Children of Gaea: Revelations

Opening his eyes, Golden Horizon looked around, only to be met with darkness. ‘Did she forget to send my eyes?’

Panicking, he shot up on all fours he tried to feel around, only to trip over what he assumed was a pipe. Falling flat on his face. he let out a groan as stars burst into vision. ‘Great. I’m stuck in a windowless cellar of some sort.’

He rose once again, this time with more caution. Having been forced to rely on other senses, he perked his ears up, listening intently for a noise that would indicate where he was, he was once again met with nothing.  ‘Just peachy. I wonder how many teeth I’ll lose trying to find the exit?’

But just as he was about to feel his way around, he heard the very distinct cry of a foal waking from a nasty dream. His paternal instincts kicked in and he rushed towards the sound, which was above him, but didn’t stop him from trying to reach the source.

Only when he smashed into what he assumed was a concrete wall, did he gain some sense.

Golden was about to cuss when he heard a clink from a door handle and a shuffle. He could do little other than brace himself for the blinding flash that would most certainly be the demise of his still crisp, young eyesight. When he noticed only a small glare, he then realized that the pony who checked out the commotion carried only a small hoofheld torch.

“Whatcha doin down here in the dark, Horizon?” asked the familiar pony.

“Ugh, I was teleported here.” Golden noticed where he was. ‘Well, at least she had the courtesy to make sure I wasn’t late.’

“Well, at least you’re here. Lavender is just finishing up and was going to check up on you.”

“Finishing up?” A realization struck him. ‘The basement has windows, why is it pitch black down here? Oh, no...how long have I been out?!’

“Uhh, Reggie? How long have I been down here?”

“About six hours.”

Golden groaned in frustration. “Oh dear, it looks like I passed out from the shock of being teleported. Darnit. Might as well catch Lavender before she goes to bed.”

“I’m sure she’d appreciate that,” added Reggie.

Golden Horizon walked past the custodian and made his way up from the musty basement of the Canterlot Docks Orphanage and into some poorly air conditioned hallways. The walls were a once vibrant yellow, but now through wear and time have become chipped and dirty. Passing a boarded up window he sighed. Hearing the drunks at the bar next door swearing while he could hear and smell buggery in the alleyway. “This is no place for foals to live,” he muttered to himself.

Golden Horizon rounded a corner and made his way up stairs. Here, there was incense in the air and the walls were painted rainbow, the paint job not as aged as other hallways and rooms. Little fillies and colts heights were recorded with lead on doorframes, while pictures hung on the walls and toys lied on the side. He could hear weeping, which was no doubt the foal he heard just moments earlier.

Turning into a bedroom located at the back of the primary hallway on the second floor. Golden spotted Lavender cradling a three year old bundle of innocence.

“Same dream?” he asked.

Lavender turned her head and frowned. “You’re very late.”

“Actually I was early. The event didn’t go well and her majesty, Princess Twilight Sparkle teleported me here. I ended up in the basement, but got knocked out.”

Lavender pondered his words for a moment and sighed. “Two lonely sailors just can’t seem to get enough tonight. They’ve been going at it for a few hours now. Taking breaks to get drunk in the bar, then sobering up screwing. Could you get rid of them please? The foals are having trouble sleeping.”

“Lavender, didn’t the barkeeper say he was going to lock that gate? They shouldn’t be able to get back there.”

“Maybe he was making too many bits off them. Or maybe he was scared. You know how these drunks can get when their blood gets flowing.” Lavender gently rocked the bundle in her forelegs. “Now are you going or not?”

“On it, boss.”

Golden Horizon made his way to the alley and found what he was looking for. Not that it was hard to find. You could smell and hear everything a block away.

Looking at two stallions scraping he couldn’t help but feel a familiar heat within him. Shaking it off, he pushed open the now unlocked gate and approached the two. One was earth pony, quite buff and had his REN uniform on. The other was an escort by the name of Bangers, he was from the other side of town. It was odd seeing Bangers here, normally he’s very expensive and only serves nobles with a secretive and shameful passion.

Clearing his throat, Golden readied for confrontation. “Bangers!” The white middle aged stallion looked up and smiled.

“Ahh, Golden Horizon. Fancy meeting you here. What can this old friend do for you?” asked Bangers.

