The morning was just beautiful observed a snow white mare as she opened the curtains of her home. The light poured on a now grumbling lump in the bed she shared with the love of her life. “It’s time to get up you lazy thing!” She teased as she shook the lump a few times. When that didn’t work she smiled and leaned closer to the lump, whispering about how she’ll share his breakfast with their son if he didn’t get up.
“Ok, ok…I’m up, I’m up. I bet he’d eat your share too if you let that little colt have his way.” He said pulling down the blanket to reveal his messy mane, yawned widely, and got out of bed to tame his untamed mane and to get part of his armor on before he would join his family in the always delicious breakfast his darling wife would make for them.
When he got to the kitchen his little energetic boy was already scarfing down his breakfast and made a mess of himself. He looked so silly that he couldn’t help, but to laugh. “Ah, what in the name of Celestia am I going to do with you?” He said as he settled into his spot.
With the dishes from breakfast out of the way the mare cleaned up the little colt with playing a little game while she did so. He laughed when his mother made funny faces at him and told him a story about powerful dragons and the brave buffalo warriors.
Once they were finished cleaning up the mare stifled a laugh as her little stallion made sure everything was where it should be and safe before they left to do the errands before they were to go on a wonderful exploration trip.
Their errands took them all over Canterlot and a short trip to purchase some wonderful apples from Sweet Apple Acres, since apple pie was the colt’s favorite.
With a mighty yawn, the colt walked slower than before. His mother smiled “Must be nap time for you, my precious little boy. Let’s head home and take a nap. How does that sound?” She said taking the small load of apples off of his back and added it to her own.
“Sorry...mama I still can carry tha-“ Another yawned interrupted him. “That bunch of apples. Are we still going to explore with papa and have apple pie when we get there?” He said as they, finally, came to their home and then he settled down in his bed for a nap.
The small colt, with his coat was as white as snow and his mane was dark as night, tottered next to a gorgeous mare who often looked down beside her to see if the little colt was keeping up with her as a joy twinkled in the mare’s crystal blue eyes
The day was as her smile that she gave him. “Let’s go as fast as we can to meet with papa Elliot. Papa’s been waiting for you to wake from your nap.” She said in a voice that was like honey to the little colt.
A determined look filled Elliot’s dark gray eyes and he gave a tiny nod that nearly made his mother scooped him up and nuzzle him for several minutes, all the while saying his was just too adorable. “’Kay mama…” He said in his small voice and broke into a trot to keep by his mother’s side as they passed a crowd of ponies that made the usual comments about a fairly famous pony’s child and how much he looked like his father.
It was a short while longer before the mare and little Elliot to meet with a deep grey stallion with a jet black mane. The stallion’s deep coal eyes lit up with pride as his beloved wife and son came into view. “Victoria, Elliot, over here!” He said his voice deep, but a bit hoarse from talking to a pony that had too much wine and refused to listen to reason.
As soon as Elliot heard his father’s voice he forgot about how his hooves were about to fall off and raced towards him, beaming a delighted smile. It wasn’t often that he got to see his father since he was in charge of keep the peace in the city below the Canterlot castle. “Papa! Papaaa!” He squeaked in his high pitched voice as he made an attempt to overpower his father, who gave in willingly to him, as he leaped at him and bowled him over to his side laughing.
Victoria smiled brightly. She had stopped being a model for Photo Finish when Elliot was born to devote her days to raising him until he was old enough to be without him for several hours. “Well, look at my two strong stallions. What mare wouldn’t feel so safe, where are we going to today Solar?” She smiled brightly at the sight as Solar gently nudge a excited Elliot who kept yammering on and on about where they were going. “Well, that is a surprise. I’ve only recently found this place and her majesty, Princess Celestia hasn’t been informed about it. I wanted you two to see it first.” He said as Victoria stared at him with genuine surprise at the fact he didn’t tell the princess.
“Is not telling the princess bad?” Elliot chimed looking a bit confused.
“For me, her knight, it is. Promise not to tell?” Solar nudged his son with a wink as Elliot nodded in agreement.
