Legacy

Chapter 2 - Waking Up“ No, I promise. This one'll be my last for the night... ”

Everything is spring green.

I feel happy. Happier than I've felt in years. The familiar homestead seems to almost glow in the bright afternoon light.

Freshly made peach pies and cobblers rest cooling on a windowsill outside the homestead. The smell from the freshly baked goods wafts through the air enticingly, making my mouth water just to think about digging into their gooey crusts.

I've been running around all day, playing with Peach Tea and Pits. My hooves are dirty from digging, and my coat is dusty.

I feel alive as I breathe in the pure air around me, the freshness of the day intoxicating as the after-effects of adrenaline rushes through my young body.

I take a break and view our family’s lands from a small hill next to the house. From the hilltop I can see the peach orchards, the proud trees standing tall with fruit-heavy boughs. Beautiful golden-orange and red peaches bask in the sunny rays; ripe for the picking.

My own orange-yellow coat and red mane with its strawberry streaks seems to reflect the colors of the peaches, and my golden yellow eyes shined brightly in the joyous sunlight. A feeling of belonging swells inside me.

Everything is perfect and bright.

But something feels wrong.

I feel a shiver run down my spine, but I don’t know why. Something about the picturesque countryside around me seems off. Like an invisible splinter in my hoof, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I’m missing something… something very important.

A voice faintly sings in the distance, but I can’t seem to hear the words being spoken as the notes tickle my ears enticingly. A small voice in the back of my mind seems to shrink back from those words and warns me not to listen, but I feel my own overpowering curiosity pulling me onwards.

I begin walking towards the song, Peach Tea and Pits crying out as I leave, confused as to why I’m abandoning our game.

I feel guilty as I hear them call out to me, and almost stop to return to them, but that song seems to tauntingly draw me onwards with its unintelligible tune. My hooves guide me towards the unknown singer, ignoring the pleas of my family as I’m consumed by the mystery before me.

I begin moving faster and faster, running past the house and the barn as I tear down the lane to the gate that marks the edge of our lands. The voice gets louder and louder, until its source comes into view.

A heavily hooded stranger stands on the main road just beyond our gate, as if waiting patiently for somepony.

I pant, drawing in oxygen as I try to cool my burning lungs from my sudden sprint. I feel exhausted despite the relatively short run, as if I’ve come a much longer way than I believed.

I looked at the cloaked stranger. The thick cowl of a cloak shadowed its face, but I swore that the song nonetheless seemed to softly come from within the shaded hood where the strange ponies face would have been if I could see it.

The song reflected a multitude of emotions all at once, but a constant sadness seemed to linger about it. As if the tune could have once been happy and joyous, but the weight of time and life had twisted its tune into a dirge of its former glory.

I’m enchanted by the wilting song, and feel my very blood seem to respond to its call, as if it could hum along with the mysterious tune.

That small voice in the back of my mind pleaded silently for me to leave, to run from this being. It insisted it was dangerous here, that I was not safe, but my legs refuse to move as I’m enraptured by the song.

I can feel the large shadowy pony starring at me. I can’t tell how I know, but I can feel its eyes as they seem to bore into my very soul, silently judging me for some unknown purpose.

“Who are you?” I ask the strange pony.

It opens its mouth, and a jumble of words come spilling out as it answers. A hundred different names seem to wash over me. Impossibly all trying to be heard as the words roll through my ears in a cacophony of sound.

The sounds cause my head to hurt as a dull ache begins to form as its words echo within my skull.

My eyes begin to squint with the pain.

“What? I can’t understand you,” I say, confused as the ponies words flow past me.

The strange pony seems frustrated with my lack of understanding, and begins talking louder now as it tries harder to communicate with me. The words seem to become heavier as they take on weight in response to the strange ponies frustration, pounding my brain like a meat mallet. The words continue to getlouder and more painful as I cover my ears from the mental assault.

“Stop,” I plead, trying to make the building pain subside, “Stop it. Don’t hurt me. The words, they’re hurting me!”

Just when I feel like my head is about to split in two, the sound stop. I collapse to the ground, clutching my head with my hooves, breathing heavily as I try to collect my thoughts.

