The Road Not Easily Traveled.

by Mes Amis

Rating: teen
Tags: Original Character, Fluttershy, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other, Romance
Length: 9342

A sequel to 'Road Of Love'.

First off I'll be saying that until Sk8erdude returns, I'll be working on this story alone. This is a sequel to 'Road To Love'. I recommend you read it before you read this one.

After a couple of months touring, Dante Wings and the rest of ATTB travel to Canterlot University. After an incident with Scarlet and his friend Jason, Dante must chose between Fame or Family. What's there to be come of Scarlet and Reda's relationship? Will Dante return to the mare he left behind two times and finally stay. Or will he avoid her for the rest of time? The only way to figure out what happens is to join them on the Road Not Easily Traveled.

Published 2012-11-08 07:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-04 05:46:13 UTC

Welcome Back

"Come on Marcy, you don't want to keep Scarlet waiting do you?" Reda said to the little filly quickly approaching him.

"Why can't you carry me, Reda?" questioned the filly.

"We can't let the other students see me carrying you or they think I have favoritism. Now no more questions we have to get moving."

After running halfway through town, Reda and Marcy made it to Ponyville Station just as the train began to pull in.

"Big sis!" exclaimed Marcy. The young filly jump into her sister's tight embrace as Reda walked up beside them. "Do you really have to leave Sis?"

"I'm sorry Marcy but I have to if I want to get my degree faster. Don't worry I'll come back every chance I get, okay?"

"Promise?" Marcy asked sadly.

"I promise." Scarlet said holding her sister tighter. She then released Marcy and looked over to Reda. "Thank you for bringing Marcy here."

"Not a problem. Besides Marcy wouldn't stop bugging me about it during our breaks."

"Well thanks anyways. And um... I know the last month and a half haven't been exactly what I planned but I'm glad I got to know you Reda." Scarlet said as her face flushed a deep red.

Reda began to blush as well. "Actually I'm glad the last few weeks turned out this way, you besides all the problems 'he' caused. If you ever need any help with anything just ask and I'll try to help as best as I can."

Reda soon found his lips connected to Scarlet's and after a couple of seconds, they parted. "I'm sorry I just couldn't help myself."

"It's fine, actually I really liked it."

"You did?"

"Yeah, but... Not as much as I would like to be your coltfriend." Reda said awkwardly.

"I-I'd like that too." Scarlet replied.

"All aboard!" called the conductor.

"Oh I have to go. Marcy be a good filly okay?"

"Okay sis, I'll be good." Marcy said as she hugged Scarlet one more time.

"And Reda."

"Yes dear?" he replied like a smartass.

"Take care of my sister, okay?"

"As you wish, my love." he continued.

Scarlet laughed at his response. "I have to leave now, so goodbye. Tell my parents I say goodbye."

"Will do." Reda responded. Marcy and Reda stood at the station until the train washout of sight. Reda turned to Marcy and picked her up and put her on his shoulder. "Come on, let's get something to eat."

"Okay."
_____________________________________________________________________

Dante walked into the large dressing room fitted with three couches and a few coolers full of drinks, most of them alcoholic.

"Dante, come on man sit down and have a beer with us like we used to." Jason gestured.

"Come on Jason, leave him alone." said the stallion sitting next to him with his English voice.

"Don't be such a downer, Mitch. Now come on Dante, there's enough for everybody."

Dante just ignored Jason's remarks and sat in a chair across from the others. "Hey Micky, where's the next stop?" Dante asked the stallion reading a book in one hoof and a cold cola in the other.

"Canterlot University, Why?" asked Mickey in an Italian accent.

"Just checking." he responded.

"Why are you ignoring me, Dante?" Jason asked. "I thought you'd be glad to be back on the road, here with your closest of friends." Dante didn't even look at him. "Don't tell me you're sad because that tramp mare broke it off with you."

As soon as Jason finished his sentence Dante was in his face, both hooves around Jason's neck. "Don't you dare call her a tramp!" he yelled.

"Dante let him go!" cried Mitch as he tried to pull the two apart. "Micky help me get these two off each other."

"Why?"

"What do you mean 'Why?', these Dante is strangling Jason!"

"The fool asked for it. He knew how much that mare meant to Dante and he went ahead and called her a tramp."

"Dammit Micky!"

"Now what do we have here?" asked a brown stallion as he walked though the door.

"Montana, good grace. Help me get Dante off of Jason."

"Sure thing, boss." Montana mumbled as he pulled Dante away from Jason like they were a strip of Velcro.

"W-what the hell Dante!" Jason barked as he regained his breathe.

"You called his mare a tramp." Micky remarked, still reading his book.

"Didn't she leave you though, Dante?" Montana asked.

"It doesn't matter if she left him or not, there is no reason to attack each other." Mitch remarked. "What do you have to say Dante?"

"I'm going for a walk." Dante muttered as he walked out the door.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Here you go Ms. Wings." said the receptionist "Have a good day."

"Thank you." Scarlet said as she took the papers from the receptionist. Scarlet has been in Canterlot for only a few hours, most of the time spent reenrolling herself as a student. She was heading to her new dorm room and to meet her new roommates. Scarlet arrived at her dorm room, room 263. She opened the door and found nopony inside.

"Hello." she called.

*Thud*

"Ow!" cried a feminine voice. The owner of the voice soon came out of the restroom. She was a orange mare with cerulean eyes and a grey mane."Hey there."

"Hello. My name is Scarlet Wings, what's your name?" Scarlet questioned.

"My name is Rockslide, but you can call me Slide. It's nice to meet you Scarlet."

"Nice to meet you too, Slide." Scarlet replied, then she noticed something odd the Slide was doing. "Um Slide, are you okay?"

"I know I've heard the name Wings before but I can't put my hoof on it.

"I'm sure you'll remember later." Scarlet said as she began to unpack her luggage, Slide doing the same.

Scarlet looked over and saw Slide putting up a poster of a band. The poster read 'ATTB' and had a group of stallions lined up as if being in a criminal lineup.

