A Fake Face

Life

I am Tetrax Malin, I am just your ordinary unicorn, and vampire, you know? And i'm around 18 years old, I live with my mother and father, though living condition in this war isn't easy for sure, but we are able to live in quite a prosperity, at least relatively speaking.

My family is quite happy as it is, seeing it's war time and all, but it's all well and good, and speaking of my parents, their occupation isn't unique, yeah we're just a normal family really

My Father is in the Army of the Founder, the initial ruler of the land, and the one that the rebel wants to get rid of, we sided the Founders due to my lineage basically, my great grandfather was actually quite the important pony in the Founders politics, I don't exactly remember what he does, but I believe he worked in the economy section.

Since my Father, whose name is Robert, is in the army, my mother and I always worry about him every time he's on duty, since being in the army basically risking your life every time you are, especially in a war time, but he's been with us for 15 years, I feel really lucky for that.

(Note: I do know for a fact that the pony names aren't pony names, but a pony name seem to be always around their cutie mark or their respective abilities, and let's just say that vampires don't have a cutie mark, hey vampires are never shown or talk about in the show, so i can make my own lore)

Actually, my father didn't want to go to the army initially, at least that's what he told me, but he join the army so that he can make more of a living for the family since i'm around, I feel bad really, because of me he can't live his dream job, and he have to risk his life everyday for me and my mother. Not that I know what his dream job is, he never told me that, whenever I asked he always answer, whatever job to keep me and my mother safe and happy, and he said that every single time, so I just stopped asking.

My Mother, whose name is Margaret, is a housewife, not because she can't have a job, but instead my Father suggested that my Mother should just take care of things here. Due to the war situation, crimes are high, and my Father fear the worse for my Mother if she works, and besides, nopony going to be around to take care of me if my mother is working, or worse. Yeah, babysitters aren't an option at the current time. And the fact that my mother is a housewife is also one of the factor why my Father is in the Army.

So as you can see, it's really basic, nothing too special about my family or me really, at least, as a family in a Cold War time anyway, but I suppose I can talk about myself right now.

I work as a courier, you know delivering stuff here and there, usually to different posts or stations, and usually it's just food or some weaponry, it's pretty easy actually, sure sometimes there are things like bandits, monsters, goblins, and the like, but we already have that handled.

usually we go in groups of four when delivering stuff, 2 guards, 2 couriers usually, so we don't have to worry to much if there's an attack and since i'm also quite adept at using magic, offensive and defensive, I can defend myself quite well anyway, even without guards I could probably still deliver stuff safely.

Also speaking of magic my family has quite a way with books, we even have  a small library in the basement, and by small I mean it's basically just 3 bookshelves, full of books though.

Since I can't really do much  in terms of entertainment, reading has become somewhat of a daily basis really, I usually read books after I got home from work, or when I have nothing to do, that's also why i'm adept at magic, I read loads of books about magic, and I practice a lot since I have a lot of time

And that's it really, not much I can say, again I'm just a normal pony, has a normal family, but living in an extraordinary time, at least normal as it is

And once again, I find myself bored, and reading a book. Though this book is quite special, somewhat anyway, it's not even an actual book, but a magazine, about life in Equestria. The land we originated from

I got the book when I was little, in some area, just lying there, figure somepony must have flown by from Equestria and dropped the magazine I guess, i know that's a stretch, but that's the only explanation I can think of why it's just lying there

Anyway, this magazine just show the peaceful life of the Ponies there, how they all hang out in cafes, talk, and just enjoy life, there's also somethings about celebrities, though i don't care much. I wish I was there, it's hard to enjoy life when every single day you always have a threat that the rebels are going to attack.

But in here, they seem to have nothing to worry about, I mean I'm sure that they have problems in the country, but it just seems that everything there, can be sort out peacefully, unlike here.

And this magazine, i've already read it at least 10 times now. And that envious part of my mind is the only thing that keeps making me read it.

But after thinking about that, I close the magazine and try to find some other books to read, before my mother call me

“Tetrax! Can you come here, dear?” My mother call with a peaceful tone

“Coming!” I reply, I wonder why she call me, the thing is my mother rarely calls me when I'm reading a book in the 'Library', but anyway, I trot my way, and climb up the staircase to the main portion of the house, it is a pretty long staircase now that I think about it, the 'Library' must be pretty deep underground I suppose.

