Chapter 1View OnlineA step towards acceptanceChapter 1Bitmaker and his 2 friends, Steel Stud and Juniper Aura were sitting at their usual spot at the downtown Baltimare cafe enjoying their various drinks of choice. Bitmaker worked at the local mint, where they pressed the gold to make all the bits of Equestria. He had a blue coat with a red and green striped mane. But due to an accident, the doctors had to implant a robotic front leg and an eye put in of similar quality. Steel Stud has a silver coat with a black mane. He studies engineering books in his spare time and hopes to become an architect after he's learned enough. Juniper Aura has a light purple mane with a beige coat and she is employed at the flower shop down the road. The narrator looks at the script, dubious that he is supposed to address the reader. "Uh, now that I have set the scene, and the current characters, I must resume the story." The narrator awkwardly said. *ahem* So the trio of friends were enjoying their drinks when the doors opened and a melancholy pink bat pony slowly walked in. While the other customers resumed their patronage, Bit was curious as to why she seemed so sad. The newcomer bought a raspberry smoothie and sat down at a table meant for four. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, he made his way over and sat down in the seat next to her. "You seem sad. Why?" His question sounding more like a statement, which he immediately regretted. Both paused for a moment, the ambient sounds of the other ponies eating and talking only added to the uncomfortable mood. "Oh, it's nothing." The even more mysterious mare said. "I'm just visiting family." She finished. Another brief pause followed, but Bit wasn't going to make it as long. "Forgot to ask but, what's your name?" "I'm rose heart. You?" "Oh, uh, my name's Bitmaker." A tinge of happiness shone from her eyes and a small smile crept on her face. "You remind me of somepony." "Huh? What? I do?" Bit not quite prepared to hear such unexpected words. "Yeah, you do." Rose half-reiterated. "Hey will you be free for dinner sometime?" Bit was a touch hesitant upon saying this, fearing her response. "Tuesday at the café, 7:30." She replied, easing Bit's nervousness. "Sounds great, I'll see you there."
Chapter 3View OnlineA step towards acceptanceChapter 3After I had my conversation with Rose Heart, I went back to the table where my friends were waiting for me. "So, what happened?" Juniper Aura asked. "I think she's sad because she misses home. She wasn’t being very specific." I reported. Usually Steel Stud has a level head and is calm in most situations. One time when his model bridge for an engineering project (which he worked on for a month) fell apart, he said, "This is fine. I can fix this." "...and I asked her out day after tomorrow." I continued not even being able to predict the next events. "Um, excuse me?" Steel exclaimed. "I mean, that's nice for you and her, but what about your dad? He isn't going to be in the happiest mood." "Yeah, I'm with him. What were you thinking?" Juniper added. My friends were with me since before we could barely talk and they have been around what's left of my family to know about my father's overly strict policy on dating. "Only go out with a filly when you're old enough to know what love is not just what it entails." He always spoke to me in his ghastly appleoosan accent. "Well, I think I'm old enough and I don't care what he says; I'm going on this date, and that is FINAL." Realizing that I wasn't actually talking to my dad and really yelling to the entire restaurant, I sat back down. * * * I have many dressed back home, but me and my family don’t usually bring any fancy clothes on trips, so we had to go to a thrift shop to find one. But since Bit lives here, I'm sure he is having no trouble at all getting prepared for tomorrow. * * * "Do you mind repeating what you just said to me?" Bit's dad said seeming calm on the outside. Bit and his little brother and his even littler sister lived in a rougher section of town, most of their house being held together with spare wooden boards and wood glue. During a family fight, the children would hide in their rooms and wait it out, but since their mother got divorced, most of the fights were between Bit and his dad. However, his little brother stayed in the hall instead of his room to hear what was being said, or if the fights would escalate into hoof to hoof combat. "I said, I asked a mare on a date." Bit said defiantly, fearing not what is to come next. "You mean to tell me, that you OUTRIGHT DISOBEYED ME?" His father yelled to the world. "I guess so. Yes I am." Bit said disregarding safety over love. "And I think I am old enough." But before his father could even think of anything, Bit went to his room, slamming the door and unintentionally making a few boards fall down. " 'Cmon pint – size. You will help me with the boards, won't you?" He said bits younger brother, who did help. While he held up the board, father put on the glue and pint – size would stick it back on. But house repairs wasn't his full intention right now. "Spy on that good for nothin' and little friend, will ya?" He nodded. "By Celestia, he'll be dead by the time he knows anything."
