A new life on the horizon

The train was arriving at the Ponyville station early in the morning, an earth pony exited the train, with a serious look on his eyes, he headed towards town, looking at the sky as two pegasi were pushing a few remaining clouds, the dirt still felt wet so he was sure a heavy rain happened before his arrival.

“It seems i got here in the perfect moment”

Brave Runner was a stallion, a dark-red coloured mane, styled in spikes, with a brown coat.

His cutie mark was a palette of colours with a brush, showing his love and passion for the art of painting. He followed a road and was quickly entering Ponyville walking towards the recently built castle where the Princess Twilight Sparkle resides.

“Brave!” Said a cute pegasi with a bright yellow coat, pink mane and big pink eyes as she flew towards the stallion and wrapped him up in a hug

“Hello Sunny Rays,” he said while giving a slight smile.

“I’m so happy to see you here, finally,” she said excited, “ are you tired of Canterlot  or something?” she asked with a huge smile.

“I just came for some business, and i want to have a talk with the Princess of Friendship”

“well, duh! you really need to learn about that, mister grumpy pants“ she said while rubbing Brave's mane. To which he only frowned.

"Don't do that" He muttered.

“Sorry”, she said while blushing and smiling nervously

“Anyway, tag along if you want, but i’ll be having the meeting with her alone,”

He trots while she start flying right next to him.

“Alright, wanna go first to grab some sweets with my friend BonBon? “

He only look at her and continue his path, unamused.

“oh oh oh! i know, let’s head to Sugar Cube Corner for some cupcakes” she pointed out the place but received no answer.

She watched at her friend's eyes and knew he was upset, more than usual. So she thought it was better to find out what had him so sad.

"Did something happened to you at home? don’t tell me yet another mare broke your heart?" The yellow pegasi asked.

“It’s nothing like that, i just need some time” He answered with no enthusiasm.

She frowned and Brave was aware of that.

“oh, well, you know i crave some chocolate covered cupcakes, ” he said and smiled at her.

She gasp at the moment she heard that sentence.

“Really? like for real? “ She looked at his eyes and he just nod.

“That’s awesome lets go!”

She grabbed his hoof and took him to Sugarcube Corner. They both filled their stomachs with delicious cupcakes. He kept his talk to a minimum, while Sunny Rays couldn’t stop talking, she felt so happy about being with her friend after so many years, they had only talked through letters and now they could see each other face to face.

But still, something was wrong, she felt unease. Her friend was always strong, now he grew even more strong and capable, but he looked broken. He has always been a serious, hooves on the ground kind of pony, not very friendly but somepony she knew could help anyone if he had the chance. He was caring, but at the same time reluctant to engage in social interaction, and, deep down, he was a sensitive pony.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Brave inquired, “If you want we can talk tomorrow a little more”

Sunny Rays gasped at those words and her face light up with a smile.

“Are you going to stay a long time?” She asked very excited.

“A few days yeah. I’ll be staying in a hotel here on Ponyville,” he said, “now , i have to go; the meeting with the princess will be soon”

“Do you mind if i take you there? “ Sunny was taping her front hooves together looking down, she hoped for a positive answer.

“Actually i … “ his sentence was cut by Sunny pouting and staring at him with her big pink eyes.

“I think I could use the company”

They made their way through town, Brave was looking at the business, the park, the fillies playing around, and feeling that warm that only a small town had. Not at all like the cold and boring society he was used to back in Canterlot. He stopped at a shop, a flower stand where a beautiful red-mane mare was selling roses, lilies, tulips and more. He bought a rose, placed it in his saddle bag and continue his path.

Later they were at the entrance of the castle, a beautiful, enormous and crystal-like structure, even bigger than he expected. With a guard at each side of the door, and more on the inside.

“What business do you have here?” One of those guards asked, with a rather rude tone.

“I have a meeting with Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he said, staring at this tough pegasi in the eyes.

For almost a minute there was silence, till the other guard took a step forward and spoke.

“Your name is Brave Runner, right? “ Said the other more gentle guard.

“Yes it is,” he answered while keeping eye contact with the rude guard.

“The princess informed me of your arrival, glad to see you’re here early, she has a tight schedule”

Said the kind guard by the name of Bright Star.

He entered the castle and overheard the two ponies argued a few seconds.

“That attitude isn’t gonna get you anywhere Flash”

“Shut up, that guy is just odd”

As Brave enters, he notice how the castle was even more gorgeous inside.

