I stared at the front gate of the orphanage, a feeling of resentment welling up in me. I hated this place. I wanted out of here. There was no hope for adoption for me, why would there be? Celestia should have less faith in her subjects, especially the nobles. Yet Celestia put me here for reasons I couldn't understand. I sighed, remembering the first time I came to this building almost a year ago.

1 year earlier

I stared up at the large building in nervousness, my feet shuffling as I honestly didn't want to go inside. For years I was so used to having a home to look forward to after a day at school or daycare. But now, it was gone, and so were my parents, my friends, my- My train of thought was cut off when a wing pressed itself against my side. It was only then that I noticed the sting of tears, which I quickly wiped away.

"Thomas, I know this will be difficult, but I know you're strong enough to handle it. You're stronger than any colt or filly I've ever met." Said a pegasus mare from my side. That was Golden Feather, one of Celestia's assistants that had been assigned to help me settle into my new life in pony land, 'scuse me, 'Equestria'. She had a pale light yellow fur coat with a windswept golden mane and tail, with a gold necklace around her neck with a peculiar design on the centerpiece. Her cutie mark was a sun with a masquerade mask in front of it.

I stayed quiet, feeling like a lead weight had dropped in my gut while simultaneously a hole formed there as well. "... I don't want to stay here." I whispered, my voice almost becoming a whimper. "Why can't I stay anywhere but here? Why can't I live with you?" I winced, looking away. My arm came up to rub at my other one. "S- sorry, but I just…" Golden sighed dejectedly at my words.

"It's okay, I understand. And if it was up to me, I would, but it's not, so I can't. Listen, you know how to get in contact with me, right?" I nod, going to my backpack and pulling out a runestone she had given me.

"Drop it in a basin of water, and say your name out loud." Golden nodded up at me.

"Good, now go on, and try to make some friends."

Present

"Tch, friends, right." I scoffed, shaking my head. None of the ponies in the orphanage were anywhere near my age, making me the oldest one there by over 7 to 8 years, even at 15. And of course, nopony wanted me. Not even the common pony, which there were a few of in Canterlot, wanted something as strange as I was to them. I reluctantly opened the gate to the Orphanage, walking around the building till I came to the garden in the back.

Walking towards the birdbath, I took a quick look around before putting my backpack on the ground. I took out the runestone Golden had given me a year ago. I don't immediately drop it in, simply holding it in my hand, weighing my options. After a solid 3 minutes, I take a deep breath, close my eyes, and drop it into the birdbath. "Golden Feather." I say, just loud enough for the rune to activate. The water quickly looked like it held a bunch of smoke inside it, before a voice came through the water.

"Good afternoon Thomas, how was your first day at Canterlot High School?" Came Golden's voice, as cheerful and caring as ever. Her voice alone brought a smile to my face nearly every time I heard it.

"It was… eventful, for the most part. Honestly I thought it would have been similar to High School back on Earth. I mean, it was and it wasn't. And not in a bad way… per say. But I think you'll be happy to hear I made some friends." I could almost here the smile on her face as she 'EEE'd loudly.

"Oh, that's great news Thomas! I'm so glad you're finally making some friends. I must admit, in hindsight, putting you in that orphanage might not have been the right call." I rolled my eyes as Golden now sounded a bit sheepish.

"Gee, you think?" I could imagine her wincing at my words. "Sorry, just a bit of resentment towards Celestia for thinking an Orphanage was the right place to put me. I mean, seriously? A near young adult trying to make friends with someone several years below their age group? What was she thinking? And don't get me started on the fact that even if I did make a friend, they could have found a home at any point, making it so I'd never see them again."

I stop myself before I go any further, silently seething as I try to calm myself. After I was calmed down, I spoke once more. "Sorry… again."

"It's alright Thomas, I understand. And I'm proud of you, you were able to calm yourself faster than last time. Anyway, enough about that, tell me about your new friends!" Golden said, trying to change the topic which I followed along with.

"They're… an odd bunch, to say the least. Would you believe me if I said I made friends with the most popular mare in the school? And not like we're just associated, but actual mutual friends. At least, I hope we are. She's really fun to talk to. And seeing her react to things is hilarious."

"Hmm, I see. That is very good to hear. And what of the other friends you made?" Golden asked, ever curious.

"Well, you won't believe this, not only is this one also a mare, but she's a mare like Princess Celestia. And what I mean by that is that she's an Alicorn." I could hear the spit take through the 'call'. Golden coughed on what I assumed was tea for a few moments before speaking.

