It was a warm afternoon, and the entire family was gathered in the living room to celebrate a special occasion. The table was laden with dishes of food, drinks, and a cake elegantly decorated—though oddly formal for a family celebration. It was Felix's birthday, but it seemed no one except him remembered.

The conversation began lively, as always. His mother, with her usual enthusiasm, took the lead, showering praise on her eldest son, Robin, a brilliant academic whose achievements filled a shelf like trophies.

"He's made such incredible progress in such a short time!" she said, slicing a piece of cake for Robin. "His professor even said he has the potential to write his own book someday."

Felix, sitting at the far end of the table, tried to chime in.

“Well, I’ve also been working on a project…”

But his voice was easily drowned out by laughter and more admiring remarks about his brother. Before he could try again, his father shifted the conversation, not toward Felix, but toward his older sister, Amanda.

“And what about your sister?” he said proudly. “Her latest art exhibit was a success. She received so much praise! I think she’s even been invited to another gallery next month.”

Felix glanced at his sister, who smiled with satisfaction as the others showered her with admiration. A small spark of frustration ignited in his chest, but he tried to stifle it.

“Well, I…” he began again, this time louder, attempting to redirect the focus to himself.

But once again, his attempt was ignored as if his words were little more than background noise.

Anthony, his other older brother, noticed Felix’s struggle to be heard and decided to intervene.

“Hey, what about Felix?” he said casually, but with clear intent to bring attention to him. “It’s his birthday today, isn’t it? Maybe we should talk about what he likes or what he’s been up to.”

A brief silence fell over the table—an awkward moment where glances were exchanged. For a moment, Felix thought maybe, just maybe, they’d finally listen.

But what came next wasn’t what he expected.

“Oh, yes, Felix…” his mother said with a sigh, her head tilting slightly and her smile tight. “But what has he really done? He still hasn’t decided on anything. Not like Anthony, who’s been so consistent in sports. It’s impressive how he always gives his best.”

His father nodded, picking up the thread.

“Exactly. Felix, you should learn from him. You can’t go through life without making important decisions. Look at your siblings: they’re all on their way to something great.”

Felix felt a lump form in his throat. He lowered his gaze, his appetite vanishing with every word. They had ignored his attempts to speak only to remind him, once again, of everything he wasn’t.

The murmur of conversation resumed, now centered on Anthony’s athletic achievements, while Felix sat in silence, toying with his fork. Eventually, he decided to take a piece of cake. At least that should be his moment, a small solace in an afternoon where everything seemed to belong to someone else.

He cut a slice and took a bite, but as he chewed, he was met with an odd and unpleasant taste. He frowned, dropping his fork as he spat the cake into a napkin.

“What is this?” he asked quietly but loud enough for the others to hear.

“It’s a rhubarb and exotic spice cake,” his mother replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “We chose a special flavor this year. It’s more refined.”

Felix stared at them incredulously. They hadn’t even asked what flavor he wanted for his own cake. Even that had been decided without consulting him.

The conversations continued as if nothing had happened, shifting from one sibling’s achievements to another’s, like a parade in which Felix had no place. He set his fork down and stared at his piece of cake, now ruined by the bitter taste of indifference.

In this family, no matter how many attempts he made, he always remained in the background, like an unfinished draft on a table filled with masterpieces.

In Rockville’s central plaza, murmurs floated in the air like a swarm of buzzing insects. The place was packed with foals, all with the same confused expression, wondering what on earth awaited us this time.

As for me, I was in a fairly good mood. Yesterday, I survived the ridiculously complicated test they put us through. I admit some questions made me sweat, but thanks to my borderline obsession with gathering any available information, I think I managed a decent performance. Sure, the last question nearly fried my brain’s gears, but I think my answer was worth it.

However, it's not the exam that has me smiling today. No, my good mood comes from something far more exciting: I’ve finally saved enough to commission a custom amulet. At last, that star I found in the Pie family cave will have a fitting home. Yesterday, after the exam, I paid a reliable craftspony in Rockville to craft a tailored frame for it. He told me it would be ready tomorrow. The guy works fast, and I love that.

