Chapter 1 - ...Every Sunny Day
“Perhaps the biggest lie - even if accidental - was that it was suppose to stay sunny that day.”
“Look mom, it’s the Stable! It’s so big!”
Every word was brimming with that feeling of excitement. The same feeling that had hypnotized me as I watch the giant metal thing from inside the carriage. Hypnotized, that was a big word for somepony my age, but I liked it. I felt so smart say that word I could feel my tail against my nose as it flicked. The feeling tickled me slightly, and I could see hairs from my long, unbrushed tail and mane. I couldn’t help but jump up slightly and down slightly in the carriage.
“Lucky my sweetie, if you're not going to let me cut your tail then please keep it under control,” Mom told me, and I sat back down with my tail hanging between both legs. I leaned on my mom, getting a hug from her in return. “You excited for the tour tomorrow?”
“Why couldn't it be today?” I whined, upset I was going to wait even longer to see a Stable from the inside.
“Dad is waiting at the hotel for us, you wouldn’t want him to miss this?” Mom was right! Dad had never seen a stable as well. My mom was an employee of these ponies named stable-tech so she always got to see Stables. We had taken a vacation to do this, but it was so worth it.
It was just mom, dad, and their cute little filly Lucky Heart. I was that cute little filly of course, because every great vacation story should start with a cute filly. I’m nine years old, and had a long purple mane and tail with funny stripes of blue going down them. Add that with my yellow coat and you got a cute filly on a magical adventure in the Equestria midwest. First stop, the huge city of Troston. It must have been as big as Manehattan, or perhaps even bigger!
That Stable thing, number 71 as my mom called it, was finished just this week. I didn’t really know why they needed such huge places, but there suppose to be a war going on. I don’t know anything about it, I don’t even know what a war is. It sounds cool though, like part of some Power Ponies adventure. Mom and dad never told me what this war was over, but it must have been a really big fight if what I’ve heard is anything to say. If this fight is anything like the fights I had with my college student sister, these should simply resolve in a few days… or weeks. Actually more like months because it’s been going on for a really long time.
“Why did dad leave ahead of us mom?” I asked. The question had been bothering me ever since he left. “I wanted to explore the train with him.”
“Daddy had something to do. I know he is just as upset about missing out on the ride as you,” I loved mom when she said things like. Compared to other adults she was really cool.
She wasn’t scary like most grown ups who were more concerned with ‘bits’ and ‘working’ than playing with fillies like me. Than again most of them would do what all the ponies at school did to me that first year because I was ‘blank flank’. I never went to school again after that, and my parents didn’t want meanies like them to hurt me. Thinking about that always made me look to my flank, which was just as yellow and blank as always. I vowed that first and only day at school that I would never get a cutie mark, to avoid becoming like those bullies. I’m sure that’s the reason most adults are so mean and stupid is because of their cutie marks, and I won’t be like them.
I think that was the day I also stopped mom from cutting my mane and tail. I remember telling mom that if I look weird I would not become a cutie marked bully. She still cut my mane and tail, but we worked out something she called a deal. As long as I promise to work on math and reading and all these other things with a tutor, she would only cut my mane when it was bigger than my body and when my tail was two of me. Mom asked me if she hated all cutie marks, but I told that she and dad were the two exceptions. Besides, working for Stable-tech was an important thing these days and my dad was a judge who brought baddies to justice.
Other than that I was a normal unicorn… though I don’t get out much. Not that it mattered in the long run. I was happy, mom was happy, dad was happy, and after two years I’ve still avoid ever getting a cutie mark. Hanging out with those fillies and colts would only be bad for me, and besides my idea was working. If I was going to keep doing it for the rest of life, than I would never get my cutie mark. I liked my tail long anyway, even if it wasn’t the best when walking in these big crowded cities.
