Friendship is Tragic - Part 1
The World's Upbringing
Written by Xendor
Most people live normal lives. Some more than others. Some people work as teachers, some work as dentist, some even work as powerful business owners. Me....I'm working at a fast food restaurant until things get back on track for me. Sure it's not how I wanted to spend this chapter of my life, but what can you do when everything falls apart for you? I can't say things are really easy for everyone. At some point in everyone's life.....they think hard about what they're really doing.
About ten years ago, my mom was taken from me. She was dying of cancer. I wouldn't say feel bad for me. I sure don't. I just know things would have gone better had my dad not left us. He was never around for us.....for me, in the first place. Those living with one parent can relate I'm sure. To grow up without a father is hard on a child. To grow up with a mother and then have her taken from you at a young age....is worse.
Living in Ohio was interesting. Snow in the winter, Leaves in the Fall, Sunshine in the Summer. It was august. My third day after starting kindergarten. Mom couldn't drive me today. I was taking the bus, my first time. As I started out the house mom gave me a kiss on the cheek. She looked...different. I couldn't place my finger on it, but something felt wrong. She looked so tired, as if she had gotten into a cage match and lost. Her golden hair was now dull brown, she had circles around her eyes and her skin was almost grey. She had no makeup on today, but in my eyes she was the prettiest mom ever.
"Have a nice day honey."
"Thanks mom, and can we go to the park after I come home from school?"
"Sure sweetie, anything you want."
She smiled. I turned around and headed to the bus stop. As I approached the stop, a big yellow brick the sound of multiple gunshots came roaring at me. It was coming in fast....I started to worry. What can I say, I was Six and it was my first bus ride.
It slowed down right in front of me. It was windy today. A cool breeze pressed against my face. The was bigger than I imagined. A loud screeching sound came from the bus as a huge door cut in half only to reveal another world. A big guy on the heavy side *if you know what I mean* was sitting in a seat behind the steering wheel. I could only stand there....nervous.
"What are you waiting for kid? Get in or stay here!"
There was a huge set of stairs right in front of me...like huge mountains. I hopped up the first one only to quickly stumble up the rest. Two boys sitting in the seat behind the driver laughed.
*Ha ha* "Let me guess. First time?" The first boy asked, with a huge grin on his face.
It was obviously they were older boys. I dare not sit in the back, from the looks of it they were the older, older kids. I quickly sat in the front seat to the right of the seat the two boys were in, but there was someone in the seat with me. He was a nerdy looking kid. He had Blonde hair, light toned skin and a bold face. I never really had a friend before so I started the conversation.
"Um...hi. My name is Xen, do you want to be friends?"
"Xen...what a strange name. No one has ever asked me to be friends before, so I guess that would be cool. My name is Josh, my dad calls me Appwire because I'm good with technology, but my nickname in general is App."
"And you said Xen was a strange name."
We both laughed . He put his hand out as a greeting. I quickly shook it with eagerness. Finally we reached the school. There were kids out in the front running around. It looked fun.
"Well here we are" App said.
Everyone immediately started to get up. I got up too and headed down the front sidewalk toward school. Today was project day. We were working on any project of our choice. App and I had class together. I never noticed giving he sat in the front and I sat in the back. We were working on a skeleton drawing. Like it was going to be good...that's when the teacher got a phone call.
*ahem* "Xen, could you come here for a second please."
I looked up confused. I headed over to her desk.
"The principal wants to see you in her office. It's right around the corner."
"Okay I'll be right there."
My palms were sweaty. I didn't know if I was in trouble or what. Slowly I walked to the office. My heart raced faster and faster.
I opened the door and walked into the office. There was a lady with glasses sitting at a desk in front of me.
"This must be him" The lady said.
My uncle, his name was Dave, also called Uncle Dave *OBVIOUSLY* walked out of a room with the principal. He picked me up and hugged me.
"Hey little buddy, how have you been?"
"I've been good uncle Dave."
"Man you've grown since the last time I saw you. Hey lets go get your backpack, we're going to take a trip."
He set me down and we headed to my class. As I opened the door I overheard him and the principal talking.
"I'm so sorry for you loss. It's going to be hard on him. It was hard on me when my mother told me my father passed."
"Yeah...his mother was a good woman...and a good sister too."
I quickly turned to my uncle. I felt like someone had just punched me right in the stomach...I couldn't breathe.
"Mommy..?"
He turned to me immediately.
"Oh...no. Hey buddy lets go."
"Where's mom! I want my mom!"
I quickly dashed out the door and started for the front doors of the school. Uncle Dave quickly grabbed me and hugged me. I couldn't stop crying. The tears were flowing out. I felt abandoned. I felt...alone. After that everything went black.
That was Ten years ago. I'm 16 now. Working...my father was never there...my childhood was taken from me...my mother..