And there she was. The new Princess Twilight Sparkle in all her glory,

lovely eyes, her glorious purple fur.

“Who would have know that the cute and smart filly could become an alicorn princess?”

He thought while walking towards her. She didn’t had a regalia like other princesses, she was still a pony and a friend, more relaxed and friendly than Celestia. After all wasn’t she the Princess of Friendship?

“Sooo .. come on have a seat” Said Twilight after realize he was lost in his thoughts.

“Oh yes, i’m sorry Princess Twilight” he said and blushed a little.

She giggled and then cleared her throat.

“What is it that is troubling you Brave?

He frowned and looked at Twilight’s eyes.

“I … I lost somepony…” a couple tears ran down his cheeks.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,  was somepony from your family,” she asked.

“My father. My distant, almost unknown father,” he said with a rather sad yet angry tone.

“Is that the reason for this meeting?” Twilight asked sitting more close to him.

“Actually… “ He rub his face with his hoof trying to wash the tears.

“It was not only his death but also, i decided to leave Canterlot for good”

“Wait, are you going to live here? … in Ponyville?”

“I need to be a better pony, because I’ve been always so temperamental, hotheaded, and I discovered, it was all because of him” He explained while trying to hide his sadness.

“Tell me all about it, please. I think I can help you” The princess said with a comforting tone of voice.

“Well… I’ve always found difficult to get along with other ponies, my father was beyond strict and demanding, he said I didn’t needed friends anyway, that i should focused on my studies”

At this point his tears couldn’t be stopped. He was broken, he couldn’t hide his pain anymore, all his life he had everything he needed, except the love he wanted, his father always in business trips, his mother in parties or talking with high society ponies.

“When I was a small colt servants were the only family I had, and they only spend time with me because it was their job. I tried to make friends but was a fail first attempt, although I eventually met a funny pegasi. Later I tried to confessed to a … rather cute unicorn filly, but she was so deep into her books … she was oblivious to everything, I could barely get a hello from her”

He stopped and looked at Twilight.

“I always knew it wasn’t her fault, she was just not that kind of filly, I decided to try again later .. but then she got into the Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. And I knew I could never compete with that”

He paused and  beam at the princess once again. She blushed a little.

“I .. what was her name again? “ she knew the answer, but still she felt ashamed

“Really, Princess?” he asked and continued. “I knew it wasn’t your fault, you were just too busy and well, for what it seems you never listen to the gossip other fillies said that somepony wanted you as more than a friend”

“Brave ... I feel bad for never .. “

He interrupted her and continue his story.

“I had a crush on you, and we couldn’t even become friends. I wanted to confessed the first time I saw you in Canterlot after your coronation, but I just couldn’t. Of course I was aware that you had no feelings for me so it was better not to say anything”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t even had an idea,” he then again stopped her.

“You don’t need to apologize, I never believed that we could be together, it was only a dream, and now I have moved on”

“But, we can still be friends, you are a good guy I can see that. And if you just open your heart”

She approached him and placed a hoof on his chest.

“You can become even better, and possibly find that special somepony one day … and .. you didn’t told me anything about that pegasi friend of yours” She backed up and gave a big smile.

“Well, she was a quiet pony, but very friendly, perhaps too much for my taste but i tolerated her. Her name is Sunny Rays and after she moved to Cloudsdale to flying school, we wrote each other letters, for years. In fact she welcomed me here.”

“I think I’ve seen her before, in the weather team right?” She asked.

“Yes. Princess Twilight thank for your time but I think you don’t have all day”

He said politely to the princess and raise from the chair.

“You can go…” she paused and stare at him. “Only if you feel better and promise me you will open up”

She demanded and smiled at him.

“I just needed to take that out of my system. I can’t thank you enough. I wouldn’t have trust in anypony else”

“And that’s another problem of yours, you need to learn to trust ponies, it is a big part of opening yourself up, I really hope you understand that”

He made his way to a hotel. Thinking about what to do for some more ‘permanent’ residence.

He got towards the second floor and opened the door to his room. It was quite nice for such a small town, a nice night stand, a comfortable bed with soft sheets. Simple, yet welcoming and warm, unlike the artificial beauty of his own room.

He was still sad, but strangely with peace of mind. He was determined to change his life and his behavior, he will try to make more friends and become a pony others could aspire to be.

He rested his head against the pillow, and soon was in deep sleep.