Complete silence suddenly stretches around me, and I look up to see the strange pony is gone now. Only empty road left in its wake.

Suddenly, from the empty air around me, I feel the song returning. The song is soothing, but does little to remove the mounting pain in my head. As I sit there, tears beginning to mist my eyes, I hear a voice whisper in my ear silently.

“Wake up, Sweet Peach, this is only the beginning.”

* * *

I woke up with a jolt to a flat wooden wall.

I was covered in my own sweat and the king of all hangovers rested within my head, growling unhappily as I came back to consciousness.

I felt wretched and dehydrated, my breathing labored as I ran a sticky swollen tongue over my dry lips. The bitter taste of vomit stung the back of my throat, and my eyeballs felt like they were trying to escape out from the sockets. My pillow was wet, and with surprise I touched my face to discover I'd been crying in my sleep during the night.

‘What in Celestia’s name was I dreaming about, what happened last night?’

The remnants of a half-remembered dream rolled through my head; something about a cloaked pony, and a song. As I tried to remember more, a roaring pain washed through my head. I clutched my skull, the massive hangover sitting in my skull seeming to scream to life.

It took what felt like an eternity for the throbbing to finally subside again, but even after it had, it still felt like a family of mice were trying to chisel their way out of my skull.

I rolled over, grunting as I shifted my large body lazily over. The movement was slow and torturous as my world tilted crazily. As I finished flopping myself over, I took a second to compose myself before I looked around the spartan room I was resting in.

The room looked like a small hurricane had swept through it.

A simple night stand sat adjacent to the bed, a burned down candle atop it. A large dresser stood next to the nightstand, and across the room a large armoire that has been tipped over onto its side. A wooden basin filled with water with a large mirror in front of it was oddly untouched in the corner: somehow surviving the tornado that had attacked the rest of the room.

Vague images of dreams about a barn and a house flitted through my head before quickly disappearing once more into the void of my thoughts. I rubbed my forehead, returning to mystery of the messy room surrounding me as I quickly forget the hazy images.

The sheets from the bed appeared to have been thrown randomly across the room with the exception of the blanket which was currently draped over me.

I also noted that all of the dresser drawers were missing from it, and that some pony had stacked the drawers into a crude house-like fort with some blankets thrown over the top as an impromptu, and badly sagging, roof.

The rooms only other notable commodity was a large solitary window along the far wall: curtains drawn. A thin stream of light poured through the gap in the curtains covering the window, allowing the light of the bright sunny day outside to illuminate the otherwise dark room.

I groaned out loud as I realized I knew the most likely culprit for the room's condition. My head flopped back down onto the soft mattress with a deep sigh.

'What in Luna’s dark mercy happened last night?' I thought groggily, 'I was arguing with Dad, and then went to Haystead. right? Yeah. I went to Haystead, got to the Inn, ordered a drink and then I....'

With another groan, I realized I couldn't remember the night before. I must have drunk a ton of alcohol, and Taps, the town’s local bartender, was known to brew some mean hard ciders. My hangover  gave a throb of agreement.

‘Hopefully I didn't do anything too stupid last night, especially after my arguments with...'

Reflecting on my argument with Dad from the night before was sobering. I didn't especially want to return to the farm, but I knew that I couldn't very well just disappear, or stay at... wherever I currently was residing. Eventually I would have to go back to the farm, and talk to D-

'No. His name is Green Hoof,’ I forcefully reminded myself, stubbornly refusing to think of him as my father. I was still angry with him.

All things considered, it would probably be for the best if I started keeping the truth of our relationship fresh in my mind.

It was apparent that Green Hoof didn't think of me as a true son, so why should I think of him as my true Dad? I was just some bastard his wife had shown up with one day, and dumped on him before she had run off to do… whatever it was she had left to do.

I felt my anger beginning to stir up again as I just thought about it. My hangover again asserting its dominance as it back stabbed my recovering brain with a fresh bout of pain.