So there I was, feeling pleased despite being summoned again. Probably for another test that won’t even count toward grades but will still find a way to complicate our lives.

Lost in my thoughts, I realized I’d lost sight of my sisters. With a sigh, I started making my way through the crowd.

“Excuse me, coming through. Blue pony with existential crises passing by,” I said, maneuvering around others, searching here and there.

And then, I walked straight into someone. The collision was so hard I ended up on the ground, brushing off the dust as I muttered:

“Ugh, sorry, my bad. I was looking for my sisters.”

When I looked up, I was greeted with the worst-case scenario: Flashing Blow.

Seriously? Out of all the ponies here, it had to be him?

The restaurant incident had been awkward enough. Seeing him blatantly cheat on the exam only solidified the idea I had about this guy.

I stayed on the ground for a moment, blinking as Flashing Blow returned my gaze with a smile that could either be described as dazzling or utterly infuriating, depending on your perspective.

“Oh, no worries,” Flashing said, bowing his head theatrically. “It’s easy to get lost in such a crowd. But lucky for you, you bumped into the one pony here who wouldn’t mind.”

I rolled my eyes as I stood up, shaking off the dust. “What a relief. If it had been any other pony, I’d probably be preparing for my execution.”

Flashing let out an exaggerated laugh, as if my comment were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Exactly! You get it. But seriously, it’s no big deal. I guess you should count yourself lucky to have run into Flashing Blow. Not everyone gets that chance, you know?”

I nodded slowly, trying to process his level of self-satisfaction. “Right… uh, thanks, I guess. Well, I better get back to looking for my sisters.”

I turned on my hooves, ready to put an end to this interaction as quickly as possible. But just as I took a step, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning back, slightly confused, I saw Flashing with a sharper, almost predatory smile.

“But you’d better make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said in a lower voice, almost a growl disguised as politeness. “I’m not here to make friends, got it? So don’t get in my way.”

I stared at him for a moment, my mind debating whether to respond or just walk away. I chose the latter, sighing as I began to move past him.

“Thought so,” Flashing muttered loud enough for me to hear. But before I could get far, he raised his voice once more.

“This race isn’t for little pink-haired fillies, in case you didn’t know!”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

Pink-haired filly?

You son of a… Did he just call me a filly?

I turned slowly toward him, taking deliberate steps in his direction. Blood boiling, teeth clenched, I was about to wipe that smug grin off his face when—

“Echo! We’re over here!”

Pinkamena’s voice called out from across the field.

I froze for a moment, took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh. Flashing Blow looked at me with an arrogant smirk, clearly savoring the moment.

Lucky for you, Flashing. My sisters just saved your hide.

“See you later, champ,” I said with a sarcastic smile before turning and heading toward my sisters.

But don’t forget, Flashing. Next time, I’ll crush you like the rock you are.

Once reunited with my sisters, the questions came quickly. On one hand, there was curiosity about what they’d make us do today, and on the other, the understandably dramatic reactions to yesterday’s ridiculously complicated exam.

The tension had been so high that even Maud, with her unshakable demeanor, admitted to answering most of the questions at random. Pinkamena didn’t hold back her frustration either. I simply nodded as I listened to them vent. Honestly, I couldn’t blame them.

Our conversation about academic torture was abruptly interrupted.

“Good morning, Rockville!” Harshwhinny’s voice rang out from the podium, her tone so rehearsed it could have come straight from a tonic commercial. “Today, you have the honor of participating in a very special surprise. Please follow me to the designated area.”

With those words, we were led to an open field filled with dirt and small stones. In front of us stood an enormous obstacle course, towering like a monument to excess: tunnels to crawl through, walls to climb, narrow beams to test our balance, and even nets that looked ready to catch us if we fell.

Seriously? What's with these ponies and their obsession with over-the-top tests?

Harshwhinny resumed her role as host with clear enthusiasm, visibly enjoying the spotlight. “That’s right! You’ll be participating in a physical test, followed by an exhilarating obstacle race!” Her voice rose in pitch, dripping with excitement—at least for her.

