Midnight Lancer stood atop his podium alongside the other colts and fillies who placed in this year's race, his frown sharply contrasting the shiny silver medal adorning his chest. His cyan eyes wavered as he looked between the various bleachers and the field ahead of their podium, scanning the sea of ponies that had come to watch the Manehattan Best Young Fliers Competition. There had to be hundreds of ponies all crammed into the stadium, skyscrapers casting long shadows over the arena as the day marched towards it's end.
"You know, Midnight. I think you did pretty good for a colt who flies like he's blind. Heheheh.." came a voice to his right. Turning up, he saw none other than Wind Shear, standing triumphantly atop the first place podium with a gleaming golden medal.
The one that should be on Midnight's chest instead of this crummy silver one. No, that first place medallion sat firmly upon the other colt's snow white chest, mocking him from above just like the pony wearing it.
With a scoff, Midnight grumbled back to his rival, "Well, maybe I wouldn't have flown like that if you didn't kick up dust every time I tailed you.."
"Excuses, excuses. That's why you're second, Little Lancer! Hahahaha!" shot back Wind, a smug grin smattered across his muzzle. "Maybe when you grow up you can fly like me!"
Tears began to form at the corners of Midnight's eyes, the shame of having lost the race made worse by the frustration of having lost to Wind of all ponies. Before he could make a retort, however, the other colt took off from the podium and flew over to his dad. Flying into his fathers hooves, Wind relished in his victory.
That did it. With a huff and stamp of his hooves, Midnight turned and galloped off the podium and away from the arena. He ran as hard as his little legs could send him, tears flying from his muzzle each time the colt weaved between ponies to get away. A few ponies turned with concern to the younger stallion as he passed by, though they only gave a passing glance before returning to their own foals.
It's not fair! Not only does that idiot get to win, but he also gets to rub that in too!
Individual drops quickly turned into streams as Midnight failed to stop his emotions from overpowering him, the cocktail of shame, frustration and annoyance overwhelming his young mind with ease. Eventually, the colt would arrive at a nice, cozy spot at the base of a large apple tree a short distance from the arena.
Wiping his tears away, the colt eyed the bark of the tree with fire in his eyes before winding back and slamming his hoof into the it. The tree responded with a soft 'thunk', as the colt in question had only a fraction of the strength a fully grown stallion would. Sadly, the colt was also more fragile than the tree, hissing in pain as his hoof crashed against the aged wood.
"Stupid tree!" grumbled Midnight as he clasped his hoof, wincing as the poor thing throbbed.
He reared back his other hoof to strike back at the insolent plant, but was interrupted by an older, smoother voice, "Midnight, what happened? I didn't even get to see you up on the podium before you ran off.."
Lowering his hoof with a start, Midnight whirled around to see none other than his mother, Butter Roll, standing before him. Her braided mane hung low, nearly touching the ground as it waved softly in the evening breeze, the faint smell of bread emanating from her saddlebags.
"Mom?! I-I um.. was.. uh.. working out?.." Midnight croaked out, quickly wiping the tears from his muzzle as best he could to try and look strong.
The older mare simply chuckled before stepping forward and softly planting a hoof atop the little colt's mane, petting him, "Honey, you don't need to hide it from me."
"I-I'm not-" protested Midnight, but he was stopped in his tracks by that soft hoof touching down atop his head. The second it made contact, the colt felt fresh tears welling up within him, "Momma.."
"Come here, sweetie. You did your best" crooned Butter as she pulled her little flier into a warm hug, her braided mane brushing against his shorter, unkempt one as the two drew closer.
The colt's tears fell freely into his mothers warm, soft coat as he let his emotions run wild. Anger, frustration, shame and embarrassment flowed from him like a torrent, yet Butter took it in without any issue, happily holding her little pony until he was done.
She ran her hoof through his frazzled mane, petting him slowly and calmly despite the colts stressed demeanor. A soft breeze began to pick up, whistling past the two as they basked in the evening glow.
With a sigh, she rested her head atop her little colt. "There you go, sweetie, let it out. Momma's here.."
"It's not faaair, Momma! I-hic.. I should've won!" wailed Midnight as he sobbed away into her chest. "I tried really, really haaard! W-why didn't I wiiin?"
A soft hum slipped from Butter's lips as she replied quietly, "Sweetie.. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, we can't always win. What matters is that you did your best for the ponies you love."
Her words soothed the little pegasus, though they didn't stop his crying completely. Sniffling, the cold groaned into his mother's chest, "But.. but I still loooost!"
"The race, maybe, but you won in other places, sweetie." reassured the mare, nuzzling his head with a smile. "You said you tried your best, that makes you a winner to me."
There was a short silence while the colt mulled his mother's words in his mind, fragments of his crying fit struggling to leave him alone as he pulled his face from her chest. Looking up, a twinge of hope sparkled in his eyes. "It.. it does?.."
Butter Roll beamed at her little stallion, nodding along, "Mhmm, it does. And you know what, sweetie? Even if you didn't win some silly little race, you'll always be my little wondercolt!"
With a single stroke of her larger, fluffy wings, the mare swooped her little colt up and onto her back, eliciting a giggle from him. The pair turned toward the arena, now slowly vacating as the sun began to kiss the hills dotting the horizon. They stood there for just a moment, admiring the sight together.
Midnight pressed his muzzle into his mother's neck, a sigh escaping him along with the last vestiges of sadness. It still hurt losing to Wind Shear, but as long as his mom was here, it felt a bit better.
"Now, why don't we go get some ice cream? I heard a certain flavor was back in stock.." teased the mother, a grin on her face as she turned to her little colt.
Her suggestion worked immediately, the sad pony having perked up at the mention of ice cream with wide eyes and a quickly growing smile, "Chocolate Chunk!?"
"That's right! Only the best for my little wondercolt, after all!" laughed Butter Roll as she took off into the sky with her son now excitedly hanging onto her back and giggling with glee.
"I love you, Momma!"
Author's Note
A short little oneshot I made to help establish some backstory for my pegasus and his mother, Butter Roll! I plan to make more short stories in the future, so leave any suggestions you'd like to see or feedback for this one!