Chapter 4View OnlineA step towards acceptanceChapter 4The café during the morning hours was a busy coffee and breakfast house. But after the moon was lowered, it became a fancy restaurant. Rose Heart was early for this and many other occasions; she did not want to let anypony down. Bitmaker was never on time for anything except work, but this event was an exception. "Please don’t say I'm late." Bit said to Rose as he ran to the front doors. "No, I'm just early." Rose replied and they walked into the night time restaurant. But lurking in the bushes was Bit's younger brother, SnapShot, who was determined to fulfill the bargain with his father. Snap approached the doors but was halted by a guard who asked him his name. Snap told him, and the guard paused for a minute to check a alphabetically organized scroll. "Sorry little guy, you don't have a reservation." "Yes, but I'm meeting with... friends." Snap reasoned, but with no avail. "Look, even if you were on the list, you're still too young to come in here. Now beat it. You're holding up the line." Sitting at a square table with a silky white cloth cover, things were going pretty well. "So, why specifically are you here?" Bit asked, taking a bite of his meal, and felt contrite over his choice. "I mean, is it a family reunion thing, or are you just migrating for the winter?" Bit joked, but the question seeming serious to Rose. "No, we don't migrate₁ until another half-moon." 'Well, I guess it's time.' Rose thought then said "I'm actually here because of my grandmare's₂ funeral." After she said this, there was a silence between them. "Bat ponies migrate?" Bit said after a minute. "Yeah, we do." Rose confirmed, though still a touch uneasy about confessing her purpose. "I thought that since you asked, you knew about that." "No, I was joking." Bit briefly explained. 'If I can't get in through the front door, then there must be some sort of back entrance or open window.' Snap thought maliciously as he walked around the outside of the building. "...and then there's my big sister, who can be a real brat at times, but whenever she's in one of her 'moods' we just ignore her." Rose Heart finished. "What's your family like?" "Uh," Bit started but was cut off by a scream and some glass breaking. "I'm sure it's nothing." Rose said. "You were saying?" Bit again interrupted by 2 security stallions dragging SnapShot, maintaining composure as he kicked at them. When he saw Bit, he yelled "wait'll dad get's a hold of you!" Then was thrown out the door. "That for starters." Bit said, Rose seeming more worried than amused. "Hey, mind if I stay with you guys for the night?"
Chapter 5View OnlineA step towards acceptanceChapter 5"I hope you like my family." Rose said. "Yeah, me too. Would be a shame, especially since, you know, my situation." Bit said. Rose heart chuckled. "And I don’t think they would like your family either." They opened the door and were greeted with two smiling faces. The third was buried in a book. "Hope you don't mind me staying here." Bit said, forgetting to introduce himself. "Mom, Dad, this is Bitmaker. We are home early because of a little fight at the night restaurant." "Oh my. Are you two alright?" Worriedly asked Rose's mother, standing up to inspect the two arrivals. "Come on Buttons, they look alright. Must've been a fight with words." Her dad said. "Well, what happened?" Her mom asked, backing off to return to her seat. "Well, the thing is, me dad isn't, or ever will be on board with me seeing anypony. And he called on my little brother to spy on us. And we thought it might be best for me to stay here." Bit explained. "Well, sure you can-" "Don't trust him dad." He started then interrupted by Rose's big sister. Everypony stared at her for a minute. She looked up from her book. "What?" "Yes, you may stay here with us." 'Buttons' finished for her spouse. Later, when everypony slept. Rose and Bit considered their date not over yet. "Remember when I said you remind me of somepony?" Rose whispered, not to wake the others. "Yeah why?" "The pony you remind me of is my gramdmare." Silence followed for a few seconds. "How?" Bit whispered. "I don’t know. I think it might be your personality." "Don’t quite know how to respond to that." "Didn’t think you would. Also, you never answered my question. What is your family life like?" "Better than yours. My mom left a couple months ago, my father comes home from work an angry, drunken mess. And I end up taking care of my brother and sister, while avoiding him. Hey, at least I know how to cook." "I had no idea it was that bad. I thought you just didn’t have your dad's permission yet." "Not having his permission might be sugar coating it a little." Bit looked up at the clock. "Wow. It's