I closed my eyes as I gently massaged my temples with my fore hooves, cursing the alcohol for causing this. My roaring headache throbbed painfully every few seconds, causing me to wince. I just prayed to Luna to take the pain away, and either she heard me, or my likely my brain got bored of tormenting me, because the painful beats coursing through my skull subsided... slightly.

‘ Gotta get up and off this bed and figure out what to do next. Find out if I've been sold into slavery or something while I was drunk last night.'

Taking in what was meant to be a reassuring breath, (which ended up being more of a miserable wheeze), I pushed myself up and off the bed.

Now, by “up and off” the bed, what I really mean is that I gave a grunt as I ungracefully rolled off the bed, kissing the hard wooden floor with a muffled ‘oof’.

Muttering more curses, I pushed myself fully up onto my hooves, my body protesting the movement as I stretched out my stiff muscles and popped my back.

‘Well, might as well see where I am before doing anything,’ I thought.

I grumbled as I clumsily tripped on something moving across the dark room. Going to the window I pulled back the blinds to allow the afternoon light to wash into the room.

I quickly discovered how much of a mistake that was as, with a yelp, I was blinded by the raw sunlight.

Feeling like I’d just been kicked in the head with the sudden exposure of light as I stumbled back away from the light. I hit the wall and just leaned against it: thankful for its solid stability as I waited for my vision to return.

After a long while of fearfully thinking I’d somehow permanently blinded myself, my vision slowly filtered back into splotchy focus. Black dots swam before me, and I glared at the annoying little spots as they darted through my vision: always within sight, but impossible to focus upon for more than a second.

This time, the lesson of the sunlight's effects on my sight still fresh in my bleary mind, I cautiously approached the window, shading my eyes from the light as I peeked out the window down upon a bustling street of Haystead.

It quickly became apparent I was still at the Inn. I could see the smithy across the street, an obvious landmark in town that I knew sat right across from the Inn.

‘Alright, well that’s one question answered at least,’ I thought, rubbing my eyes in an attempt to clear the black spots swimming in my vision as I retreated from the bright window once more.

My ears perked as I heard a metal ratcheting sound as the door to my room was opened slowly.

Turning around, I beheld a beautiful golden-yellow mare with a green mane standing in the door with a key in her mouth.

I instantly recognized her as the serving mare for the Inn, Golden Heart.

I’d met her before in my past visits to the Inn for a drink. I’d drilled myself on her name since I'd thought she was really cute when I first met he as just a colt. I guess I still found her attractive; even if Golden Heart had never returned my affections. Then again I guess I couldn't blame her for rebuking the advances of just another drunken pony at her job.

She looked quite startled at the state of my room, and I suddenly felt embarrassed as Golden Heart regarded the whirlwind of disaster that my room had become during the night with a slightly perplexed look.

“Oh!,” Golden heart said with surprise, suddenly noticing me standing by the window while I gawked at her. ”I wasn't expecting you to be awake, especially after last night. Figured I’d have to spend hours trying to wake you up, especially after how much you drank last night...”

‘Note to self: don’t drink ridiculous amounts of alcohol in the future.’ The thought was good, but knowing myself, I’d wager I’d forget next time I went out to get a stiff drink again.

“Yeah… sorry about the mess. I’ll clean up before I head out,” I said sheepishly.

She eyeballed the room once more, lifting an eyebrow at me as she tried not to smell the offensive odor vomit, sweat, and body odor that permeated the room, “That would probably be fair, all things’s considered... did you make a fort out of the dresser drawers?”

“um… No,” I said, my mouth scrunching up with the obvious lie.

'Smooth Sweet Peach, she’ll totally not suspect you, the only inhabitant of the room. That would be too obvious.'

“Oh, and Taps wanted me to tell you to talk to him before you headed out," Golden Heart said, suddenly remembering what she’d come up to tell me. "He said you still had to settle the cost of the room.”

“No problem, I’ll be sure to swing by and chat with him,” I said, glad to change the topic away from myself. I gave a sigh as I looked at the messy room and it’s toppled furniture.

Golden heart motioned towards the water basin and the mirror to the side of the room.

“Oh, and um... I’d suggest you go ahead and wash up before you head out. You smell a little ripe, if you catch my meaning,” said Golden Heart, trying to only breathe through her mouth now so she wouldn't have to inhale the rank smell of the room.

“Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that,” I said, sheepishly rubbing my forelegs together as I realized how horrible I must smell.

With a nod, Golden Heart fled my room, leaving me to wash up and clean the mess I’d created during the night.

‘This might take a while.’

* * *

(Song #1)

After re-arranging the room as best I could, and taking a well-needed bath, I walked down into the Inn’s common room.

It was a large and wide spacious place with round tables spaced through the room ringing a massive fireplace. Some tables had been built into alcoves along the walls to give ponies more privacy if they so desired it. Along the entire back wall of the Inn stretched the true calling for which the ponies of Haystead came to frequent: the bar, Tap’s domain.

Haystead’s Inn was large for a frontier town, but it had always been a source of pride for Tap and the townsfolk. Many of the locals believed that the large building helped attract many of the traveling caravans and merchants that passed through Haystead due to its hospitality. And business for the Inn meant business for the local shops and townsfolk who resided in Haystead: everypony benefited.

Most of the ponies who frequented the Inn slept in front of the hearth. Actual rooms cost a pretty bit or two, which brought me back to my own dilemma. How in Celestia and Luna’s name was I supposed to pay for the room I’d slept in last night?

Tap, the bartender himself (and owner of the proud two-story building), was currently behind the bar; whistling to himself as he shined his already pristine counter top with a rag.

Tap was a black unicorn stallion. Had been around since before I’d been born and brought to Haystead. He was getting older now, dark gray hairs beginning to pepper his white mane, but he was still as energetic and fit as when he was younger, or so he boasted.

Getting older hadn’t done anything to diminish his talents with mixing a good stiff drink. If anything, age had only improved the older unicorn's considerable brewing talents, like a bottle of fine wine left to sit until the opportune date before opening it to take a drink.

As I was cleaning the room earlier, I’d realized something very crucial about my already bad situation. In my fury last night, I’m stomped off without grabbing my money. How I’d honestly paid for anything last night was in serious question, and I soon suspected that the cost for the room might be the least of my worries.

As I stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, still nursing my annoyingly persistent hangover and mulling over some possible solutions to my mounting problems, a pair of voices caught my attention.

Two traveling ponies were talking in an alcove table nearby to me. My ears tilted to catch the conversation better as I listened in.

“I’m telling you, it’s true! I heard it from a friend of mine, who heard it from his brother, who heard it from a relative, who was there. The undead!” Said a high voice insistently from one of the two ponies.

My ears perked up at that. Undead ponies? this could be interesting. I shifted over to the side so I could hear better. Looking back, I could see the high voiced pony was a thin looking pegasus, his travelers cloak and the heavy rucksack nearby revealing him as some sort of peddler.

The large pony nearby to him gave a dismissive grunt, (possibly a traveling companion?). The large ponies voice rumbled deeply as he responded, “Just a bunch of rubbish. Ghost stories and gossip. Everypony knows that there ain't anything like a ghoul pony. Don’t exist. Never have, and never will.”

The Peddler pony looked worried, almost frantic, “That’s what I thought it was at first as well: just rumors. But I’m telling you that its true! I’ve heard rumors of abominations walking the land and attacking hapless travelers. Creatures creeping from the Hayseed Swamps. They say that the Celestial Knights themselves have been spotted organizing and sweeping the nation. If nothing was happening, do you really think the Celestial Knights would waste their time chasing a rumor?”

The big pony guffawed at his companions words.

“Please, shadow ponies, undead monstrosities, and now those hacks, the “Celestial” Knights, “Said the big pony, making quotation marks with his hooves as he rolled his eyes, “more like a bunch of self-rightous warrior wanna-bes who wouldn’t even know how to eat, let alone fart, without their vaunted “noble code” to tell them how and when.”

The big pony gave a rolling laugh at the thought, his companion scowling at him as he criticized his story.

The big pony chuckled a bit as he continued on, ”We have enough real problems plaguing the land without all of your imaginary ones also stalking in our footsteps at night. Besides, it's as you said, they’re only rumors. Now come on, finish your meal so we can get out of this dirt clod of a town and on our way…”

I stopped listening in as their conversation died down and they ate their meals. My mind whirled at the news. I realized it was unlikely to be true, but it was still exciting to think somewhere, outside of Haystead, something might be happening.

