Stallions Don't Cry

Stallions Don’t Cry

by Scarlet Blaze

Chapter 1

Hi. My name is Twilight Sky. I am an earth pony. My coat is grey. My mane is blue. I have three white stars on each side of my flank. I lived in Ponyville most of my life. I think the only part worth mentioning of my life is when things began to change for me. Whether that was for the better or worse I will leave it for the reader to decide.

I think it was one night when this all began (or the best place to begin anyways). I was looking out at the stars. Sleep was fleeting those days. You could hear your own breath through the stillness. Not even the occasional cricket or owl broke the silence. I gazed to the lights that shone above to give their illuminance to the town. The stars, some brighter than others but all noticeable and distinguishable. I thought about the vast sky. The stars were so spaced it made me wonder what was out there. Some depth that could never be explored. Never be understood.

“Are you still up?”

I did not turn around. I did not need to. I did not care to see mare from who the voice came from, yet I still had to see her. She clopped over to the window and looked out beside me. I glanced over to see my wife, Marmalade. Her bright orange coat was visible in the darkness. The sky light need not show it. It was only a glance at her before I looked back to the sky.

The sky was the only thing that I really enjoyed spending at for awhile. Unlike when Marmalade and I were first married. We would spend hours just being together and talking. Alas, we got jobs, worked, had a child and times changed. I do not remember when it got so bad. I know it was only recently when I realized we did not love each other anymore. I knew and she knew. Why we were still together? It had to be because of our son. That was the only reason.

“Are you coming to bed?” she inquired.

“No. Not yet.”

“You should see a doctor. You might have insomnia.”

“I’m fine, honey.”

“You know I worry about you.”

“...I know.”

Not another word between us that night. Quite frankly it was the first conversation we truly had in days. Marmalade simply went back to bed. However, I waited at the window a bit longer. I waited for nothing.

My work is in Canterlot. Part-time though. I am lucky enough to get free room and a year long train pass from my employer. I work security at the events which were mostly held on weekends. I guess you could say I am “bouncer.” I don’t exactly have brute strength to keep out the undesirables, but I have my ways at keeping them away. This weekend it was some photo gallery of an aspiring photograph. Despite him headlining I never caught the name. Must have not been worth remembering. The event was hosted by Fancy Pants. A big name in Canterlot, actually the one providing my pay. He still owns about half the hot spots in the city not to mention every hotel. I had met him on a couple of occasions. He came off as rather down to Earth for some of his wealth (probably inherited like the majority of Canterlot).

The job was fairly easy. It was the first time I did not have to turn away unwanted ponies. It was not one of those events worth sneaking into. After getting paid I headed back home. Upon arriving at our two-story cottage I was greeted by my brother. He had been waiting for the better portion of the day for me to come home. I looked over him for the first time in a few years. Examining the almost exact replica of myself standing in our living room. He even had g the same cutie mark on his flank. The only reason I could tell it was not just a mirror was the folded wings at his sides. It reminded me how unlucky I was that despite having a unicorn father and pegasus mother I ended up being an earth pony. I have always secretly desired to be an alicorn. Too bad there was only a .0000001% chance of that happening when I was born.

“To what do I owe this occasion,” I asked him.

The question was mostly a formality as I did not bother to smile as I trudged by. The weight of my saddle bag becoming to much to handle.

“You sure are a long way from Clousdale,” I added as I trotted the closet beside the stairway.

“It’s about dad,” he replied.

“Oh,” I asked, trying to sound curious. “Did he get arrested again?”

“No.”

“Are you sure? Between the adultery and drunken cider rampages it is hard to believe he accomplishes anything else.

“He’s dying.”

I set down my saddle bag by the closet door, fully intending to unpack later. The news did not take long to sink in. I had given up on my father after years of abuse and had often wished he would just die. Rather than having sudden shock I just went back to the couch and climbed on. Resting my body upon it.

“Anything you would like to add?”

“The Doctor is giving him a few weeks at most.”

“Tell me when the funeral is.”

My brother lowered his head, obviously saddened by my response. It was as if he had expected me to break down crying and say how much I love my father and how he just can’t be dying now of all times.  I watched as my twin slowly trotted to the door I had left open, about to let himself out (it was like I was offering for him to leave from the instance I saw him). He looked back over his shoulder before his exit.

“If there is something you need to tell him. Sooner would be better than later.”

And with that he left. I climbed back down from the couch and bucked the door shut after he was gone. To say I was a tad angry from the whole thing was an understatement. How should I act after my mostly estranged twin tells me my despicable dad is dying? Happy? Sad? Erotic? What!?

I was so built up by this it took a bit to notice my colt standing at the bottom of the stairs. My anger built up a bit. My son, Morning Sun, the opposing name sake of my father, Night Sky, innocently looked up to me.

“I-Is this a bad time, daddy?” he asked with a low head.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, forcing a smile.

“No Sun. I’m sorry. Do you need something?”

Sun looked around at first, as if he was looking to see if anyone else was listening. Since his uncle had left and his mother was not home from work yet it was just us.

“Can... Can we go to my room?”

“Sure.

I clopped slowly behind him as he jumped from step to step. Not yet at a big enough size to climb them. I felt bad that his room had to be upstairs. He was constantly hoping up and down every day. After a some time he managed to get to the top. I trotted closely behind him to his room.

We enter the light blue painted room. I spent the better part of a month painting the whole thing before he was born. Did the whole thing with a paint brush in my mouth.

“Can you please shut the door?” he asked.

I gently kicked it shut.

“Okay, son. What’s with all the secrecy?”

Sun rocked back and forth where he stood. He opened his jaw about speak once or twice to speak, but stopped himself.

“Did you shoplift something, son?” I asked with a smile, mostly to break the tension because I was sure he never would.

He still did not reply, not even a chuckle to brush it off.

“Oh sweet Celestia,” I said as my smile faded. “You didn’t!... Did you?”

“No!” he squeaked, upset with my accusation.

I gave out sigh of relief, “Then what did you do?”

“Nothing!”

“Then what did you want to tell me?”

“Please don’t rush me!”

I had never seen him like this. Whatever it was, it had to be serious. He finally stopped rocking and closed his eyes. A deep breath broke the silence. Opening his eyes again he finally said what it was he wanted to.

“I think I might be a filly.”