The door to the carriage opened to a really old and wrinkly stallion was standing before me. I was hoping it was dad, but after saying this creeps face I shuffled back till I was nice and cozy in mom’s soft belly fur. It didn’t last long as my mom got up, causing me to fall on my back. She thanked the scary old stallion before telling me we had arrived… wherever it was I didn’t know. I waited for the stranger to turn away and stop staring at me before finally making my way out.
When I stepped outside I saw what had to be the biggest building I’ve ever seen. It was so different from anything in Ponyville and so… occupied by adults. Mom and Dad are the only adults I usually see and being around so many of these ponies was scary. I stayed right next to mom's belly, feeling safe as we walk to a door to the inside of the giant building. I didn’t like it, having all these ponies around. I wanted to leave immediately as we came to some clear glass doors. Than I saw the stallion inside, and rushed the doors to jump and hug him.
“DADDY!” I shouted as I jumped up to hug his neck. He was here! My dad was already here! “I missed you daddy.”
“I missed you to Lucky,” He assured me giggling, the stallion behind the counter next to him doing the same, though creepier. “I’m so happy to finally take you out on a vacation with me and mom, and you are so brave standing around all those grown ups on the way here.”
“The bravest filly I know,” I turned to see mom standing behind me, smiling as she rubbed the top of my mane. “And the cutest one as well.”
“Stop mom, they’ll stare at me,” I pleaded, already receive a funny face from the stranger behind the counter. Sadly my plea went without answer as she continued to do so. “Besides you making my mane more messy than needed.”
“Sorry sweetie~” She teased me as I put on my best pouty face. She leaned down to my eye level with a smile on her face “Listen, after breakfast we will go to our room and you can relax away from all the other ponies. I’m sure you're hungry though right now, aren’t you?” My tummy rumbled, and I giggle in response. “I thought so, how about you go ahead of us. We need to check into the hotel and we’ll be right there.”
I nodded with courage in my eyes. This was my first true quest on this mighty adventure, or it would have been if I didn't see dozens of tables down the hallway. Ugh, why did everypony lack a sense of adventure? All these adult cared about was doing boring old work, making bits, or really anything that could be considered boring. I wanted to explore! I was going to be the best adventurer in Equestria! Okay, maybe not as good as Daring Do, but I was still going to make great discoveries.
I looked back as I heard whispers, and saw a concerned look on my mom and dad’s faces. I stopped walking to the tables and started heading back in worry. I hated to see them frown, and I was going to make sure there was no frowny faces on this trip. That’s what a daughter does after all, or at least what I think they do. Any sad faces would only make this trip worse, and it was my duty to end them. With that in mind I quickly galloped back to my parents, ready to do anything possible to turn that frown upside down.
“Mom? Dad?” I asked with great concern. “Is something wrong?”
“Oh, it’s fine sweetie,” Mom assured me, giving a hug in response. “I’m just worried about the Stable. If it’s not finished like they said it’s suppose to be,” Mom shock her head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be worrying about such things, especially with the letter Stable-tech sent. Caramel honey, would you take care of everything at the front desk? I’m ready for some breakfast.”
“Of course,” My dad said cheerfully.
My mom smiled in response “Come on Lucky, let's go to lunch, your father will be with us shortly.”
All the adults looked really funny in their fancy shirts, especially with the way they looked at us. We had picked a table far away from all the other ponies in the dining room of the hotel, and I sat on the corner of the room so nopony could step on my tail. After what felt like forever those funny looking ponies in there white wedding suits asked me what I wanted, and after my mom made me answer they left. Ugh, it felt so weird talking to an adult other than my mom or dad. Both of them find it cute though, so maybe I should do it more sense they seem to like it. That’s after they stop stepping on my tail however.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Dad said as he joined mom and I at our table. “Things took a bit longer than expected. It’s crazy what the war is doing, with the pegasi leaving us and the report of… well, you know what's happening.”
“What do you mean dad?” I ask, tilting my head thinking I might get a better answer that way.
He smiled at me rubbed the top of my main. “Oh, it’s nothing to worry about Lucky,” He told me, our water arriving at the table. “So, I assume you're excited to be out of Ponyville for once?”
