Reacts: Before

Reacts
------ Before ------

Chapter 1: Care

“For every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. So try to remember; Actions can speak. ”

The sentence has resonated in his head ever since he can remember. He keeps it within his heart. It is his creed. The thing is... he doesn't know why.

<<< 0o0 >>>

Quantum's early days was... different than most other ponies his age. He only had his mother, Roadrunner, who was very overprotective towards her only child, to the point that he calls his home 'the big house', and it's not because his home is big.

As for Quantum's father, he doesn't know who he is, nor he doesn't know if he's still around, but he doesn't care.

The only thing he had to entertain himself was reading books from his father's extensive library. He secludes himself in the library for days at a time, trying to know more and more about many things, but at the same time being less and less social, but he doesn't really care.

<<< 0o0 >>>

School was the only time he could socialize with other ponies his age, but he didn't take advantage of the opportunity. The others think that the little dark teal colt was just a bit more shy than usual. But all attempts to socialize were crushed. When Quantum walked to and from school, he can hear what the others are saying, it's mostly about him.

“Is he okay?”

“Maybe he doesn't feel so good?”

“Why doesn't he speak?”

“Maybe he thinks we're not good enough for him.”

“Seriously?”

“Does he think that he's better than us?”

“No emotions on him, right?”

“Snob.”

All the gossip takes it toll. Quantum whispered, “They say it like I'm not around... Should I respond?” Quantum stopped and turned around to the direction of the talking. The group looked at him with wide eyes, waiting for the sound of his voice. Quantum opened his mouth, but he immediately closed it and continued walking.

“Told yall, snob.”

<<< 0o0 >>>

A trip to his father's library made him feel a little better. He tried to compile what his father's personality is based on what he had in here.

“'How to...', house building, gardening, cooking, poems... I already saw all of them 3 times over but still can't figure him out.”

He roughly pushed a book back in it's place. A book dropped suddenly from out of nowhere, “what the-.” The blue book had a strange aura around it.

“Cosmic...”

The weird things about it are that there was red silk tightly wrapped around it and there's no title on it. He tried to levitate the book, but it was like the book was stuck to the floor. The book started to glow, blinding Quantum for a moment. When the glow faded away, words were on the front of the book.

Command. Words are the only way to absolute. Silence, their flawed vines, will spread and constrict you.

“What's that supposed to mean...?” The words fizzled out and came back with different words.

It's a riddle, solve it. A simple task.

Quantum slammed his front hooves on the book. More words appeared.

Don't take out your frustration on me you-

“-Of course I'm frustrated! I don't know who or what you are, why are letters popping out, and ... why am I yelling at a book?!” The sentence disappeared and a lone word appeared.

Problems.

<<< 0o0 >>>

The library had been Quantum's only place he goes after school. With him spending more time in the library, it was making his mother nervous. “Maybe I should restrict his time there. He might end up being a loner.” A male unicorn with a white coat and jet black mane was walking around in the living room, looking at the nick knacks.

“You're kidding, right? What do you expect, you essentially closed him off from the outside. Quite the opposite for you in the younger days.” He levitated a frame. He stared intensively at it for a few seconds. Roadrunner walked to the unicorn's left side, “I suppose... but it's just-,” The unicorn bumped Roadrunner's head with his left front hoof.

“You really need to let it go. Believe me, I learned it the hard way. ”

Suddenly the house started shaking violently. The two ponies stood their ground, “I propose a plan as to solve your 'my son is going to be alone forever' shtick.” The unicorn whispered to Roadrunner for a few seconds, “you're dropping this on me now? Why is my house shaking?” “Behind you.” A white light was coming from the cracks of the library door. The two ponies slowly walked towards the light. The stallion chuckled.

“whats so funny?”

“The light. We're walking towards the 'light'.” Roadrunner sighs. When they made it to the door, the light ceased. They opened the door, only to see Quantum sitting in the middle of the room with a blank stare.

“...Sup. How's it going?”

<<< 0o0 >>>

“So, I'm going to ask again, OK? What was going on in here!?”

The unicorn was pacing left and right, trying to get answers from Quantum. Roadrunner was standing by her son. “I already told you. I was trying out some spells that I saw from one of my father's books. I kinda messed up the... what was it again? Oh yeah!”

A book from the other side of the room levitated to Quantum's space. The book opened to a page, “... Here it is!”

The Flash Bang: For a few extra seconds in a flash, try the flash bang.

“See, here!” He pushed the book close to their faces. The unicorn pushed the book aside.

“And you decided that a foal your age just took an interest in using combat magic? Yeah... I'm not really buying it.” Roadrunner was staring at the unicorn, he sighed.

“fine, I'll believe you... for now.” He walked towards the door, “I'm going, k?” He turned around, “just remember what I told you, later.”

Quantum had bewildered look on his face, “Geez, whats up with-” “you're going.” Quantum did a double take, “going...?” Roadrunner sighed.

“you're going with him... your uncle.”

<<< 0o0 >>>

Quantum hated trains. One reason was when it came during school hours, the horn and the rails screeching sounds would make him anxious, which will make him stick his head anywhere to try to suppress the sounds.

“Whats the matter with you? Still afraid of trains?”

Quantum was under his blanket. “Quit it.” The two had a box car to themselves, which unfortunately for Quantum, made his dislike for trains intensify. “Well then, what should we talk about?”

Quantum pulled the blanket off of his head, “I got one... Why did I have to leave?” The uncle sat next to Quantum.

“For your own good.”

“My own good?” The unicorn nodded.

“Listen. Your mother feels that you're becoming more... distant towards everypony. And that's not really a good thing for a foal your age... I think.” Quantum lowered his head.

“So the deal is that I, your worried uncle, would take you around Equestria with my troop to try to get you to meet and socialize with as many types of ponies out there, simple?”

Quantum was thinking about the last few months. After a few minutes he came to the conclusion that they were right, he was becoming more enclosed. He was spending more time in the library trying to-

“I admit it. I don't know how to talk to other ponies. I spent more time closed up than trying to open up to other ponies but... they... just don't-”

The uncle ruffled Quantum's mane, “you know, for a small colt, that was a big confession, I'm quite proud in fact.” The uncle looked at the window, “Well, time to crash right now, night.” The unicorn went to the other side of the cart, crawled into a bed, and in a few minutes, snoring was heard.

For the first time in a long time, the short conversation made Quantum smile.

<<< 0o0 >>>

Morning was beginning to rise when the train stop. The town that the train stopped was peacefully sound. A few ponies were walking around the platform, opening up the windows around the station, and getting ready for today. Quantum and his uncle were getting off the train and to the platform.

“So, wanna check out the town? Might be an opportunity to mingle?” Quantum stared at a sign right by the door to the station for a moment, “S-Sure.” “Well then, let's hope there's something to here.” They walked into the train station.

“Hey, what did that sign say?”

“It said 'Welcome To Ponyville.'”

~~~ End of chapter 1 ~~~