Fire of Friendship: For One

Chapters

1: Unlikely Aquaintances
2: Something to Forget
3: Things Time Can't Heal
4: Train of Thought

1: Unlikely Aquaintances

1: Unlikely Acquaintances

Eight Days to Hearth’s Warming

“You know what? I think I’m actually starting to hate Hearth’s Warming.”

I said that mainly to myself, seeing that there was nopony else out and about this late at night. Candlelight flickered in the windows of the small homes and shops of Ponyville, illuminating both the warm and cozy fireplaces inside, as well as the snowflakes that were carried by the chilling wind outside. A cold shiver rand down my spine, causing my teeth to chatter. I pulled my knitted scarf tighter around my neck and double checked that my earmuffs were not blown away by the wind. The town square was relatively quiet, the only sounds being the whispering winds, the muffled laughter of ponies within their homes, and the crunching my boots made in the snow.

I used to love Hearth’s Warming. I guess the holiday just lost its magic when I grew up. The holiday was still about a week away, but ponies have a way of dragging out the holiday spirit over a week or two

I smiled at happy memories of sipping hot chocolate by the fireplace, while mom would pull out that tome of a book that was filled with Hearth’s Warming stories, dad reclining in the sofa with a mug of eggnog.

My favorite story in that book is “A Hearth’s Warming Tale.” You know, the one with that unicorn that tried erasing Hearth’s Warming all together. I sighed heavily upon remembering the tale.

“I really am turning into Snowfall Frost.”

With a forehoof I wiped the snow from my muzzle before continuing through the square. Passing by the local bakery, Sugarcube Corner, the sound of laughter reached my ears. All I could see was a group of seven mares and a baby dragon, mugs in hooves and hand accordingly, toasting with big smiles on their faces. Pinkie Pie, one of the mares I recognized, was bouncing up and down, somehow managing to keep her hot chocolate from spilling while holding it with a strand of hair from her pink mane.

Chuckling to myself, I just kept trudging through the snow.

My mind wandered, and I suddenly felt a longing to be back home in the outskirts of Manehattan. However, there was nothing for me to go back to. Lost in unwelcome thoughts, I just kept walking.

I really didn’t have a reason to be out in this kind of weather. I lived alone in a small duplex, and my neighbor Noteworthy didn’t like me very much, meaning I hadn’t invited anyone over for the evening. And due to the fact that I had only been living here for about two months now, I wasn’t invited to any Hearth’s Warming parties, (except for Pinkie’s. I had declined not wanting to impose). I had left in a hurry, donning my earmuffs, boots and scarf, I just opened the door and left. And now, leaving the town square, I turned down one of the few side streets that lead to the outskirts of town.

Occasionally, I would peer into one of the houses. Mothers and Fathers entertaining their foals with various board games or stories, couples sitting in each other’s forehooves, snuggled up on a couch. I had to quickly turn away when I caught a glimpse of two ponies getting… intimate.

Nope! nope-nope-nope-nope. Nope.

My face heating up, I quickly did a one eighty, ducking out of the window, opting instead to walk in silence. I listened to the calming night breeze whistle between the homes of Ponyville, the snow covering their thatch roofs occasionally being swept up in the wind.

~CLAAASHHHH~

The sound of shattering glass snapped me out of my stupor. Glancing over my shoulder, my eyes landed upon the town tavern, its door opened, and joyous laughter erupting from inside. I was never a big drinker, never had a reason to except for very special occasions. It didn’t help that the taste of alcohol disgusted me.

An especially cold wind sent my body into a fit of shivers, the warm glow of the tavern seeming much more inviting now. After about five milliseconds of thought later, I trudged towards the door.

Stepping into the doorframe, my face was assaulted by a wall of warmth, beckoning for me to enter the tavern. The fireplace roared with the flames, bathing everything in an orange glow. A decent amount of ponies sat at the bar or at tables, leaving only one or two seats empty. Staff walked around, holding or levitating trays of mugs, placing them on tables for smiling ponies. Tinsel hung from the rafters, and bright red bows hung from wreathes that adorned the walls. It all looked a little too festive.

Wiping my boots off on the doormat, I entered, feeling the warm embrace of the inside of the building wash over me.

I untied my scarf while trotting over to an empty booth in the corner of the tavern. Throwing it onto a hook next to the table, I sat down, facing the back wall. I sat in relative silence for a few minutes, listening to the numerous conversations that flooded the tavern all at once, while taking particular interest in a knot in the wooden table. A yellow hoof entering my peripherals caught my attention. Looking up, a light blue maned unicorn smiled back at me.

“Happy holidays sir, my name is-“ the waitress paused as I gave her a scowl at the words happy holidays. Remaining professional, the mare had a small smile on her face. “My name is Lemonheart and I will be your server tonight.” Lemonheart levitated a menu from behind her, placing it in front of me.

“We have our spicy hay-fries on special tonight, and Sweet Apple Acre Ci-“

“Just a glass of water for now, thank you,” I said, forcing a small smile.

“Certainly.” Almost immediately, her horn lit up, and a small glass of water floated from behind the bar not a few seconds later. “If you need anything, just give me a holler, okay?”

I simply nodded, and with that she turned to go assist some other customers. I just sat there, feeling a little less than content to keep sipping away at my glass of water. When it was empty, it would only be a few seconds later that another full glass would be levitated over to my table, while the same familiar magic removed the empty glass.

I was vaguely aware of the fact that nearly a half hour had passed, and that I was about three-quarters in to my fifth glass of water. Picking up the glass with a hoof, I downed what remained, the cool liquid soothing my throat.

I placed the cup gingerly on the table, when it was instantly wrapped in the blue aura of magic again as it was levitated away. With a sigh, I looked up at the ceiling, my ears swiveling around. It appeared to have quieted down a bit. Perhaps some of the patrons went home. Looking back down at the table, a wooden tankard sat in place of my usual water.

My eyes searched for Lemonheart, and when I eventually found her and got her attention, she just smiled and gave me a wink, turning back to clear off a recently used table.

Looking back to the mug, I leaned down, taking a whiff of its fruity aroma. The smell off apples and cinnamon schnapps filled my nostrils. I was hesitant to take a drink. Looking back over to Lemonheart, I thought I would find her watching expectantly, like a foal waiting for his trap to be sprung. That was not the case, as Lemonheart was busying herself by cleaning glasses and levitating them to the bartender, who put them away underneath the counter top.

Turning my attention back to the cup of cider, I grabbed the handle with a hoof, bringing it closer in order to inspect it further.

“What the hell, why not,” I said to nopony in particular, as I lifted the cup to my muzzle.

I felt the pleasantly warm liquid flow down my throat as I took a sip, the taste of alcohol faintly burning as it slipped down my throat. The warmth spread throughout my insides, as the taste of the cider lingered on my tongue. I might not be a fan of alcohol, but this stuff is amazing. However, an unfamiliar, raspy, female voice interrupted my euphoria.

“That look on your face says it’s pretty good.”

The mystery mare smiled as I met her eyes, her orange mane falling around her face in relatively short strands. A royal blue scarf draped over her back and wings, matching well with her mustard yellow coat. With her mouth, she was already removing the saddlebags from her back.

“Mind if I join you?”

I just shook my head, offering her a seat with a hoof. As she sat down, I can’t help feeling like I’ve seen this mare before, but my memory was failing me.

“Mmmmm. Sweet Apple Acre cider, huh? Good choice. Lemonheart! Mug of cider, if you wouldn’t mind!” Lemonheart, perking up when she saw who had called her, happily trotted over, another mug following behind her shortly after.

“Oh don’t worry about it,” Lemonheart interrupts me as I reach for my bag of bits. “Barkeep says it’s on the house.” I couldn’t help but shoot the back of her head a bemused look as she walked away. What did I do to deserve a free drink? The mare sitting across from me interrupted my train of thought

“Alone for Hearth’s Warming huh?”

“Am I that easy to read?” I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped my lips. The corner of the mare’s mouth raised up in a smirk.

“Nah. I just work with punks like you for a living. It’s not that difficult to read somepony if you know where to look.”

The conversation lapsed into an awkward silence for a few moments. We just sat there avoiding each other’s gaze. She was the one to break the silence.

“So what is it then? On holiday? Parent’s kicked you out? Oh my Celestia they totally did, didn’t they?” She had picked up on the slight flinch at the mention of my parents.