She added with a practiced smile, “Because nothing brings ponies together like a little sweat and competitive spirit! Don’t you agree?”

The silence was deafening. Not a single pony moved, blinked, or even twitched. Harshwhinny let out a nervous laugh and adjusted the collar of her blazer. “Well… ahem, let’s proceed then!”

They lined us up and had us do basic stretches, followed by more intense exercises like push-ups while assistants jotted down our performance on scrolls. Nothing too challenging, at least for the foals of Rockville. The real entertainment came from the newcomers.

The newcomers, with their ridiculous vests, hats, and capes, struggled to keep up. Not only were they falling behind, but they clung to their outfits like they were a crucial part of their identity. Wouldn’t it be easier to ditch the extra weight?

Once the physical tests were over—and even Maud, Limestone, and I found some parts challenging—we were arranged into two lines for the next phase: the obstacle race.

At the end of the course, an assistant stood ready with a stopwatch and clipboard to record our times.

When my next competitor stepped forward, a filly wearing a full-on princess dress, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Who in their right mind runs in that?

Predictably, Flashing Blow was at the front of the line. His confidence was so overwhelming it practically needed a separate wagon to carry it. He looked ready to break some kind of personal—or even world—record if his pre-race boasting was to be believed.

And then something clicked in my mind. The race… Flashing had mentioned something about a race earlier, hadn’t he? Specifically in that comment about "pink-haired little fillies." But how did he know there’d be a race? A physical test was predictable, but a specific obstacle course? Could just be a coincidence.

I shook my head, brushing the thought aside. No point dwelling on it now… though I couldn’t deny it was suspicious.

As the races began, most ponies posted mediocre times, which was understandable—the course seemed designed for older ponies, not foals.

Then it was Flashing’s turn. I’ll admit, he looked like he’d practiced this course a hundred times. He didn’t just beat his opponent; he left them literally eating dirt. He finished with an impressive time of six minutes and forty seconds. Crossing the finish line, he wasted no time in showing off like a peacock.

“Hate to break it to you,” Flashing declared, puffing out his chest in an almost cartoonish fashion, “but the record I just set? You’re not breaking it, not even in your dreams. But hey, it’s not about winning—it’s about participating, right?”

I rolled my eyes. A little bragging is fine, but this? Ridiculous.

Finally, my turn came.

The sound of the bell signaled the start of the race, and my opponent immediately tripped over her dress. Well, that made things easier.

What followed was almost routine for me. I’ve been training since the moment I first breathed in this world, and that’s not an exaggeration. As a rock farmer, my life revolves around moving heavy stones, pushing carts, and wielding a pickaxe like it’s part of my body. Compared to that, this race was a walk in the park.

I slid through the tunnels without a care for the dust. I climbed the walls as if they were simple piles of gravel. The balance beam was honestly the most challenging part, but once I cleared it, the rest of the obstacles were... well, a piece of cake.

When I crossed the finish line, the assistant’s eyes widened as he logged my time: six minutes and fourteen seconds.

I strutted back with style, almost as if marching to the beat of an imaginary song. As I passed Flashing, I couldn’t resist the temptation.

“You’re right; it’s all about participation,” I said, pairing the words with a playful finger-gun motion with my hooves and a small wink. Sure, it might’ve seemed ridiculous to anyone else, but to me, it was perfect. Satisfying? Absolutely.

Flashing stared at me, stunned, before clenching his teeth and letting out a low growl.

“Whatever,” he muttered under his breath. “Beginner’s luck. Won’t happen again.”

A few minutes later, it was Maud’s turn. She finished in six minutes and thirty seconds, though only because she took some extra time to analyze a rock along the way.

In the end, Maud, in her signature monotone, simply said, “It’s about participating that counts.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Victory tastes better when seasoned with a little irony.

After finishing the last test, we were given a few minutes to rest.

Is it just me, or am I completely dominating this whole event? Not that I consider myself a prodigy or anything, but honestly, all the training since the day I was born seems to be paying off—both physically and mentally.