After climbing the staircase, I look around trying to find where my mother is calling me from, after thinking for a moment I decide to look to the kitchen first, my mother enjoys cooking so it's not a surprise if I find her there.

But after reaching the kitchen, she isn't there, a slight disappointment, but whatever I guess, so I decided to call

“Mother! Where are you?” I call loudly

“In the living room” My mother reply as calm as ever and it is coming from upstairs

The Living Room? Well our living room is upstairs for some reason, probably cause we have so many stuff downstairs, like carpets, swords, some toys, and bits, loads of them, those are Equestrian currency apparently, we don't use them here, we use what is called 'ZIN' a weird name for sure, our ancestors probably have those since ages ago, and just keeps them, a memento perhaps? I don't think so, but anyway. I trot my way up the staircase, leading to the upstairs living room and immediately reach it, and my mother is there alongside my, Father? Isn't he suppose to be working right now.

“Father? What are you doing here, shouldn't you be working right now?” I immediately ask after reaching them

“Your father was given a break from work today” My mother answer my question

“Break?” I parrot

“That's right son, I was sent home cause tomorrow i'm getting a big assignment, but sadly i'll be away for quite some time when that happen, that's why the captain said I should go home and be with my family” My Father explain with a mish mash of a sorrowful tone and a cheerful one, odd

“Okay, I guess, which leads to this question, what do we do?” I ask with somewhat of an expectant tone, since you know I never get to hang out with my family a lot anyway, i'm quite excited for this

“How about...A trip to the park, or a picnic perhaps?” My mother suggested

“That would be nice Margaret, if we do that, we can catch up on a lot of things, right Tetrax?” My father agrees

“Sure, but if it's a picnic, then I guess we're going to have to pack some things.” I clarify

“Well of course dear, we should get right to it then” My Mother reply, and after that just go straight to the kitchen to get somethings ready

“I'll go get the Mat then!” I shouted trying to tell my mother who went straight downstairs

“I'll go help you mother” My father said it while climbing down the stairs

So I guess I better get the mat then, it should be around here since we mostly keep things in one the second floor

As I look around trying to find a mat, I come across some things of the past, my old toys mostly, you know dolls, slingshots, wooden swords and wands, I smile as I look at them, remembering the fact when you were a kid, you don't really care about the war and such, and just feel free all the time and only want to play. I quickly dispose of the thought, in this place, you grew up fast, you quickly learn the harsh reality of things around you, and those moments when you were a kid, means nothing anymore, sad really.

After i'm done being depressed, I quickly go back to search for the mat, and there it is, underneath some stacks of boxes in the corner, I quickly levitate all the boxes away and levitate one of the mats, that is neatly folded into a square shape.

And after that, I trot down the staircase and goes to the kitchen, to find my mother and father packing up lunch that consist of sandwiches  and salad into a cute little basket, they sure work fast, since It's probably only about 3-4 minutes for me to find the mat, and the fact that they are unicorns also helps.

“Well, things look finished here” I said

“Yes Tetrax, and there's the mat, let me take that” As soon as my mother say that, she quickly take it from my magical 'grasp', and place it on top of the basket.

“Well, that's everything, you ready, son?” my father ask

“Sure, but I should take a bath first” I reply

“Tetrax! You never change, you never take a bath in the morning” My father yell at me at me a bit

“What? I don't like doing it in the morning!” I reply while also yelling a bit

“Now now, Tetrax go take a bath and dear, I need help doing something else if you don't mind” My Mother breaks our argument, while staying as calm as a figurative armor

And of course both of us comply I go to the bathroom and my father follow my mother.