“Well duh,” I replied, standing on my chair and placing my front hooves on the table. “It was so cool riding the train and watching all the trees and rivers turn into deserts and mountains. I’ve never even seen a desert before which makes this even cooler. I want to see everything, from the Stable-tech buildings to the giant radio tower and even the top of that really big mountain we saw on the way here. The Stable-tech place first of course, I want to get a PipBuck.”
I remember my mom going on and on and on about those funny PipBuck gadgets. I didn’t know half of the words she used, most being really long and sciency, but I did know that they were really important to Stable-tech. They had maps inside of them and some other really complex functions. I’ve been wanting one for so long, but every time I asked mom said that I had to wait till I was ten. Stupid Stable-tech officials with their stupid rules. I was just as smart as any of them. Luckily, my birthday is tomorrow, and my mom promised to get me one as a gift! Take that you stupid boring adults!
“She’s been talking about it all day,” I could hear mom say to dad, giggling. “I think our soon to be ten year old is a little excited.”
“Of course I’m excited!” I exclaimed, trying to make my eyes sparkle like they always loved. “I’ve been waiting since I was six to get one, and tomorrow I finally will! Of course I’m also excited to see the Troston Tower.”
My dad laughed at that, but I knew he was happy for me. He always laughed, which I like about him. He almost never seemed to be in a bad mood, and when he was I was just the thing to be able to cheer him up. Such is the job of a filly, or at least a good filly like myself. He knew just how long I’ve been waiting for my tenth birthday, especially since I’ve been talking about it for the past week over and over again. The important thing of course is that whatever was troubling him was gone.
Oh, and the food here is incredible. I’ve never tasted food so good in my life, and considering how good of cooks my mom and dad are that’s something. I can’t describe how it tasted it was that good. The cooks may be adults but they're good at what they do, that's for sure. I ate every last bit, finding myself rather full at the end of it all. Dad told me what number our room was - number 314 on the third floor - and said I could go see what it looked like.
By the time I made it to the third floor I had almost forgotten the room number. Of course my luck saved me as it was the door on the left when I reached it. I opened the door to see what was probably the most beautiful room I had ever seen in my life. The living room was much bigger than that of any room at home, and it had the biggest windows I had ever seen. They were the first thing I ran to, pushing the curtains to the side and viewing the huuuge city below me. It was so busy, one of the busiest cities in Equestria since this war started. So many adults were below me, and as I looked over the edge I felt like I was going to fall. Let me just say, that wouldn’t have been fun.
My next destination was to make sure the couch was comfy. Turning around to the big couch I belly flopped onto it’s cushions face first. Yep, it was just as fluffy as I imagined it to be. I felt like melting into the cushions it was so comfy, and I think I might have fallen asleep for a few seconds. I could have spent half an hour just resting on the couch, but I decided to get up and look at the bedroom to make sure the bed was perfect.
I opened a door next to the couch and saw a gigantic bed on the far end of it. It was beautiful, better than the beds we had at home, not that they weren’t nice as well. Still, the bed had a large blanket with flowers printed on it, as well as clear blue pillows. It reminded me of all the nights I would spend sleeping with mom and dad, especially the nights that I would hug mom. She always seemed scared when she first fell asleep, but calmed down when we hugged. I wanted to spend that first night doing just that, not wanting to see another nervous face on my parents.
“Wha- what are we supposed to do?” Speaking of mom I heard her enter the room behind me. She was scared, or at least that is what her voice told me. “We can’t just tell Lucky, you know how attached she is to us. What if the zebra’s really are about to launch a mega spell? What are we supposed to say to her?”
“Gingersnap, calm down,” My dad said to her, and looking through a small crack on the now closed door I could see him looking at her with worry. His front hooves were on her shoulders, and she was… cry. “Lucky means the world to you and me both and we still have time to spend, or at least I hope we do. We both know she will be safe when everything happens.”
