymore. The gentle patter of the earlier rains had been replaced by a painful hailstorm.

“Gaah, ow, OW!” Seymour grunted while looking out over the massive storm. The deafening sirens blared around him, alluding the terrifying fate the town would soon face.

“Ah, OW! OW! Ow…” he whined as chunks of ice fell from Celestia’s heavens above. “Guuh…! How is it hailing all of the sudden?”

Peering out above the town, Seymour found his answer.

“…Dear sweet Celestia…!”

Twilight Sparkle galloped upstairs to find her friend staring out at the black sky, eyes wide as saucers. His hair flowed in the driving wind. Attractive as she found this to be, a flash of light would reveal an image that would strike terror into her heart.

In front of the library, across town, raged the largest, fiercest tornado that she had ever seen.

“…th-that’s HUGE!” she stammered.

Twilight quickly grabbed Seymour by the hoof and dragged him inside. The two hurried down the stairs to the basement where she kept her research equipment.

“COME ON, THIS WAY!!!” she screamed over the blaring sirens and driving wind. “The basement, now!”

“How strong do you think that thing is?!” Seymour loudly asked.

“F-4, has to be a 4!” she answered, opening the lock on the basement door. “Can’t be anything weaker than a 4!”

“That’ll tear the library out of the ground!” Seymour exclaimed.

“No time to worry about that! Just get downstairs!”

Twilight Sparkle’s Basement

Thirty seconds later

The two had crawled into a far corner of the tree’s foundation. The corner was the furthest away from the door or any of the large scientific mechanisms that littered the room, ensuring at least partial safety. This still would not matter, however, if this behemoth of a twister were to cross directly over the library. The sheer force of the updrafts would lift the tree library right out of the ground with ease, exposing everything below.

“I don’t think the library is going to stand up to the tornado with a direct hit!” Twilight panicked. “If it lifts the tree off its roots, we’re completely exposed!”

Seymour sat, holding his hooves around her, trying to calm her down, even though he was scared as well.

“…it’s okay, we’ll be okay…” he repeated, more in attempt to calm himself now. The two could already hear windows shatter from above. The glass cracking served a testament to the awesome power of the storm.

“…S-Seymour… I’m so scared…!” Twilight cried. “This is crazy! I don’t want to do this anymore!”

Seymour began to tighten his hold on the shaking mare. Twilight noticed not only this, but that same familiar warmth she had experienced in his arms earlier. The feeling started in her shoulders, then spread rapidly throughout the rest of her body. She felt as if a warm, toasty blanket was wrapped around her, providing her a much needed sense of security.

“…I-it’s okay, I won’t let anything hurt you.” he repeated in a quiet, frightened tone.

Twilight Sparkle simply let herself slip further and further into this coma of warmth provided by the “colt next door”, who was now undeniably the stallion of her dreams.

“…S-Seymour?” Twilight whimpered. “I-if we d-don’t make it out of this, I want you to know…”

Twilight was cut off when Seymour gently placed a hoof on her mouth to silence her.

“Twi, we’re going to be okay… I promise, I’ll die before I let anything hurt you.”

Closing her eyes tightly, the lavender unicorn mare snuggled into her companion’s grip to wait out the violent gale that surrounded them. The winds, the lightning and the terror persisted for several minutes, then, silence… The tree had stopped vibrating, and the wind seemed to die out.

“…is…is it over…?” twilight asked, opening her eyes. “…Is it…gone?”

“…I think so…” Seymour answered, slowly getting to his hooves.

The two unicorns assumed a standing position and moved up toward the door into the library. Seymour had carefully opened the door, peering out at the devastation in front of his eyes.

“…how bad is it?” Twilight asked, somewhat concerned.

“…well, aside from some broken windows… nothing out of the ordinary.” Seymour responded. “… well, that went over better than I had expected.”

“You’re kidding me.” she protested. When her eyes met the rest of the library, she dropped onto her haunches, and breathed a hefty sigh of relief. Seymour was right. Other than broken windows and slight water damage from the melting hail, the library remained intact. Most of the books even stayed on the shelves, in the same order the two had placed them earlier.