Slide saw Scarlet staring at the poster. "This is my favorite band, and I would love to meet these two." Slide said as she pulled out another poster that had two stallions on it, one being Scarlet's brother.

"Will he ever leave me alone?" Scarlet asked rhetorically.

"Who?" Slide asked, then it finally dawned on her. "Oh my gosh, you're related to Dante Wings aren't you!?"

Scarlet sighed before she answered. "Yes. Dante is my older brother."

"OhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygoshOhmygosh! What's he like? What's his favorite color? Whats his favorite hoofball team? Where does he live? Does he have a crush in anypony?"

"My brother is the complete opposite of what a good older brother would be like." Scarlet replied.

"Why do you say that?"

"He was never around for me when I needed him and he won't be around for our little sister either. He spends all his time with his band and not his family."

"Was he always like that?"

"He wasn't always like this. When I was a young filly he would take care of me and help with me anything."

"Are you sure he isn't the same stallion from back then?" Slide asked.

"That older brother of mine left when I was eight and never came back." Scarlet said mournfully.

"I'm sorry Scarlet, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories. I'll take these posters down if you want."

"No it's fine. If you really want those posters up, then by all means keep them up. Now that you know about Dante being my brother, it's not like I need to keep it a secret."

"Oh, Okay then." Slide responded. The rest of the day Scarlet and Slide spent getting to know each other.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Please Reda, come with us. Big sis would really like it if you'd come."

"Marcy, I'd love to join you but I have a job to do here. I just can't leave."

"Leave where Reda?" Asked Cheerilee.

"Marcy here wants me to go with her to Canterlot for her sister's birthday."

"When is it?"

"In two days." Marcy replied.

"So it's on Thursday?" Cheerilee wondered.

"Yes."Reda muttered.

"I think you should go." Cheerilee said.

"What?" he rebutted.

"It's only two days you'll be gone. I'll just give the kids free time instead of music class, so just go."

"Are you serious Ms. Cheerilee?" Marcy asked.

"I am."

"If it's okay with you then I guess I'll go." Reda said in defeat.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Scarlet! Scarlet! Scarlet!" Slide cried out as she ran through the front door.

"What is it Slide?" Scarlet asked calmly.

"I got backstage passes to tomorrow night's concert!"

"Really? Who's the band?" Scarlet asked excitedly

"It's your brother's band." Slide said not as energetic but still excited.

"Oh." Scarlet said disappointedly. "Slide I think you should take somepony else with you."

"No way. You're going with me no matter what."

"Slide I don't..."

"You're coming and that's that." Slide said with a forceful and demanding tone.

"Fine I'll go." Scarlet replied angrily.

"Great, now let's get going."

"Where?"

"Shopping of course!" Slide practically yelled.

"I'll get my saddlebag."

Introducing The Rest

After countless hours of shopping in the infamous Canterlot shopping district, Scarlet and Rockslide returned to their dorm room but heard something in their bathroom.

"What could that be?" asked Slide.

"I don't know." Scarlet muttered as she grabbed the nearby poster container. Both of the mares slowly walked towards the bathroom door until suddenly the door opened abruptly, revealing a maroon stallion.

"AHHH!!!" the three ponies screamed in unison. Scarlet suddenly started beating the stallion with the container.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" the stallion cried. Finally the maroon bafoon grabbed the tube and took it away from Scarlet. "What the hay is wrong with you?" asked the bruised stallion.

"What are you doing here?" Slide asked.

"This is my room. Why are you two here?"

"This is our room." Scarlet rebutted. The three stood there in silence until Scarlet finally spoke. "I'm sorry that I attacked you."

"I-it's fine. I would panic too. My name is Simmons, what is your name?" he asked calmly.

"I'm Scarlet, and this is Rockslide."

"But you can call me Slide." Slide muttered.

"It's nice to meet you. So um..." Simmons trailed off as he saw Slide's posters. "Nice, you two like Armed To The Bone?"

"I love them!" Slide responded.

"I really don't care." Scarlet said as she walked over to her bedroom with her bags.

"Don't care? Why would you not care about these guys? They're practically the greatest band of this generation." Simmons declared rightly.

"But Dante is the worst brother ever." Scarlet muttered angrily.

"Why do you say that? Do you know him?"

"Of course I know him, I'm his little sister."

"Little sister?"

"Yes, she's Dante Wings's little sister Scarlet Wings." Slide answered.

"Please can we just drop this?" Scarlet asked angrily.

"But..."

"Just let it go Simmons. She really has something against her brother." Slide whispered.

Simmons sighed regrettably. "Alright. Well now that I think of it, where do I sleep?"

"Where else, the couch." Slide joked.

"Yeah Simmons, you're then new pony so you get the couch." Scarlet joined.

"You can't be serious." he muttered. Both Scarlet and Slide walked to their rooms and shut the door leaving Simmons alone. "Come on girls, you can't be serious."
_____________________________________________________________________

"Welcome to the Palace hotel and casino, how can I help you today." asked a white mare with a red mane.

"We have a reservation for two rooms." Said a red stallion with a yellow mane, reading a book in Italian.

"Name."

"Tricky Mick."

The receptionist looked through the records quickly before sitting back down. "Oh yes. We have a reservation for two rooms, two queen size beds and a bath in each room."

"Yes, that's it."

"Here you are, Mr. Mick. Have a pleasant stay." the receptionist said, giving Micky two key cards.

"Thank you." Micky said gladly, still reading.

"So Micky, you got the keys to the rooms yet?" Dante asked as he walked into the lobby with his luggage.

"Right here Dante."

"Great news. Now how 'bout ya two stop yapping help me with ya bags." Montana said as he carried four suitcases on his back.

"Where's Jason & Mitch?" Dante asked.

"Ah don' know. They were behind me a minute ago." Just then Mitch walks in muttering something to himself. "Where've ya been, and where's Jason?"

"Hitting on another mare way younger than him." Mitch muttered. "That wanker can only think with his prick, while the rest of us use our brain."

"Isn't that the truth." Micky said as he headed for the elevators.

