"Please, my sweet éclair!" I begged her, down on my knees, "It doesn't have to be this way!"
I was on my knees in front of my marefriend, Vanilla Bean, who was cleaning out the drawers and closet, swiping up everything that was hers. Tears were in my eyes, and nothing I was saying was getting through to her. She sighed and moved onto the bathroom, grabbing her several mane and coat accessories.
"Look, I've explained many times," she said, "We've grown apart. I no longer have feelings for you, so I will be going now."
"But it's Valentines Day, Vanilla!" I said, "This is a day where couples should be together! I even bought you the most wonderful gift!" I pointed at the giant stuffed bunny sitting on the bed.
"Yes, and I am returning it to you," Vanilla said, "I could never make you waste your money on a mare that is no longer yours." Tears began to roll down my face.
"But my little pastry, I love you! I've loved you for ten months! I was even thinking of proposing to you!" I explained. Vanilla sighed again and dropped her stuff, gathering it into a pile.
"Look, Donut Glaze," she said, "You and I are two different ponies. You specialize in donuts, I specialize in ice cream. While the two may go very well together, they soon become unlikable once they combine. When ice cream pairs a donut, it becomes soggy as the ice cream melts. The ice cream can be refrozen, but nopony wants a soggy donut, thus throwing it out." She grabbed her stuff.
"And unfortunately, that also applies to me," she continued, "I must move on, and leave you behind. I will not lie, these past ten months have been wonderful, but I don't love you any longer." I began to weep.
"But... but... but..." I said, trying hard to think of something else to say.
"Donut, it'd be better for you to just let me go," Vanilla said, "The more you beg, the more you embarrass yourself." I gave up, and if she hadn't saddened me enough, she gave me the killing blow to my heart. She went into the nursery and grabbed a small load of baby supplies, and our sleeping foal, Cocoa Bean. I gasped as my eyes went large.
"You're taking our colt?!" I asked. She wrapped him up in a blanket.
"Yes," she said.
"B-but, he's our foal!" I said, emphasizing "our," "We've taken care of him for four months!" She sighed.
"Actually, he's my colt," she said, "You seem to have forgotten that I was four months pregnant when I met you. You didn't fertilize the egg that made him, and he shares no DNA with you, so therefore, he belongs to me, and I'm taking him with me." I cried harder, my face turning red.
"F-fine!" I screamed, "Take him! Take him away just like you took my heart and stomped on it!" Vanilla ignored me and grabbed the rest of her stuff. She then walked downstairs to the donut shop and then outside, putting everything in a taxi-carriage waiting for her. She got into the carriage and looked at me.
"Goodbye, Donut Glaze," she said as the taxi-carriage left, taking my ex-marefriend and my foal with it. I slammed the door hard and spent the rest of the night alone in bed, crying into my pillow.
Chapter One: Enter Emerald Jewel
I walked the shiny streets of the luxurious Crystal Empire, my head hung so low that my muzzle was about two inches from the ground. I was so heartbroken and sad, and it was very hard to enjoy myself at Equestria's second-most-beloved city, behind only Canterlot. Anyone who would've seen me would've definitely had questions for me, because no one from Ponyville would come to the Crystal Empire and look so miserable. Even if you were depressed, a trip to the Crystal Empire would turn you around instantly.
But I was too depressed to enjoy any of the sights or activities. I was still recovering from the very bad breakup I had one week previously. Not only did I suffer a devastating breakup, but my ex-marefriend took our five-month-old colt with her. I was left all alone, and my heart sunk so low that I thought nothing could get me to cheer up.
I managed to keep the breakup private, but my three friends knew something was wrong when I was too depressed to join them for anything we do together. Once I finally told them my situation, they decided to buy me a ticket to the Crystal Empire, as a way to cheer me up. Even though I didn't feel like traveling anywhere, I accepted and went to the Empire for two reasons: because I didn't want them to end up wasting their money, especially after I found out they all spent 30% of their paychecks to help pitch in for it, and because I had always wanted to go there, but never had the time.
Even though I was at the place I had always wanted to visit, I couldn't enjoy myself like I wanted to. I did everything I wanted to do while I was there in a matter of twenty-four hours: I went to a Broadway-reenactment of King Sombra's defeat, saw the prestigious attraction of the Empire, the Crystal Heart, and was even welcome to visit the first floor of the Crystal Palace, the living place of Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor. I may not have been able to see and meet the Royal Couple, but it was still great. But even with all those activities and sights, It still wasn't enough to mend the wound in my heart. I missed Vanilla and Cocoa too much.
I walked into a nearby park, which expectedly was made of crystal, from the equipment to the water fountains. It was very impressive, and it kind of gave me the urge to play on something, but I refused. I sat down on a bench, my face falling into my hooves. I had the urge to cry again, but I fought it, not wanting to make a scene. I knew I shouldn't have been so depressed, because I was in a happy and luxurious place, and everypony around me were happier than a foal in an amusement park, but I couldn't. I just couldn't stop thinking about the breakup and the loss of Cocoa.