“Not really… They’re out of town. They left for Las Pegasus a few days ago.” The mare cocked an eyebrow at that. “Vacation.”

“Didn’t feel like taking you?”

I just shook my head.

“Well that seems pretty shitty.”

“Not really. They just wanted to celebrate Dad’s... Retirement.”

“Ah…” She seemed to pause at that, mulling over what to say next. This time, I was the one to jumpstart the conversation.

“So, how about you?”

“Hm?”

“Got anypony with you for the holiday?”

“Oh. No, not really. The folks back home are busy at work, and the rest of the team, er… my friends all went home for the holidays. Not to mention that it’s a long way home to Cloudsdale.”

“What brings you to Ponyville then?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” What?

“What do you mean by that?”

“Your accent. You’re from Manehattan ain’cha?”

“Wow you’re good. What are you gonna tell me next? You’re going to die in seven daaaaays.” I whispered, making my voice sound as creepy as possible, making wave like motions with my hooves for dramatic effect. She attempted to stifle her laughter at the lame joke with her hoof, but she eventually gave in. Her laughter erupted from her muzzle. I found it very hard to keep myself from laughing. After all, experts say that laughter is contagious. (The expert in question being Pinkie Pie.) We both were reeling in our seats, drawing the attention of some of the bar patrons, who looked on with smiles on their muzzles.

Embarrassed, I quickly put a stop to my laughter. The stranger next to me could care less, and it took her a couple of minutes to settle down.

“Oh Celestia I forgot about that film,” she said between lingering chuckles.

“Not the best horror movie in the world.”

“Oh come on, Try watching that shit today and it could possibly be one of the funniest movies in the world. The special effects are so fucking cheesy.”

Note to self, this mare has a potty mouth.

“Anyways, you still haven’t answered my question. What brings you to the podunk town of Ponyville? Sticking around for the holiday?”

“Oh, thinking about hitting on me are ya?” I could feel my face heating up, which only caused the mare to chuckle. “Relax dude, I’m just fuckin’ messing with you.” My flushed cheeks took their sweet ass time cooling down. “I was just visiting a friend, but nopony was home. Just figured I’d take a load off for once. Work has been kicking my flank lately.”

I nodded again. I know all too well the stress that ponies take on during the holidays. My mother was a prime example of that. Owning a restaurant in Manehattan during the holidays is an absolute nightmare according to her. Our conversation lapsed back into silence, however much less awkward this time, both of us just content to sit and enjoy our ciders.

“Thanks for keeping me company, but it’s getting pretty late,” she said glancing at the clock that read 10:58. She was already getting out of her seat, before pausing, seemingly thinking to herself as a small smirk grew on her face. “Hey here’s a thought,” My new friend said interrupting the silence. She turned to dig around in her bags, and pulled out a small envelope and a pen. Opening it she pulled out two small pieces of paper, making sure to obscure it from my view. “Oh Celestia dammit. I forgot to ask you your name, didn’t I?” I could only chuckle at that as she rummaged around for something else in her bag.

“Friends call me Psychic, but my actual name is Wild. Wild Spirit.” I said, grimacing slightly, realizing I didn’t know her name either. Seriously, where are my manners? “I think I forgot to ask your name as well,” I chuckled nervously. Ignoring me, she just began writing for a bit. At least until her eyes lit up again. The yellow mare just shot a sly smirk at me as she took her pen into her mouth. I couldn’t quite see what she was writing, she clearly wanted it to be secret, since she covered up the piece of paper with a hoof. She seemingly just resumed the conversation right from where we left off.

“Why do they call you that?”

“Well- It’s kinda like- You see…” I couldn’t tell her. She’d either call me a freak, or just call up the loony bin. But she was giving me the stern, raised eyebrow look again. There was no way I was getting out of this one. With her steely cold eyes, she’d really make a good drill sergeant.

“I can kinda… do… magic.” I prepared myself, readying for the backlash. She didn’t respond for a few moments, I did my best to hide my eyes behind my short purple bangs. I liked keeping the front short, and the back quite a bit longer.

“That’s it? You can do magic.” Her tone was incredulous. The kind of voice that mom would use when I was being ridiculous. I looked back up, and the mare only seemed curious. “You’re upset because you can do card tricks?” Oh… so that’s why she thinks I’m overreacting. I just let out a slightly annoyed snort.

“No, you misunderstand. It… It would be best if I just showed you.” I looked around the bar to be sure that no one was looking. When I was satisfied that nopony was, I turned back to the table, and focused heavily on the pen that had fallen from her mouth.

The pen was wrapped in a pinkish aura as it began to rise from the table.

The pegasus sitting across from me just watched it with an unimpressed look in her eyes. Her jaw dropped when she looked up to meet my eyes though.

I could feel energy pooling around my eyes as I levitated the pen, and I felt her eyes slowly move to my forehead.

“But- bu- You don’t have a horn!” Looking back to her I met her gaze and nodded. I just made the pen float lazily between us since I didn’t really need to focus on it anymore. “H- how are you doing that?” My subconscious noticed it was slightly amusing to watch the overconfident mare be taken out of her comfort zone.

“Been able to since I was born. I don’t really know exactly how it works.” I put the pen down in front of her. She didn’t seem to notice though as her eyes never left mine. However, clearing my throat snapped her back to reality.

“S- sorry. I was just a bit freaked out.”

Yeah no shit.

“So why didn’t you use your magic earlier? Don’t most unicorns just levitate everything around?”

“To avoid attention I guess.” The mare’s lips straightened in an attentive stare as she listened. Her glare was so cold, I felt like I was outside again. A shiver ran throughout my body. She was giving me no choice but to bite down on the bit.

“Back in Manehattan, ponies aren’t that accepting of anything… ‘new and unusual’. They know life to be one way, and are afraid if anything changes their view of normality.” I snorted at that, and was sure to put air quotes around ‘normality’. “You can imagine what they used to call me in school. Freak. Hornless.” I could feel my face tighten in anger as memories of the other kids at school. Sure the names were bad, but the torment was worse.

“One of the fucking bastards superglued a fake horn to my forehead when I fell asleep in math class.” I muttered under my breath. The mare’s mouth formed a small ‘o’.

“Yeah I get the feeling.”

I looked up to her as she piqued my interest.

“You should have seen the faces on those punks at flight camp when a little filly with stumps for wings showed up,” She flexed her wings slightly, seemingly for emphasis. “Turns out I was just a late bloomer. Graduated as valedictorian too.” Her normal confident smirk came back and was practically glowing with pride.

“Ponies just tend to freak out when they can see that a non-unicorn can throw stuff around a room without touching it.”

“Not to mention the weird eye thing.” I nodded at that. “Anyways, I really do need to get going,” the mare returned the piece of paper, slipping it back in the envelope before passing it to me. “Wait till Hearth’s Warming, or don’t, but either way, that’s for you.” She turned to walk out, wrapping her scarf around her neck and adjusting her saddlebags. She gave me a knowing smile “I’ll be seeing you soon, Psychic.” With that, the yellow pegasus strutted out the door, but not before leaving the blank envelope on our table, and a few bits at the bar.

----~+~----

The return home was uneventful, but despite there being no change in temperature, I felt… warmer. Happier probably. Nopony had really talked to me like that since I arrived in Ponyville (besides Pinkie Pie of course). Plus, the mare didn’t even freak out when I levitated the pen, which was a first. I usually never use my magic, even in private. I’d been just so used to doing everything with my hooves that levitation barely crosses my mind most of the time. Lost in thought, I grabbed my key and undid the lock on my front door.

My eyes are greeted with the familiarity of the cramped space that I called my living room. Shaking the snow from my mane, I flicked on the light switch, and the magical lights glowed a slight orange hue that illuminated the rather bare walls. I moseyed over to the small pallet stove in the corner, lighting the small chips of wood ablaze.

Unwrapping my scarf from my neck, I tossed it to a coat rack that stood in the corner by the door, before placing my earmuffs, and the mystery envelope, on the small two person kitchen table.

Turning to one of the cupboards in the small, galley kitchen, I pulled out a small canister of cocoa powder. I grabbed a small kettle of water from the counter top, placing it on the burner of the small stove. What can I say? Hot chocolate is my favorite guilty pleasure. I turned back to my small living area and sighed.