"R- Really? That's quite the surprise. How did you two meet?" Golden asked, still trying to clear her throat a bit. I told her how we first met, and aside from a few questions about the game I was playing and what I thought of Cadence, she stayed quiet. "My, that is quite surprising indeed. And it does sound like you made a good first impression. Is there anybody else you made friends with?"

I think for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, this one stallion who goes by, get this, 'Fancy Pants'. I managed not to laugh at his name and keep a straight face, mostly because I was in disbelief that his parents actually named him that. I mean, y'all don't even wear pants!" Golden took a few moments, and I could picture her tapping her chin in thought.

"Hmm, that is true. But as I've told you, our innate magic covers our privates until we unconsciously or consciously choose to reveal them. So the need for such garments is unnecessary. That, and unless you are a unicorn, it is exceedingly difficult to fit one's tail through a hole in the back of the pants." I roll my eyes, opening and closing my hand like a mouth since I've heard this countless times already.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Still, why name your kid after an article of clothing? You ponies and your ways of naming children confuse the heck outta me." Golden just giggled. "Anyway, back to Fancy. We met at lunch, and later in biology. Speaking of which, I seriously need to talk to some doctor or Celestia about getting you guys better microscopes because y'all have barely scratched the surface when it comes to the realm of the microscopic."

"Hmm, things so small we can't see them with the naked eye. Yes, I do believe we've talked about that once before during your medical examination when you first arrived. We should schedule another one sooner rather than later. So tell me, what do you think of Mr. Pants?" I snorted at Golden's use of Fancy's name before speaking.

"He's pretty chill for a kid of a noble, both him and his sister Fleur. Though I haven't spent a lot of time around him to say for sure. But then there is this last dude which we aren't friends… but for the most part he seems okay. He's no kid of a noble, I can tell you that much though. Dude wants to basically join y'all's army. And that means gettin' down and dirty. And no one raised with a silver spoon would want that.

"Aside from that, 'don't know much about him. Only met during lunch. He's a bit racist though, but then again that's pretty common with you ponies. I mean, it ain't exactly baseless. Humans are predators, first and foremost. That's just how we came to be. Still, he could have at least been a bit more subtle about it. Until then, I'd count him more as a negative, but not bad, acquaintance."

Golden hummed in thought as she mulled over my words. "While I am a bit disappointed that ponies aren't the friendliest when it comes to interactions with beings that aren't ponies, it is still quite understandable. Ponies live a sheltered life for the most part, I will say. Each of the species that live in this world usually keep to where they originate from.

"While we do have positive relations with them politically, for the most part, with each of them, the common pony has little to no interactions with them. Thus making them untrusting of beings that aren't from Equestria, and vice versa. And on top of that, you are not even native to this world. That not only makes your situation unique, but also worse than that for say a dragon or griffon."

I sighed, knowing what she said was very true. "Yeah, I suppose. I'll try and not give him a reason to hate me. But if he keeps being a bigot to me, I can't make any promises." Golden sighed.

"That is all I can ask for I suppose. It was quite nice talking with you Thomas. I shall come and get you next Saturday for both a medical examination and so we can catch up better." I nod, even though I know she can't see it.

"Yeah, alright. See ya then Golden." With that, the 'call' ends, the smoke in the water fading away as I fish out the runestone from the birdbath. I place it back in my backpack after drying it off by waving it around and wiping it on my jacket. I turned to the orphanage once more, and sighed. "Great, now I'll have homework on top of all the chores." I grumble, my once chipper mood fading. I pull out an earbud from the case, and put it in my ear. I turn on some music, then get to work.

First things first, the dishes. With over 20 foals in the orphanage, along with my own, from lunch alone there would be a sizable amount of dishes. Seeing as I couldn't do the breakfast ones before heading to school, there was the combined might of both the breakfast and lunch dishes stacked high inside the sink and to either side of it. Suffice to say, my hands were very wrinkly by the time I was done with them and I had finished my playlist of songs.

By time that was done however, dinner time had rolled around. Which meant me cooking dinner, eating, then doing those dishes. After that, I had to clean up after the foals. Who has gotten used to me doing this, so they usually left their toys and things out and scattered around. After that, I knew I had to do my homework, or else I wouldn't have the brain power to do it after doing the rest of the chores I was 'assigned'.

All in all, it was nearing midnight by the time I was done, and I had to be up in 5 hours to get ready for the next day. Oh how do I love school.

3rd Pov:

Celestia

Time:

Several Hours Ago

Golden Feather sighed as she closed the link between her scrying pool and whatever Thomas used to contact her with the specialized runestone. Tapping the amulet around her neck, she glowed bright gold, growing back into her true form. A second later, Celestia stood in the place of Golden Feather. Celestia removed the amulet from around her neck, placing it back into the box she had retrieved it from.