Several hours later the little family were traversing a section of a canyon wall that was a few feet above a swift flowing river. Many times Elliot tried to look over the edge only to be snatched away by either of his parents, followed by a firm scolding. The canyon they were in winded away from Canterlot, brushing the edges of Old Quarter, a jumble of homes and businesses that weren’t really used much, and emptied into a small hidden forest just beyond that. Even further it was lost in a chasm the seemed to go on forever.
“Uh....mama?” Elliot asked nervously looking ahead of them.
The tone of unease in Elliot Flare’s voice made Solar look where Elliot had been look as his mother went to young Elliot’s side.
“What is it my little star?” She asked in a soothing tone to calm Elliot’s fears. However, Solar’s was just beginning. A storm, one not brought on by the pegasus of Cloudsdale, was beginning to rear its ugly head by sending out flashes of lightning.
“I-Is that a thunder storm?” He whimpered softly into his mother’s leg as she comforted him.
“I don’t think it is, dear. I don’t hear the thunder, do you?” She said.
“N-no…”Elliot said after a few moments of straining to hear the loud booms of thunder.
“Victoria? Perhaps we should start heading back and start out when we know that there isn’t going to be a chance of rain.” Solar said. Victoria noted the brief unease in his tone and agreed, turning back the way they came.
I wasn’t long before the storm caught up with them, lashing them with its fury of strong winds and whipping downpours.
“Elliot! Stay close to mommy and daddy, ok?” She shouted above the storm as she shielded Elliot the best she could as he nodded, frightened by the way they were acting. Solar who normally was so playful, looked scary to him with his stern expression.
“This is getting really bad. We need to find shelter to weather this out and for Elliot. He looks so tired and scared.” Solar said to Victoria casting a glance down at the struggling against the wind Elliot as she gave a tiny nod. He craned his neck to scan for any cover for them. There! There was a trail that led to a cave far above the flood waters that marked this section of the canyon.
A deep rumble came from further up the river as Solar’s head turned. His face turned deathly pale and his eyes widened in fear, something he didn’t truly show to Elliot who looked in equal fear at his dad. Then to a rushing wall of thick brown water that seemed to want to take them with all the debris in it. “RUN!” Solar screamed unable to hide the terror he felt anymore. Almost instantly Victoria nudged Elliot into a run, then paused as Solar lifted Elliot onto her back as the raced to the trail and clambered up it, nearly falling a few times as Elliot cried, burying the side of his face into her side. The fact that he was doing that, spurred her on; to get her precious child to a place of safety where he wouldn’t cry anymore, where the three of them would be happy together. Nothing would stop her to keep Elliot safe, not even this wall of water that raced faster and faster towards them. She WOULD keep her baby boy safe even if it meant her life; she would give it up to protect him. After all isn’t that what all mothers do?
The happy days end and the thief enters.
Time was shorter now. Victoria knew that they wouldn’t make it up the rest of the steep climb. When they came a wider part of the trail, just below safety she accepted her fate. “So-Solar. Give me a boost.” She said her voice wavering, and Solar knew their fates were sealed at that moment. He should’ve taken the distant storm more seriously, but he didn’t and maybe he could change Elliot’s fate with his beloved Victoria.
With that thought he took off the medal that always hung on his neck and draped it over Elliot’s. “Be strong for us Elliot. Remember you are NEVER alone and always do the right thing, even if it seems wrong.” He said holding Elliot’s coal gaze with his. He slid under his mate and lifted the two of them up as she, with some difficulty, stood. “Elliot, Elliot. Sweetie. Climb onto the ledge and go into the cave. We’ll be right behind you.” She said her heart breaking at the thought of what Elliot’s life would be like after dealing with knowing his mom and dad were gone, and had lied to him.
Elliot hesitated. “Hurry baby!” Victoria said urging him on and stretching her legs to make it easier for him, which he obeyed. He stumbled and dashed to the cave; turning back he saw it the sight that would haunt him for the rest of his life; the wave sweeping his parents away and under the muddy water.
“PAPA! MAMAAAA!“ He shrieked as tears flowed violently down his cheeks as he crumbled to the ground. Then darkness blanketed his vision.