"Come one let's get moving." Dante said as he took a suitcase off of Montana's back. The rest caught up to Micky before the elevator doors shut.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Morning Simmons." Scarlet greeted. He groaned in response. "What's wrong, you didn't sleep well?"

"No, I slept like a foal." he muttered sarcastically.

"Good to hear."

"So what's for breakfast?"

"What makes you think I'm going to make you breakfast?"

"Well you're a mare, so it's natural that you..."

"Simmons if you finish that sentence with what I'm thinking, I'll throw you out that window." Scarlet threatened.

"I was just gonna say that you'd be better at cooking than I would." Simmons said as he braced himself for the shattering of glass. Instead he was treated with a thank you.

After a good ten minutes, Slide had exited her room looking for food. "She sniffed the air and was pleased by the smell of eggs & pancakes. "Mmmmm, that smells delicious." she said entering the dinning room.

"Here's your share Slide. Eat up while it's hot." Scarlet said as she sat at the table.

"Scarlet, these pancakes are so fluffy. Did you put clouds in the batter?" Simmons asked, being a unicorn he believed pegasi could do such thing.

"Of course not. I just know when to flip them, that's all."

"Well if you did, I sure would believe you." Slide muttered just before eating another piece of the pancake.

The three ponies finished their meal, each washing their own dish. Scarlet noticed Slide practically exploding with excitement. "Slide, what's gotten into you? Did you have to much syrup?"

"I'm excited for tonight. I can't believe we're going to meet ATTB!" Slide squealed.

"Wait what? You're going to meet them tonight?" Simmons asked.

"Yeah, she won backstage passes for there show tonight." Scarlet answered. Suddenly she thought of something. "Hey Slide, how many passes did you win anyways?"

"They didn't say. Why?" Slide wondered.

"Can you see if you can get one for Simmons?"

"Wait, seriously?" he wondered.

"But there's a price." Scarlet added.

"How much? I'll pay anything." he practically yelled.

"It's not how much, more like how long." Scarlet said slyly.

"Huh?" Slide and Simmons uttered in unison.
_____________________________________________________________________

"Dove è quell'idiota?" Micky wondered, reading as always.

"English please, Mick." Montana replied as he placed another speaker in the right position.

"Preferably the Queen's if you don't mind." Mitch said smartassly.

"He's asking where Jason is." Dante translated as he tuned his guitar.

"Now how do ya know that?"

"I've been giving him Italian lessons, seeing as he wants to understand what I say half the time."

"Hey guys, how's it going?" Jason asked as he walked onto the stage.

"Still setting up no thanks to you, you git." Mitch growled.

"Sorry but I was seeing the sights."

"Yeah, strip clubs ain't really considered 'sights'." Montana pointed out.

"We can argue later. Since you're here help with the lights, will you?" Dante asked.

"Alright." Jason groaned.
_____________________________________________________________________

"The things I agree to for a chance to meet ATTB." Simmons muttered to nopony in particular.

"Look at the bright side, you're gonna meet your favorite band." Scarlet responded, stifling a laugh.

"So exactly how long am I suppose to be your butler?"

"It'll be a month for every band member you meet."

"You can't be serious." he said in disbelief.

"Oh but I am." Scarlet laughed evilly.

"I got them!" Slide yelled as she entered the dorm room.

"Great, now how about we get ready for the show?"
_____________________________________________________________________

"Is everything set?" Dante asked the band.

"Yeah."

"Check."

"Indubitably."

"Si."

"Alright, just an hour until show time. I'm going to go for a walk. Call me when the fans start getting here." Dante said as he left through the left stage exit.

During his walk Dante was approached by many fans, some young and some old. He was even offered a trip to the local bar, but he declined saying he has a show to put on very soon. He looked at the clock in the town center and decided to return to Canterlot University. Before he reached the backstage door, Dante saw three ponies waiting outside. One looking very familiar. Before he could call out to them, Montana had opened the door and found the three ponies standing there.
_____________________________________________________________________

"May ah ask what ya three are doin' here?" Montana asked politely.

Scarlet notice that neither Slide or Simmons were able to respond so she chose to do it herself. "We are here because my friend here won these." she said handing Montana the backstage passes.

"Ah see, well welcome. Ah'll introduce ya t' the rest of the fellows." he said as he ushered them inside. Before shutting the door, Montana noticed Dante hiding behind a bush. He was about to call out his name but Dante held his hoof as to say 'Don't do it.'. Of corse he complied.

"So may ah ask your names?"

"I-I'm Simmons Red."

"I-I'm Rockslide."

"And you ma'am?" Montana wondered.

"Scarlet." she said casually.

"Scarlet?" he said as if waiting for her last name.

"Montana who are you talking to?" Mitch asked as he walked over to find him with three more ponies. "Who are they?"

"Simmons Red, Rockslide, and Scarlet. They're fans who won these." Montana said handing the passes to Mitch.

"Well its nice to meet you three. I'm Mitchell The Stitch, and yes it is my real name." everypony then walked over to the room the band was sitting in. "The stallion reading is Tricky Mick, and the one drinking is Jason Mason. Guys this is Simmons Red, Rockslide, and Scarlet."

"Ciao." Micky said, eyes on the book.

"Hey." Jason said before downing his beer.

"Hello." Scarlet said while Slide and Simmons remained quiet.

"Take a seat anywhere you like." Mitch said as he walked over to the cooler. "Would any of you like a drink?"

Scarlet took a seat next to Micky. "No thank you."

Micky removed his eyes from his book and took a look at Scarlet, getting a good look before he returned his gaze to the book. "You're Dante's little sister, aren't you?" Micky whispered loud enough for Scarlet to hear him only.

"Excuse me?" Scarlet asked.

"You're Scarlet Wings, Dante's younger sister. He's mentioned you a lot when we started the band. Recently though he's stop talking about your family or even Ponyville. Did something happen while he was in town?" Micky asked worriedly.

"I think you've got me confused with some other mare, I don't have an older brother." Scarlet said as she looked away from him.