Since then I have grown my hair out. It's bushy, somewhat like a sheep. I have light tone brown skin, sometimes darker when I'm out in the sun. I exercise from time to time. Working on my appearance. Things are different now though. I don't talk to people often. I don't go out and try to make friendships with strangers anymore. There's just no point...no point.
Hard to believe it was already 2012.
I was working today. It was crazy with all the customers we had. Orders were piling up and I had to act fast. I and App *one of the workers* were the two cashiers on duty today.
"I told you things were going to be hectic today Xen" App said.
"Yeah, yeah. You know I don't care. As long as I'm getting cash to help pay for my uncle and I, I'm fine. Just do your part, and I'll do mine"
App shrugged with a smile. Today was going by surprisingly fast. It was easier than most. No arguments with my Uncle. No fights with other workers. Yeah I can say today was a good day. One of the customers was another Teen. He walked up with a group of other guys. It was a very...odd looking group. One of them had a *My Little Pony* t-shirt. The head guy walked up, he had dark shades on to cover his eyes. He began to order.
"Hmm... yes I'd like a kids meal..."
*What the hell?* I thought to myself.
"And put the Fluttershy toy in it, she's my favorite. Oh what the heck, get us five kids meals, on me guys."
The other guys began to give each other high fives and laugh.
"Oh yes, I hope I get twilight!" One guy said.
"Are you serious? We all know Rarity and Rainbowdash are the best" Another guy said.
One of the nerdy looking guys spoke out.
"I believe you two idiots are forgetting PinkiePie and AppleJack" He said.
"Guys, guys. You can get whatever you want" The head guy said to them.
I rolled my eyes. This was unreal. A bunch of dudes coming in here to order kids meals and my little pony toys? I turned around to give the order to the guys in the back. Seems my mouth got the best of me, as soon as I turned around I said to myself, while irritated *loud enough for them to hear...*
"Alright, a couple of kids meals for more fags, wonderful." As I realized what I just said.
The head guy looked up to me.
"What'd you just say?"
Other customers were starting to look now as he raised his voice.
"Oh I...uhh...I didn't say anything"
He slowly took his shades off. His eyes were surprisingly...pretty. Not being gay or anything it's just..yeah.
"This fag could kick your front teeth in any day." He grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled my face to his.
App quickly looked at us. He rushed over to the scene right next to him.
"Sir, sir. I'm sure everything is fine. Anything my co-worker might have said to offend you can be easily resolved with some extra toys and refills I hope?"
The guy let go of my shirt. "Yeah sure. I'll forget about this. Be happy I don't take this to your boss."
I turned away from him and mumbled "whatever fag, be lucky I didn't kick your butt."
He smiled.
"Be happy I don't bang your mom for this."
Enraged I turned around and punched him right in the face, knocking him and his glasses on the floor as the lens popped out. I began to hop over the counter to completely beat on him, but App immediately grabbed me to hold me back.
"Say that about my mom again and I'll break your neck"
Our boss came running out from the back, as everyone else, co-workers and customers alike were just staring.
"What is going on here!?" My boss yelled. His name is Mr.Ashen
The guy got up and chuckled.
"Seems you can't control your own workers. I won't be eating here anymore I'll tell you that right now."
Mr.Ashen panicked.
"Wait! We can settle this right now. Free refills for a year, and a discount on any future purchases."
The guy looked down for a moment. He agreed. App let go of me and handed the guy and his friends their meals. They left right after.
"Appwire go back to your post. There are hungry people to feed." Mr.Ashen said.
He looked at me.
"I want you out of here now. You're going to work until the end of the day. Then you can pick up your last check tonight, because after that I don't want you here again"
I took my ID tag off and threw it on the floor.
"Forget the check, forget this job, forget you. I don't need you."
I stormed off through the front doors. As I reached home my Uncle was waiting for me.
"Your boss called, what's going on with you Xen? Ever since your mom..."
"You don't know what I'm going through okay? Just leave me be."
I slammed my room door. I knew my Uncle wanted to help but...there was nothing for him to do. What's done is done.
A few hours later my room door opened.
"I told you Uncle I'm not talk...oh..hey App"
"Hey, your Uncle let me in. I hope that's cool."
"No, yeah it's fine. So what's up? Here to rub it in my face?"
"No..I'm here to figure you out. I know you lost your mom, but that was ridiculous. Only reason I have the job is because my dad is friends with Mr.Ashen. Only reason you got the job is because I asked my dad to talk to Mr.Ashen. Now it makes me look back because I vouched for you. I got my dad to try and get you a second chance but Mr.Ashen won't even talk about it. If you want your job back you're gonna have to.."
I cut him off.
"I'll stop you right there. I don't care about the job. I don't care about anything. I can't explain it but..."
"But what?"