After I reach the bathroom and go inside, I start the shower, and just take a bath. After i'm done I dry myself with a towel, and go outside the bathroom to meet my parents

“You done?” My father ask

“Hmm, I don't know” I answer sarcastically

“Okay boys, let's just go okay!” My mother order

After she say that, me and my father just shut up and leave, for the better I suppose

As we trot to the park, I notice that this place is as gritty as ever, everything feel so, metalic, and rusty, so to speak. Things, feels really old and abandoned, even though it's not at all, machinery always running somewhere, to be expected. A war about Technology development really speeds up industrial things, and everywhere there's always a sound of machinery running and clangs of metals, and with dark and dirty alleyways In the middle of each building, which is a place where thugs and homeless ponies usually is, and gives off the feeling of desperation everywhere you go. I hate it

My mother and father trot beside me, and they aren't paying any attention to the gritty look of the whole town really, probably because they're so used to it by now, I don't of course, but one thing did strike me as good, there aren't any thugs around, quite odd considering that every time I go out to this place I always at least 2 walking around

Actually I got striked one time, it wasn't anything dangerous really, just some thief stealing my saddlebags even though I caught up to the thief in no time, since he's just a colt. That just goes to show you though, in war time even little colts have to steep into dangerous level sometimes. But I let the kid go that time, after taking back my saddlebags of course.

But once again, I just let that memory go down the drain since we already arrive at the park, which is a completely different view from the rest of the town really, green grass, patches of flowers, lines of trees, benches, not much really, but it's heaven compare to the gritty, metallic, rusty town, so I will happily go here any day really, though of course I say that and the I will never come here again

Once we find a good spot under the shade of a tree, I quickly lay down the mat and lay down, but not before my mother tidy it up first, she's such a perfectionist sometimes. And so after that I lay down, my father soon follows, but not my mother she's just sitting at her haunches, while preparing the meal.

But i'm just laying down here, looking at the blue sky, which is the only thing that I like about this place really, it gives you that sense of freedom when you look at it, even if it's only a few seconds

But my dream mode is suddenly broken, by my father

“Hey son, how about a race?” My father challenge me

“Race?” I parrot

“Yeah! From here, to those trees over there, and then we take a turn, and run back here” My father explain

“I don't know dad, I like to just relax today” I try to avoid the challenge, I never like sports really, any kind, I can be a good fighter, sure, but I don't know, I don't feel like doing it at all today

“What, scared of losing to your old pony?” he insulted

“What?!” I asked in quite an annoyed tone

“That's okay son, it's alright for you to think you'll lose to me, after all, all you do is read books all day” my father insulted again

I'm not really the type that can let insults like that just go away, and by god, I hate it especially if someone insulted me like that

“Fine! I ain't scared to lose to some old pony like you father! Come one Let's go!” I screamed, yeah, i'm definitely not going to let that insult go

  I stand up I all four my legs, before saying “I'll show, that even a 'bookworm' like me can beat a trained soldier like You!” I exclaim

“Then prove it tough guy!” My father reply

And after that, without words, we just start getting ready to race. I'll show him that 'bookworms' like me could easily beat a pony like him

I stretch out one of my right fore leg and also my left hind leg, getting ready to run, but my father however, wasn't doing it at all, and I know he is underestimating me, which makes me even more frustrated

“I should count” My father suggest

“Sure” I reply

“3”

Alright, here goes

“2”

Getting ready

“1”

Take a deep breath

“Go!”

After that I just run as fast as I could with all four of my legs hitting my top speed, though I haven't put a smile as my face since I know my father is going to keep up with me or run pass me, and so I go and check

He is running beside me, like right beside me, smirking at me while we are running, it's frustrating

But as soon as I know he is right next to me, I know I have to run faster, so I try really hard to break my top speed. The pace of my legs start going faster and faster, my legs are burning up a bit, but I quickly brush it off, thinking that I have to beat my father

And after I know I'm going faster, I start to look at my father who is falling behind. And I start to put up a grin at my face while still running towards the trees

After less than a second after reaching the trees, I turn and start running towards the mat and keeping up the same speed as before and also catch a glimpse of my father still falling behind

I still put up my grin as I run towards the mat, i'm confident that I will win this thing. But my thoughts was soon crushed, because when I turn my head to look at my father, he is keeping up with me, fast

I don't want to keep being surprised though, cause I know if I want to win, I have to run even faster. But I can't

My father is catching up and the mat is still quite a way, as I run as fast as I could towards the mat, I close my eyes, I don't know why, I just feel like I should, but i'm still running even if my eyes are closed

But, while i'm running, my horn start to feel like i'm casting magic, I don't know why, it just happen. I try to stop it, but the magic feels stronger every time I try to stop it, as it grow stronger, and stronger suddenly a black flash envelops me, and blur out my vision for a while

And the next thing I know, i'm at the mat, while a sense of a magical aura still arround me

I must have..Teleported? I don't even know how to teleport though, how did I just do that?