Too bad all of this is just to collect standard village statistics. It doesn’t count toward any grades or even win us a prize. It’s like they set up a show just to measure us like rocks on a scale.

My self-satisfied thoughts were interrupted by Harshwhinny’s voice.

“Great job, everyone!” she exclaimed with her signature enthusiasm, though this time it was a bit more restrained. “Now we’ll move on to one of the main events. Please gather into three groups to continue.” Her forced smile didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Without much thought, my sisters and I immediately grouped up. It was the natural thing to do, of course. But before we could decide which group to join, something unexpected happened.

A cloud of dust suddenly rose around us. The sound of hooves galloping echoed everywhere, accompanied by a noise that could only be described as... excited shouting?

The dust made us cough, and I closed my eyes instinctively. When it finally cleared, what we saw left us speechless. Even Maud—the ever-stoic Maud—opened her eyes wider than usual.

In front of us, two groups had formed out of nowhere, as if someone had given a magical command. On one side stood the ponies in ridiculous hats, and on the other, those wearing vests, suits, and capes. But it wasn’t just their appearance that left us stunned.

We Rockville ponies stood frozen in place, paralyzed by confusion. Even Flashing Blow, normally brimming with confidence, had his jaw hanging open.

What in the world was happening here? How did they form so suddenly, without a second thought?

And then, the surprise deepened.

The foals from both groups began removing their accessories—vests, capes, hats, whatever they had. Everything fell to the ground as if it was no longer needed.

What they revealed beneath stopped my brain entirely.

Horns. Wings.

What the heck?!

The two groups consisted of unicorns and pegasi. Real unicorns and pegasi!

They gave smug, self-satisfied smiles as they revealed their true identities.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?!

While I tried to process what I was seeing, I muttered in disbelief:
“Even the filly in the princess dress is a pegasus? And the one with the bucket... a unicorn?”

It was as if my entire perception of the world was being shaken. They had been hiding their horns and wings under those disguises all along. But why? Why would anyone do something like this? And why on earth would a bunch of unicorns and pegasi show up in Rockville, a town as monotonous as a rock?

I looked around. My sisters and the rest of the earth ponies shared the same expressions of confusion and shock. An awkward silence spread until one of the unicorns—the one who seemed to be leading their group—broke it.

“It’s time for you all to eat dirt,” he said in a threatening tone.

Their horns began to glow with magical light, each one creating a dazzling spectacle.

Not to be outdone, the pegasi spread their wings with dramatic flair, puffing out their chests as if preparing for battle.

I looked again at the earth ponies of Rockville. We were still scattered and clearly disorganized. The situation was worse than it seemed.

“Everyone else! Get over here quickly, gather up!” I shouted with as much authority as I could muster.

Without hesitation, the others obeyed, clustering around my sisters and me. Now we were a compact group, though we still lacked wings or magic.

We stepped back as they advanced. Every step they took seemed loaded with silent menace.

In my mind, one thought persisted. This was the first time I had ever seen unicorns and pegasi in person. It should have been magical, a moment worthy of fantasy tales. Something majestic. But this... this was far from it.

I looked at the faces of my fellow villagers. They hadn’t expected their first encounter with other races to be like this either.

One thing was clear in my mind as I watched the glowing horns and the pegasi’s defiant gazes.

This is going to be a headache, isn’t it?

Night had fallen, and the house was completely silent. The soft moonlight barely filtered through the curtains, casting gentle shadows on the walls of Felix’s room. He sat on his bed, motionless, his eyes fixed on a point on the wall. The darkness felt heavier than usual, as if reflecting the weight in his chest.

The door creaked open slowly, letting in a sliver of light from the hallway. Felix blinked and looked up. It was Anthony.

In one hand, he carried a small apple cupcake, topped with a softly flickering candle. It was Felix's favorite flavor, a detail he hadn’t expected anyone to remember that night. Anthony walked in with his usual laid-back stride and flopped onto the bed beside Felix.

“Happy birthday, kid,” he said with a crooked smile, placing the cupcake on the nightstand. Then, he lay back with his arms folded behind his head, as if it were the most comfortable place in the world.