The living room itself was almost as bare as the walls. The small room only held what few pieces of furniture I owned. My kitchen table sat with its two lonely chairs along the wall, and the pallet stove simply sat in a corner radiating heat. The only luxury in the room was a green felt sofa that was not too soft yet not too hard. I had gotten it at a discount from Quills and Sofas, due to the fact that I worked there.

Yet, down the hall was a room that still laid barren of furniture of any kind, because I still couldn’t afford a proper bed.

If there was one thing that a retail job didn’t do, it was provide a decent paycheck.

“Welcome home,” I said to no one in particular.

It would be the closest thing to home that I’d probably have for a long while. There was no place for me back in Manehattan anyways.

I glanced to where I left the envelope. Sure I was curious. A stranger just giving me an envelope. If our meeting had gone any other way, I would have just thrown the thing in the garbage. But that mare was different.

She was just so… accepting.

I glanced at the envelope for a minute longer, and focused, feeling magical energy once again pool around my eyes as the envelope raises from the table, encased in my familiar pink aura.

Holding the envelope in my telekinesis, I moved towards the bathroom. The lights within turned on as soon as I opened the door. Stepping into the tiny space, I turned to face the mirror, my eyes met with something I didn’t think I’d see in a long time.

Staring back at me was the same familiar stallion. Purple coat and pink mane, and still no horn. Nothing had changed anywhere. Anywhere except my eyes. The sclera glowing in a pinkish hue.

“Freak.”

“Monster.”

“Unicorn wannabe.”

Voices plagued my mind. Poking. Prodding. Whoever came up with the old saying: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” I disproved that theory. Words can hurt.

“How could you think that I considered you my son?”

Words hurt a lot.

I barely noticed the tears that had escaped my tear well, my glowing eyes causing the tears to shimmer in a pink light as they traced the lines on my cheeks. I shut my eyes tighter than a bank vault.

“No. N-no. I didn’t do anything wrong. D- dad, p- please. Don’t…”

“Your mother goes and fools around like a whore, and look what I get. Some freak of a son.”

~CRACK~

I winced as a phantom whip snapped against my back, the resounding snap echoing through my skull. I fell to the floor hooves held over my head. When I opened my eyes, I was back in that same room in Manehattan, my father looming above me. He held a leather whip in his mouth, his earthpony muscles seemingly rippling in strength, his eyes red with rage.

“It- I didn’t- It wasn’t my fault.”

The brown earthpony reared back, and swung his whip down in what seemed like a flash of lightning. I barely had enough time to cry out and shield my face again.

A whistle forced my head to snap up.

I was in the floor of my bathroom, the envelope from the mystery mare lying at my face. Picking the envelope up off the floor with my teeth, I got up and placed it on the edge of the sink. That is something for a different day. Besides.

I have hot chocolate to attend to.

Author's Note

Feels good to be writing something new. If anyone is worried, no I am not giving up on Memory Lock. I just needed a break from it. (And what a long break at that, holy crap.) I'll be getting back to it soon hopefully. Not sure how quickly these will be showing up, (although I do already have chapter 2 done! :rainbowkiss: . Hope you enjoyed, and will see you next time.

~Psychic Smith

2: Something to Forget

(Three years ago)

I hummed to myself in satisfaction as I closed my eyes sleepily and yawned, tired after a long couple hours shoveling the sidewalk outside. Whoever thought that scheduling a record snowfall today of all days needed to be fired.

The fire crackled lazily as I laid on the soft shag carpet, letting the fire’s radiating warmth wash over me. I could almost feel the snowflakes melt and evaporate off of my coat. With a loud pop I stretched out my spine, letting out a satisfied groan, as I felt something soft being pulled up over me. Opening my eyes, I saw my mom, pulling my favorite blanket over my shoulders. She gave me a warm smile as I snuggled up underneath the thick fleece.

“Someone worked hard today,” she said between chuckles.

I just nodded, a wee bit too tired to talk. She playfully socked me in the foreleg.

“Must’ve been cold out there. I told you to wear your hat ya dunce.”

“Come on ma, you were right. You’re always right.”

Mom leaned down and placed a loving kiss on my forehead.

“And don’t you forget it,” she whispered. I closed my eyes for a few moments before I felt her muzzle nudging me awake again.

“Whaaaat?” I groaned, opening an eye. Instead of seeing my mother’s face smiling playfully at me, all I saw was a steaming purple mug, with the distinct smell of cocoa.

“You earned it,” mom said with a smile, turning back to the kitchen.

I reluctantly sat back up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes the best I could, taking the mug in my hooves. Gingerly, I took a sip, letting the hot liquid flow down my throat. The hot chocolate pleasantly burned as I swallowed it down, warming my insides, while the fire took care of the outside. The taste of chocolate lingered on my tongue after every sip.

You must enjoy and savor every last drop.

Whenever the pegasi scheduled Manehattan for a snowstorm, I think they have a particular vendetta against 3rd avenue. We got mounds of snow blocking the doors this year. The only reason I was able to get outside to clear the walkway was because our house had a window that I was able to climb out of.

I heard my mother’s melodic voice drift out of the kitchen as she hummed while washing the dishes.

I could sit for hours listening to mom. I still think I’ll never be too old for her lullabies. Even now, sipping on a warm cup of cocoa, I felt myself drifting off at the notes that seemed to carry throughout the house.

As my eyes began to close, I heard the distinct sound of the front door opening, followed by a freezing breeze, carrying the distinct smell of alcohol.

“I’m home,” a gruff male voice called out, slamming the door behind him.

Dad had been drinking again.

I opened my eyes to watch him enter. I knew better than to say anything. However, sometimes saying nothing was just as bad.

“What’re you looking at boy? Ya have a problem? Probably been sitting on your lousy flank all day while your mother slaved away.”

“Honey, Spirit actually did a good deal today,” mom said, placing the dish she had been cleaning down on the counter. “He got up especially early to make sure that we could use the front door. You should’ve seen the snowdrifts.”

“Hmph. Got the neighbors to do it while he watched is more like it,” dad tried to mutter. Any attempt he made to lower his volume had failed. Dad was always a loud drunk.

Dad was a brute. Loud and obnoxious. I loathed him. He had this earthpony mentality, which gave him a certain outlook on other ponies.

“Nope. Did it all himself he did.” Mom came over and ruffled my pink mane, despite my attempts to bat her hoof away with my own. Dad just rolled his bloodshot eyes and stumbled over to the brown recliner, in which he proceeded to collapse into.

“Didn’t use ‘you know what”, did he?”

“No dad, I didn’t.” I huffed in annoyance. It seemed like his only goal in my life was to make me feel like a freak. It’s like the kids at school weren’t bad enough. My attitude only spurred him on, making his brown muzzle slightly redder in anger.

“You listen here you hornless freak. You’re an earthpony. That’s all you’ll ever be. You will never do magic under my roof, you understand me? You’re a freak that no one will know about. Don’t even get me started on your fascination with those Wonderbolt featherbrains. You don’t even have wings.”

I felt my eye twitch slightly in anger. Dad and I never really got along, especially when it came to my magic. Ever, really. As soon as he found out about my special talent when I got my Cutie mark, he practically disowned me.
It’s not my fault that I ended up having a Cutie mark in magic.

At least mom was supportive. Even though she was an earthpony as well, she bought me books and did her best to help teach me how to use my magic. But because of dad’s all-earthpony beliefs, we never got a whole lot done, and mom had to hide the books where he would never find them. Behind the refrigerator. I still could only do basic levitation, even if I had to put a lot of effort into it.

“Now Coarse dear, leave Spirit alone tonight. He has done plenty around the house for me,” mom stood tall next to me, trying to protect me from dad’s sharp tongue.

“Of course you would be the one to speak for that thing,” he said, gesturing towards me. “He’s got that face that only his whore of a mother could love.”

“No matter what you say Coarse, he is still your son. We even had the genetic testing done, remember? Even the doctor said he was yours as much as he is mine.” I gave mom a worried glance. She was staring down my father with a motherly intensity that only she could pull off. Even still, the bald earthpony was a terrifying beast, especially when inebriated.

“No sense in covering your back Rosemary. You were fooling around, I just know it. The only reason that I haven’t divorced your sorry flank is because I need to provide for this thing you assume to be my son.”