Hours turned to days before the raging water subsided. Elliot slowly, half sliding, down the muddy, debris covered trail to the path his parents and he were travelling on. Tears welled in his eyes as he wandered the river’s warzone; his mind empty of all thoughts. He felt numb from hoof to the tip of his black mane. So alone and small, he couldn’t help them. They were gone because of him; because he was so weak compared to papa. Now those tears fell freely as he walked.
It was days before he reached a nearly forgotten section of Canterlot. It was a pitiful sight; a small hungry colt that was dirty and covered in mud. His eyes gazed into the distance. Elliot wouldn’t eat the food the adults in the broken place for days until his body gave in and he collapsed.
Many hours later did Elliot wake, his stomach feeling full and content for once, but the horror and agony remained. He was in an old house that was left to rot in silence.
‘Who took me here? Where am I? Why is there food next to me?’ His mind raced with these questions, but whoever it was didn’t want him to die like Elliot wanted. Someone must want him unlike so many others that seemed to paint an imaginary wanting. Was it mama? It had to have been. Mama must’ve brought him this food and fed him when he wasn’t awake like the time he got really sick. The sound of hoof steps echoed as the sun had barely risen and now was spreading its warm rays across the sky as the hoof steps became a light blue mare with a darker mane who looked to be only a few years older than he was.
“Good. You’re awake. My name is Ocean and I’m only taking care of you until you can stand on your own hooves again. You were crying in your sleep… You’re parents. They were lost in that flood weren’t they? Well, you can’t change anything as much as you want to. Mommy and daddy are never coming back.” Elliot’s eyes widened in dismay. His hopes of his mother looking for him were crushed by this mare. More tears flowed and she went on with those stinging words. “Get over it. Just accept that you are alone now and no one cares about you. No one ever will here. Now you must learn to steal food to keep your miserable self alive. I will teach you. You know what? Never mind, you’ll have to get used to being alone and learn on your own, why not start now? Good luck kid. We won’t meet again” She finished leaving Elliot to himself. He never saw that mare again after that.
Many months passed and Elliot learned to steal food and money from unsuspecting ponies. He didn’t like it at first, but those guilty feelings faded as he kept stealing to survive and learned from painful experiences from angry ponies that caught him. His flank, unlike the other youngsters his age, was still blank. It would be that way until he defended a filly from older orphaned ponies that was trying to steal from her did it appear; a thin silver sword with a crystal blue wing for a hilt and streaks of gold behind the sword.
Elliot Flare’s bolted awake as he sat up, his eyes wide and filled with terror, in a cold sweat as he cast a glance around in the rotting, falling apart house that he called home. He now was nearly a full grown stallion that was just as handsome as his father even though he didn’t think much of it. “Heh.. it’s been a while since I had that dream..” He mused as he heaved himself to his feet and walked over to a shelf and opened the drawer. Inside was a set of bright red clothes and a matching hat that had a long ribbon that was darker red. “Time to be Russo Whirlwind and save the day for these guys here.” He added as he dressed himself and dashed out his thin rapier bounced at his side. After climbing to the roofs, he leapt to the next one; his cape billowed behind him as he gracefully landed on the next one without much noise. His target was a noble that was across the city and away from Old Quarter. He made sure he picked his targets away from there. A devious grin played across his mouth as he hurried to his target; he was never late for a meeting even if he sent a bit of cryptic warning before he would strike.
Soon enough he was standing in the bedroom of the noble’s house. The guards, stationed outside at the noble’s home pleading to Celestia about how stupid it was and bored stiff, were unaware of Russo’s presence as he filled the deep pouch that he had stolen from a unicorn how made it hold more that it looked with a spell with the shiny gold pieces. This time he took a little bit more than what he said he would and left a “Thank you” note; then disappeared into the night. ‘It was too easy. The fat slob should’ve bought out more guards to keep things safe or bought a dog. At least a dog would provide more challenge that those dumb guards.’ He smiled at the thought and raced through the streets, and towards the safety of Old Quarter. Every pony knew that place was home to thieves and all sorts of bad ponies, and stayed well away from there, but what they didn’t know that there were good ponies there that had little money to pay for things, or orphans no one bothered to care about.