But I quickly dismiss the thought for the moment, when my father call out to me and my mother clap happily at my victory

“Congratulations dear, I know you can beat your father” My mother congratulate me with a cheerful tone

“Yeah you did great” My father also congratulating me after he is beside me

“But, I teleported” I say with a rather disappointed tone

“Nonsense! In fact, You teleporting was great, even your mother and I can't do it” My father retort my excuse of why I shouldn't be the winner

Though I didn't answer his question, i'm busy thinking of exactly how I teleported in the first place, I keep thinking while I sit down, and go back at staring at the sky, and for a few minutes, there's silence, nothing much can be heard besides the wind blowing the trees, and the three of us breathing, I quite enjoy it since I have to think and all

But once again, my father breaks the silnce

“I think I have some photos here” My father said

“Photos?” I parrot, geez what's with me and parroting

“Yeah, I have some photos of you when you were still a little colt, you were so cute and big at that time” My father explain

Oh, we don't really take photos often here, or at least our family doesn't, it's just something that isn't important for us really. Wait, Big? Like fat? I was fat when I was a colt? I could hardly remember

“I'll be honest dear, giving birth to you, wasn't, uh, easy” My mother said while remembering past memories

Oh my god mother, you just makes me feel bad for being born

“Let me see that” I quickly said, while snatching the photos with telekinesis, and holy Tartarus I was fat, like really fat, that puffy legs, that stomach, and that face, god if you look at me now, you wouldn't guess that's me as a kid

“Yeah, but I do admit dear, you were a joy to look at” my mother say that with the same cheerful tone

But alas, even with my frustration, we share loads of laughs together, I guess photos like these does have it's purposes

After we share quite the joyous moments together as a family, I feel like saying something for a while

“Mother, Father” I call

They both look at me, wondering why I call them

“Look, this picnic really brings us together after a while, you know?” I explain

“Yeah, you're right, I knew this picnic is going to be great” My father reply

“Uh-huh, I know that we're still in a war time and all, but right now, since you're all here, I want to say I love you two” I say it while trying not to be embarrassed, but It feels nice to finally say it

My parents gets close to me, and they both hug me, and it feels so..warm and nice to be in their embrace

“We know son, and remember that we will always love you, okay” My father say with a lot of love in his voice

After we all stop hugging, we look at each other smiling at each other, and I see that my mother Is starting to cry, but obviously holding it, I almost laugh at the sight

But after that, I start to look at the sky again, and my father sits beside me

“Son, i'm sorry that I say you're a bookworm there, just trying to tease you, you know? My father apologises

“Don't worry dad” I reassure him and at the same time forgiving him

“You know, i've been with the army for a while now, and the thing is, i'm just going to say one thing to say, you know the saying Find your Light, right?” My father ask

“Of course” I answer

“The thing is, never let someone else control your search for the light, you have to do it yourself, sure other people can help, but your goal is your own, I want you to remember that?” My father explain to me, but his tone is serious, as if he wants me to remember this for a long time, and I think he does

“I'll remember that father, thank you” I thank him

My father smile as he hear that, and start patting me in the head

"HEY! Don't do that!" I order angrily

"What? You just said that you love me, but i can't pat you in the head?" he ask while laughing

To which i don't answer with words, just one glare

"Alright kid, i'm sorry okay, but remember what i said okay?" he said

We grow silent, after he say that, then we both stare at the sky, I think about what he said, thinking, why telling me now? Probably because he's going to leave soon, figure he'll give me a word of advice, and then i go back staring at the sky

But suddenly, my head feels heavy and also my eyes, my body start going numb, I feel tired, I try to keep my body from falling, but I fail, my vision becoming blur, and I fall down on my back, I hear the muffled voice of my parents, I can't make out what they say though.

What is this? What is happening. But before I could answer those questions, I fall unconscious.