I stood up next to mom. It was my turn to speak up.

“You don’t provide for anypony! All you do is go out one night, spend hundreds of mom’s hard earned bits on booze, and don’t come home for two or three days. The only thing you ever do is make things harder on mom!”

“Why you little.” Dad stood up out of his chair, his eyes focused on mine. “Turns out you still don’t know your place. I guess I’ll have to give you a reminder.”

I straightened my neck as much as I could, but dad was still much bigger than me. I prepared myself for the next part as he started walking towards me in a slow, intimidating manner. Even in the faint glow of the fire behind me, I could still see his monstrous muscles flexing beneath his brown coat.

He moved past me as he picked up his signature whip from where it was hidden behind a picture frame on the mantle in his mouth. Mom tried to pull me away, but I just shook her off and faced the stallion I called my father. As I turned my head to face him, he had already uncoiled the leather.

~SNAP~

I howled in pain as I felt the whip strike my neck, the burning sting still lingering as my forelegs gave out, forcing me to kneel.

I already was feeling the blood trickling off of my neck. I could hear my mother sobbing from behind me.

“Coarse, stop this! Don’t you beat up on him enough?”

He didn’t seem to hear her, and I had no time to react to the second strike,

~SNAP~

I felt the leather break the skin on my neck a second time, causing more streams of blood to flow.

“Coarse!”

“Stay out of this whore, unless you want some too.”

~SNAP

Tears had begun flowing down my face as I tried to hold back my screams. I guess the fact that he was not getting any sort of noise out of me, edged him on even more.

~SNAP SNAP~

The next two came in rapid succession. I screamed, unable to hold it back anymore. I braced myself as much as I could for the next.

“Coarse, you need to calm down.”

I turned to look in horror as I saw my mother holding on to dad’s neck, keeping him from striking.

“How dare you,” my father roared, rearing up, and striking my mom with his front hooves. All I heard was the cracking of bones as I watched my mother crumple into a heap, blood trickling from an open gash on her forehead.

Before mom got in another word, he struck her again, this time in the jaw. The blow was followed by the sound of more bones cracking. Mom wasn’t moving.

“DAD STOP!” I screamed. It was either he was too drunk to hear me, or he was too drunk to care. He delivered another kick at mom’s ribs.

“STOP!”

I was faintly aware of pressure building up in my eyes, although I discredited them for tears as I felt my anger practically building up in the sockets, like a dam on the verge of breaking. I felt an energy flowing and pulsing though my body.

He struck her a fourth time, mom’s leg snapping at an unnatural angle.

The dam broke.

“I. SAID. STOP.”

I watched as a flash of white light flooded the room, and my father was wrapped in a magical pink aura. With a flick of my head, he was hurled at the nearest wooden post with the strength of an ursa major. I heard the sound of cracking bones as he collided with it. He fell to the ground in a pile of flesh, leaving a sizable dent in the pillar where his head had collided with it. I quickly turned around, not caring what had happened to the stallion, and relieved that he wasn’t moving.

“Mom!”

I rushed over to her. Kneeling down, I pressed an ear against her chest, praying to Celestia that she was still alive. I tuned out everything else and just listened. I felt my heart sink to an all-time low while I waited for something other than silence. I sat like that for a good ten seconds that felt like an eternity. Listening to nothing.

~Thump thump~

“Mom! I’m here. Hold on!”

One of her eyes was swollen, black and puffy, and there were plenty of spots where her lavender coat was stained crimson. Her not swollen eye half opened, revealing a glazed over stare as if she was disoriented. As she took a deep, labored, breath, I let out a sigh of relief while I saw her focus on me, and motioning me to turn around with her good hoof. I had to shake my head.

“No, don’t move mom. Don’t even speak. You’ll only hurt yourself more.” I was trying with all of my might to hold back the tears welling up behind my eyes.

She ignored me, signaling me to turn around a second time. Knowing that there was no stopping this, I obliged. I heard her faintly gasp at what she saw.

I already had a pretty good idea of what she was looking at, since I could feel the sticky, uncomfortable sensation of drying blood on my neck. I turned around, to see tears flowing from her eyes.

“No ma, don’t worry about me.”

She looked at me, taking more shallow breaths. I could tell that the simple act alone was hurting her. She tried to touch my face with her hoof. Shaking my head, I gently held it down.

“We’re gonna be okay mom.” Tears had started rolling down my cheeks as well. “We’re gonna be okay.”

She glanced behind me, her eyes widening in shock. Looking behind me, I could see what had surprised her. My father crumpled up on the floor, and a pony scull shaped crater in one of the thick wooden poles that held up the house.

“He won’t hurt us anymore.”

There was only one problem with that statement.

The stallion was still breathing.

My rage had since died down, knowing that mom was going to be fine. Despite what he had done to mom, I stifled my anger quickly, instead of all the painful things i wanted to do to him. He was still my father after all.

I stayed with mom, curling up beside her. I did my best to stop her bleeding, and was mostly successful, despite knowing only basic first aid. I myself was starting to feel woozy however, since some of the gashes on my neck were bleeding profusely.

Kinda hard to tend to a wound you can’t even reach.

It felt as if a few hours past, and I could feel sleep trying to overtake me as I was still losing some blood despite my body trying desperately to close the wounds. I faintly heard the sound of the front door being forced open and the pounding of multiple sets of hooves rushing into the house. I found myself starting to fade as my vision was overtaken by a blurry white figure wearing yellow clothing, and a large black hat. I barely felt my body being lifted upwards as my entire world faded to darkness.

----~+~----

(Present Day)

Seven Days to Hearth’s Warming

I let out a groan as I sat up from my couch, rolling onto my stomach. The nightmare had been plaguing me for three years, but I’ve gotten used to them. They had become part of my daily routine, and a rather unsettling part at that.

A yawn escaped my lips as I tried to get up, needless to say, without much success. I just rolled onto my side and stared at the blank wall. It was times like this that I really wished that I still had my Wonderbolt posters.

Wind Rider was my favorite.

At least until Equestria found out he was a liar and a cheat. I haven’t followed up on the flying squadron since then, and that was a couple of years ago. Even then, I hadn’t really paid attention to any one of them other than long distance speed record holder.

I instead tried to focus on getting out of Manehattan. It was what mom wanted for me, and I was through with dealing with the stallion I had called my father. At least he was rotting in a cell where he belonged.

“Good bucking riddance.”

I couldn’t even bring myself to face my mom anymore, even though I was supposed to visit her tomorrow.

I failed her.

I forced one tear back with a sniffle, and I forced myself to get up off of the couch, despite how much I didn’t want to.

I went into the kitchen and began fixing myself some pancakes for breakfast, and prepared myself for the day ahead.

----~+~----

Grocery shopping in Ponyville was much more of a chore in comparison to the markets in Manehattan. In Manehattan at least, all of the stalls were close together, (even though piled on top of each other is more like it). Ponyville, on the other hoof, was very limited to the amount of goods you could buy from the daily produce, especially in the winter it seems. I tugged my scarf tighter around my neck as I made my way towards the town square.

‘At least its sunny out today,’ I mused, looking up at the nearly cloudless sky. The sun, however, did not do much in the way of providing much warmth.

As I approached the town square, where many of the townsponies were out and about buying various fruits and vegetables. I avoided their gaze as much as possible as I made my way to the line in front of the apple stall.

As I approached, the orange mare donning a Stetson adorned with little holly glanced up, shooting me a friendly smile. Another reason Ponyville is better than Manehattan: at least the ponies didn’t glare at you when you wanted something.

“Mornin’ Sugarcube!” Applejack greeted brightly. “What can I do ya for?”

“Just some Macintosh if you happen to have any left.”

“Aw shucks. Sorry Spirit, Granny Smith used the last of ‘em fer her applesauce last night. I do have some Coltlands back here. They’re not as sweet though.”

“That’s fine Applejack-”

“Spirit, you have been livin’ here fer how long now? Three months? Please, call me AJ.”

I just chuckled a little bit at that.

“No promises, AJ,” I said, passing the bits over to her.

Another reason shopping for groceries took so long: everypony loved a good bit of small talk. I just turned with a wave as I trotted off to the next stall. I found myself thinking back on last night’s events with that yellow mare.

“Where have I seen her before?” I whispered to myself.

“Who do you think you’ve seen before, Spirit?!”

