Silence.
Utterly bitter silence.
That is what Braeburn Apple had heard for the past three months. The only real conversations he ever had, were when he was attempting to defend himself from harsh insults and even harsher physical actions. Braeburn was a strong pony, but he had earnt a lot of injuries in the past months he was kicked, head butted and more all because of someone finding out his secret. Braeburn was a coltcuddler. To the unicorns and the pegasi, this was not that big of a deal but, Braeburn was an earth pony. For earth ponies it was different. He couldn’t go one day without getting a “Go back to your colt Gayburn” or a “Buck off!” Why did they treat him this way. Braeburn was the nicest stallion you could find. He would do anything to help his friends – well if he still had any - but everyone judged him as a criminal just because he was different, Braeburn’s life was terrible.
One day, Braeburn had decided he was going to head into town to buy some food and then head home before anything happened. Unfortunately, that would be impossible. As he was heading to the shop, he was confronted by a group of three stallions, all of which seemed very strong.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Appleoosa’s one and only coltcuddler.” Said the largest of the three stallions.
“You got some nerve Gayburn, showing your face hear and without your coltfriend you must be eager to head home.” The smallest stallion said, pulling an insulting, fake frown.
“Ah-ah don’t know what y’all f-fellas are talkin’ about. I’ll j-just be on ma way.” Braeburn stuttered in an attempt to avoid contact with the three stallions, Braeburn knew they could do a lot more than just bruise him. The largest stallion spoke again, a slight chuckle in his harsh grating voice,
“Oh I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. Big G, show him what we do to filthy coltcuddlers.”
And then, the third stallion, the one that had been silent for the whole confrontation began to move. Braeburn didn’t even need to look to know what was coming, it was inevitable. A short sharp stab of pain was all he could feel of his face until he heard a loud crack and blood began to trickle from his nose. Crash! The stallion threw a devastating blow to Braeburn’s chest knocking all of his breath as he felt the smallest stallions foreleg wrap around his hooves pulling him to the ground. Braeburn’s breath slowly returned just before he felt a sudden jolt in his chest followed by pain and light-headedness.
“Braeburn, a word of advice,” the largest stallion’s voice was harsh and each word cut through Braeburn like a knife, “Stay out of Appleoosa.” Braeburn felt another powerful blow, this one to his gut, forcing him to cough up blood, spewing the red liquid all over the ground.
“Enough!” The largest stallion said, stopping the other two stallions in their tracks. The largest stallion lent over a cowering Braeburn, pulling his head from the ground, forcing his wet, tear soaked face to stare him in the eyes,
“I’ll leave you for now, but if I ever, EVER see your face around this town again, you won’t get off so easily.” The stallion let go off Braeburn and began to walk away with his two partners by his sides leaving Braeburn alone, to do the only thing he could. Cry. He wept. He cried and cried and cried, but no-pony, even the mare a mere two metres away could hear him, he was invisible. Painfully, Braeburn pulled himself off the ground and limped back into his house.
It took him an hour, but the journey felt much longer, he was finally at his house. Shaking, Braeburn took his key from his vest and placed it in the door. Now inside, Braeburn headed to his bedroom, more specifically his desk, to find a quill, a pot of ink and a red book with gold lettering on the cover, that spelled out ‘Diary’, Braeburn took the quill in his hoof and began to write.
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June 16
Dearest Diary,
I have had another day filled with pain. A group of stallions approached me in the street and began to assault me. Although my wounds will soon heal, my emotions will take much longer. I have made my decision, it is no longer safe for me in this town, for all know of my secret. I suffer from ruthless beatings daily and cannot leave my home and return unscaved, so it is my decision that I mustn’t stay here, I must move to Ponyville. I will be sending a letter to my cousin, Applejack, asking her if I can work with her at Sweet Apple Acres, of course I will not be able to tell her the truth and I will be telling her that I no longer wish to stay in Appleoosa for personal reasons, she will understand. Due to this, I will no longer be writing this diary, as if I brought it with me, my secrets would surely be discovered. This is Braeburn Apple writing his last entry.
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Braeburn placed the quill back into the ink pot, admiring his handiwork before taking out a piece of paper and beginning to write once again,
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Dear Cousin Applejack,
It’s me Braeburn, I’m writing to ask something of you. You see, here in Appleoosa some personal issues have appeared. Due to this, I would like to leave Appleoosa, and come help you, Cousin Macintosh and Cousin Applebloom, I really hope you get back to me soon.
Yours sincerely, Braeburn
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Double checking his writing, Braeburn decided he’d post the letter tomorrow and eagerly wait for a response. Taking of his hat and vest, Braeburn clambered into his bed and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
The next day
It was the crack of dawn as Braeburn Apple woke up with the biggest luxury in Braeburn’s life, a smile, something he didn’t do often anymore. ‘Come on Braeburn get your flank out of bed and get down to the post box before anyone else wakes up, you can avoid an unnecessary brawl if you hurry!’ Braeburn thought to himself. And that is just what he did. Braeburn threw on his hat and vest, not even bothering to fix up his mane and ran out down the street to the post box. It only took him a minute and, checking the coast, Braeburn placed the letter into the box,
“Come on.” He whispered to himself, “Please hurry.”