"I see. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable."

"Hey guys, I'm back." Dante said as he walked in the lounge. "Fans are crowding in as we speak. We should get ready while we can." he looked over to Micky and saw that familiar mare from outside. He was right when he guessed who it was. Dante grabbed his guitar and left the room without a word.

"Excuse us but weave a show to put on." Mitch said as he got up and left the room with Jason and Montana. Micky got up and looked at Scarlet and saw her eyes filled with anger. He knew what she was angry about. Micky left the room last and shut the door.

"He didn't even say it, that bastard."

Battling Old Demons

The show went just like everyone expected, tremendous. The band was finishing their last song, their first #1 hit. The whole time Slide and Simmons were having the time of their lives while Scarlet sat in a chair listening to the music. Most of the time she actually spent thinking on how much she hates Dante and at times she thought about the music.

"Thank you everypony for coming out to see us tonight!" Dante declared. Mitch, Micky, and Jason all returned to the room looking tired but happy. The crowd was cheering for an encore but Jason was looking to spend that time hitting on the mare sitting alone with her mind in the clouds.

"Y'all want an Encore?" Montana asked. The crowd roared. Micky and Mitch stood up and walked back on stage, causing the cheers to double. Dante began to whisper to the rest of the group about something but they couldn't seem to agree on what they were talking about.

"Dante can we talk?" Micky asked pulling away from the others.

"What's up?" Dante asked.

"Che cosa è successo quando eri con la tua famiglia?" Micky asked in Italian.

"Cosa vuoi dire?"

"Tua sorella è in sala, ma quando ho chiesto cosa è successo mi ha detto che non aveva un fratello."

"Ho fatto delle scelte sbagliate e consente solo dire la mia famiglia mi odia ora."

"Beh, io penso che dovremmo suonare quella canzone su richiesta di perdono che hai lavorato."

"Come si fa a saperlo?"

"Vi spiegherò più tardi, basta giocare bene?"

"Fine." Dante said in defeat.

Micky and Dante returned to the group and explained their plan. After a while, the band got back on stage ready for the encore.

"This is new piece I've been working so tell me how you feel about it when we're done, alright?" Dante said. The crowd reacted positively.

"Hey sis, it's me.
I'm calling just to say, I'm sorry.
Please sis, do you really hate me?

I know I was an ass, leaving you all alone.
Even with mom and dad with you at home,
I was never around, not even calling on the phone.

So many years went by.
I never taught you to fly.
I know you wish I'd just die.

I just want to tell you,
Blood's as thick as glue.
That's something you rue.

You hate me and want me gone.
I've known this all along.
I'll leave you when you ask,
That will be an easy task.
I'm begging and pleading.
My heart, she's bleeding.
Just because you're leaving.
I love you, I miss you.
Just wishing to kiss you.
I'll die like a tree.
But there's a way to save me.
But only if,
You Forgive Me.

Hello sweetheart, how are you?
I've missed you too.
You probably want me gone, don't you?

You think I'm a fool.
An idiot and bafoon.
You want me in a pool,
Made from my blood.

You care for the creatures of the forest.
Making them homes and nest.
You always do your best.
And you never miss your rest.

Everypony thought I was a foo,
Because I fell in love with you.
But I never regretted loving you.
Only if you felt it too.

You hate me and want me gone.
I've known this all along.
I'll leave you when you ask,
That will be an easy task.
I'm begging and pleading.
My heart, she's bleeding.
Just because you're leaving.
I love you, I miss you.
Just wishing to kiss you.
I'll die like a tree.
But there's a way to save me.
But only if,
You Forgive Me.

I'm so sorry.
Please, Forgive Me.
I'm so sorry.
Please, Forgive Me.
I'm so sorry.
Please, Forgive Me.

You hate me and want me gone.
I've known this all along.
I'll leave you when you ask,
That will be an easy task.
I'm begging and pleading.
My heart, she's bleeding.
Just because you're leaving.
I love you, I miss you.
Just wishing to kiss you.
I'll die like a tree.
But there's a way to save me.
But only if,
You Forgive Me.

Oh, I see.
You don't hate me.
You wish, I never came to be."

The song was over and the crowd stood there in silence. Dante became uneasy, the silence lingering like the stench of a dumpster in an open plain. To his relief, one fan began to clap which soon doubled then tripled until the whole crowd was losing their mind. The band bowed and soon left to the lounge. They were greater by two fans' applaud. But Dante noticed something missing.

"Where's your friend? And where's Jason?" Dante soon put two and two together. "If that bastard does anything to her I'll..." Dante was cut off by a loud shriek coming from the storage room.

Dante and Montana ran towards the source of the scream. Dante threw the door open to find Jason on top of Scarlet. That sight made Dante lose it. Dante tackled Jason off of Scarlet and started to beat him savagely. Montana tried to separate the two stallions but Dante used his hind legs to kick Montana across the room and leaving him windless.

"Dante stop!" Scarlet yelled. He didn't listen, instead he started pounding Jason's head into the floor. "Dante stop! Just stop hitting him! I said stop!"

Scarlet jumped on top of her brother trying to stop him from killing the other stallion. Scarlet began to cry. "Please stop. Just stop hurting him. Please big brother stop. Please, please, please, just stop big brother."

Dante felt the tears fall onto his back. He slowly began to hear his sister's pleads and let go of Jason. He turned around to find Scarlet's face red from all the screaming and crying.

"Scarlet?" he asked. Scarlet grabbed the first thing she could hold and swung it at Dante. Dante's head was in a large amount of pain after being hit by a metal tube. "What the hell!" he yelled.

Scarlet dropped the pipe and tackled Dante but instead of attacking him, Scarlet began to cry even harder. "Big brother, why did you do that?" she cried.

Dante sat there dumbfounded. She hadn't called him 'big brother' since the day he met Marcy. Dante wrapped his fore hooves around Scarlet and held her in a deep hug. "I'm so, so, so sorry I scared you Sis." he said. Scarlet then began to cry harder. "Let it all out."

