Being Brave Part I

Twilight found Cory sitting in front of a nearby creek with his head bowed down. She walked over slowly with a sad look on her face and quietly sat down and scooted over to him. He was now desperately trying to hold back his tears as she rubbed her hoof on his back. She looked up at the sky and noticed how majestic the clouds were. The turquoise grass flowed with the occasional breeze like waves in an endless ocean. There was the occasional hum of the dragonfly that passed by their heads unnoticed.

"Gorgeous day today isn't it?" She asked as if trying to cheer him up. "The water is making a very shimmering reflection of the sun. gasp Hey look! there's a little squirrel gathering nuts."

But Cory just sat there with his legs stretched out and his face completely lifeless. He wouldn't care if then and there a large fly landed on his face.

"You know, it took a lot of courage to do what you did just now." She said as he tilted his head up with her hoof, to which Cory promptly pulled himself away from.

"Why did you enter my world?' asked Cory as if not even hearing her compliment.

"Well, I had to get my crown back. But the first thing I had to do was end a feud between a few friends that looked very similar to a few friends back here. Plus the crown was part of a contest for princess of the fall formal, which I had to win if wanted to get it back. But after a bit of research at the Canterlot High library and a strong sense of determination, I was able to help these five friends amend their ways, and have them help me get the school on our side, which was nothing a little song and dance couldn't fix."

"You went to Canterlot High?" asked Cory. "I always wanted to go there. Every night I would wish the school board would just transfer me and make me a new student there, but I never heard anything back. I knew I would have to find my own clique of friends, but at least there I'd be allowed to express myself through the arts. Sometimes, when returning back to the orphanage from school, I'd notice some of those students and I'd walk closely behind them, pretending for that one, glimmering moment that I was one of them. I even fantasized of one day entering through those doors and shouting 'Hey Everyone! Here I am!' and I'd start taking classes there. I know that sounds pretty silly, but that's how desperate I was. I would have given anything to get out of that hell on earth they called a school."

"I don't think it's silly." Said Twilight. " I can understand your plight. In fact, I actually felt more silly when I entered your world. But the trouble was I knew what was at steak after the opposing candidate Sunset Shimmer tried to wreck the fall formal and blame it on me. Luckily a friend named Flash Sentry proved my innocence. Knowing if didn't get my crown that night, I'd be stuck in your world for another 30 moons. So, with the time drawing nearer, I mustered up the courage to tell my friends who I really was."

"You knew Flash Sentry?" asked Cory.

"Well..." chuckled Twilight as her cheeks blushed. " I wouldn't say JUST knew him but.."

"That's the name of the guy who saved my life from those bullies the night I saw that weird light. I should have thanked him for what he did."

"Wow." Said Twilight with a stunned look. "It's no wonder he comes to others in their hour of need. You know, now that you mention it, you kind of look like him."

For a moment they looked at each other awkwardly

"Anyway." Said Twilight. "After I told my friends where I came from, we were able to fix up the formal, with the help of the entire school of course, move the dance back to that night, get ready, go to the dance, and win the crown."

"You did all of that in one day?" asked Cory solemnly.

Twilight nodded back. "But after a confrontation with Sunset Shimmer on the school lawn, she was able to steal my crown. And when she put it on, she transformed into a demonic shell of her former self. Though she tried to get rid of us, she couldn't wield the crowns true power, because she didn't understand the real magic that crown possessed: 'The Magic of Friendship.' After defeating her, a remorseful Sunset Shimmer made a tearful apology for tearing the the school and its students apart. So I promptly assigned my human friends to look after her and teach her about friendship. Then got my crown back, had one more dance, and went back home, knowing I left my former adversary in good hands. But the important thing I learned during that adventure, was that the magic of friendship doesn't just exist in one world, it's everywhere. And you Cory, decided to seek it out, rather than spend your life alone..."

"Look, you came into my world for a reason!!" snapped Cory. "You had something to do, a goal, a what do you call it....objective. I have no reason being here! I wasn't told by someone to come here like you! I just wandered in here! OK? I don't belong here, I don't belong there, I don't belong anywhere!! I'm just worthless and stupid, just like Stiffson told me."

