Author's Note

This chapter's second portion takes place exactly a week before the Equestria-famous Sonic Rainboom, which was shown in the MLP FiM episode: Cutie Mark Chronicles. The third and final portion of this chapter takes place three days after the events of the two part episode: Friendship is Magic.

The Childhood

There was a town, deep south of Central Equestria, where everypony could party like there was no tomorrow. Literally, they party until they can't anymore. This town was called Appaloosa, but at the moment, the town was quiet. Too quiet, considering that they party too much. There was nopony to be seen, because it was night time, and all were asleep... well, not all of the them, really.

There was a hospital in the center of Appaloosa, where three ponies, mother, father, and son, Earth Pony and Unicorns respectively, were in a single medical room. The mother had just finished giving birth to a foal, and she was breathing heavily because of it. She held the foal in her hooves with the most loving embrace she could ever give for a foal, with her husband and son close to her, mesmerized by this event.

The father had tears down his cheeks in the joy of having another foal in the family. "Honey," he started, "this is just like when we gave birth to little Lightning Shield." This made the white-furred, yellow maned stallion blush in embarrassment.

"I know, hubby," the mother replied. "I really hope he can grow up to be a proper stallion, just like we wished of Lightning."

The father of this new Earth Pony nodded. It had been fun partying and whatnot, but it was time to handle responsibility for a child, and this new pony was no different. "What should we name him?"

The mare looked at her husband before looking back at her son, contemplating on the name. "That blue coat of his generally means he might be a fast pony, yet his brown eyes remind me of my grandfather, who also had brown eyes. What does Copper sound to you?"

"Inspiration from your grandfather," Copper's father smiled. "I'm really fine with that name." He looked at his son's mane, which looked spiky. "Watch his mane, it may be sharp," he joked.

The mare giggled, knowing his husband was joking around. It may look sharp, but she knew it wouldn't hurt her. Which gave her the idea of his last name. "Copper... Strikes!" she exclaimed. "That should fit. What do you think?"

His father nodded. "That sounds fitting."

Copper craned his neck, looking at the husband, before reaching out with his hooves, wanting to be picked up by his father. The stallion complied, picking up his son gently and rocking him as such. "He's such a cute pony," the stallion said, booping the baby's muzzle gently.

The baby colt scrunched his muzzle and looked at his father confusingly, before the father booped him again. The colt blinked several times before he let out adorable baby laughs. He seemed to like the boops his father gave him, and he noticed that as well. He booped the baby one more time before he made him boop his muzzle. "He's loving the boops, hun." the father said to his wife.

A few years into his colthood, Copper trotted down the streets of Appaloosa with his mother, father, and older brother by the name of Lightning Shield. Lightning was a Unicorn, just like his mother, and he had a pretty short yellow mane and a medium-sized yellow tail. He was solidly built, and seemed to be working out a lot, and it's with good reason. He had dreamed of becoming a member of Princess Celestia's Royal Guard, and he's taking all the precautions to make it happen. At first, Copper was skeptical about this because he thought that Canterlot was full of noble snobs and didn't care about anyone other than themselves, excluding Celestia. However, he was happy that his brother was willing to work for the Princess, and he didn't want to stop his brother's dreams. Both of them knew it will be tough, but Copper also knew from experience of being with his brother that Lightning would never give up his dreams.

Lightning already has his cutie mark, which was two swords crossed over a shield that had a lightning on it, a clear indication that he was going to try out for the Royal Guard. Copper, however, hasn't gotten his yet, but he was running a lot, and I do mean a lot, and it seemed the more he ran, the faster he would go. His family saw this and wondered how fast he'll go until he hits his peak speed, but they knew that his cutie mark would be a focus on speed.

They made it to a large park called the Appaloosa Fair, and Copper was getting nervous. He entered himself to a race with other fillies and colts, and the race was a yearly thing, one that would determine who the fastest young pony was for that year. The winning family would earn a large amount of bits, and the stakes were pretty high. When the family got their tickets, and Copper with a signed form that he was participating, they went in the fair.

The track itself was small, about 200 meters in total, with a few twists, turns, and a couple of easy jumps for the fillies and colts. After turning his form in for the race, Copper trotted to where all the racers were and started stretching to loosen himself up. There were a large group of fillies and colts talking normally to each other, some were stretching, and some others seemed to be talking trash to each other. The blue stallion chuckled to himself. He was taught to be a good sport and be respectful to his opponents, but he also knew it didn't hurt to talk a little bit of smack. A mare with a cap on her head told the fillies and colts that the race is almost starting, so they all took off to their respective positions.