The loud, bubbly voice made me jump in surprise. When I came back to my senses, I was inches away from a pair of baby blue eyes.

“Pinkie, you gotta stop doing that to me.” I didn’t mean it. In fact, I kinda liked how she would pop up seemingly out of nowhere with a big ol’ smile on her pink face. Although, I’d prefer not to have a heart attack. She had been doing this ever since that 'welcome to Ponyville' party she threw for me when I first came into town. I just happened to meet just about everypony in town. All except for Princess Twilight. Apparently, according to her friend Rainbow Dash, she had to go to do some Princess'y things in Canterlot.

“You were thinking about somepony, and I happen to know the name of just about every pony in Ponyville.”

“I doubt you would know her. I’ve never seen her around here before.”

“Nuh-uh. I would have known if somepony new came into Ponyville.” Her eyes narrowed at me slightly. “I always know.”

Was she giving me a challenge?

“Okay then how about this: Mustard yellow coat, two toned orange mane, pegasus, wears a lot of blue.”

With every word, she seemed to be trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together. When I finished, Pinkie’s eyes roll into the back of her head.

“Nope. Not there. Couldn’t be.”

What was she doing? Does she have a literal filing cabinet in there?

“Wait. Almost got it. Hmmmmm. Oh!” Her eyes flicked back around to me a small smirk on her face.

“So… who is she?” I asked curiously.

“Sorry can’t tell ya!”

Buck you Pinkie.

“Why not?”

“Because if you’re thinking about the same pony that I’m thinking about, and you met that pony, and she gave you something for Hearths Warming, you’re gonna get a super duper surprise!”

What? How? Who…

Huh?

“How did you know all about that?”

“Pinkie Sense!”

Pinkie what now?

I shook my head in disbelief. In a flash, I felt Pinkie place something in my hoof. When I looked up, she was already at the door of Sugarcube Corner waving to me. Looking at my hoof, I found a cupcake topped with pink frosting.

“I will never understand you pinkie,” I said to nopony in particular.

I just continued through the crowd of ponies, determined to at least get some shopping done before Celestia lowered the sun.

Absentmindedly, I rubbed a hoof across my scarf that covered the thin scars that adorned the back of my neck.

3: Things Time Can't Heal

Chapter 3: Things Time Can’t Heal
Three Days to Hearth’s Warming

“One for Manehattan please,” I said, hoofing over a few bits to the stallion behind the iron bars of the train station ticket booth. Without saying anything more than a slightly annoyed huff, he slipped a train ticket through the bars handing it to me. “Have a good day,” I smiled sheepishly, to which he huffed again. Must not be a morning pony.

I trotted over to a wooden bench dusted with a light coat of snow, which I promptly wiped off before sitting down.

Luckily it wasn’t terribly cold out this morning, or else I’m not sure if I could hold back an outburst at the first weather pony I saw.

I looked down to my ticket, and breathed a heavy sigh.

It had been about three months since the incident with my father. The first, I had spent staying in a hotel close to the hospital where mom was being cared for.

When Coarse struck mom in the head, he cracked her skull pretty bad. The docs said that Mom had only a moderate concussion, but I really didn’t see how the word ‘moderate’ was appropriate. She was asleep for most of the first week, but whenever she woke up, she always had a dazed look in her eyes. Confused, she didn’t remember anything about that night. The doctors warned me not to mention anything regarding my father.

After I was bandaged up by the doc’s, I was free to go. That was, until I was summoned to court in Canterlot for a proper ruling. What I wasn’t expecting was to have a one on one conversation with sun god horse. The fact that the whole situation was important enough to get the attention of one of the princesses was a big red flag.

Like the kind of flag that was large enough you could cover the moon with.

Celestia was equally beautiful and terrifying, her presence alone sending shivers down my spine.

I recounted everything I remembered before passing out, omitting the fact that I used telekinesis to embed a stallion’s head in a wooden pole. I told her I bucked him across the room for that part.

Luckily for me, Celestia pardoned me, and sentenced my father to 60 years for one count of attempted ponicide, and two counts of domestic abuse.

She did however, gave me a stern glare as I left, and told gave me a piece of parchment.

I was to see her again after half a year, which was only three months away in the present.

I returned to the hospital as quickly as I could. I didn’t want to stray far from mom, knowing something could happen while I was gone. There was no way I was going to let something or somepony hurt her again on my watch.

One night, through slurred speech, mom told me that she wanted me to get out of Manehattan. Somehow, I think she knew city life wasn’t for me, and I needed to get away from it all. Even in her state, she was wiser than I’d ever be. She said that I could go live with my cousins in Appleloosa. I just laughed and declined saying I didn’t want to go live on some dude ranch. Instead I went to ponyville, rented a place to stay, and got a job that paid just enough for the rent. I spent the last two months living the small town life. I had to admit, the place has a way of growing on you. Then something came in the mail.

According to the letter I received from Mom’s doctor a few weeks ago, mom said she wanted to see me before the holiday. She was still recovering at home, but the doc thought it would be a good thing to see some family. Family that was not dad of course. At least that monster wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while.

The prison guards outside his room in a different hospital would make sure of that.

I was snapped out of my daydream by a heavy mass of fabric bumping into my head.

“Hey what’s the big idea?”

I instantly regretted saying that, as my jaw dropped to the ground upon seeing the purple mare in front of me… adorned with a horn… and wings… and was currently levitating a pile of suitcases.

Oh Celestia rape me with the sun.

I instantly hop off the bench and kneel, knowing full well what my place was.

“Your Highness! My apologies, I didn’t know that was you.” Even though I was busy focusing on the ground, I couldn’t help but catch the princess wince out of the corner of my eye.

“Th- there is no need for that. Besides, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going. I should be the one apologizing.”

“Still, I should not have been so disrespectful. Forgive me Princess Twilight, I was… thinking about somepony.”

The awkward pause we lapsed into, was strange to say the least. I decided to just keep my focus on a particular pebble on the station platform.

“Please, just call me Twilight.” A purple hoof entered my vision, blocking my view of that perfect rock. It beckoned me to stand. “Princess just sounds too… formal. You would think I’d be used to it already.”

“Oh. Well. Sorry Prin- I mean, Twilight.” Twilight just gave me a sheepish smile, before her eyes suddenly brightened in recognition.

“I’ve seen you around Ponyville, haven’t I? I don’t think we have been properly introduced.”

I hesitated in shaking the princess’s hoof, but I tentatively reached my own out and reciprocated the gesture.

Talking with one of the four princesses in such a casual manner was a rather strange experience. Even Celestia didn't seem so down to earth. She really just listened and nodded when I spoke with her. Eventually, Twilight opted to sit on the bench next to me, as we engaged in small talk. Why a princess was taking a train piqued my curiosity however. What really shocked me was how crazy smart she was. She went on and on for what seemed like hours on a pet project of hers. Something about portals and things called ‘hoo-mans’. Most of which just went over my head. This mare sounded like a walking, talking encyclopedia.

“If you don’t mind me asking, Twilight,” I asked, her ears swiveling to listen to my words. “Where are you going? I mean, this is a train station. I’d think you’d be spending this time of the year in your castle.”

“Oh. Well I’m going to visit family in Canterlot. Sure I’ll be here to spend Hearths Warming day with my friends, but it’s our tradition that we always spend at least Hearths Warming eve with my parents.” A bit of pride swelled in the princess’s chest and her voice as she talked on about her Hearths Warming traditions. She sure liked to talk, but I was more than happy to listen. However, I was distracted for a brief moment as I heard small hooves, or feet as it were, running onto the platform. A moment later, a small purple and green dragon popped into view, a small backpack strapped over his shoulders.

“Twilight! I thought you were going to wake me up like you always do,” the young reptile scolded. Twilight, turning to the little guy, giggled softly.

“Sorry Spike. I thought you’d like to sleep in after all of your hard work. I was going to come get you after a quick walk, but i got sidetracked.”

“So… Who’s this?” As the dragon said this, I mentally facehoofed at the fact that, once again, I forgot to introduce myself.

“Sorry. Spike, was it?” I inwardly cringed at how awkward my voice sounded. “Name’s Wild Spirit, but just call me Psychic.” Upon mentioning my nickname, I recognized that look in the dragon’s eyes, and immediately realized my mistake.