Golden frowned at him and gestured for the other to leave. The sailor didn’t like that, but a small nod from Bangers was enough to coax. The sailor made his way to Golden. After sizing him up, the sailor pushed past Golden with a grunt of irritation.

“Wait where I met you, mate. I’ll catch you in a bit!” Bangers said to the sailor. “Now what do you think you’re doing interrupting my work? My children ain’t the ones puttin’ food on the table.”

“Umm, Bangers.” Golden shook his head in slight annoyance. “The orphanage was forced to relocate after our funding was slashed. Yet you’re back here, making lots of noise and there are foals trying to sleep.”

Bangers mouth dropped. “Oh! I’m sorry, laddy. I didn’t know. See? This kind of shite doesn’t make the papers and you haven’t spoken to me in months. How was I supposed to know?”

“It’s okay, Buddy. Just you and that sailor go have fun elsewhere.” Bangers pulled his red matted mane out of his eyes. “Well, ya don’t have to tell me twice. Hey, give my apologies to Lavender if the sweet thing is still working for the orphanage.”

“Yes. Of course, Bangers. Oh, and by the way. I thought you only did snobby nobles. What are you doing with a big buff sailor?”

Bangers chuckled heartily. “Oh, Horizon. I do folks who serve as well. And he had the bits. Some of these poor colts. Ever since no fraternizing was enforced, business has been booming. I can actually feed my family proper now.”

“Well, Bangers.  I wish you and your colts good luck. Guess I’ll see you around, you now know where I’ll be.”

“Aye, see you around. Oh! And my offer still stands if you ever want to take it up!”

Golden chuckled. “No' Will be my answer till the day I die!” shouted Golden as he waved Bangers off, letting out a sigh as he did so. “That colt will never give up, will he?”

Turning around he made his way to the third floor of the orphanage, but on his way he was stopped by a small innocent voice. “Where’s my papa?” asked a small colt.

Golden frowned. “Blade Beam, your father is sleeping. I’m sorry, he’s not going to wake up. But eventually you’ll be in a deep sleep too and you’re going to see him again.”

“How many times are you going to say that? I know he’s not sleeping. Ponies don’t sleep for this long,” Blade Beam retorted. The nine year old colt tended to drag things on longer than they needed to be with his logic.

“Blade Beam, go back to bed. Even if your father is awake somewhere, I can’t help you find him. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“What’s there to understand? I know you’re lying. You and Lavender always lie us. Saying our parents are sleeping. Saying mommy and daddy had to go away.” The little colt raised his voice. “Why can’t you just tell us the truth for once?”

‘Here we go again.’ Horizon sighed and pulled the colt into a hug. “As we’ve said so many times. You will understand when you’re older. And we are telling you the truth, it’s just you don’t get it.” He let a tear fall onto Blade’s shoulder. “For now you don’t need to worry about this stuff. All we want for you is to behave yourself and make sure you’re groomed nicely when other mommy and daddies come here to take you away with them.”

“But I don’t want a new daddy! I want my daddy!”

“Blade Beam, me and Lavender. We are your caretakers, your nannies. We can’t take care of you forever and when you grow up, we aren’t going to be there. That’s why you need to get another daddy. Ya know it’s okay to have two. I even had two one time. But I’m going to be honest with you. They were bad to me, much worse than any pony should go through. You, the mommies and daddies that come here to take little wandering eyed colts and fillies such as yourself. These mommies and daddies are wonderful and all they want or care about is you. We make sure of it, because even though we’re not your parents, we still love you. So, please. For the love of Celestia. When the next group comes in tomorrow, look nice and be social. And if you won’t do it for Celestia. Do it for us, the ones who’ve loved and cared for you for the past four years.”

Blade Beam looked into his eyes, tears streaming down his face. “O-okay. I’ll do it for you and Lavender.”

“Good. Now lets get you tucked in.” Golden nosed Blade Beam back into his bedroom and reached around to blow a raspberry. Blade Beam jumped and giggled as he landed on his bed and Golden Horizon pulled the covers over him. “I’ll be here in the morning. And if you ever need anything, you know where to find Lavender.” he said as he kissed the colt goodnight.

