Would he ever forgive me?
It happened 9 years ago....on that fateful day. The day where my life changed. The day I became an empty shell of my former self. The day that I would never forget.
Before I go any further, let me just start from the very beginning....
He was beautiful. A beautiful baby colt. And he was ours. My marefriend and I had decided to name him "Jackpot" due to the fact he had gold eyes. We had no idea where he got them, since our eyes were red and green. But they were beautiful non-the-less.
He was a good colt. Naturally well mannered, friendly, and forgiving beyond belief. Though, she left before she could see any of that though. She said she "Wasn't ready for a child just yet." So she packed up her things and left. She just left. No warnings, signs, nothing. He was only a year old, and he had no mother. No mare in his life to help him grow. It was all up to me.
No matter, I was determined to raise my child as if there were two ponies with him at all times.
However, I had no experience in children. I was only twenty and wasn't truly ready for a child myself. Though, I was going to try my very best to make this colt the happiest colt in all Equestria.
Even if it kills me.
I didn't really have a very well-paying job either. A minimum wage job selling assorted vegetables. We couldn't exactly buy everything that we wanted, but, we managed. My cutie mark wasn't any sort of vegetable, though. It was a plain and simple paper and quill. Apparently my special talent in life was literature. If that was the case, why hadn't I made a cent off of any writings?
Whatever.
Once Jackpot's mother left, I even started having signs of depression. It came from the stress knowing I'd have to raise a child all by myself. I had swore to myself that I would find a better paying job later on, so my son could be proud of his father. Just as I was so very proud of him....
Once he reached age 5, I had to break the news to him. He kept asking me:
"Where's mommy?"
Every time he asked it, I felt a painful stab in my heart. I didn't want to tell him, but he was learning the basics of life, and was getting curious. He had learned from other colts and mares that there should be two parents. I kept telling him, "Mommy will be here soon, she's on a business trip."
That kept him quiet for a while. But I knew I'd have to tell him eventually.
Unfortunately, that eventually came sooner than I thought. When I told him, he broke down in tears and locked himself in his room for a long time. For hours I was knocking on his door saying, "I'm sorry," with tears rolling down my eyes. What kind of pony am I? Lying to my son for such a long time? I had to make this up to him.
I ordered a special cake from Sugercube Corner. It had said, "I'm sorry," in frosting on it. It was a very pricey cake, so I hoped Jackpot liked it and forgave me. I even got Pinkie Pie to do it, so you know it had to be delicious.
I knocked on his door and said, "Jackpot, I have something for you."
He slowly opened his door to see me with the cake. He opened the door all the way and came out as I gestured towards the kitchen.
When I gave him a slice, he was quiet the whole way through while eating. Once he finished, he turned and looked at me with those big, gold eyes, and asked:
"Why did mommy leave?"
The look on his face, combined with the quiver on his lips, made me break down in tears. He then began crying, making me feel bad for starting it. I hugged him tightly, and between sobs I said:
"Mommy.....mommy wasn't ready...she wasn't ready to be a mommy."
We cried in the kitchen for a while, embracing our emotions.
When we were done, I wiped the tears off of his face, and brought him to the market so he could get whatever he wanted. Looks like my quest for making him the happiest colt in the world was going to take some work....
As Jackpot was turning 6, I enrolled in college courses to get that special, worthwhile job that would make Jackpot proud of me. I was studying medical school. The cool coincidence is on Jackpot's birthday, I received my degree.
Now, I didn't have the money to enroll in doctor classes, I was in an emergency rescue squad, helping everypony that needed help outside of a hospital. Jackpot couldn't exactly say "My daddy's a doctor," but he could say "My daddy saves lives."
Jackpot called me 'Superdad' and said I was the best superhero in the world. He make up stories about me flying around saving ponies from falling off cliffs and such, but I was an earth pony, and couldn't do anything special. It was cute anyway.
This job payed MUCH better than my last one, and I could now afford things that I couldn't buy before. Jackpot got everything he wanted, and was happy. Therefore, I was happy.
When he reached age 7, Jackpot started getting into sports, and extracurricular activity for school. He did Hoofball, Races, and the only thing I approved of, Chess. He juggled all these things and it made me even more proud of him. I got excited during events that I could say, "That's my boy!" when Jackpot was in first place and won competitions.
The joy that filled my heart when I saw his gleaming eyes, almost made me want to cry. I couldn't be anymore proud of him.
Well, I did it. After 8 years in my care, Jackpot became proud of his father....I could tell. Him being a racer, he had a racing idol. Her name being "Rainbow Dash." Apparently the greatest flyer in Equestria. When trying to pull off a new move, she morally injured herself. One of her wings was broken and her right forehoof hyper-extended.
Me, being in a rescue squad, was first on the scene. I picked up Rainbow and brought her to the hospital. Since she was Jackpot's idol, he came too. I placed her on the gurney, and waited for results.
The doctor called us in, and we stood by Rainbow Dash. She couldn't speak; she had an oxygen mask on. The doctor told us that if I hadn't brought her in when I did, she probably wouldn't have made it, because she had also collapsed a lung. She was going to be fine, the doctor said, and will be in tip-top shape in 1-2 months. Rainbow didn't like the time, but she had no choice.
When the doctor had told us to leave, Rainbow took my hoof as I was about to leave, and hugged me. I smiled and said,
"No problem."
We left the hospital and continued our day....
At age 9, Jackpot entered an Earth pony equivalent of the Pegasai's Junior Speedsters Sky Racing.
I didn't approve very much, since it took place in the "Ghastly Gorge."
That place always had avalanches, and was scared. Jackpot said,
"C'mon, daddy! I want to win this race! Trust me, I'll be fine!"
Me, being a pushover, let him go.
The race took place today. I really wanted to go, but I was too tired to budge. I dropped off Jackpot, kissed his forehead, said good luck, and left.
I had faith in my son to make me proud again, and win that race!
It was my day off, so I lounged around the house, doing close to nothing. It had been an hour since I dropped off Jackpot when I began to lay down....
Then I heard a knock on my door.
It was the leader of the Emergency Rescue Team. He said he NEEDED me to come with him pronto. I galloped behind him, and wondered what could possibly be so urgent?
Then we arrived.
Ghastly Gorge.
Oh no.
I followed the leader to where the scene was, like I was afraid of, an avalanche had occurred. I had been told that three colts had died from the falling rocks. I began to tear up at the thought of one of them being my son. I galloped to the bodies to identify them.
Thank Celestia.
None of the colts were mine. I felt sorry for the other parents, though....
I began looking for my son, when I heard a calling from behind me.
A colt was pinned under a huge rock.
It was MY son.
He saw me and started calling, "DADDY! MY LEG DADDY! MY LEG AND MY CHEST HURT!"
I galloped as fast as I could to him and started calling for help. He looked at me with cuts on his face, blood spilling from his forehead where I had kissed him, tears rolling from his face.
"Superdad? Can you lift this rock off of me?"
R.I.P Jackpot, 2003-2012...
Your daddy will always love you...