“Well, at least we still have the library.” she said to herself.

By this time, Seymour had opened the front door to survey the rest of Ponyville. The Wonderbolts were in the air, surrounding a multicolored pegasus pony, offering praise every which way possible.

“Well, I guess it only took a super-tornado for the Wonderbolts to really notice you, huh Rainbow Dash…” he scoffed. “Looks like you all made it just in time.”

Unfortunately for the eastern half of town, the tornado had torn through the area with unparalleled ferocity. Each and every building was either stripped to its framework or flattened completely. Like with so many convulsions of Mother Nature, the black, swirling pillar of destruction had been vanquished as quickly as it was formed. All that was left to do was to rebuild Ponyville, and repair each life touched by the horrid event as best as possible.

“Well, it appears that we’ve made it out of this event alright.” Seymour sighed. “Listen, I’m going to go check on my shop. After that I’ll be back, if you want me to come back that is.”

Seymour began to walk away from the library, only to be stopped by his crush’s voice.

“WAIT!” Twilight yelped.

Seymour turned to face her.

“…I’ll come with you. We should go around and see if anypony needs help, you know?” Twilight explained, blushing slightly. “If you want…”

“Sounds like a fine idea, Twi.” Seymour agreed. “Let’s look for anypony who might need us along the way.”

“EY, SEYMOUR!!! TWILIGHT!!!” a confident female voice called from above. “I DID IT!!! I FINALLY DID IT!!!”

“Well, looks like we have request for an audience.” Seymour chuckled. Rainbow Dash had touched down beside the two unicorns, wearing a grin that threatened to tear her face apart. She was obviously beaming with excitements, eyes sparkling with pupils the size of dinner plates.

“Did something happen, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.

“I…I DID IT!!!” Rainbow screamed at the top of her lungs. “THE WONDERBOLTS!!! THEY. WANT. ME!!!!!”

“Seriously?!” Seymour jolted back.

“Congratulations!” Twilight cheered. “Your dreams have finally taken off!”

“I KNOW!!! And its. So. AWESOOOOMEEE!!!!”Rainbow squealed. “OMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOSHOMIGOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!!!!”

“…I take it you had a hand in stopping that tornado?” Seymour guessed.

“All you need is a sonic rainboom to build speed, then spiral around the twister counter to its spin.” Rainbow bragged. “Easy peasy one-two-threesy.”

“Well, it seems that you won’t be taking as many naps, huh?” Seymour joked.

“HEY!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding…” Seymour laughed. “Seriously, I’m happy for you!”

“…Thanks…!” Rainbow blushed in embarrassment. “You know, Seymour? I guess you’re pretty cool.”

“Naaah.”

With Rainbow Dash rocketing into the stratosphere, the two unicorns made their way through the rest of Ponyville

Ponyville Library

1:14 A.M.

The night had finally gone still. The gentle breeze from the aftermath of the storm swept through the night sky, illuminated by Luna’s beautiful moon. Twilight Sparkle finished taping the last of the wooden planks she had borrowed from Sweet Apple Acres to the now exposed ports that used to be the windows of the library. Yawning loudly, she finally spoke to her white helper once more.

“Seymour?” she asked.  “…can… I ask you something?”

“What?  Sure.” he replied.

“Just so you know, you don’t even have to answer this if you don’t feel comfortable doing so…” she explained.

“………It’s about my past, isn’t it…”

“……mmm.” she nodded.

“………Alright… I’ll tell you…” Seymour sighed heavily.

“…Are you sure…?” Twilight refuted.

“…Yeah, I’m sure.  You deserve to know the truth.” Seymour returned.  “Go sit down on the couch, I’ll tell you everything there.”

The two trotted over to the couch.  Upon sitting, Seymour began to recount his side of the gruesome tale.