“B-but you know who she’ll blame,” My mom replied. My ears had fallen back at everything I was seeing. “You know how she feels about others, and how uncomfortable she is around anyone besides. I don’t want to know what might happen to her. I don’t want to see my little filly harmed.”
“Stable-tech wouldn’t harm Lucky sweetheart,” Dad replied as I opened the door just a tiny bit more. “They want to keep ponykind safe, and they would treat Lucky the same as they would for you and me. Security wouldn’t hurt her just because of you.”
“It’s not security I’m worried about, it’s everypony else in the stable,” Mom told dad, and I could now see she was crying. I opened the door fully, but couldn’t find it in me to step up and tell I was here. “She hates older ponies, and anyone with a cutiemark. The only other pony we’ve met that she gets along with is that old griffon, and I’m doubt there are any griffon in the stable. When she realizes what's happening she’ll… she’ll-” She looked to me, and even more fear filled her eyes. I felt embarrassed for listening without telling them, or doing something when I had first heard mom. “Sweetie, you… weren’t listening, right?”
“I… was,” I wanted to lie, but knew it was better to tell them. I had so many questions “Mom, is everything alright? Are you afraid of me hurting somepony? What… what’s going on?”
“Oh, sweetie,” She said as she rushed forward and hugging me tight, giving me just enough room to breath. She was still crying. “Everything is going to be alright I assure you. Everything is going to be fine. You and dad and I will will perfectly fine and I will never leave your side. The sky still has the sun, and the sun will shine all day long. I would never dare want you to hurt anypony unless they hurt you, us, or anypony else you love. Of course you won’t... I know you won’t hurt anypony. I can assure you that we will have-” Before she finished there was a strange sound that seemed to come from the window. It gradually got louder and louder before fading and repeating that cycle. Mom’s tears only got worse after that. “We will have… the best vacation. Nopony will say otherwise, and nopony can stop us from doing so. Now, would you like to go to the stable today?”
Hearing this made me smile, maybe it was nothing. I didn't have to wait after all. “Sure.”
Mom stood up, wiping the tears from her face. “Hop on,” She said smiling, pointing to her back. I did just that, jumping onto her excited. She nodded quickly to dad before we all rushed through the doors. “Now, I’ll tell them we’re coming earlier. You just rush past them and through the stable door, alright?”
“Anything for you mom,” I said happily, as I hugged her. “I’ll do anything to make you and dad happy.”
It seemed like everypony we ran past was heading to the stable, and I could now tell why mom wanted me to go through first. If I got through the stable doors before all of them I didn’t have to worry about the swarm outside of it. The completion of the stable must have been a much bigger deal than I thought if this was the reaction. Mom was crying anymore, and I was brushing my fur up against dad's, loving how soft it felt. The only annoying part was that loud siren noise and the shouting of everypony else. It was too much noise, as well as too many stupid adults. I gave them any that got to close to us glares, squeezing mom tighter so they didn’t take me away. They would do it, I know that would if I didn’t scare them off.
When we got to the stable there were dozens and dozens of ponies hitting the gates shouting. Big metal ponies with silly looking block steel attached to their backs made sure a clear path was available. It was for mom of course, considering that she had the most important job of all next to the princess's and therefore took first entrance. In a gap in the fence stood a pony in funny looking blue and yellow shirts and a PipBuck, an oversized helmet on his head. It took a lot to not laugh at how stupid and silly a lot of these ponies greeting my mom looked.
Mom let me off her back and nodded to the pony with the oversized helmet. As soon as I was off I ran straight to the the pony, who told two more metal ponies behind them to step aside. As he stepped to the side I felt like the most important filly in the world. I was so excited to head through the giant rotating door that I didn’t pay any attention to anything besides from it. It was like I was one of the princesses, having the privilege to be one of the first inside Stable 71. When I finally ran through the door I found that two dozen or so other ponies that weren’t dressed in silly blue and yellow uniforms had also come in. As I got off the platform I joined the others in looking outside, only to notice something terrifying.