“Psychic?” the dragon said confused. “Why do ponies call you that?”

Shit. Why in the name of Celestia does everybody ask that?

“U-umm… Well. You see…”

Great, my stuttering caused the princess of friendship to be curious. She was already examining me with a studious gaze. Curse my lack of ability to lie.

“It’s… It’s not necessarily something I like to do in public…”

For a moment, Twilight’s eyes shifted from an analytical gaze, to one of concern. Almost motherly in a sense. Spike on the other hand just looked confused. He was about to ask something, I was sure of it. Twilight, however, quickly gave him a warning glance before addressing me again.

“Spirit, I understand if it would make you uncomfortable, but… I would like to at least see what’s got you so bothered. As princess of friendship that is.”

I felt her gentle smile kind of ease my uncertainty.

“Well, I am on my way to Manehattan. Traveling alone by train isn’t much fun anyways. But i can't keep you from your own business.”

Twilight just seemed to ignore me. “That is a bit of a ways from Canterlot, but I should be able to make a short detour.”

Yeah. A short detour of around 5 hours by train.

“Princess, I can’t ask you to go out of your way just for me.”

“Nonsense! I can just get a free ticket back. The one thing that I enjoy about being a Princess is the free transportation.”

“And the private coach!” Spike added on the side.

Celestia-dammit.

Seeing no way out of it, I opted to just nodding in defeat.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to, you know that right?” Twilight said, forcing me to turn my attention back to her, to which I just nodded again.

As much as didn’t want to go through with Twilight’s plan, I knew how intellectual ponies like her worked. I had known many mares like that back in Manehattan. Their insatiable curiosity held no bounds, and were always really persistent in getting their way.

It was rather fucking annoying sometimes.

As the moment of silence persisted, Twilight began to read a book she had pulled out from one of her many suitcases, and Spike pulled out an old Power Ponies comic book to read.

At this point, the train station had begun to become livelier as the number of ponies around seemingly increased since I had first began talking with Twilight. One group in particular happened to catch my eye. A simple family of three. The pegasus mother was looking after their young foal who was currently playing with a ball in the snow. The father seemed to just be looking on, looking on proudly as he watched his wife and daughter. I can only imagine how the longing feeling in my chest showed on my face. In the distance, I heard the approach of the ten o-clock train from down the tracks.

I watched as the train came rolling from around a snow topped hill, seemingly materializing from the blanket of snow.

It was in that moment when the mother of the family of three became distracted by a conversation with her husband, and didn’t happen to notice that their foal rolling the ball dangerously close to the railroad tracks.

It wasn’t until the train’s whistle started blowing that both the mother and I looked back to see the foal about to follow the ball into the path of the oncoming train.

The mare let out a horrified scream that was drowned out by the whistles and screeching of the approaching iron horse. She broke into an all-out sprint towards her baby, wings flared out wide. It didn’t take a physicist to know that she wasn’t running fast enough to beat a train.

Fuck it.

In that moment, I focused all of my brainpower on willing the small filly up, and into the air, doing everything in my power to just to get her away from the tracks.

I felt the familiar pressure behind my eyes as a pink aura began to surround the tail of the filly. In a desperate last-ditch effort, I closed my eyes, and mentally pulled as hard as I could.

There was a high pitched cry of shock…

Followed by the train roaring past with breaks squealing to as it slowed down.

Oh Celestia no…

I hesitantly opened my eyes, and saw the mother quivering…

Holding the small filly in her arms, looking directly at me and my glowing eyes.

As I looked around I noticed that it wasn’t just the mother, but the father, Twilight, Spike, the grumpy ticket booth worker, and some of the other folks waiting that were waiting for the train. All of the ponies were staring at me with faces ranging from gratitude, awe, fear, relief and confusion. All eyes on me…

Luna fuck me in the ass with her moon.

4: Train of Thought

Author's Note

This chapter has not been properly edited, due to the fact I don't have an editor, and haven't had the time to edit it extensively myself. Keep me updated on any errors you find.

4: Train of Thought

Chapter 4: Train of Thought

Still Three Days to Hearths Warming

The sound of the train rumbling over the iron tracks filled in what would have been awkward silence as I sat in the royal coach, looking at the rolling landscape passing just beyond a pane of glass. Trees, villages, and towns blurred together as my eyes lost focus, my mind deep in thought. I occasionally let my mind wander, but it always came back to the same thing. The scene that happened on the train station platform played on repeat in my head, two different parts of my brain constantly arguing with each other.

“You shouldn’t have done that you idiot!”

“What the hell did you want me to do then, let that foal fall on the tracks and die?”

“N- no… I’m just saying you could have tried to do it more discreetly.”

“Well how do you suppose I could’ve done that then?”

“I have no clue, you’re usually the quick thinker. Now look what you’ve done. Not only have you let our secret slip in front of some mare we met at a bar, and now you go and let a whole train of ponies know. Not to mention the Princess of Friendship herself!”

“You know what, you are a real fucking sack of shit sometimes, you know that?”

“Yeah, well now since you have gone and let this slip up out, we’re both going to have our anuses stretched to moon sized proportions.”

“Spirit… you alright there dude?” A voice distracted me from my own internal quarrel. Looking down at the seat across from me, Spike was looking at me with worried eyes. A look that was mirrored on Twilight as well.

“You have been staring out that window for the past hour, and haven’t said a word,” Twilight said, shifting in her seat slightly.

Had time really flowed by that quickly? I had just been staring out the window, my mind constantly reminding me of what the world saw me as.

Freak.

Hornless.

Worthless trash.

That one was one of dad’s favorites.

The last thing I really remembered was Twilight rushing me onto the train as I heard the stomping of angry hooves about to run us down. I probably would have been taken by the mob if the princess hadn’t pulled the furious mother away from my neck, and into the private train car. Why she would help me though, I still didn’t understand.

“Thank you,” was all I managed to say, almost too shaken to say anything else.

“For what?”

My mind replayed that scene again. Watching the foal about to fall into the tracks. Pulling her from the tracks. The mothers tears as she stared, frightened at my weirdness. And the crowd...

“Getting me away from that angry mob of ponies at the train station.”

Twilight just looked at me with confused, owlish eyes.

“Is that what you think they were doing?” Twilight said. I turned to look at her, equally as confused.

“Yeah, what else would all that stomping be for? And the crying? And the mare trying to choke me to death for pulling her foal away from the tracks like that?”

Spike set his comic book aside, finding the two trains of thought more interesting than how the Power Ponies were going to thwart Maneiac this time. He just scratched his head with one of his claws.

“Dude, that’s not at all what happened. Is that why you froze up?” Twilight raised a hoof to silence Spike, before switching seats to sit next to me.

“Wild…” It was strange to hear Twilight say my first name. Hardly anyone but mom called me that anymore. Many just preferred spirit “Are you sure you are alright.”

“Yeah man, like seriously. You could end up in a loony bin if you keep talk-.“ Twilight was quick to cut the purple dragon off with a stern glare.

Before I could give Spike’s words any thought, I saw her horn light up, her magical aura drawing a rectangle in the air in front of us. When the edges connected, an image appeared. The Ponyville train station. A crowd of ponies waiting for the train. And a foal wandering dangerously close to the tracks under the radar of everypony besides a single, purple stallion. I watched the scene play out, not even giving a single thought to how the heck did Twilight manage to get this sort of angle while sitting right next to me. I saw the mother, beginning to gallop towards her child, mouth open in a silent scream.

Luckily the projection had no sound.

I watched the purple aura surround the foal’s tail, yanking her from the tracks, her muzzle just inches away from the side of the train that was cruising into the station. I saw the agonizing moments as the mother wept, clutching her now safe child. However, in the way she cried, I could almost sense a feeling of relief that I hadn’t seen before. I watched her stand up, and walk towards myself. I mentally screamed for myself to run away, that the mare was going to kill him. She stood a few feet away from him, tears still streaming down her face. She leapt at him, and I internally flinched, closing my eyes, knowing what came next.

“Spirit… Watch.”

I look back at the moving picture, expecting to see a mare strangling a stallion half to death.

But that wasn’t the image that was showing.

Instead I saw the mother weeping into the shoulder of the colt that had saved her daughter. I could barely track her lips saying ‘thank you’ between sobs.

But what about the mob?