“I was only five years old.  Obviously, I wasn’t the most popular student in Magic Kindergarten.  Every day was always the same. Morning: verbal torment along with the theft of my personal belongings. Lunchtime: continued verbal abuse, and the ruining of my lunch. The school bus: all the same. All the same…”

“It’s horrible that any pony would have to go through that at such a young age…” Twilight tried to sympathize.

“Yeah, it only gets worse from there.”

“How so?” Twilight asked.

“I always cried after school, every single day.  But, then, my…my dad would always come home from work.”

“…Oh my… I think I know where this is going…”

“No, no, no Twilight!” Seymour chuckled. “No, my dad wasn’t like that… he didn’t abuse me or anything.”

“Oh, sorry…” she apologized.

“It’s alright, it’d be the first thing to come to my mind, too.” Seymour reassured, patting her shoulder. “You see, my father, he was always busy with his job, day and night. We never really had it… well off, but we managed. But no matter how busy he was, he always made time for me. He always included me in his daily planning, no matter how big his workload. He…he loved me… and I loved him. More than anything else, we loved each other. He would always listen to me when I talked about my bad days at school, he’d always hold me while I cried. He… he was the best father I could have ever hoped for…”

“Did… he ever try to step up for you at school?” Twilight asked.

“Yes, he did.” Seymour replied. “My pop could read me like an open book, no matter how hard I tried to conceal it. He went to talk some sense into our teacher, but, that only made things worse in the end…”

“…How…?”

“Well, when my tormentors found out that I ratted on them, they started to get physical in their abusive behavior. I would sometimes come home sore, or with a few nicks. But the afternoon before it all happened, I got roughed up by those hooligans again. I went running away from school that day with a black eye and bloody nose. I cried the whole time, until my dad came home. I told him what happened, and that his plan didn’t work. But, I still turned to him for comfort, which he had no shortage of for me. That night, he told me about how he was just like me. Hehe…we sat up talking and laughing until bed time…”

Twilight just sat and listened intently.

“But… the next day…” Seymour continued. “It… it all went down the toilet.  I mean… how… how could they have found out…”

“Found…Out…?” Twilight muttered.

“They… they had finally done it. They had finally pushed me far enough… I snapped.”

“What… did they do to you?”

“…My mother.”

“S-Seymour…”

“…I-I’m fine… I’m okay…I’m okay.” he stated to himself. After a short breath, he continued with his story.

“What about your mother, Seymour…?”

“I… I never knew my mom…” Seymour continued. “My mom…she died in labor.  I’ve never heard her voice, hell, I’ve only seen pictures of her.”

“…”

“And those… those bastards found out about her… and they…”

Twilight finally began to understand the severity of her friend’s traumatizing life.

“They teased me about not having a mom… That was it, something inside of me just… it just snapped, exploded with fury. I couldn’t hold in my hatred any longer. But, before I could pin it down with words………you know the rest…”

Twilight Sparkle herself was tearing at the mere thought of his tragedy.

“……My… God…” was all she could bring herself to say. “Seymour… I- I…”

"…You see, after the incident happened, I apparently fell unconscious. About a week later, I woke up in the Canterlot Maximum-Security Prison. I was so confused and alone, I couldn’t find my dad, my teacher, anypony. I was… well, scared shitless, as Rainbow Dash would put it.”

“…Then what happened?” Twilight asked.

“…Well, then there was the trial.”

“…You were banished to the furthest reaches of the world, right?” Twilight attempted.

“Yeah… the worst part about it was that…” Seymour continued. “…My f-father, he disowned me. He just gave me away to the mercy of the government after he had found out about the whole incident. The last thing I ever heard from him was that he could never have had a son so…evil.”

“I…I-I had no-”

“I’d never felt so alone in my entire life. The only person who ever cared about me was my father, and for him to just abandon me like that… when he said he’d always be there for me… I just…”

Twilight wrapped a hoof around Seymour.

“…Well now you have me…” she cooed. “Now you’ll never have to feel alone again…”

Seymour glanced over at Twilight, his eyes beginning to tear up.

“…T-thanks, Twi. That…means a lot to me.”

Recollecting himself, Seymour began to finish his account.