She was incredibly happy that Thomas had finally been able to make some friends, but hearing his true thoughts about her… it made her regret putting him in that orphanage in the first place. She thought that placing him there would have been best, but what he had said to her this time… really made her think. In hindsight, the orphanages in Equestria usually have a very low age when it comes to foals.

Almost never had any foal before they turn 10 not been adopted. And Thomas was 15. It was well known to her that the older you are, the less desirable you become to ponies looking to adopt. And even if there were ponies around his age, who's to say if or when they would get adopted. Thomas couldn't count on them coming back to spend time with him.

Celestia placed a hoof on her forehead, disappointed in herself. "I really should have seen that coming. But what can I do?" Celestia thought out loud, before there came a knock on her door. Turning, she put on her 'princess mask' as she answered. "Yes? Who is it?"

"Aunty, it's me, I can't wait to tell you about my day at school! And about Thomas! Can I come in?" Cadence said happily through the doors. Celestia let her mask drop, a smile coming to her face.

"Of course Cadence, please, come in." Celestia uses her magic to open her bedroom doors, allowing entry to the pink Alicorn.

1st Pov:

Thomas

Time:

The next day

I felt like shit. There was nothing more to say than that. I was basically dragging myself up the street to the school. However, despite my outward appearance, I was a storm of rage inside. I honestly wanted to get that damn noble fired, but then again, who's to say that the next pony put in charge wouldn't be even worse? I shouldn't have to do all these damned chores. Dishes were one thing, but I was basically doing all the jobs the damn noble should be doing himself!

Lost in my tiredness and rage, I failed to notice a few colts walking down the street towards me. That was until a blast of magic hit me in the face, knocking me flat on my ass while making my face feel like it was on fire. I screamed in pain while holding my face, tears instantly forming in my eyes as I heard the mocking laughter. Then I felt it. Hooves. Kicking. Backpack ripped off my back. It was then thrown aside. I could barely make out my surroundings as the colts pummeled me, dragging me.

I think they went on for five minutes before finally stopping. They left, laughing and mocking me. I couldn't move. Couldn't see. Couldn't think. Pain was all I felt, all I was. As I lay there, I slowly fell unconscious, in a pool of my tears and blood.

3rd Pov:

Fleur De Lis

Fleur waited excitedly for Thomas to arrive, looking up and down the street the school was placed on. Cadence, Shining Armor, and Fancy Pants stood with her. Shining was the only one of them reluctant to wait for their friend. "Cadence, I know he's your friend and all, but you know that not everyone wants to be friends with everyone else, right?"

Cadence rolled her eyes at him. "Of course I know that Shiny, but I have a good feeling about you two. And besides, I think he liked it when you said you wanted to become a royal guard. Auntie told me that Thomas holds law enforcement and the military in high regard because his grandfather was a veteran." Shining raised an eyebrow at that.

"Really? I didn't know that. What did his grandfather do?" At that Cadence gained a look of concentration.

"I think she said that he was a 'doorside helicopter gunner' in the 'Ve-it-nam' War. And no, I don't know what either of those things are. Aunt Celestia tried to explain it to me, but I still don't understand it. She said that a helicopter is a flying machine that uses large spinning blades to fly." Having listened in, Fleur and Fancy looked curious and confused as well.

"How is that even supposed to work?" Shining asked, before catching the word Cadence used. "Wait, 'war'? Who were they at war with?"

"I… don't know. Thomas never told her who they were at war with, just that the name of the war is based on the location the war took place." They were all looking even more confused now.

"While war in itself is quite dreadful, perhaps we should ask the chap about it when he gets here… Which should be soon or he'll be late." Fancy pointed out, looking up at the school's clock tower. Fleur frowned, looking up and down the road once more, but saw no sign of the human.

"I don't see him. Cadence, I hate to ask this if you, but perhaps you can fly up and look around for him? Perhaps he has gotten lost?" Cadence nodded, flapping her wings as she jumped into the air. She looked as best as she could from her vantage point, and could see the orphanage he was staying at. It was a bit of a ways away, but still relatively easily navigable from the ground. Something wasn't right. He should have been there already. He seemed to make a point of arriving early if possible based on past interactions.

She began to fly in the direction of the orphanage, scouring the streets for any sign of the young man. Just as she was flying over a street a block away from the school, something caught her eye. A glint, small, but it caught her attention. Looking down, she saw something she immediately recognized as nothing looked like it. "Tom's backpack?" Cadence asked herself as she flew down. The shine had come from a tear in the bag, where a metal key had poked through. But the bag itself looked like it had been caught in a tornado. Papers and books were strewn about, heading into a nearby alley.