Out of the twenty ponies that have made it to the starting line, Copper was in the middle-right at the fifth spot. He and the others got themselves ready for the race, with a stallion at the far end of Copper's left. "On your marks..." the stallion stated, and after the ponies got into their ready stance, "...get set..."

He took out a whistle and blew it, signifying the start of the race. The twenty ponies took off from the start, with the whole crowd cheering on their fillies and colts respectively.

Some of the ponies, one from the left side, three from the middle, and two from the far right, were faster than the other ponies and got into a leading pack, with Copper and two others chasing them. The rest were either struggling to catch up, or ended up flopping to the ground. Some of the fallen ponies quickly got up and took off in the track, but the others who fell ended up being tended to by medical ponies, therefore out of the race.

Copper and the other two ponies, who were a mare and a stallion, looked at each other, and by unspoken communication, they made a single file line together, putting a little bit of distance between each other. This strategy would be helpful in drafting off of each other, so that they could save their stamina as best as they could, since the six ponies ahead were getting further away. Every ten seconds of drafting, the lead pony would break off, making the pony in the middle, who happened to be Copper, take the lead between the three. They continued this for thirty seconds until a section was in their sight requiring them to jump. Copper barely cleared the jump section, but the other two who were behind him did not, tripping on each other and both getting hurt.

Copper stopped on a dime when he looked back, and hurried to help them up, but the mare shouted, "Keep going!"

"Win this for us!" the stallion insisted. "We'll be okay!"

Copper nodded hesitantly, then took off back into the race, going as fast as he could. The other two were now being treated by the nurses, meaning they were out.

The blue Earth Pony saw the leading mini-pack of ponies far ahead of him, clearing another jump. He thought that he wouldn't be able to win this race, until he started to focus. He felt himself going faster bit by bit, and he was grinding his teeth slightly as he kept running. He cleared the last jump easily before galloping after the leading pack, who were in a tight race with each other save for two who have broken off of the other four.

At this point, Copper's heart was pounding, he was really sweaty, and it seemed like he was gonna collapse at any moment, but he didn't looked phased. In fact, he was going faster, slowly but surely catching up to the mini-pack. Eventually he caught up with and passed the four ponies, not directing his focus on the two in front of him. He again managed to catch up to them and passed them mere seconds before the finish line, and then he crossed it with almost a second to spare. The crowd erupted in cheers, especially his parents and brother, who came out of the crowd quickly to embrace the pony. Unfortunately, he flopped to the ground, breathing heavily for a few seconds before a nurse got to him with a bottle of water.

After drinking the water, Copper still was breathing hard, but nowhere near as hard as before. By then, Lightning went to him and hugged the blue speedster. "I'm proud of ya, squirt. I knew you could do it."

He then stepped back because he saw Copper's flank glowing, and when the glow died, everyone saw a yellow streak on him. Copper went wide-eyed, then he jumped up and down in joy and excitement. The crowd cheered for the blue pony since he got his cutie mark, and this was the happiest day of his life, one that he'll more than likely never forget.

Ten years after him getting his cutie mark, Copper waved good bye to his parents before the carrier that he was in started to go. The Earth Pony was old enough and had enough experience to live on his own, and he was ready to take the next step.

Before he left, though, he had hugged his parents for one last time. "I'm gonna miss you two," he said with tears on his face. "I'll never forget what you both have taught me, and I sure as hay won't forget being with you."

"We'll miss you too, Cops," his father replied. "Can you remember to write to us whenever you get the chance?"

"I will, father, I will," Copper said.

His mother was crying as well. She was getting older, as can be told with some wrinkles on her face, but that meant nothing. "I'm so glad we raised you to be a proper stallion," the unicorn stated. "I can just picture you doing well in your time at Ponyville."

"I hope I'll be okay," Copper said before hugging them both. He then trotted to the carrier with the last stuff he needed, putting the package in the carrier before going in.

During the move to Ponyville, Copper looked at an old picture of his family, one that had him as a young colt after he got his cutie mark, his brother, and his parents. His brother already moved out to Canterlot and got his Royal Guard job, and the family was very proud of him. He shed one single tear of joy for his family, but looked ahead as the town of Ponyville. He looked ready to start a new life, one that he hoped that would bring lots of fun and adventure into his spirit, and possibly more experience as he goes on.