Red Charge, A redeux
Chapter 1- Making an aquaintance
It was a cold and rainy day in Ponyville. Everypony was indoors, minus of course the weather team. A slight ammount of fog was in the air, giving Ponyville a chill added onto the already cold weather. As the hours progressed, slowly as they did, a large, red pony made his way into town. A long beard covering his face and a wet poncho on his back, nopony cared enough to look outside. Yet one downtrodden dragon had been watching the rain fall for most of the day. As he watched from the window of the Ponyville Public Library his surogate mother came to the same window.
"Spike, do you know that pony?" the lavender mare asked.
"Sorry Twilight but-" he was cut short by the sound of a cannon booming, when he looked outside, the town's resident party pony, Pinkie Pie, was giving her usual introduction to the new pony. The red stallion tilted his head up slightly and a smile came across his bearded face.
With that the sun began to peek out from behind the dense cloud cover and the rain began to lighten up, giving Spike the chance to introduce himself to the new pony in Ponyville. As he made his way down the stairs there was a knock at the door, as Spike opened the forementioned door he bumped into the "new guy"
"Sorry about that, I'm Spike." the purple dragon said with a grin on his face.
"That's ok mate, I'm Red, Red Charge as it may be. Is the library open?" Red said,trying to eliminate any possible akward conversation.
"Yeah man we're open. Come on in!" Spike said warmly.
The red stallion trotted in, making sure to wipe his hooves and dry off prior to doing so.At this point Twilight Sparkle came down the stairs as well, she gave the new stallion a welcoming smile.
"Well, hello there Mr.?"
"Red, Red Charge., and pleasure to make your aquaintance Mrs."
"Miss. Twilight Sparkle, but you can just call me Twilight."
"Lovely name for a lovely mare, fitting how the world works, is it not?"
Twilight blushed a little at his comment, she wasn't used to new stallions- or for that matter, any stallion complementing her beauty. This new pony was obviously well traveled, and not in his top condition.
"Might I make some tea Mr. Charge?" she asked
"Tea would be lovely Ms Sparkle."
Spike stood in awe of how charasmatic this seemingly unknown pony was, he was actually hitting on Twiight. Spike stood dumbfounded as they continued their exchange of words, doing his best not to show it.
The two continued their conversation as Spike waltzed into the kitchen to make himself some tea.
"Well, I came here looking for some work, but I'm sure such a beautiful mare must have every stallion trying to work here themselves." Red said.
"Actually, everypony else thinks that working at a library is pretty boring work, you know, books and managing who has what book out, so I really don't have any filled positions, but Spike is my best and only assistant. When can you start?" Twilight asked.
"Any time, but first I need to find a place to stay, after all I just got here."
"We have a spare room if you need a place to stay." Twilight said, pointing to the empty room in the far corner of the library. Red bowed his head slightly and said, "I would be honored to stay here Miss Sparkle." making the lavender unicorn blush again.
"So, is it safe to assume that you'll be here for dinner?" Twilight responded with a flirtacious look in her eye.
"Absolutely m'amm."
Chapter 2- Mare
He sat alone on a beach, the fog getting ddenser with every passing second. Red was back in Stalliongrad, amongst the cold factories and angry revolutionaries. He looked out into the ocean, possibly the only thing of beauty in his world. Staring out to sea, he began to sing.
"Is there anypony going to listen to my story? All about the mare who came to stay? She's the kind of mare you want so much it makes you sorry, still you don't regret a single day. A ma-a-a-are, Ma-a-a-are." With that he began to stand up and trot to his cold, hard factory station.
What could be better? A coal processing plant, his flank on the cold, hard floor, the constant yelling of his bosses? Oh yes truly a perfect existance, feciciously speaking that is. He hated everything about the place, and not just the factory, all of Stalliongrad. The ponies there were cruel, the food sparse, the air polluted,and to top it all off, the constant threat of the griffin invasion from the east.
Sompony was in the square singing another song.
"As soon as your born they make you feel small, by giving you no time instead of it all.
T'ill the pain is so big you feel nothing at all."
The other stallion in his coal covered coat continued the song, it was clearly a protest against the company. Though it would never give way to any progress.
Another group marched behind the leader, as Red began his trek up the hill to the plant somepony yelled, "GET THE SCAB!" and a herd of angry ponies charged at him.
With that Red awoke from his dream, sweating at the cold remembrance of his old life, he looked down on his own coat to see that it was still the burgandy red he now knew.After which he took a brief look out the window, the sun was rising on a beautiful day in Ponyville, not the dark , bitter day of Stalliongrad. As he began to calm down from the traumatic memory, he got off of his temporary bed. He trotted over to the window where he saw a few fillies and colts jumping rope and laughing, their sweet childhood laughter only made Red feel more bitter, remembering how his childhood was stolen from him. He then remembered that feeling of relief that he got from knowing they were the future, and they had a right to be happy. He gave a light chuckle and a smile grew across his face. He knew his bitterness had no place here.
With that he began his desent down to the main hall, where a beautiful breakfast was laid out for him, courtesy of Spike. Flapjacks, apple fritters, muffins, and a large bouquet of flowers. As for the young dragon, perhaps five years old, there was a bowl of emeralds and saphires. Twilight was already seated at the table with a wide smile spread across her own face.
"How did you sleep Red?" she asked
"Very...well" which was true, considering that most of his dreams were nightmares nowadays.
"That's good, come, sit down and have some breakfast."
"Thank you very much for your hospitality Ms. Sparkle." he said as he sat down to this lovely spread. He took an apple fritter and a pancake.
When breakfast was over Red turned to his new job. However being theat nopony in Ponyville enjoyed reading all that much, Red had time to spare. One subject that interested him was botony, especially when you consider the lack of plant life in Stalliongrad.
Twilight came into the room as Red had come across the halucenegenic appliances of plants section of the Equestrian guide to Botony. "Umm Red, do you know what halucenegenic means?" Red's face grew redder.
"Well, yes, but I've never partaken in such activities." he answered.
"Then we need to get you to a special friend of mine, she's an herbologist in the Everfree forest."