As I looked in the background, I saw a single stallion amongst the crowd stomping a hoof, a smile on his face. The effect seemed to be contagious as, one by one, more and more ponies began stomping their hooves. Soon enough, the whole platform was either clapping or stomping in approval. I saw one in particular place a hoof to his mouth, as if to whistle.

Looking back to myself, I saw that I was trying to curl into a ball, ears plastered against my skull, and eyes screwed tightly shut.

I watched as the applause continue as Twilight pried me from the young foal’s mother’s arms.

The father walked over, comforting his wife as the princess, dragon, and cowering stallion got on the train. The pair waved, clutching their foal, with tears finally drying up, relieved and thankful smiles plastered on their faces.

As the image began to fade, I could now feel my jaw was practically touching the floor. I was brought out of my shocked state by a soft hoof being placed reassuringly on my back. Thank god I had in that moment remembered to breathe.

“They… They aren’t mad? Scared?”

“Well, I’m fairly certain they were more scared of the fact that their foal almost got hit by a moving train,” Twilight said clinically.

“Normally ponies would just look at me in disgust, confusion, or fear…” In my disbelief, I didn’t notice Spike sit next to me.

“Well, sure doesn’t look that way to me.”

My brain was struggling to recognize what I just saw. I had just witnessed ponies applauding the one thing I had been ridiculed for all my life.

My father…

The judgmental ponies of Manehattan…

Could they have been wrong this whole time?

My mom’s voice drifted into my thoughts.

“Spirit. No matter what you do, as long as you aren’t hurting anypony, I’ll always be proud of you.” An image of myself flashed in my eyes, throwing my father across the room. “You have a gift that nopony else has.”

“You’re talking about the magic right?” a younger version of myself spoke.

“No Wild honey,” I felt a phantom hoof press against my chest. “Your heart.” I could hear her giggle inside my brain, as if she was right there with me. “The magic is just the icing on the cake. It’s part of you. And if anypony tells you that any part of you is worthless, you tell them you’re mother has friends in the Manehattan mafia.”

At the time, I thought that those were just some cheesy, token words meant to make me feel better. Now, why did they make so much more sense?

I barely noticed tears I was holding back start rolling down my face. Clearing my throat, I knew there was one question I still needed answered.

“Twilight, can I ask one more favor from you?”

“Hm?”

I could barely contain the lightness in my chest in that moment.

“Could you help me give my mom the best Hearth’s Warming present ever?”

Twilight looked at me, slightly confused, until her eyes sparked with realization. A gentle smile and a nod. “On one condition.”

Now it was my turn to be confused. I eyed her suspiciously as she brought out a quill and sat it on the seat between us.

“You are going to let me study that magic of yours. For as many experiments I need.” Twilight's eyes sparkled (heh) with almost foal-like hopefulness. I couldn’t help myself. I nodded as a smile crossed my muzzle.

“Starting now,” the princess said, motioning towards the feather. I caught the sight of Spike rolling his eyes and giving me the ‘you don’t know what you just got yourself into’ look.

With some lingering hesitation, I forced my mind to focus on the pen, lifting it into the air. Looking at the pinkish aura felt different now. I still felt the anxiety boiling up again. I looked away, letting the pen fall back to the seat.

In frustration, more so with myself, I forced myself to focus on the quill again. This time holding it in the air. I turned, opening my eyes to stare at it, forcing the anxiety aside for a moment, until…

Until I barely felt it at all. A teeny bit of confidence coursed through me as I thought to myself:

“I guess all it takes sometimes is a train ride, and another perspective.”

----~+~----

On the outskirts of Manehattan, away from the towering skyscrapers of the city, cobble streets are lined with small rows of houses. Narrow in design, but perfect for fitting a lot of homes into smaller spaces. One particular wooden cabin style house stands out from the brickwork of the others, making it seem incredibly out of place.

Standing outside the oak door to the familiar house was nerve-wracking. Apparently, after talking with the doctor at the psychiatric ward, I found out mom had been discharged a couple days ago, although she needed to go back for checkups twice a week.

He said she was doing well enough to recover at home. Her memory still has some gaps in it, but she is doing much better than she was a few months ago.

I was suddenly really glad Twilight and Spike were still with me, even though it meant she would probably be late for her family gathering.

My hoof shaking, I placed it on the door, my brain wanting nothing more than to delay the inevitable. Reluctantly, and with Twilight’s encouraging smile, I let out a sigh.

Knock knock knock

“One moment!”

Hearing mom’s voice calling from inside the house triggered my legs to lock up. Would she be mad I hadn’t come to see her more? Would she be mad at what I did to dad? Both?

I heard her hooves against the wooden floor, stopping just before the door. I felt my lungs burning from involuntarily holding my breath as the door swung open.

“If you’re here for the brain damaged mare, she’s not here-.” Mom looked like she was about to continue, but stopped as soon as she looked up at me past her pink mane.

“Hi mom.”

She took another step closer, just within hoofs reach. In a flash of motion she rears up and bops me upside the head.

“Hey, what was that fo-“ I was quickly cut off by her wrapping her forehooves tightly around my neck. I could feel the tears in her eyes as she buried her face in my coat. I could almost feel my trachea collapsing from the hug.

“Mom, can’t breathe-“ I panted. Although reluctantly, mom pulled away to look at my face, streaks from her tears clearly visible on her light tan fur.

“That’s for not coming to visit sooner.”

I chuckle a bit, rubbing the back of my neck, not sure what to say. Turning back I saw mom’s eyes widen at the other two guests on her porch.

“Princess!” mom blurted out as she bowed down, trying to pull me down with her. “Forgive me, I didn’t see you there.”

Twilight just waved a dismissive hoof. “No need for formalities Rosemary. Spirit here is a friend of mine. He’s told me a lot of wonderful things about you.”

I never thought I saw a jaw hit the ground that fast before. Mom’s eyes darted between the princess and myself. Knowing what’s coming next, I took position next to my mom.

“3… 2… 1…” At one, Mom’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, lids fluttering as her legs buckled underneath her, causing her to fall to the side, where luckily I was able to catch her, my pink aura helping me ease her to the ground.

“Is she okay?” Twilight asked, a confused and concerned Spike on her back.

“She’ll be fine. She doesn’t usually get flustered so easily, but if it gets bad enough,” I motion to mom, leaning up against my side, unconscious. “Help me get her inside?”

Twilight nodded, her magical aura lifting mom into the house. Following behind, I entered my childhood home. The smell of freshly brewed tea filled my nose. Looking around, I can see that nothing major has changed. Everything was roughly in the same place it was when I left. Except…

No leather whip,

And a portrait of mom and I at a carnival hanging on the far wall of the living room. Lifting the frame, I found a stallion face sized crater in the wooden beam. I wince at the memory, and I’m suddenly thankful for the picture that now covers it.

Home sweet home indeed.

----~+~----

When mom finally woke back up, she had thought the princess and I on the doorstep was nothing but a dream. When she saw Twilight, Spike, and I having tea around her coffee table, she nearly fainted again, but was barely able to keep her composure when Twilight handed her a cup of tea. If there was one thing that could calm mom down, it was a good Chai tea.

I explained why the princess came with me to Manehattan, leaving out the train station mishap. Didn’t want to spoil the surprise.

I told mom I was just coming to stay with her for the holiday. I told her about moving to ponyville, and the ponies I met there. Mom seemed surprised when I told her I actually met a mare at a bar, then proceeded to ask if I had asked her on a date yet.

“So, Ms. Rosemary,” Twilight said. “I believe that Spirit here wanted me to show you something.”

“Oh? What could he possibly want me to see?” Mom flashed me a rather sly grin. The one she used to try and either embarrass me, or just get under my skin. That is one of the things I loved about mom. Never took herself too seriously.

Twilight, proceeded to show the same projection she’d shown me on the train. I wasn’t watching the projection as I was watching mom. As she watched the scene unfold, a hoof went to her mouth and her eyes seemed to double in size. She stayed like that a few minutes after the projection ended. I moved to sit next to mom, and in a flash of motion, she pulled me into a deep hug. Shocked, it took me a second to return her embrace, but when I did, she squeezed just a bit tighter.

“I’m so proud of you,” mom whispered, just barely audible. We sat like that in silence, the sounds of the city outside feeling so distant. We pulled apart only when we heard Twilight politely clearing her throat.