My parents were still on the other side of the gate, waving to me with smiles on their faces. I look stunned to see them surrounded by the shouting stallions and mares, half embracing each other. Why weren’t they coming through? This was suppose to be a family thing, and mom was suppose to welcome the Stable 71 open to visitors. I took a slight step forward before the ground started to shake, sending me and many other ponies to the ground. Looking past mom and dad I saw the sky was gone, replaced by a large balloon shaped cloud. The ground only rumbled more and more, and as the world outside the Stable darkened I realized what was going to happen to them.
“Close the door!” I heard a stallion say, probably not even realizing my parents were still out there or joking rudely. When the door actually started closing, my heart pumped against my chest.
“WAIT! STOP!” I shout as I ran towards the door, one of those ponies with the oversized hates grabbed me as I tried to exit. “Let go! My parents are still out there.”
“Nothing you can do for them miss, I’m sorry,” He said, acting as if he was smarter than me. I kicked and squirmed trying to get him off me. “They aren’t allowed in if they aren’t on the list.”
“I don’t care about whatever this list, they’re are my parents!” I told, managing to kick him off only for three seconds. “This was suppose to be a vacation! We were suppose to visit the Troston tower. My mother was going to give me a PipBuck for my birthday tomorrow!” I gritted my teeth as I finally screamed to the stupid stallion. “GET OFF OF ME YOU DUMB COLT!”
I could see that the door was almost closed, and in a desperate attempt I managed to kick him and run. When I got to the door, I found it had almost closed. I looked out to see that the sky had turned a sharp red, and my parents were smiling as they saw me. I knew those weren’t happy smiles, seeing the tears run down their faces. I followed the metal door as it rotated, watching as my mom blew a kiss to me one last time. With that, the door closed, and the shaking in the ground seemed to subside.
Turning around, I saw everypony staring at me with wide eyes. It seemed if they were scare of what I had done, unable to believe it. Not that I expected any less, they’re all just dumb adults who only care about themselves. Even the fillies and colts at my age were dumbfound at my actions, but they all had cutie marks so they were probably waiting for no adults to be around to call me stupid. Idiots, they are all idiots. I was angry at all of them, for just standing there while my parents… no, they can’t be dead. I’ll never say their dead, but how much did whatever that thing was hurt them. I finally looked away from all the ponies behind me, resting my head and front hooves on the door.
“Come on, get up,” I heard a voice say, looking to see the stallion that had closed the door in the first place. “There's nothing you could do, not with the mega spell. You're safe, just remember that’s what's important.”
“DON’T TELL ME WHAT’S IMPORTANT YOU STUPID STALLION!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “MY MOM AND DAD ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU! LEAVE ME ALONE!”
He stepped back, looking at me as if I was crazy for saying such things. He was the crazy one, leaving my mom and dad to get hurt, or die as he probably would say. I could hear him talking to all the ponies behind me while I cried, tears falling to the floor. Nopony bothered me, and I was happy for that. I wanted to be around none of these ponies, and wanted to hurt them but I didn’t for some reason. All I wanted was my parents and no one else. By the time I finally stopped crying, everypony near the stable door was gone except for the ones and those stupid hats and the stupid stallion that had closed the door. He laid down a similar looking blue shirt with yellow sides and a big number 71 as well as a PipBuck.
I knew what he expected me to do, but I wasn’t going to do half of it. I’m not going to listen to that jerk and put on that dumb uniform, especially after what he did to my parents. I only picked up the PipBuck, putting it on as I’d been dreaming of since I was six. However, as I turned it on I wasn’t happy like I should have been. I single tear fell onto the screen as the words ‘Initiated’ came up on screen. I could hear my mom and dad in my head wishing me a happy birthday, as if they were looking from the other side of the door.
“Thanks mom and dad,” I said with a weak smile. “I’ll make sure this is put to good use, and that they’ll pay for what they did.”