This is where Elliot came in; he would steal from those ponies that were corrupt and deserved to have less money. He kept this up and eventually he became an infamous pony to others, but a hero to the Old Quarter residents. He would give them every single coin and never kept any himself. He stole food and what he needed for himself. As he made it to the beginning of Old Quarter he sought out the homes of the good ponies - the shadier ones had left when Russo chased them into the hooves of the guards – and left enough money to last the month. Once he’d finished that he ventured home to take off his costume and sleep.
Birds chirped merrily when Elliot woke the same morning. A long yawn erupted from him as he rubbed his eyes and sat up, looking through the hole in his roof at the blue sky. They would wake and would, if not had already been, discover the missing coins along with the “gift” that Russo left and they would be baffled by how he did it. The guards that were watching would be in trouble, but that mattered little to Elliot. He rose and headed for the river to wash up and start his daily tasks which mostly consisted of trying to find odd jobs round the city to earn his money.
As he walked he heard a delighted squeal from a young filly as her mother told her that she could afford her birthday gift this year after all. He grinned from ear to ear with him knowing the reason for the mysterious money that just appeared as it always had around this time of the month and continued on.
As he stepped into the water he shivered from the cold and waded to the deepest part, it only went up to his belly, and went under, he shrieked into the water as the cold sent a shockwave through his strong body. He stayed under until his lungs were several heart beats past screaming at him for precious air and broke the surface with a deep gasping breath. “Th-that was r-r-refreshing...” He muttered through chattering teeth as he moved back to the bank and gave himself a good shake, sending sparkling water droplets high into the air and dotting the ground.
Today felt like if good luck was on his side today, if it weren’t at least the weather was just wonderful. “With weather like this, no pony would be in a bad mood… well, maybe just one pony.” He said to the crystal blue sky with a knowing snicker at the end. Smoothing his somewhat spikey mane, he fixed his pony tail by tightening the tied that he used to keep it out of his way and proceeded to the city. He knew he would be dry long before he reached there, since was over an hour’s walk to Canterlot from the river.
After the trek there, Elliot’s stomach was awaken to the wonderful aromas of the finely made foods that sat on display in windows that drew the passerby’s attention, one stand looked hoof made and out of place among the other stalks, Elliot remember that there was going to be a small party for some rich pony that Elliot didn’t care to remember, and wandered to it. The smell from the stand enticed him further until he stood off to the side while an orange mare advertised her goods.
“Come ‘round every pony and enjoy a wonderful apple pie or a delicious apple fritter from Sweet Apple Acres!” She called in hopes of drawing in a customers.
‘Apple pies…and fritters…ooh, that sounds so good right now since I could steal breakfast.’ Elliot thought as his mouth watered from the divine smells that wafted to him. His body moved on its own in front of the section where the pies were and looked at their golden crust that was baked with the Apple family’s love and care. Pies like that bitterly reminded Elliot of what memories he had of his mother, one being her making his favorite pie; apple.
“Well hello there, interested in buyin’ one instead of starin’?” The orange mare said with a thick accent. Elliot look up into playfully teasing, bright green eyes that had three white freckles on each side.
“I uh…have no money on me right now-“ His stomach growled loud enough for her to hear and laugh.
“Sounds like you missed out on breakfast. Tell ya what, if you help me draw in customers, I’ll give you a couple of pies for you work. What do ya say?” She said with a kind hearted smile. “I’m Applejack. What’s your name?”
“Really?” He stared in surprise. She only nodded in response. “That sounds fair enough to me. Apple pies are my favorite. My name’s Elliot.” He said with a bright smile as she let him have a pie for breakfast.
True to his word he would help, but how would be a good idea to draw in customers without giving away his secret?
‘If Russo was here and took a pie, Applejack’s sale would sky rocket. I can’t do that though, I didn’t bring my costume and there’s no where I can change at. Hmm, maybe I can do a few balancing tricks?’ He thought as he looked around for a barrel and spotted one next to a jam vendor. Elliot trotted over to the vendor.