“I remembered being in this dark room for a really long time. I was apparently being experimented on because of my powers.”

“Experimented?”

“Yeah. Apparently, Celestia found me after a riot broke out in some research prison I was being held in, and took me back to Canterlot, where she helped me learn to control my arcane energies.” Seymour continued. “She told me that I was the subject of horrible, painful experimentation for twelve years, by who or where, I don’t know.”

“She never told you?” Twilight asked.

“No… she said it would be best if I didn’t know all of the details.”

“…So, whatever happened to your father?” Twilight inquired.

“Can’t say.” Seymour answered. “Haven’t seen him in eighteen years. Nopony ever told me anything about him, no one really knows what happened to him. So, I just assumed he was dead. Doesn’t matter now, I’d rather never see him again anyway.”

“…I’m so sorry…I never knew that you had such an awful life…” Twilight sympathized.

“…Hey, it wasn’t all bad. You get used to the loneliness…” Seymour replied. “Besides, Celestia was like the mother I never got to know. It’s because of her that I had another chance at life. Because of her, I moved to Ponyville, and I was reunited with you after three years.”

Seymour chuckled.

“Twilight, when I saw you again, I realized just how much stronger, smarter, and amazing you had grown over those three years under Celestia’s tutelage. I always thought you had a very bright future ahead of you when we used to work together under the princess. But now, I think you’ve grown into an incredible mare since you were only eighteen. I mean, if it weren’t for getting to know you, I probably wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Twilight sat silent, a fluttering feeling overtaking her.

“I guess, what I’m trying to say is that you taught me, more than the princess or anyone else, that maybe I really could have a second chance.” Seymour finished. Twi, I wouldn’t say that you’re the best friend, partner, and companion I’d ever known if it weren’t the truth…”

“Thanks… I always liked being around you in school. I always thought that you were a kind, mature colt at the time. I still do.” Twilight confessed. “…Sometimes I missed those days when it was just you and I, training under the princess, growing up together.”

“You…remember all of those days?” Seymour asked, somewhat shocked.

“I couldn’t ever forget anypony like you, Seymour.” She responded. “You just… mean too much to me.”

Twilight sparkle blushed, and looked up to Seymour with a smile before a soft yawn escaped her lips.

“…Seymour?” she called. “I think I’m ready to pitch in for the day, boy am I exhausted.”

Seymour stood to meet her gaze.

“Yeah, me too. Been quite a day, hasn’t it?” he responded.

“…Thanks for coming over today to help me out. I…really liked having you over.” She spoke. “I really, really liked having you today…”

“I think I should be thanking you for having me.” Seymour replied, blushing. “I really liked being here with you too…”

Seymour picked up his jacket from the coat rack, and moved to put it on.

“I’d better be getting back to the shop, it was a pleasure helping you today.” he began. “Have a good-”

“Wait, don’t leave just yet…” Twilight suddenly called. “Seymour, I’d… well…”

“What is it Twi?” he asked.

“…I’d like you to stay here with me tonight, just to be on the safe side.” Twilight suggested. “…That, and I just… I don’t want you to go so soon…”

“Twilight, are you-”

“…Please Seymour… stay here with me tonight…”

How the hell could he resist this invitation? The mare of his dreams inviting him for a sleepover, at her own home! Seymour couldn’t believe that his little organization date would turn into…no, no it was just for safety measures. Besides, she was just offering him a friendly gesture was all.

“…Okay, I’ll stay the night here.” he answered with a slight smile.

“…Thank you…” Twilight sighed.

Twilight Sparkle’s Bedroom

1:22 A.M.

Twilight Sparkle had just finished her nightly hygiene routine and was preparing to head off to bed, when Seymour knocked on her door.

“Twilight?” he softly called.

“…yes?” she answered, entering her bed and pulling the covers over her body, revealing a familiar, beat up rag doll with button eyes and plaid pants.

“Would you happen to have a spare pillow I could use?” Seymour inquired. “I might need it if I’m going to be on the couch.”

Twilight sparkle closed her eyes and shook her head.

