14 years ago, news was spread across Ponyville, saying that the couple: Prickle Thorn and Petal Thorn, have suddenly disappeared. Rumors spread immediately, they were eaten by timber wolves, they were taken away by the officials, or, the most believed rumor, they left on purpose to abandon their child, who was only 2 years old.
The reason this rumor was believed so easily, was because this couple, never showed affection to their own filly.
Many felt bad for the child, especially when the child was dumped to the flower girls to look after while the couple went out of town for a few days. Nopony knew what they did, but every time they came back to Ponyville, their expressions sulked when they laid eyes on their child.
But what really made the rumor spread, was that when the couple left their home, the house burst into flames. And as the fire rescue approached the burning home, the cries of a child echoed off the walls.
Immediately one of the fire fighters charged into the house, ignoring the flames. Following the cries, the fighter saw that the rooms were decorated for a party. Confetti spread across the floors, presents and a cake laid on the coffee table, and a burning banner hanging above the foyer saying: “Happy Birthday Rose Thorn!!”
There, right under the banner, was the filly, in her crib, screaming as the flames slowly enveloped her.
Quick as he could, the fire fighter swooped in, grabbed the child’s mane, and jumped through the closest window before the ceiling collapsed on them. Landing hard on his back, the fire fighter held on to the filly while his comrades rushed towards him. When the child was taken to an ambulance, the fire fighter stood up and helped take out the fire, fighting the feeling to follow the ambulance.
Hours passed until the fire fighter received the news, the filly never recovered from the wounds she received, nor did she recover from the lack of oxygen. She was only two years old, the filly never had the chance to make new friends, make new memories, or even go to school.
The fire fighter passed the burnt house that night, glancing where he landed outside of the house, where he held on to the poor filly. He stopped and faced the house, most of the house will still intact; the roof was still standing, though much of the home was destroyed by the flames.
The stallion took off his helmet in respect, and whispered:
“Happy birthday, Rose Thorn…”
Today was the day, the day of the filly’s birthday, the day she was left to burn 14 years ago, Rose would turn 16 today!
Strolling up the street, the fire fighter approached the old house, carrying a present. Every year he would perform this new ritual, he would buy a gift, and leave it at the steps of the charred porch, but today, he was going to go inside, the stallion was going to leave it in the room where he found Rose.
Carefully testing the strength of the floorboards, the fire fighter slowly entered the home of the Thorn family. Parts of the floor splintered under his hooves as he continued into the heart of the house, careful not drop the present.
Close to the room where he found Rose, the stallion began to hear the faint sound of a familiar song. A sudden chill ran down his back as the song grew louder and louder with every step he took, but he shook away the urge to leave.
Placing a hoof into the living room, he then recognized the song that was playing; it was the happy birthday song.
As the fire fighter looked around, he saw a freshly baked cake on the coffee table, with 16 candles lit. Just out of view from the candle light, the stallion could make out a faint silhouette behind the cake. The figure laughed gleefully, and began to sing again,
“Happy birthday to me, today I turn sixteen, thank you dear sir for coming, I am so filled with glee!
Happy birthday to me, once again we both meet, keeping me in your memories, helped me age to sixteen.”