Her concern soon jumped up to fear as she saw red specks on the ground and the school items as she followed the trail. She began trotting briskly, hoping that her thoughts weren't true. But as she followed the trail of blood, the splotches became bigger and bigger until there were puddles of blood as big as her hoof. She stopped suddenly, eyes wide as tears began trailing down her cheeks. "THOMAS!"

Cadence rushed forwards, not caring if she just used the Royal Canterlot Voice for the very first time on pure instinct. She used her magic to pick up the prone and unconscious, but thankfully still alive, human. He was covered in blood from many gashes on his body. Using her magic, she felt for his heart beat. It took her a moment, not being familiar with human anatomy. She eventually found it, and what she found just made her distress grow. His heartbeat was barely there, and growing fainter by the second. Her horn sparking, she teleported herself and Thomas to Canterlot Hospital without even thinking. She screamed and cried at the doctors to help him as tears flowed from her eyes. She just wished she wasn't too late.

Fleur, Fancy, and Shining were all running the direction Cadence had flown towards. All but Fancy were aware that the orphanage was in this general direction due to them living in the city all their lives. They had heard Cadence shout Thomas's name, and Shining alone knew her well enough that something was very, very wrong. They had lost sight of her about a minute after she had flown up, so they didn't know exactly where the pink Alicorn had gone, just the general direction.

After searching a few blocks, Fleur saw something that she recognized after having seen it 3 times the previous day. Thomas's backpack. There was no mistaking its unique shape and material. "Colts, over here!" Fleur cried out, running over to the nearly destroyed backpack.

"That's not good." Fancy muttered, looking at the scattered school materials and Thomas's personal effects. He and Fleur gathered them up in their magic, knowing Thomas would appreciate his things not being left behind.

"Oh… oh Celestia no. That's not… is it?" Came Shining's voice as he looked down at the drying drop of blood on the ground. Fleur raced past Shining, not caring if her hooves landed in some of the coagulating blood, staining them red. Her heart raced while a pit formed in her stomach which only grew as she followed the trail of blood and scattered parchment. She heard Shining and Fancy following her, calling out for her to slow down, but she just couldn't.

Soon, all three came to the alley where the blood made small puddles instead of small drops. There, they all saw that in the center of the alley, about 30 feet in, was a pool of blood. Said pool had been blown outward, spattering the walls with the red liquid. Fancy gagged, covering his mouth as he turned away. Shining was even more pale then he was before, while a little green around the gills.

Fleur was the worst of them, turning to empty her stomach on the ground as tears poured from her eyes.

"THOMAS!" Celestia jolted in her throne, looking out the throne room windows as she heard her niece. She immediately recognized the distressed tone of voice of her adoptive niece. Something was wrong, very wrong. Turning to her guards with a deathly serious look, she spoke.

"Day Court is over for today. Any petitioners may either return to their homes or be allowed to stay in the guest wing until such time I resume Day Court." The guards saluted while the noble she had barely been listening to acted relieved. If she remembered correctly, it was the noble in charge of the orphanage she had placed Thomas in. She had been speaking to her about removing Thomas from the orphanage and into a foster care system, but that would need to be placed on hold.

Unfolding her massive white wings, she lit up her horn as she traced Cadence's magical signature. Just as she was about to lock onto it and teleport, Cadence's magic flared then instantly moved from one place to another. She was a bit surprised at this, as she had yet to start teaching Cadence such a high level spell. Then again, with how in flux Cadence's magic was, she was capable of just about anything.

When it finally calmed, she would be quite tired. Following and locking onto the new location of the signature, her horn lit up in her signature golden glow. She disappeared from the throne room, leaving only a few guards behind to keep watch of the throne. When Celestia rematerialized from her teleportation spell, she found herself in a hospital with a bunch of nurses and doctors rushing away with someone on two gurneys.

In the middle of the room though, tears plastered the fur and marred the makeup of a certain pink alicorn, who watched as the nurses and doctors took away who she presumed was Thomas. Cadence soon noticed her aunt from the teleportation flash, and practically lept into Celestia's hooves, pressing her face against Celestia's neck and simply breaking down. Large white wings, already outstretched, folded around Cadence, enveloping her in a one of a kind hug.

The lobby was soon filled with the sounds of sobs and tears hitting the floor. All the while friends and family of patients and on duty staff could only watch, saddened at the state of one of their princesses.

Author's Note

And here we are, the final production of Chapter 3. I made a few changes, made it a bit longer, and a few other things. Thanks for reading this story, all of you. This is Bronze, and I'll see you next week with Chapter 4.