“…Seymour, you’re not sleeping on the couch.” Twilight firmly answered. “I won’t allow it.”

Seymour paused for a few seconds.

“Well, where would you prefer me stay?” he asked.

Twilight shifted her body slightly, and scooted herself over to the right half of her bed. Once on the other side, she patted a hoof on the remaining bed space.

“…Why don’t you stay in here with me?” she asked, somewhat pleadingly. “You’d get a really good rest if you stayed with me in my bed…”

“Gyahaaa?!” Seymour uttered, flabbergasted at his crush’s suggestion. “…I…Uh…um…I don’t know if that’s such a good-”

“It’ll be fine, Seymour.” she reassured. “I promise I won’t try anything funny, and I trust you’ll do the same…”

“…I…”

“…please, Seymour… sleep with me tonight…?”

Seymour finally gave in.

“…How could I say no to you…”

Twilight smiled sincerely as Seymour took his jacket off.

“Just let me move my old doll for you.” Twilight said.

“…I’ve been meaning to say… something about that doll looks familiar.” Seymour puzzled. “Like…it reminds me of what happened on that day.”

“…What do you mean?” Twilight asked. “You think Smarty Pants looks familiar?”

“…Smarty Pants?!” Seymour realized. “N-no, it couldn’t be.”

Twilight lay in bed, confused.

“…I used to have a stuffed donkey… named Smarty Pants.” Seymour explained. “I lost her as I was being hauled away from the school, she fell out of the cart, I think.”

“…Wait…” Twilight stopped him. “…I found Smarty Pants near my mailbox one morning when I was two! She had that name scribbled on her tag in black ink.”

“But I wrote her name on her tag with a sharpie!” Seymour continued. “T-there’s no way it could possibly be her. I mean, the odds!”

Twilight tossed her doll at Seymour, who caught the toy to examine it.

“……”

“…Well?” Twilight asked.

“…It’s… her!” Seymour finally concluded. “It’s… Smarty Pants…!”

“Well… talk about resurging lessons.” Twilight laughed. “I once learned that some ponies can have a special connection even before they meet, but this, this is just… unreal!”

“…I think it means something… but what, I’m not sure.” Seymour pondered. “But, for the time being, I think you should keep her.”

“Thanks… I guess…”

Hanging his leather jacket on the back of a chair, he slowly crawled into the vacant space of twilight’s bed. Once settled in, he felt a warm, soft mass coat his body as Twilight levitated the thick comforter onto him.

Seymour couldn’t help but feel an unimaginable sense of comfort next to his love interest. The covers were soft, the mattress was firm, yet cozy at the same time. The pillow the tow shared was thick and comfortable, propping his head into the prefect position. Seymour was in heaven next to her.

“…Twilight…?” he sighed.

“…mmm?” she responded.

“…Your bed…it’s really warm...” Seymour sighed in content. “It’s…very comfortable.”

“…does the job doesn’t it?” she softly said, rolling over to face him.

“…yeah…”

Twilight Sparkle scooted ever so slightly closer to her companion, making sure not to alert him to her movements.

The two finally closed their eyes, and tried to fall asleep. But slumber would evade them on this night when a more powerful feeling took hold over the two.

…Is…Is this… really happening…?

…I can’t believe how far this has gone…

…He’s here… with me…

She… wants me here with her…

This is much more wonderful than I could have ever dreamt it could be…

She…wants me here with her…

Come on, Twilight, if now isn’t the best time, it never will be…! Tell him how you really feel…!

She…wants me here with her…!

Say something…Dammit, SAY SOMETHING!

She…wants me here… in bed…with her…!!!

But what if he…

I… I have to do something… but I know I can’t!

NO! You won’t mess this up!!!

But she’s just…so…

You can do this, Twilight! Tell him how you feel!

She’s…so…beautiful…I…I…!!!

Twilight Sparkle then did something neither of them expected. She rolled over, scooted up to Seymour, and threw her hooves around him in a tight hug.

Seymour froze in place.