Right when I felt that I had overstayed my welcome at the Empire and was about to go to the train station, I heard the sound of crying, and it wasn't me this time. I took my face out of my hooves and looked around, trying to find who was crying. Not finding anything, I got up and walked around the park. Once the sound got higher as I got closer, and soon, I found who was crying underneath the slide.
It was a small, green Crystal Pony, hiding alone underneath the slide. He was a colt, and he was crying into his hooves hard. I didn't know why he was crying, but I knew I had to help him, because it would've made me feel worse knowing that I had abandoned a colt that needed help. I sat in front of him, looking down at him with a sympathetic look.
"What's wrong, little colt?" I asked him calmly, trying not to sound depressed. The colt looked up at me, tears flowing from his green eyes.
"I... I lost my ball in the forest over there, and I'm too scared to go get it, because there's timber wolves in there!" he explained, crying into his hooves again. He spoke in a light English accent, which sounded a little cute, as his voice had not deepened. Anyway, I looked to my right, seeing a rather large forest, which was the only thing in the Empire that wasn't crystal, and I'm guessing it was like that for the animals that lived there. I smiled a little and stood up.
"Well, I can go get your ball if you like," I insisted. He looked at me again.
"Please... if you can..." he pleaded.
I smiled and walked into the forest while the colt watched me. It took awhile to find the ball, as I was trying to be as quiet as I could be, just in case any timber wolves were around. On top of that, I was letting my tail drag on the ground, making a little trail for myself so I wouldn't get lost. After walking around for about three minutes, I finally found the ball. It was similar to a disco ball, but was green, and surprisingly, it could bounce, despite being a piece of crystal. Anyway, I grabbed the ball with my magic and walked out of the forest. The colt was still there, who smiled as I gave it back to him.
"Found it," I said, placing the ball in his lap. He squealed and hugged it tight.
"My ball!" he said happily, "It's back!" He put down the ball and hugged my front leg. "Thank you, mister!" I smiled and pat his back.
"You're very welcome, little colt," I said, nuzzling him gently. He giggled a little and looked at his ball.
"Hey... will you play with me, please...?" he asked, giving me huge puppy-eyes and a saddened lip. His green eyes only made the face cuter as I blushed a little.
"Aww... of course I will..." I said. He smiled.
"Yay!" he squealed, "Let's play catch!" He grabbed his ball and ran a few steps away from me, tossing the ball to me. I easily caught it with my magic and smiled, lightly tossing it to him underhoof. He caught it easily and giggled.
"You can throw it harder than that!" he said, throwing it back to me, "I'm seven, not a foal!" I shrugged and threw it a little harder overhoof this time, him catching it.
"Yeah, like that!" he said, "Throw it like that!" For the next five minutes or so, the colt and I threw the ball back and forth. For once, I was actually having fun, because I was enjoying playing with this colt, and I had no idea why. I had just met him, and got a toy back for him, and now I was playing with him. Anyway, he threw the ball to me again.
"Hey, throw it up!" he squealed, "I can do something cool!" I smiled and throw the ball at him again, but upward in an arch motion. He waited for it to come down and then did a backflip, catching the ball in midair with his tail, using his tail to throw it back up, and caught it in his mouth, all in the same flip. My eyes went wide as I saw this.
"Wow!" I said. He giggled and spit the ball onto the ground.
"You like it?" he asked.
"Like it? I loved it!" I said, "That's a pretty extreme move for a seven-year-old! Where'd you get moves like that?!" He smiled.
"It's all mine!" he said, "I've been practicing because I play a lot of buckball at the orph-" His eyes popped open as he cut himself off, covering his mouth with his hooves. "...I... I mean... at home..." I blinked twice, knowing exactly what he was going to say before he stopped.
"What was that...?" I asked. So much nervousness showed on his face.
"I... I said..." he stammered, "I play a lot of buckball... a-at home..."
"No, what were you going to say before you say that?" I asked again.
"Uh... uh..." he mumbled, looking down at the ground. It was clear that he wasn't going to tell me, so I decided to get it out of him in a gentle way.
"Little colt... are you..." I asked, taking a small breath before saying the final word, "...parentless...?"
"H-huh...?" he asked me, clearly pretending not to understand what I was talking about.
"I repeat... are you... parentless...?" I asked, "You were going to say that you live in an orphanage, weren't you?" Those words must've hit the little colt right in his soft spot as I saw tears come to his eyes.
"I... I... I..." he stammered, his voice breaking.
"L... little colt?" I asked. His bottom lip quivered as he threw himself down, laying on his stomach, crying into his front legs. By then, I knew exactly what the truth was as I walked over to him, placing my hoof on the top of his head.
"I... I was correct... weren't I...?" I asked him, "You... you're an orphan... aren't you...?" He sniffled and looked up at me, finally confessing.
"Y-yes!" he admitted, "I'm an orphan! I don't have parents! I haven't had my mommy and daddy since I was four!" He cried harder.
"Wh-what happened...?" I asked, not really wanting to know, but wanting him to get it off of his chest. He sniffled again and spoke.