“Well, it has been a pleasure Ms. Rosemary, but I believe it’s time for Spike and I to be on our way to Canterlot. My parents must be waiting for us by now.”

“Of course Princess. Don’t let Spirit and I keep you from your own family now.”

“No worries. Besides, we won’t even need to take the train!” Twilight trotted over and gave me a quick hug and goodbye before heading out to the street with the purple and green dragon in tow.

“Twi,” Spike said, sounding a bit worried. “What do you mean we won’t need to take the train?”

Twilight gave Spike a quick smirk, lighting her horn. In a flash of light, the two disappeared into thin air.

I stood there, looking outward into the street. Watching tiny snowflakes float gently onto the street. I couldn’t see it before, but meeting Twilight now seemed like the start of something new for once. An actual friendship that might not end in getting left behind for being different.

Then again, Twilight is the literal princess of Friendship, so I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised.

“So. Any other interesting mares you haven’t told me about?”

Turning around, Mom was giving me that shit-eating grin she loved so much. I couldn’t do much else but shake my head and chuckle.

Two Days Later

Hearth’s Warming Eve

The snow picked up as the days grew closer to Hearth’s Warming. Soon the light dusting turned into two to three inches, and then to a foot. Hearth’s Warming eve was no different. And I had been outside the past hour, shoveling the walkway and sidewalk of my foalhood home.

I had stayed the past two nights at home, as I had planned. Mom seemed happier now that I was finally home. I didn’t ask anything about Dad, afraid of either sparking anger or fear in mom. If she didn’t remember what happened, it was better off staying that way.

The snow felt heavier with each bit of snow removed. I was almost done now, and my body ached from both the physical and mental exertion of shoveling the walkway. I had been alternating from using my physical strength and my telekinesis, as per my mom’s request. She always did want me to try and improve my magic whenever I could. Normally I would’ve been hesitant, using my magic out where other ponies could see, but with Twilight’s encouragement a few days prior, and my father behind bars, I was less nervous than I thought I would be. The fact that most ponies wouldn’t be out today in the snow helped too. The few that did had shot me sideways glances, but not out of fear. More out of curiosity than anything else.

I was actually enjoying myself as I moved the shovel in my telekinetic grip, placing it against the wooden frame of Mom’s cabin style home. Entering, I gratefully welcomed the embrace of the fire that crackled inside. I hug my earmuffs and scarf on the rack by the door, banging off my boots on the doorframe before entering.

“Wild? Are you finally done?” Mom called from the kitchen. A moment later she poked her head around the corner, seeing the snow that stuck to my coat that wasn’t covered by my various articles of clothing. “Celestia, you must be freezing. I hope your taste for hot chocolate hasn’t changed in the past three months.”

Mom new me too well.

Rounding the corner into the kitchen, My eyes lingered on the tray that mom had prepared. Two mugs sat atop it, one purple, one a light pink, steam drifting out of both of them. I levitated mine to my mouth, taking a gentle sip, careful not to burn my tongue. I barely noticed Mom smiling at me out of the corner of my eye.

“What are ya’ looking at?” I said, swallowing a bit of my favorite drink. A slight cinnamon taste tingling my throat as it went down.

“Just thinking that I have hardly ever seen you use your magic like that. And I’m your mother! Now here you are drinking hot chocolate like it’s nothing at all.”

I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t thinking about that at the time, but now that mom brought it up, she was right. I was definitely a little more confident with my magic, and that wasn’t something I thought I’d ever say. In my deep thought, I didn’t realize that I had been silent for a good couple minutes.

“I got the divorce papers back from your father a few days ago.”

That caught my attention. Mom was sitting on the sofa, looking solemnly at her cup of undrunk tea.

“Divorce papers? I didn’t think you remembered what happened.”

Mom shrugged, sighing to herself. “I don’t remember much. I remember him hitting you, then me, then you throwing him into the wall. Then you telling me not to move. Nothing past that.”

I moved to sit next to her.

“Spirit, as much as I am grateful that you got that stallion away from me, from us,” Mom looked up to me, sadness in her eyes. “Did you have to throw him like that?”

I sat there dumbfounded. Out of everything she could have asked, that was the last thing I expected to hear. I tried to get my brain to think of something to say. Anything to say. Something to put Mom’s mind at ease, but I couldn’t form the right words.

“Spirit, I’m not disappointed in you. I’m… upset. Upset with what you did, but I am thankful that you stood up to that awful, awful stallion.” Mom let out a hollow chuckle. “I’m not sure whether or not to ground you, or give you a hug.”

I decided to make the decision for her, closing the distance, and throwing my forelegs around her, as her tears flowed freely. We stayed like that for Luna knows how long. I had no idea how much she remembered, and she kept that bottled up for so long. I don’t even think she told the hospital staff or her psychologist.

I decided enough was enough, and pulled us apart. She looked up at me through a messy pink mane.

“Mom, we’re here now, and we never have to deal with that monster again.” I gave her the most reassuring smile I could muster. It seemed to work if the slightly upturned corners of her mouth had anything to say about it. “Now how about we finally enjoy this Hearth’s Warming, huh? Why don’t we open the presents now, brighten the mood a bit.” With that she nodded.

We exchanged various gifts between ourselves. Mainly small things. I got Mom some new cooking tools, a necklace with silver flowers at the end, and a new scarf. I ended up opening some new Daring Do books, my favorite, and some paintings for the walls back in ponyville. It was her third gift that ended up surprising me.

“I know this last one isn’t much,” Mom said, handing me a wrapped tube of some sort. “I think you’ll like it though.”

I carefully unwrapped the paper, pulling out a hollow cardboard tube, a poster rolled up inside. Unrolling it I loved what I saw.

A mare with a fiery mane saluting into the distance, wings outstretched. In bold letters it read, “’The sky is the limit.’” In the background, a squadron of uniformed pegasi flew in formation, flying through the symbol of the Wonderbolts, my favorite group of stunt fliers in Equestria, made out of clouds. I had a couple of their older posters still hanging in my room from when I was younger. The more closely I looked at the poster, the more I began to see something.

“Wild, honey, what’s wrong?” I ignored mom for the moment, laser focused on the poster.

That mare. I felt like I’ve seen her before. Looking closely, I recognized almost every detail of the mare’s two-tone orange mane. I recognized the confident smirk she wore, and the eyes behind the purple shades. The longer I analyzed the image, I could picture the same mare, wearing her mane down, navy saddlebags on her waist, and a blue scarf adorning her neck.

I got up, moving to the tree, grabbing the letter that was given to me at a bar in ponyville about a week ago. Hesitating, I read the words ‘don’t open until Hearth’s Warming’. Ignoring the instructions, I opened the envelope, taking out the piece of paper folded inside, and began to read.

Hey Spirit,
I’m no good with words, so I’m just gonna get right to the point. I really liked hanging out with ya, and I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself proper tonight. If I did, I can guarantee you we would’ve been swarmed by ponies the whole night. Trust me, it’s not as fun as it sounds. I’m actually surprised you haven’t figured out who I am yet.

Oh well. Anyways, I am enclosing a VIP pass to get you into any of my events for free. Thought it would be a good Hearth’s Warming Present, and a good thank you for being the first pony to treat me like a normal mare for once. You’d be surprised how many ponies forget that.

To top it off though, this is just a way to hang out more!

I’m doing a show in Canterlot for Hearths Warming. It would mean a lot to me if you came. It’s in the royal gardens, but that shouldn’t be an issue with that pass I gave you.

Oh, and definitely stay for the Hearth’s Warming party afterwards.

I hope we can become good friends. (Celestia, now I’m starting to sound like Crash’s friend Fluttershy)

But seriously, we should hang out more when I am not on duty. Or on duty as long as I still get my work done. I am the Captain after all.

Anyways, catch you on the flip side!

Spitfire

Captain of the Wonderbolts

Thank the stars no flies where around, or else one would’ve flown into my mouth.

“Spirit? What in that letter has gotten you all worked up?”

Without speaking, I just pulled the lanyard out of the envelope, levitating it for Mom to see. Her eyes went wide as she eyed the plastic card at the end. I passed her the letter, which she instantly took, mumbling to herself as she quickly read through the letter. Her jaw dropped reading the last part.

“Spirit…”

“Yeah Ma?”

“You’re gonna need a train ticket.”