Removing himself from the edge of the bed, Golden Horizon made his way out of the room, shutting off the light switch as he passed. But he heard somebody approach from behind him as he left into the hallway. “I could never do what you do, Mr Horizon,” came a feminine voice. “I don’t know how you manage.”

“Ah, Star Blazer. What brings you here?” asked Golden Horizon. He turned and hugged the mare behind him. Returning the hug, Star Blazer smiled a little too broadly, revealing her sharp fangs.

“A little check up and regarding the incident at the writers event,” replied Star Blazer.

“Look, I’m sorry. I got really upset after mustering all that courage and putting so much thought into my words, and it was all for nothing.”

“Oh, silly colt. It’s not about that. It’s about a Mr. Prodigy.” Golden frowned and now was truly worried about his new friend.

“That doesn’t sound good. Has he done something to merit significant guilt?”

“We don’t know. I did a little research for you, cause I know how wary you can get at times. And while he and his daughter are in the archives, his mother and father are not. I couldn’t pull a genealogy report, because there was none. It’s odd, since every family in Equestria has some sort of record. It’s as though they appeared out of thin air.”

Golden smiled and gave her a neck hug. “Thank you for caring that much, but I don’t think Crimson Prodigy is evil or something silly like that. He’s got a little filly!”

“This I can agree with you.” Star Balzer gave a nod. “Social Services reports show a stable and responsible father. A little awkward and quiet, but so far not a threat. However, I want you to keep a little caution until we can figure out where the other three quarters of his family file is.”

“On another topic. Most stallions of certain pursuits can see right through you, even I can and I don’t even go tha-”

“This again? Blazer, I don’t like stallions, I like mares. You know that. I’ve had you and that nice shaggy coat of yours twice now.” said Golden Horizon. Star Blazer snorted, nibbled on Golden’s cheek and smacked his flank with her wing, causing him to blush.

“Yeah...you keep telling yourself that. I just want to see you happy. And your friend, Bangers who you hurt last time because of this. He wants to see you happy too. FYI, you’ve made him cry twice now. And until you finally take his or another's offer, your going to continue to make him cry. He cares for you so much, but you’re stubborn and it makes him so sad that he’s not be able to do anything as he watches you fall into depression on a monthly basis.”

Golden was taken aback by what she just said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Star Blazer pulled him into the closet and readied to give him an earful. “You didn’t know?! Ugh, goodness. You keep lying to yourself, you need to stop. That little fire you feel when you see a handsome stallion. You should let that blaze, not smother it out. Look at me for example. Whenever I like something I see, I go and take it and I’ve taken you twice now. Those stallions, you’ve just got to go and take them. It’s easy. You’ve got the courage to do it, I know it. That writers event was a fine example of how far you’ve come. And like what you said to Blade Beam. If you won’t do it for anything else, at least do it for me.”

Golden snorted. “You win. But on two conditions."

Star Blazer grinned, this was now a gamble. “Oh? What is it?”

Golden returned the grin.“One. I get to rub it in your face if you’re wrong. Two. You have to let me do that thing I’ve always want to do.”

Pondering his words, Star Blazer smiled. “And if I’m right, you’ll have a punishment coming for you of my own choosing and you won’t know until it’s hit you.”

“Deal” Golden Horizon met her hoof shake.

Star Blazer exited the closet and made her way out of the orphanage, while Golden Horizon continued to Lavender’s quarters.

Arriving at her door, he lightly rapped. “Yes. Golden. What is it?” asked Lavender.

“I just wanted to say goodnight. Oh, and what did the doctor say?”

“He said Corel with heal over time, but her mind is still heavily damaged. I still can’t get close enough to clean her when she wakes up in her own filth,” replied Lavender.

“Tough. Sickening that somepony would do such an awful thing to a filly,” added Golden Horizon.

“Well, we take after our parents. And her parents took after theirs. We grew up with love, and we can still make sure Corel gets that love so her young don’t have to grow up with the awful fate she got.”

Golden Horizon shuddered as a memory hit him. Shaking it out of his head, he smiled. “Might as well leave before my mother worries. Good night, Lavender. If you run into any issues you know how to contact me.”

“Good night, Golden Horizon. I’ll see you tomorrow.”