"Th-they gave me away!" he confessed, making my heart sink so low, "I came home from school and my mom told me that they were taking me somewhere 'fun,' and then they dropped me off at the orphanage, and I haven't seen them since! I miss them, but they don't miss me! I've waited for them for so long, and even if I found them, they... they... they wouldn't want me back!" He bawled so hard that his face turned red. I felt so bad for him, and I couldn't help but hug him, petting his mane.
"I'm so sorry, little colt..." I whispered into his ear. I let him cry into my coat, petting his man as he did. Minute by minute, little by little, his bawling became crying, then whining, and soon, he stopped with a sniffle, which made me smile again. "Feeling a little better...?"
"*sniffle* Mm... hmm..." he said low, "I... I miss Mommy and Daddy..."
"I'm sure you do... but it'll be OK..." I comforted him. He sighed and nuzzled into my coat.
"Th... thank you... mister..." he mumbled.
"For what?" I asked.
"F... for playing with me... and making me feel better..." he said. I blushed a little bit and smiled again, hugging him tighter.
"It... it's fine, little colt..." I said, nuzzling him. I saw a little smile creep onto his face as he buried his face back in my coat.
"You... you smell good..." he complimented, "...almost... like donuts..." I giggled a little bit.
"Well, I own a donut shop in Ponyville, and I work around donuts," I said, "Hence my name, Donut Glaze."
"Oh..." he said, "That's nice... Mr. Glaze..." I smiled again as I looked up, seeing the sun beginning to set.
"Aye me, it's getting late," I said, "I best be getting home now before the final train departs." The colt looked down again.
"O-oh..." he said, "W-well... could you walk me back to the orphanage, please...? I don't like walking alone... and Mother Superior will be upset if I stay out late again..." I thought for a minute, then smiled again.
"No... I'm not walking you to the orphanage..." I said. He looked up at me again.
"H-huh...?" he asked.
"An adorable colt like you, who still has his whole life ahead of him, doesn't deserve to spend it in an orphanage," I said. I then smiled a little wider, confidently saying the last few words.
"In fact... I'm taking you home with me..." I said. His ears perked up a little.
"H-huh?!" he squealed, "H-home... with you?!" I nodded with another smile. "B-but, I've never lived anywhere but here, and... don't you think, the ponies in Ponyville might get a little suspicious that a Crystal Pony is living there?"
"It'll be OK, little colt," I said, "I promise you'll be accepted there. Plus, if all this Empire has given you is neglectful parents and three years of orphanage life, then you deserve a better home." I nuzzled him. "But it's up to you, sweetheart." The colt wrapped his front legs around my neck.
"Yes... yes please... take me with you..." he pleaded.
I smiled and lifted the Crystal Colt onto my back. He wrapped all four of his legs around my neck to keep himself from falling. I then walked to the train station, getting a ticket to Ponyville as I boarded the train, walking to the back car and picking a bed, letting the colt off of my back as I sat on the bed, the colt also doing so. The train-whistle blew twice as the train began to move. I sighed and rested my back against the pillow.
"Headed home, finally..." I mumbled to myself.
"What was that, Mr. Glaze...?" the colt asked me.
"Oh, I'm just talking to myself," I said, "Oh, by the way, I never caught your name, little colt." He looked down.
"I... I don't have a name..." he said, "...my parents never gave me a name..." I know that sounds unbelievable, but it's understandable, as his parents maybe never named him so they wouldn't grow attached to him.
"Really...?" I asked him. He nodded in sadness. I thought for a bit. I wanted to give him a name, but I was a little afraid, because I didn't want to become attached to him only for him to be unsatisfied with me. However, I felt bad that his parents hated him so much that they didn't even bother to name him. I then smiled and gave him a name.
"I'll call you... Emerald..." I said, "It suits you, because of your magnificent color." He smiled a little bit.
"Emerald... my name, Emerald..." he mumbled, "I love it!" I smiled again.
"Great," I said, "It's nice to meet you, Emerald." He giggled.
"You too, Mr. Glaze," Emerald smiled. I pulled Emerald into my hooves.
"Just call me Donut, Emerald," I said, "We're friends now." He smiled and nodded again, nuzzling into my coat again as I laid back, enjoying the train-ride back home. Emerald yawned, fluttering his eyes. I smiled and pet his mane again.
"Getting sleepy, Emerald?" I asked. He yawned a second time.
"Mm... mm-hmm..." he mumbled, "I... I don't... get much sleep... at..."
"Shh... it's OK..." I said, "You can catch a few Z's if you like... I'll wake you up once we get to Ponyville..." He smirked and rested his head on my chest, sighing.
"Th... thank... you... D... Donut..." he mumbled. I pat his back.
"You're very welcome, Emerald," I said. I continued to pat his back as I listened to his soft breathing, which soon turned to light snores, signaling that he had fallen asleep. I smiled and lightly laid him in the bed, covering him with the blanket.
"Have a good nap, Emerald," I said. I walked into the train's lavatory to relieve my bladder. I was a little nervous to know that I had just taken over supervision of a colt I had just met, but little did I know, I had just made the greatest decision of my life.