“’Excuse me? Is that barrel empty?” He leaned to look around as a light red pony with a deep green, streaked with lighter green mane popped up. “Oh, y-yes, can I help you? Oh.. the barrel, it’s empty. Why do you ask?” She tilted her head just slightly, her deep maroon eyes filled with curiosity at why this pony would ask about it for.
“Would it be ok if I used it? You see, I’m trying to draw in customers for the Apple family across from you. Maybe I can bring in customers to you as well if you let me use it?” He explained, hoping she’d let him.
“Oh, ok. I could use the help. With Applejack next to me I haven’t really gotten many customers that want my jams.” She said with a weak smile. “If you can draw in customers for me, I’ll give you a jar or two of jam, your choice of what’s in it for the help.” She added.
Elliot smiled brightly. “R-really? Thank you so much! I will do my very best!” He said tipping the barrel over and rolling it in the center of the area as the label, Berry May’s jams, followed the barrel. With a deep breath he leaped up on the barrel and faked to catch his balance with a series of woahs. Once he had his balance he lifted his back legs, casting a quick glance at Aj, then to Berry. “Toss me a jar and a pie.” He said. Elliot was already drawing curious looks as the girls looked iffy about giving him their wares while he balanced upside down on a wobbling barrel. Berry decided to trust Elliot and handed him a jar of peach, which he turned to catch on his hind hoof, then dropped it to his head. Applejack smirked and placed her pie on top of the jam, which was swapped out with other various things as the day went on. “Good luck.” She whispered as she moved away as he performed some tricky moves that brought in a crowd as he told them to visit Berry and Applejack’s stalls for great foods.
Before Elliot knew it morning turned to afternoon, then to evening. During his work he had changed positions several times, and drawing many gasps or oohs from the crowd. Once the party was over and Elliot was tired out from the work leaning against the wall behind Applejack’s stall where Big Mac was helping her pack up.
“You really worked hard, didn’t you? Here, I know it’s not much, but I want you to have it. You have earned it.” Berry May said smiling a truly grateful smile. She set down an order form with it saying; 10 jars of jam for nothing as payment to Mr. Elliot and a small bag of coins. Applejack joined Berry’s side with a small box containing 3 pies and a pair of fritters she kept back. “You are really somethin’ else, Elliot. Thanks to you, Berry May and I really sold out! Not ta mention you made the birthday girl really happy.” Applejack said
Elliot looked surprised. ‘Woah, woah…the rich snob that threw this was watching? When...who was it?’ He though glancing around to see a little filly walking up to him with a giant smile, and felt guilty for calling the filly a snob.
“You were really awesome! I don’t think any pony could do that! Thank you very much for making my birthday even better.” She said giving him a hug which made Elliot blush a bit, then smile.
“You’re welcome, little miss. I’m glad that I could make it better…even if I goofed up a bit.” He said remembering when he dropped the ball a kid kicked up to him on purpose.
“Even if you did, you were amazing. I know we didn’t ask you do keep entertaining the children, so this is a thank you for doing so.” The girl’s father said as he walked up to them and set down a large bag of coins, which obviously held a great deal of coins.
“B..but I…I couldn’t. I mean, I didn’t mind. The smiles the kids gave me is more than enough…” Elliot stammered.
“I insist. A good deed is always rewarded.” Her father said as Applejack and Berry May agreed with him. With the thought of it being rude to continue to refuse, Elliot gratefully accepted the money. He’d split it up with the children later and keep a little for himself along with what Berry gave him.
The chill in the air told him night was on its way and he had a long way to go to get home. “Thank you, all of you. If you need a worker, I’m always free. I have to head home, it’s a good ways from here. Pleasant dreams to you birthday girl and you too Applejack and Berry May.” He said as he adjusted the bag that Big Mac gave him to carry the extra things he unexpectedly got. As he began to hurry away, they all wished him the same and they’ll keep him in mind if they needed anything.
By the time Elliot got home, if was already dark. Carefully he moved through a hole in the wall in the back of the crumbling house and carefully moved through his home and set his things down. He picked out a fritter and ate that for his dinner, all the while fighting to stay awake long enough to finish it, once he was done he flopped on his falling apart bed and fell asleep.