"It's just. I feel like this is all a dream. Like none of this is real. I can't shake this feeling that I'm needed somewhere else. That my importance isn't of this world.."
"Have you been smoking?" App laughed.
"No man."
I thought a second.
"Hey remember how those dudes at work were all crazing about My Little Pony?"
"Yeah, the bronies?"
"Bronies?"
"Yeah, like male fans of My Little Pony. It's really popular, fans have taken it to the extreme, there's Song Albums, Fan Videos, Art Work, Brony conventions, and let me tell you some of the custom artwork *if you get what I'm saying* is really good to look at on a rainy d..."
"Just stop right there. Why have I never heard about any of this?"
"You just have to be in the know to know. You know?"
"No.."
"Look. Anyway, my dad doesn't want me hanging out with you anymore unless you change your attitude and social status."
"Then maybe we shouldn't hang out anymore...I don't need to change myself for anyone."
"You don't mean that.."
"Yes I do. Now leave."
"You know, sometimes I wish you never sat in that seat with me on the bus."
"Whatever bro just go.."
I opened my room door and let App out as my Uncle approached. I can guarantee he was eavesdropping. I felt so alone now. Like the day back when my mom... *STOP IT* I thought in my head. "Quit feeling sorry for yourself. You've done nothing wrong."
As I thought more about it...I know I did..
The next day was as usual as any other. Except well, I didn't have a job. My uncle was trying to find me one in the papers. No luck yet. As I waited I decided to get on my computer. At first I was watching youtube videos. Just the simple, watching game trailers, game commentary, funny videos, how to torrent, you know, any average old thing. Then I came across a my little pony video. After that, nothing was the same again...
My first video was titled: My Little Pony: FiM - This Day Aria [1080p]
after that it led to Corn on the Cob, then to Pinkie Pie in Skyrim. THEN MY MIND STARTED TO BLOW. Just after those videos I was starting to get interested in My little pony. I finally understood what the hype was. I immediately started watching full episodes. Parodies. Downloading songs, all in just a matter of hours. I couldn't help myself, I felt like a kid at a water park. Something new around the corner, everything was speeding up. My little pony was flashing before my eyes, Ic ouldnt think straight! So fast....so fast..*poof*
I felt like my brain crawled out of my head, got hit by a car, then crawled back into my skull. So this is what my little pony is...this is what bronies experience. I don't believe it. Strangely enough..I felt like this is what I was looking for all along. Friendship. I mean app was my friend yes, but something about this...made me feel...me. Like there was no worry in the world. That everything would be just fine. For once in a very, very long time. I felt happy..
The Next Day
I've never cried since my mom died, but after reading My Little Dashie...my heart skipped a few beats. It reminded me of my mom so much. How one could love a child so much, and how a child can love a parent. I never felt so good in my life. I was a new person again after discovering My Little Pony in just a day.
While my Uncle was still trying to find me another job. He was thinking at a grocery store this time, but eh, you know, not my thing. I decided to go think about my placement in the world. I had much thinking to do indeed. I went to the old pond just behind our neighborhood. I looked around as more and more people started leaving, heading to the big city. Suburbs are still cool though. Nice and quiet, more freedom really, no traffic. The pond was my thinking spot ever since I moved in with my Uncle. I would go there and just..sit. Skip a few rocks in the water, plan ahead.
Today was, creepy though. I really didn't know what to say. I just seriously could not place a thought on it, but I got this familiar feeling again. As if I knew something was about to happen. I cleared a nice little section in the dirt by some rocks. I sat down. The ground was warm. Warm like a mother's kiss.
I looked to my right at a pile of rocks. I picked one up and decided to give it a toss. I stood up to skip it across the water. Suddenly.
*Screeeesh*
A sort of ripping sound pierced my ear drums and out the back of my head. I immediately jumped on the ground. I thought some crazy fool might have been shooting a gun, but this also sounded nothing like a gun. A blast of pink light caught the corner of my left eye. It was evening. The sun was setting. I hadn't noticed I was out for so long, but the pink ray of light was coming from something else. Have you ever seen the movie harry potter? Remember the scar on his head? Well if not, it's sort of a lightning bolt shape. That's what I saw in midair right in front of me. Crazy right? I eagerly crept toward it...I dare not touch it. It was weird, I was able to walk behind it, in front of it, I could do a full circle around it. I even put my hands over it and under it. It was no magic trick. I couldn't believe my eyes...
The essence on the mysterious lightning bolt had a somewhat heat signature coming from it. It felt like hot coffee, streaming onto my face. I backed up a little. Then I heard another roar come from the vortex.
*Pfsshhhhhh*
Out slammed some sort of creature that hit me in the head as it rolled into a tree. I put my hand to my head...aching..as I turned around to see what hit me. Never in my dreams would I believe it. Never in my wildest imagination would I think it to be true, but there he was. I...I said his name.
"Spike?"
