[8 years later, The Present]

The room was beginning to warm from Celestia's sun, filtering through the windows, bathing the room in a warm, inviting orange.

Thudding can be heard from down the hall from his bedroom, the room itself filled with odds and ends. A large bed, with the largest sized pony mattress available commercially. It was covered in blankets and pillows, all of them a snow white in colour. A desk with assorted books and trinkets from adventures he’d gone on up until now. A picture on top of the bedside table showed him and his marefriend smiling, the picture had been taken from a carnival a few moons ago.

A letter rested upon the desktop, the words “ACCEPTED: ROYAL SCOUTING CORP” in red ink.
Moving on to the hallway to the rest of the house and over the the workout room. A punching bag flies across the doorway and into the opposing wall with a crash bang clatter.

The bag was a mess, in three distinct pieces, the internals spilt every which way, the stuffing flung across the room making a massive mess.

Zero began some pull ups, his goal being 200 before before he started on the pushups than situps.

He had to get into shape, he wasn’t strong enough. It was never enough.

It never was.

No matter how vigours or long or intense the workout be, he could never get any more fit than he currently was. He would get past it though, and become even strong-

A pair of hooves wrap themselves around his midsection as he went down for the next pullup.

“Your working yourself into ruin, you know that right?”

Sighing, Zero drops from the bars and into a crouch. Embracing his mare with a hug of his own.

Taking a deep breath from her mane as he tried to settle his beating heart. It always did the trick.

“I know Fall. I just want to be-”

“ ‘At my peak’, i know that honey. You tell me that everytime we have this conversation.”

“And i can always rely on you to break me from the habit of driving myself into oblivion.”

“Hmm”

They stayed like that for a minute, just enjoying each others presence.

“What are you doing up this early anyways, it’s not like you fall”

“Oh it’s nothn-”

“Don't BS me. This is the 10th time this month Fall. What’s going on with you.”

Fall broke off from him.

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Not if you don’t explain what’s going on”

Zero took one of her hooves in his hand and cupped her cheek with the other. Turning her face so that she was looking directly at him.

“Come on Fall. You can trust me. I’ve always been there for you, this time will be no different. I swear it.”

Fall contemplated that for a moment, leaning her head into his hand.

“I know Z. . . it’s just that. . . well i. . .”

Tears begin to well in her eyes.

Zero pulled her into a hug again as she began to sob a small bit. Burying her muzzle into his chest.

“I’m scared, i don't want to lose you Z.”

“Come on Fall, this is me were talking about he-”

“IT’S NOT ABOUT THE STUPID SCOUTING CORP~. . . its something worse. . .”

“Well tell me then. I swear- PINKIE swear on it.”

Fall looked up at him, her eyes boring into his own in search of any ill intent.

There was none to be found, only loving warmth and a genuine smile without teeth.

“. . . alright.”

Booping her nose with an outstretched finger, Fall’s nose scrunched up at the still strange feeling.

“Youse your big pony voice.”

Fall, smiling bashfully, repeats.

“Alright.”

“Alright what?”
“Alright you big idiot, i'll tell you what's wrong. But. . . can we do it later tonight. After dinner. . . please?”

Reaching up and scratching behind her right ear, Zero smiles.

“Anything for you my love.”

____________________________________________________________________________

Giving one last wave to Fall, Zero takes the short walk through ponyville's mane’ street, receiving a wave and a few good mornings from the towns folk he passed. He could name them all.

The Flower sisters. Roseluck, Daisy and Lily. Tended their store, Lilly and Daisy working behind the counter in the store propper while Roseluck manned the front counter. Giving and receiving three waves and a kissy face form them.

Big Macintosh walked with a wagon attached to his trademark pony collar. Extending a fist in passing, Mac bumped it with his own.

Bon Bon and Lyra relaxing on their favourite park bench. Lyra was always copying how he sat. Still didn't get a reason why apart from “Why not”>

Twilight and spike exiting the town library. Probably off to get some groceries on off to some grand adventure. . . again. Twilight smiled at my sighting and spike lightly tapped his chest with a fist. He returned the gestures in kind.

He saw many of the townsfolk as he makes his way to the to the recruitment office for the Royal Guard’s Ponies Division of Ponyville. Or RGPDP for short.

Opening the door with a click, he steps into the building. The Unicorn mare behind the desk perking up at the new arrival with a raised eyebrow.

“The dentist is that way.”

She points towards the ponyville dental clinic. One that he knew all too well.

“Thanks for the advice, i’ll consider going their again at some point in the future. But for right now, i think this needs to go through you first.”

Reaching into the pocket of his white hoodie. He pulls out the Letter of Acceptance and hands it to her.

Taking it in her magic she unfurls it and examines the big red writing, Eyes wide.

“Oh wow. Ok, so your here for real then. Well Mr-”

She looks over the parchment again.

“-Zero, welcome to the Royal Guard Scouting Corp. I’ll notify the transport pegasi of your need for a chariot. Be back here by the end of the weekday. Ok?”

Doing a half-assed salute in response to her question. Z replies with.

“Mam yes mam.”

“Right then, see you by the end of the weekday.”

With that he takes his leave, now having a whole 6 days before he would be taken up to canterlot to begin his training and service.

Mulling over his options for the moment, Z decided on heading towards the park. He hoped it would be fairly deserted but on the account that today was a public holiday, he didn't hold high hopes.

____________________________________________________________________________

Right on the money.

The park was bustling with activity, with foals playing with balls and frisbees and other toys while the parents conversed with each other. The odd couple dotted the park at random intervals, each leaning against one another, or making out, or jogging along the pavement, or reading.

He could smell a couple in some bushes.

Shaking his head with a roll of his eyes. Zero walked up to a tree off to the side of the main ,active part of the park.

Staring up at the nearest branch, easily 4 meters off the ground. Zero took his hands out of his pockets and walked away, getting about 5 meters away, he turned and sprinted at the trunk of the tree.

Jumping at it from a meter away, he planted one foot onto the trunk and propelled himself up, latching onto the branch and pulling the rest of his form up.

Sitting against the trunk with his feet laid on the branch. Leaning his head back and closing his eyes. He allowed his mind to reach out to something. A connection was made.

Blue light, not unlike lightning. Shot through his “mind’s eye”. And a chain-reaction of explosions streaked through his vision coating it in blue that settled as fast as it started, the rest of the world now visible. . . through his closed eyes.

Opening said eyes, he took in the world around him in staggering detail. He could see how many ponies were around him in a 500 meter radius, temperature, topography, humidity, a forecast for the day, his heart rate as well as how healthy he was.

It was strange at first, scary even. The first time this happened was when he was only 8. It scared him so badly that he had to sleep with his father for a whole week.

Chuckling at the memory, he observed his surroundings. Something caught his eye immediately.

A Pony, at 12 years of age. Was being lead away from the park by another pony, he didn't share any kind of Genetics with her at all. Concerned, Zero got into a crouch position and leapt between the trees, using the branches as a walkway through the fairly thick canopy.

“This can only end well” Thought Zero.

Author's Note

(Note: Really? Still reading! This MUST have something to do with those cupcakes that p-

DID SOMEPONY CALL ME

JESUS CHRIST PINKIE PIE)