really late. Well, goodnight." "Night." The next morning, Bit as usual, woke up earlier than anypony, which is a habit created by his strict work and home schedule. So, what he would do like any bear waking up from hibernation, go downstairs and find the free breakfast. Which he eventually did find, and made some waffles and cereal for the others he was staying with. After he was finished with all this, he wrote a note to them as soon as they woke up. And it read: "Thank you all for letting me stay the night. My father must've forgotten about this by now. I returned home by the time you read this." * * * When Bit opened the door to his house, he was hit and knocked on the fragile wood floor. He looked up and saw his father, mad beyond what words can describe. "You..." *smack* "...went..." *smack* "...anyway!" *smack* "And you should be at work!" Bit yelled, forgetting that it's Saturday. " "Wake up pretty boy, it's the weekend!" Rose would be leaving later today. This fact punched him harder than his dad ever could. "What? Did you think ya think would happen if you went along with this? I'd go easy on ya because you smashed?" Bit received another beating and saw his brother sitting in the hallway, scared and actually looking sorry despite his actions. With this thought, he kicked his father and ran away. Bit returned to the Inn and when Rose’s sister opened the door they saw a bloodied, bruised and tired pegasus. “I've thought about it, and I think that my home is no longer a safe place I can stay. So I might want to ride with you guys until I've saved enough to buy my own place.” ---The End---
EpilogueView OnlineA step towards acceptanceEpilogueRose looked out the window and listened to the click-clack of the train hitting the tracks as it sped towards its final destination, home. ‘I can't believe but just dropped everything to come with me.’ Rose thought. ‘He said that Snap was old enough to take care of his sister. I believe him because he told me last night when everypony was asleep, that he taught him to cook a few dinners. Just like his mom taught him. I think he's lucky to have me. As I am lucky to have him.’
Chapter 2View OnlineA step towards acceptanceChapter 2'It's really a shame that she had to go before I could say goodbye' I thought as I approached the malt shop. 'But I guess things just happen that are out of my hooves.' I thought as I opened the doors. I saw a vast variety of ponies, and very many of them, Which I guess is typical for a day like this; no work on the weekend, everypony made plans for today that they've been looking forward to since Monday. After a second, they stopped looking at who had just came through the door and went back to their socialization. When I got to the counter, I was greeted by the clerk. Well, "greeted" may be an understatement. "Well hey there!" The overly chipper mare was almost loud enough to be yelling. "Haven't seen you around here before! So, what can I getcha?" Her personality almost seemed completely opposite to mine. "I'll just have a raspberry smoothie." I looked up at the clock and I nearly winced. 'woah, 4 o'clock. Mom's gonna beat me if I don't get home soon' moments after I completed this thought, I was handed a tall glass of dark pink liquid. I paid the mare at the counter 4 bits. Then I walked to a table with four chairs, then picked the seat nearest to the door in case I saw I was late and needed to hurry home. I took a few sips but was interrupted by somepony who just sat next to me and asked me how I was doing. I answered him and said "Just visiting family" which was half the truth. I mean, I don’t want to come off as one of those ponies who say they've had a death in the family just to gain attention. Wouldn't be very respectful to the one they’ve lost. But after that, he asked me to dinner. I told him the best time for me and he agreed, witch I figured. I thought it might be fun to have a date for once. Can't get any back home. After I finished my drink, I went back to the hotel that me and my parents and my sister were staying at. "Well I think it's very nice that you're actually getting out for once." My sister said sarcastically. "Well she's got more dates than you." My dad quipped. "and she's younger than you!" The Inn we were staying at was nothing special, just two beds and a bathroom. "I think he seems nice." My mother said as she got out of the shower and my sister rushed in. "And is the day after tomorrow." I chimed in. My father started eating a muffin. "Well, me and your mother fully support you in all of this, even if it's only going to be until we leave." My dad was still chewing when he said this. "Yeah..." I said, realizing that.my first official boyfriend will be unreachable in a week.