Montana stood up and checked on Jason. He was alive thankfully, but unconscious. "Ah'll leave ya two alone. I'm going to take this idiot to the hospital. When you're done here, you're gonna have to answer all our questions alright Dante?" Montana demanded calmly. Dante shook his head in compliance. "Alight, see ya soon."
_____________________________________________________________________

After what felt like an hour, Scarlet finally stopped crying.

"Are you okay?" Dante asked. As a response he was smacked in the face. "Ow!"

"That's what you get for forgetting what day it is." Scarlet said angrily.

"What day is it?" Dante wondered.

"It's August fourth you asshole!" Scarlet yelled.

"Oh shit, I forgot."

"You think?"

"Well its not like I was planning on remembering. Last time I checked, you and the rest of your family hate me."

"It's my family now? Is that it? So even after everything that just happened you're still not my brother. That's just like you Dante."

"This is why I left, you and dad always find a way to make me the guilty party."

"If you're just gonna complain, then why don't you leave again?"

"Fine I will." Dante said as he stood up. Before he made it to the door he heard sniffling. "What's wrong now?"

"Nothing. Just leave. You're not my brother anyways."

'That's it, isn't it. I'll only be proving her right if I leave. What kind of brother would I be if I just left her alone after what that asshole tried to do.' Dante thought to himself. "Come here Scarlet. I'm not leaving anywhere anytime soon." he said as he sat back down. "I'm your older brother and you can't deny it. As much of an asshole that I might be, I'm still going to look after you because its my job to take care of you."

"Isn't that dad's job?"

"Well of course it is but he's busy raising Marcy with mom."

"Aren't you suppose to take care of Marcy too?"

"Right again but she has our parents to look after her, while you're here on your own."

"You say that but you're only gonna be here for a day or two at most."

"You're a real mood killer, you know."

"Only yours big brother."

"Here I want you to have this." Dante said as he lifted his left wing. He then removed a feather, one too small to be one of his feathers. It was a blue feather but it had an unnatural glimmer to it. Dante put the feather in Scarlet's right hoof.

"What is it?" Scarlet wondered.

"It's a blue Phoenix's feather. Grandpa gave it to me before he passed and I've had it with me for good luck ever since. Now I'm giving it to you."

"Dante I can't take this, it was your gift from grandpa."

"Grandpa told me that this was kept in the family for generations, long before Nightmare Moon was born. He told me that he wanted me to keep it in the family and if you take it, it will."

"But it's your gift from him, I can't take it from you."

"And it's my gift to you Scarlet. Grandpa would prefer if I gave it to you than to somepony else."

"Are you sure?" she asked shyly.

"As sure as you're my baby sister." Dante said before he kissed Scarlet on the forehead. "Come on I think your friends might of left you behind."

The two walked outside to find Micky and Slide chatting away about Celestia knows what.

"Hey Slide where's Simmons?" Scarlet asked.

"He went with Montana and Mitch, seeing as none of us know where the hospital is." Micky answered.

"Micky, you're awfully talkative today. What's up?"

"Oh we're just talking about how Italian food is so delicious. I would just love to be Italian." Slide remarked.

"Maybe we can head back to your place and I can cook up something." Micky said.

"Would you really?" Slide asked.

"Sure. I haven't had a home cooked meal in some time, so I would love to make some for you too."

"Well isn't that sweet sis. I think your friend might have herself a suitor. Looks like this Simmons fellow has some competition." Dante joked.

"It's not like that Dante. It's just that I haven't talk to someone about my kind of food since I left home." Micky said defensively, his face blushing a deep shade of red.

"Yeah. Plus there's nothing going on between me and Simmons. Tell him Scarlet." Slide replied.

"Come on, let's get going to Slide's place if you're serious about cooking. But you're making enough for the four of us, alright?" Micky nodded in compliance. "Good. Now let's get moving."

Drinking Anger & Sorrow

Scarlet, Dante, Slide and Micky all made it to the dorms. scarlet put the key in the lock and turned the key. She opened the door to find her parents, Marcy and Reda sitting on her couch.

"Mom? Dad? What are you guys doing here?" Scarlet asked in wonder.

"Why else sweetheart? We've come to celebrate your birthday." Treasure said as she hugged her daughter.

"My baby girl is now twenty four years old."

"Seeing as I'm twenty four, maybe you can stop calling me your 'baby girl'."

"No matter how old you get Scarlet, you'll always be our baby girl." Treasure said to Scarlet's displeasure.

"Don't worry scarlet my parents are the same way." Slide said as she entered the dorm room.

"Mom. Dad. This is Rockslide, my roommate."

"You can call me Slide."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Slide. I'm Life's Treasure and this is my husband Stonewall."

"Don't forget about me sis." Marcy yelled as she jumped onto Scarlet.

"Hey! Marcy I thought I told you jumping on ponies is rude." Scarlet said pulling the orange filly off of her.

"I'm sorry big sis."

"It's alright Marcy. I forgive you."

"Hey big sis what's that in your hair?" Marcy asked pointing at the Phoenix feather.

"That's my family's Blue Phoenix feather. The last time I saw it was when my father gave it to Dante when you two were foals. Where did you get it Scarlet?" Treasure asked.

"I'm telling you Micky, hot dogs were invented by a German, not the hamburger." Dante said as he walked into Scarlet's dorm room with Micky in tow. "Da-, I mean Stonewall what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see my daughter on her birthday." Stonewall growled.

"I suggest we let them talk things out as a family." Micky whispered into Slide's ear.

"Agreed." Slide said. The two ponies walked out of the dorm room.

"Why are you here, Dante? I thought I told you to stay away from my family?"

"Scarlet is my sister, so I have the right to visit her when I feel like it."

"Please dear, Dante is still our son. Why can't you two just stop arguing and forgive each other?"

"Mom is right, Dad. Just stop this stupid argument and apologize already."

"Thank you Scarlet." Dante said.

"Oh shut up Dante, you're just as much of the problem as Dad is." Scarlet responded. "Now are you two going to make up or not?"