“…S-Seymour…?” she nervously spoke.

“…M..mmm?”

“I… I need to tell you something…”

“…Y-yeah?”

The two were now looking into each other’s eyes, locked in a deep trance.

“…I…Ever since you came here to Ponyville, I… I’ve felt differently about you than before…really differently…” she choked. “I mean… I’ve always liked you. But, it’s just something about you… it really just…”

“…Twilight…”

“…I really like you… I really do, you know…?” Twilight finished. “You’re just… I think you’re amazing…”

“………”

“…I just feel really safe when you’re around me, I feel like I can really communicate with you… and that you really get me.”

Twilight bit her lip and tried to stifle her tears.

“……I-I just…Seymour…I…” she started to cry. “I…”

That was it for Seymour. It was now or never.

Seymour sat erect in the bed and pulled twilight up with him, locking eyes with her as he grabbed her shoulders, pushing the hair out of her face and behind her ear. His eyelids slowly drooped downwards as he inched toward her. After what seemed like an eternity, the lips of the two unicorns finally met. Twilight Sparkle was utterly shocked, her body seizing up as her lips were enveloped by his. But once the feeling truly took hold, she melted into his arms, closed her eyes, and returned the kiss with tears streaming down her face.

All she could feel was bliss, all he could feel was comfort. The two of them knew right then and there, that the feelings that they hid from each other…were mutual. They were in love, and they didn’t care when, why, or how. This was now, and now was their time.

Her lips tasted sweet, as if they were made from the concentrated essence of a fruit roll up, a mixture of passion and understanding that the young stallion hadn’t ever known. He took his sweet time to ensure that she was the one enjoying this moment the most. His lips tasted of an indescribable mix of wonder, struggle, and devotion. She leaned into his soft fur coat with all of her being, feeling as though she could melt into his body and become one with her soul mate.

Several seconds passed, the two unicorns passionately caressing each other, hooves entwined, warm lips and tongues wrestling for dominance. Finally, Seymour separated the long, passionate kiss, laying their heads carefully down onto the pillow, and opened his eyes to find his lover doing the same.

Twilight Sparkle stared into his eyes with a beautiful, genuine smile on her face.

“……I love you…” she softly spoke.

Seymour caressed her tear-stained cheek with his hoof.

“……I love you too… Twilight…” he responded.

Twilight closed her eyes and snuggled up to her new lover, gripping him tightly in her hooves. Seymour placed her head between his neck and shoulder, wrapping his own hooves around her in a soft embrace.

“……So…I guess this makes us…official now?” Twilight asked, grinning sheepishly.

“…It appears so…”

“…Seymour……” Twilight sighed. “…I’m happy to be claimed as yours…”

Seymour snuggled his new marefriend close and kissed her forehead as she fell asleep in his arms.

“…… love you too… Twi…” he cooed. “…and I always will…”

Twilight Sparkle was sound asleep, cradled in the arms of her lover.

“…good night…”

Seymour lay in bed, only to think to himself, pondering the events of the day that had passed him by. One question in particular, however, presented itself to the forefront of his mind:

…Did I just score?

Credits:

Seymour is an entirely fan-based pony based on myself, my personal life, Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil/Biohazard 6), and other personal/ pop-culture elements. Any unintentional relations to other characters or persons are purely coincidental.

Magnum is another fan-made pony.

I possess no rights or affiliations to or with My Little Pony, My Little Pony: Friendship is magic, Hasbro, Lauren Faust or other third party affiliates inclusive of character designs, personalities, geography, or story elements. The scenarios presented in this rendition of the show are entirely fictional, including any original characters or situations.

“Kielbasa Sausage” is a copyrighted musical piece by Jack Black, Kyle Gass by Buttflap Music, album: “Tenacious D.” I do not own any rights or affiliations to or with Tenacious D, Jack Black, Kyle Gass, or any affiliates.

Song Credits:

Kielbasa Sausage- Tenacious D, Jack Black, Kyle Gass

*No ponies or pony-like creatures were harmed in the production of this fanciftion.*