Felix, surprised, looked at the cupcake, and a small smile crept across his face.

“Is it really apple?” he asked, incredulous.

“What, you thought I’d bring you one of those weird flavors Mom always picks? Come on, give me some credit.”

Anthony glanced around the room, but his attention was quickly drawn to something on the opposite wall. His brow furrowed in a mix of curiosity and amusement. Taped and pinned to the wall was a mural filled with diagrams, handwritten notes, clippings, and colored threads connecting various ideas. Though it didn’t cover the entire wall, it was clear Felix had been working on it for some time.

“What’s this?” Anthony asked, raising an eyebrow. “Are you planning to take over the world or something? Because if you are, I gotta say: this mural needs more red strings. Those always make conspiracies look more convincing.”

Felix let out a nervous laugh, shrugging.

“It’s my ‘Decision Tree,’” he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. “I started it recently. It’s supposed to help me figure out what to do with my life.”

Anthony turned his head toward him, now more intrigued.

“Decision Tree?” he repeated, his face full of disbelief. “Come on, Felix, you don’t need to make it so complicated. Just pick something and go with it, like I did. Why all the drama?”

Felix shook his head, feeling a bit more confident as he explained his project.

“It’s not that simple!” he exclaimed, gesturing toward the mural. “Look, there are so many possibilities… so many things I could do. If I don’t think it through, I could end up picking something that doesn’t make me happy or doesn’t work out in the long run. This helps me organize everything, see my options clearly.”

Anthony sat up slightly, leaning his elbows on his knees, and gave the mural a critical but amused look.

“It’s like I always say: ‘If you feel crazy, just breathe a little’” Anthony quipped.

Then he continued, “So… this is like a roadmap for your life?” he asked, unable to hold back a teasing smile. “Man, that’s intense, bro. I didn’t know you planned everything like it’s some giant role-playing game. Do you also have a twenty-sided die to decide your destiny?”

Felix laughed at the joke but then pointed to a small blank space on the mural.

“I’m still working on it. But yeah, kind of. I want every decision to make sense, you know?”

Anthony shook his head, grinning.

“You’re a lost cause, you know that?” he said, grabbing a pillow from the bed and throwing it directly at Felix’s face. “Though now that I think about it, ‘Decision Tree’ sounds better than ‘Felix, the Eternal Indecisive.’”

Felix took the hit without warning, but instead of getting upset, he grabbed the pillow and launched it back with force.

“You started it!”

The room filled with laughter and the sound of pillows thudding against the bed and walls. For a moment, the weight of the day vanished, replaced by a genuine connection between brothers.

Finally, they both collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavily after their little battle. The candle on the cupcake was still flickering, casting a warm, unsteady glow across the room.

“Thanks, Anthony,” Felix murmured, staring at the ceiling. “For everything.”

Anthony didn’t respond immediately, but he smiled and gave Felix a light punch on the arm.

“No need to thank me, bro. Now blow out that candle before it melts.”

And for the first time all day, Felix felt truly seen.

Author's Note

Anthony, Felix’s older brother, is introduced as a key character. Felix starts his birthday on a sour note. However, Anthony does his best to make Felix’s day better, proving to be a constant source of support.

This birthday marks a significant milestone: it’s the moment when Felix creates his Decision Tree for the first time. Inspired by the clear paths his siblings have taken—academic, artistic, and athletic—Felix begins mapping his options to find his own direction.

In the present, Echo is thrilled because his star-shaped gem will be made into a custom necklace. However, his day takes an unexpected turn when he has an awkward encounter with Flashing, who turns out to be far less friendly than he initially seemed.

During the race trial, Echo uses his wit to outsmart Flashing with a touch of sarcastic humor. Shortly after, the mystery of the new ponies in Rockville is revealed: they are unicorns and pegasi! This is Echo’s first encounter with other tribes, a thrilling moment that doesn’t turn out quite as he had imagined.

Fun facts:

• Flashing Blow mistakenly assumes Echo is a filly due to his appearance and demeanor.
• Harshwhinny will have a rather interesting character development so to speak hehe

Thanks for reading!