Dante and Stonewall stared at one another for a couple of minutes until they both started laughing hysterically. This left Treasure, Scarlet and even young Marcy dumbfounded.

"Tell me son, how many times does this make it?" Stonewall said with a hearty laugh.

"I think the twelfth time. Six times on her birthday." Dante chuckled.

"What did I miss?" Reda asked as he entered the living room.

"Reda, what are you doing here?" Dante asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here because this little, how do I put it?"

"Pest?" Scarlet added.

"Yeah, pest wouldn't leave me alone until I agreed to come." Reda said putting his left hoof on Marcy's head.

"Hey! I'm not a pest!" Marcy yelled. With Marcy's cry of anger, everypony in the room busted into a laugh. After a long laugh with the family, Dante's stomach started yelling at him for some food.

"How about we got get something to eat? I'm starving." Dante said as he stopped laughing.

"Wasn't your friend going to..." Scarlet stopped as she noticed two ponies were missing. "Right."

"Come on, I know just the place." Treasure said as she walked towards the door.
_____________________________________________________________________

After a good walk through the city, the Wings and Reda had made it to an extravagant resturaunt. They were soon seated. Dante sat next to Reda and Marcy, while Scarlet sat across from Reda and next to her parents.

"Good evening. My name is Bustle and I will be your server today." said a white stallion with a forest green mane. After ordering their drinks, the group of ponies started conversing amongst each other. Dante looked over to his left and found Marcy staring out the window.

"Marcy, is something wrong?" Dante asked, wondering what she could be thinking. She didn't respond but instead gave him a look he'd seen many times before. It was a look that he read as 'Leave me alone, I don't want anything to do with you'. "Marcy, did I do something to upset you?"

"You came back." she answered, barely audible.

Dante sat there, contemplating what she had just said. He searched every possible place in his mind where the answer could be. 'I wish you'd just disappear!' That memory jumped at him like a timber wolf on its prey.

"Marcy tell me, do you hate the fact that we're related?" she sat there, not even looking at him. That was more than enough to answer his question. "Excuse me." Dante said as he stood up and began to walk away from the table.

"Where's he going?" Scarlet asked.

"I don't know. I'll go see where he's heading." Reda said as he stood up and followed Dante. Reda caught up to him seconds later. "Where are you going Dante?"

"The bar."

"Why? I thought we were going to celebrate together?"

"They don't need me to celebrate Scarlet's birthday. They've done it since I left, they can do it again."

"Okay what the hell's gotten into you? You were all happy and cheerful less than five minutes ago. Now you're acting like the day you left."

Dante stood there for a few seconds before looking at Reda. "Tell me Reda, what's the point of being an older brother if your younger sibling despises your existence."

"This is about Marcy, isn't it?" Dante nodded. "Come on back to the table so we can ask Marcy, why she hates you." Dante didn't say a thing but complied. They arrived the same time their drinks were. When they took their seats, Reda sat next to Marcy instead of Dante attaching her attention.

"Marcy there's something that you need to tell everypony here." Reda said quietly.

"What are you talking about? If its about what I did to Pipsqueak last week, I've already confessed. But he deserved it." Marcy said defensively.

"It has nothing to do with anypony besides somepony in your family, but we can speak about that some other time." Reda said as he only imagined what she did to Pipsqueak.

"Then who does it have to do with?" Marcy asked impatiently.

"Excuse me for intruding in your business Reda, but may I ask what you two are talking about?" Treasure intervened curiously.

"I was just about to ask Marcy why she despises her brother?" Reda said calmly to everypony at the table.

"Is that true Marcy? Do you really hate Dante?"

Marcy took a quick look at Dante who was staring out towards the bar, then took a deep breathe before she answered her mother's question. "Yes it's true. I hate him. I despise him. I just wish he didn't exist."

Dante put a hoof to his chest when he heard Marcy's words, each stinging like a hive of bees. He was about to leave again before Reda used his magic to sit him back down.

"Dante, Marcy is your sister and it will be easier to fix the problem if you stay sober." Reda said sturdily. "And If you learn to talk things out maybe you can fix your problem with Fluttershy."

When Reda mentioned her name, Dante seemed to have lost it right there. "Tell me Reda, who the hell asked you to help me fix my relationship with anypony? I know I sure as hell didn't." Dante said as he stood back up. "If 'she' doesn't want me around, then I'll make sure I don't don't show my face around Ponyville again." As he finished his sentence Dante walked away from the table and out of the resturaunt.

Reda turned around to see Treasure looking out the window, Marcy watching the floor, and Scarlet and Stonewall staring at him in a 'I can't believe you' face. Reda's ears dropped as he felt the guilt settle in. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I'll be leaving now." he said as he walked away from the table. After walking a couple of blocks away from the resturaunt, Reda looked back in the direction he had come from.

'I can't pass magic school. I can't become a musician like my cutie mark illustrates. And when I want to help the family of the mare I've fallen for, I just make everything worse. If I can't do anything right then what the hell am I good for?' Reda was beating himself down with everything he failed at in life, slowly driving in the nails of depression into the crate known as his mind. 'How am I supposed to show my face around Marcy and Scarlet, and even Dante. I bet he's pissed as a manticore at me for saying those things. I think I should take some time off from the school and leave town for a while.'
_____________________________________________________________________

It was your average autumn evening, a cool breeze passing by every couple of minutes. The sun had gone down hours ago, leaving the moon to illuminate the sky. All was calm in Ponyville. Suddenly there was a knock on the library door. A lavender mare descended the steps from the second floor.

"Coming!" called the librarian. She opened the door find a cream yellow mare with a pink mane. Atop her head stood a snow white bunny, carrot in his paw. "Fluttershy, what are you doing here so late?"

The shy pegasus didn't answer the question right away, standing in thought of what to say. "I don't know." she answered quietly.

Twilight looked at Angel to see if he knew what the matter was. He shrugged his shoulders. "Come on in, we can talk inside." she said ushering her guest into the main room.

"Who is it Twi?" asked Spike as he descended the steps. He looked down and found Fluttershy and Angel bunny sitting on the couch.