Then he went back to lifelessly looking at the river. Twilight rubbed her foreleg around his bony back and placed the other on his left hand. He tilted his head slightly and noticed how her hoof contrasted with his fingers.

"You're not stupid Cory." Said Twilight "And you're definitely not worthless. You're a very intelligent and very creative boy, and don't you ever forget that. You just need a little guidance from some very good ponies. If your other friends back home saw you today, they would've been so proud of you."

"But my principal said..."

"Whatever that so called principal told you is wrong. Look, I know how hard it is for you to process this, but just because you were born into a family doesn't make them a real family. A real family fights for you to the very end and loves you regardless of your insecurities. Your mom and dad were not real parents, and their decisions were awful ones. The only good decision they ever made was to allow a beautiful, talented little boy to come into the world. Hey! You know that light you said you saw from the distance?"

"Yeah."

"That was me! It turns out when Sunset Shimmer tried to exterminate us, the magic backfired and my five human friends and I combined our powers to form a magical force that could be seen from miles away."

Cory was stunned to know this.

"We have all believed in you since the day we found you Cory." Said Twilight "All you need to do is let us help you. In fact, I think I've learned an important lesson in friendship from you Cory. Not only does friendship unite us all, but gives one a reason to live."

She then reached for a nearby apple and gave it to him. Cory stared at the fruits juicy complexion and took a big chomp out of it. After a few more bites, he couldn't hold in his tears anymore as they streamed down his cheeks like two waterfalls.

"It's alright Cory." Said Twilight. "You can cry."

And that's exactly what he did. For the first time in so long, he was crying. Twilight promptly wrapped her forelegs around Cory's bony body and brought him in for a big hug.

"Shhhh, It's Ok Cory." She whispered as she rubbed his back with her hooves. "It's OK.

Soon the others approached the scene as Cory continued to quitely cry over her shoulder for the next few minutes. Though he was in pain, it felt so good for him to let all his emotions out for once and have someone comfort him. Then Twilight started to quietly sing into his ear.

If just one pony believes in you
Deep Enough and Strong Enough, believes in you
Hard enough, and long enough
it starts to reason, that someone else will think
if he can do it

She softly wiped away his tears as she looked at him with a motherly look.

I can do it

Then Applejack walked up and joined in

Making it, two whole ponies, who believe in you
Deep enough, and strong enough, believe in you
Hard enough, and long enough
There's bound to be some other pony who believes
in making it a threesome

Then Rarity joined in

Making it three
Ponies you can say: believe in me

Then Pinkie Joined in

And if three whole ponies, why not four

Then Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash joined in

And if four whole ponies
Why not more...

Then spike joined in

and more...

Finally, the Cutie Mark Crusaders joined in

and more...

Soon everypony was surrounding him in song.

And when all those ponies,
Believe in you,
Deep enough, and strong enough,
Believe in you...
Hard enough, and long enough

It stands to reason that you yourself will
Start to see what everypony sees in
You...

And maybe even you,
Can believe in you... too!

Then, Twilight kissed him on the forehead as everyone huddled up around Cory for a group hug. Cory truly felt warm inside as a smile grew across his face.

"So from what you've told me you've struggled in your reading, writing and math skills. Is that correct?" asked Twilight.

"Yeah." answered Cory.

"I actually happen to be highly skilled in those subjects. Would you like it if I became your after school teacher?"

Cory's eyes widened as she asked this. "You?"

Twilight nodded her head.

"Yes, that would great." he answered as he wiped his nose.

"Excellent, meet me at my tree castle next monday."

Cory was puzzled as to what this was

"It's the large crystal tree at the edge of town." she replied.

"Thanks" he responded.

And so Cory rode on Applejack back to Sweet Apple Acres with a steadier mind, a glowing heart and his head facing upward to the sky, He didn't know exactly what tomorrow would bring, but he was not afraid anymore. He was ready to tackle any challenge that laid ahead. In addition, he had 10, new caring friends. Though they weren't really the conventional type, they still were just as pure hearted as anybody (or anypony in this case) could hope for. After all, friendship is the path to being brave.