"Could you make some tea Spike?" asked twilight.

"Sure." he answered as he walked into the kitchen.

"Fluttershy, are you okay?" she shook her head. "I guessed so. If you were fine you wouldn't walk into town in the night, seeing as you're terrified of the dark." Twilight said looking at her friend.

"He said the same thing." Fluttershy whispered to nopony in particular.

"Who?" wondered twilight.

Fluttershy didn't answer, but Angel found a parchment and a quill and started writing something down. He gave it to Twilight.

"Dante?" Twilight said in a surprised tone. "Fluttershy is this about Dante?"

Angel wrote down another note. 'She doesn't want to admit how she feels about him.'

"Fluttershy if you don't share your feelings with any of your friends, than we can't help you."

"I don't know how I feel. A part of me hates him for what he said and did before he left, but the other part still loves him. I don't know what to think, Twilight." Fluttershy said as she broke down into tears.

"Fluttershy, there's only one way to figure out the answer."

'What does she have to do?' Angel wrote down, worry on his face.

"Fluttershy, you need to talk to Dante. Face to face."

"How am I suppose to do that? He's a famous musician on tour, and I'm just an average mare. There isn't any possible way for me to get near him, let alone start a conversation with him."

"You're not an average mare, you're the element of kindness and the only mare that Dante has ever cared for."

"What makes you say I'm the only mare he cares about?"

"Whenever we talked about you, I saw that Dante only had eyes for you. He said things about how he felt when you were together that made him sound if you two separated he would spiral into suicidal depression."

"Well I guess you were wrong Twilight." Fluttershy said quietly.
_____________________________________________________________________

Spike stood at the door to the living room listening to the mares conversing. Eventually he turned on the television twilight had put in the kitchen for when she wanted to what the news during dinner.

"Now let's go to Cub Goods for the story on famous musicians, ATTB." said the anchormare from the evening news.

"Thank you. Now many rumors around Canterlot say that Bassist Jason Mason from the famous music group 'Arm To The Bone', has been hospitalized after a violent fight with lead singer Dante Wings. The reason for the conflict has not been determined and fellow band members refuse to say."

"I've got to tell Twilight about this." Spike said as he headed for the door. "Twilight, turn on the tv."

"Spike this isn't the time for..." Twilight tried to say.

"Just do it! Dante hospitalized one of his band members."

"What!?" shrieked Fluttershy.

"...And here is one of the members of ATTB. Excuse me Mr. Stitch. After this incident, what will happen to ATTB?"

"Well with Jason in the hospital, we can't continue the tour."

"So what about the tickets that ponies have already paid for, what will they do with those?"

"If you own a ticket to our upcoming shows, return them for a full refund of your bits and forgive us for the inconvenience. Now if you'll excuse me, the rest of us have to go find where Dante has headed off to."

"Wait, are you saying Dante Wings is missing?" asked Cub.

"Of course not. We just have no idea where he is, but we suspect he is somewhere with a bar." Mitch said as he left the reporter to find his friend.

"Well that's all we have in Canterlot..." the reporter was cut off when the tv was shut off.

"Why would Dante do something like that? To his own friend." Twilight asked.

Angel wrote another note and handed it to her. 'To the same stallion that wrote Dante the letter to start touring again.'

"Maybe he got tired of it all." Spike said.

"But he loved his job. He wouldn't attack someone if he wanted to quit." Twilight reasoned. Fluttershy stood up and began to walk to the door. "Where are you going Fluttershy?"

"I'm going to Canterlot. If what you said was true about how he felt about me, then he wouldn't mind talking to me when he's had a few drinks." Fluttershy said as she flew towards the station.

"Spike, send Rainbow Dash a letter and tell her where she's going." Twilight ordered, looking extremely worried.
_____________________________________________________________________

"That asshole Jason deserved to get his ass kick for what he tried to do to my sister." Dante said angrily with a drink in his hand.

"If you don't mind me asking Mr. Wings but what did he try to do to your sister?" asked the bartender.

"Sister? What sister are you talking about? I don't have a sister, my family is dead. How dare you bring them into this!?" Dante muttered, obviously drunk.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wings. I didn't mean to offend you." apologized the barkeep.

"Ah don't worry about it, um, what's your name pal?" asked the drunken musician.

"Tuxo."

"Tuxo? Well how'd you like to be our new bassist? The money is great and mares will be all over you, if they already aren't." joked the star.

"A kind offer Mr. Wings but I was born to be a bartender not a musician."

"Alright, I guess you have a point. Hold on my phone is a ringing. Hello, who's this?"

"Dante, where the hell are you?" asked Mitch.

"I'm with my new friend, Tuxo. Say hello Tuxy!"

"Hello."

"Oh Celestia, you're drunker than my Scottish uncle. Dante can you put your friend on the phone?" Mitch asked.

"Sure." Dante said calmly.

"Um, hello?"

"Is this Tuxo?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'm Dante's friend. Mind telling me where you are?"

"I'm in the Brick Bar in between Stone street and Loon avenue."

"Thank you. Please keep an eye on my pal will you?"

"Of course." and with that Mitch hung up.

"Dante what's gotten into you?"

Cry Me A River

"Shy, wake up." said the rainbow maned pegasus. After catching the last express train to Canterlot, they arrived at the station during the wee hours of the night. "Come on we're here, now get up."

"I'm sorry Rainbow Dash." responded Fluttershy after getting up. They exited the train and the only luggage they carried was a saddlebag full of bits, an umbrella, and other essential items.

After walking around and asking for directions from a royal guard on patrol, they finally arrived at Canterlot General Hospital. They entered and walked over to the front desk.

"Hello, how can I help you?" asked a red mare with a white mane.

"We're here to see Jason Mason." responded Rainbow Dash.

"Sorry ladies but visiting hours ended hours ago." said the nurse.

"Please we really need to speak with him." pleaded Fluttershy.

"I'm sorry but..."

"It's fine nurse, you can let them in." called a calm Hispanic voice.

"Mr. Mick, are you sure? I was told by Mr. Stitch to not any guess in." muttered the nurse.

"It's fine, and he has any problems I'll talk to him." Micky responded, leading the mares towards the staircase.

"Thank you." muttered Fluttershy quietly.

"It's not a problem, Ms. Fluttershy. And you must be Ms. Rainbow Dash. It is a pleasure to meet both of you."

"How do you know who we are, and who are you anyways."

"I shall not seem offended by that remark. If you do not know I am Tricky Mick, but you can just call me Micky. If you want to know how I know both of you, I'll just say a specific stallion used to tell stories of his foalhood love interest and her best friend with a rainbow mane."

"Dante mentioned us to you?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"He wouldn't shut up about his days back in Ponyville, or he used to. The guys couldn't stand it but I always listened out of curtesy, but now he's not the same."

"What isn't the same?" wondered Fluttershy.

"After he came back from Ponyville, he hasn't mentioned it or any of you. And whenever the idiot we're here to see said something about Ponyville or you Ms. Shy, Dante would attack him."

"What would he say to make Dante attack this guy?"

"I'd really not like to say."

After a bit of time, Dash came to a conclusion. "Why that bastard, how dare he say such things about Fluttershy! When he gets out of this hospital, I'm going to send him back in." Dash said with fury in her eyes,

"Please don't Dash. We're here to find Dante, not hurt Mr. Mason."

"If you're here to find Dante, then you came to the wrong place. He's in his room at the hotel, most likely drunk off his ass."

"Why would he be drinking? He said he would never drink unless he was celebrating something extravagant."

"Well from what Slide told me, Scarlet's boyfriend said somethings to Dante to piss him off and start yelling in a restaurant before leaving. After that, Scarlet's boyfriend felt guilty and left." Micky said as they arrived at the hospital room door. Before Micky could knock on the door, Montana opened the door to find Micky, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash outside.

"Hello Mic, who are your friends?" Montana wondered.

Fluttershy hid behind Rainbow Dash as Montana turned his attention to them.

"I'm Rainbow Dash and this is Fluttershy."

"Fluttershy? You mean..."

"Yes, that Fluttershy." Micky answered.

"Ah see. What are ya doin' here miss Shy?"

"I-I'm h-here to see D-Dante." Fluttershy said afraid of Montana's figure.

"You're heading back to the hotel right Montana?" asked Micky.

"Yea, why?"

"Could you take these two with you?"

"Now exactly why should Ah do that?"

"They've come this far to see Dante and we know this might be the only chance of getting him back to his old self."

Montana stood there thinking. "Fine. Come with me ladies."

"Thank you Micky." said Rainbow Dash.

"It was no a problem. Now please it's better if you see Dante sooner than later." Micky said as he walked into the room and shut the door.

The mares followed the large stallion out of the hospital.
_____________________________________________________________________________

"Come on Mitch, You don't have to watch over me. I'm fine I was just having a few drinks, nothing else." Dante said as he tried to get pass his English pal.

"I can't let you leave until you tell me or one of the chaps what's wrong."

"There's nothing wrong Mitch."

The door behind Mitch opened, hitting and moving him to the side. Dante tried to exit only to bump into a large brown stallion.

"Now where are ya goin' Dante?"

"For a walk, that's all."

"Really? Ah brought a couple of your ol friends who came to see you." Montana said moving aside to reveal Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

"W-what are you two doing here?"

"It seems they've come to talk to you about something important, mate."

"Thanks for that observation Captain obvious." Dante said sarcastically, while turning back to his guest. "So what do you want to tell me?"

"Um, well I'd like to speak with you alone Dante." Fluttershy said.

"Okay, guys could you give us some privacy."

"Sure mate. Come Montana, let's go check on that wanker friend of ours." Mitch said passing the large stallion.

"But ya righ' here." Montana said with a chuckle.

"Ha ha very funny, now let's go."

"Fine."

Dante shut the door and went into the kitchen. "Do you two want anything? A drink, food, anything?"

"We need to talk Dante." Fluttershy said sternly.

"Okay then, shoot."

"About the fight we had in Ponyville, I finally feel that I can trust you."

"Hmp."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rainbow Dash said, finally interjecting.

"I understand that you finally trust me, but that doesn't mean I can trust you." he said as he opened a beer. "Look its been months since I left town and everything was fine up until I got here. I attacked the guy who was my best friend, hospitalised him, made my sister hate me even more, and had an argument with my childhood best friend about my life. So that leaves me a little bit of trust left and that's only for music and my band."

"So what do I have to do to regain your trust? I've spent so long suffering and there is no way I'm going to just leave." Fluttershy said angrily.

"I don-" Dante was cut off by a tackle.

"It's all your fault!' Scarlet screamed as she pounded her hooves against Dante's chest. "It's all your fault. It's all your fault." she repeated those words until she broke into tears.

"Scarlet what's my fault? What did I do?" Date said before looking at her hooves. She was holding something that looked like a letter. He took the letter and read it out loud.

'Dear Scarlet

Look I know you hate long stories so I'll just get to the point, I'm leaving Ponyville. After what happened with Dante I feel that I've made things worse between him and Marcy. Please don't think that what happened is the reason why I'm leaving, that is only the final push I needed to fully understand that all I've done is cause trouble for your family. It's been like this from the start of my friendship with your brother. We were always causing some sort of trouble like play music extremely loud or beating somepony's ass for no reason and we always got caught by your father. Sorry I got carried away with that tale, but the point is that all I've done around your family has been a bother. So to put an end to this I've decided to take a job I was offered to teach musical theory in Appeloosa University. Scarlet I know this is sudden but I think it is time we move on with our lives. You have school and I will only be a bother if we continue to date, you know that as much as I do. I guess this is the last time you'll ever hear from me so I wish you luck and hope your family finally becomes stable after I'm gone.

Sincerely Reda.'

"Scarlet..."

"Why? Why did he leave me behind? Why couldn't you be the one to disappear from my life? Why Reda? Why? It's all your fault!"