'The Celestial Knights, undead ponies, and monstrous creatures walking the land? Seems serious. And the Hayseed Swamp isn’t that far from Haystead. Heck, the town got its name from the swamp! But, if it were true, wouldn’t the military be stepping in to deal with it?

As I contemplated this new information, Taps noticed me lost in thought as I stood by the stairs. I was suddenly brought back to reality from my day dreaming as I noticed Taps beckoning me over, a little smile on his face as he saw me grimace.

‘I’m so screwed.’

I gave a deep sigh, and slowly walking over towards the black coated unicorn bartender and what I imagined to be my financial doom. Just approaching the unicorn seemed to make my hangover give a painful purr, as if it could recognize its brewer from the night before.

‘Stupid hangover. Leave me alone already,’ I thought irritably at myself. I swear it laughed at me as it began a new mental assault against me. Is that even possible?

“Huh, he lives,” Said Taps with a little smirk, “how’s the hangover, champ?”

“Ugh,” I grunted in response as I sat down on one of the many vacant bar stools ringing the counter and cradled my head. Tap gave me a knowing look as he picked up a mug from behind the counter filled with a murky liquid and placed it on the counter in front of me.

“On the house,” Said Tap, gesturing for me to drink. I gave him a questioning look, but he just looked down at the drink and back at me.

“What, never had tea before? It’s a special recipe of mine, and I promise it’ll help with your little hangover, trust me,” Said Taps.

I stared at the murky water, not very convinced by Taps reassurances.

Most ponies in Haystead scoffed at tea, me included. It was widely thought of as a prissy ponies’ drink; one for ponies too “posh” and “high-class” for us measly peasant ponies and our uncouth alcohols.

But since Taps was offering it for free, and he’d done well by me in the past, I deciding it couldn’t make me any more miserable than I currently was.

‘No point in refusing a free drink, especially from Taps. Its not like I have to drink it if I decide that I really don’t like it.’

I reached out a hoof and grabbed the mug, taking a small sip. A feeling of cool relief seemed to sweep through me. It felt like that liquid was seeping through my whole body, easing the aches and cramps within my muscles. Even the tight clamps crushing my brain seemed to subside slightly as I drank another hearty mouthful.

‘oh. My. Gosh. Has tea always been this good? Forget alcohol, I’d drink this forever!’

I took a larger gulp of the concoction, and Taps laughed as I began to gulp it down.

“See? What did I say,” Said Taps, lifting up a small ceramic tea pot and placing it on the counter nearby to me, “there’s still some more left if you need it.” I gratefully accepted more as I poured myself another cup and began to drink it slower this time, enjoying the interesting blend of spices. The distinct smell of peppermint and honey wafted from the beverage, a detail I hadn’t noticed while chugging the initial mug-full.

“Thanks,” I said, my throat feeling looser and my tongue not feeling nearly as icky as it had. Taps nodded, accepting my ‘thank-you’ stoically as he continued to clean the counter top nearby.

“I still can’t believe how much you drank last night. 12 pints of my premium cider,” Said Taps, chuckling a bit at the memory of last night.

I just looked at him, open mouthed.

“twelve pints?” I said in disbelief. No wonder I felt like death, it was probably little wonder I hadn’t died last night in my sleep.

“Twelve,” confirmed Taps, “you had a few to begin with, and then challenged some of my other customers to a drinking game. Looser paid for everyones drinks. For a while there, it was looking like you might pass out, but in the end you pulled through and won the contest. Even though, I imagine you’re paying for it now, eh?”

I just gave a grunt in response, and Taps laughed a bit.

“Speaking of which, what do I owe you for last night?” I asked, dreading the answer.

“All in all? Well, the winnings from your little contest helped to pay for your drinks from the contest, but not for the initial drinks you had before it,” Said Taps, his words wandering into silence as he tapped his chin with a hoof and mulled the prices around in his head before nodding and looking back towards me.

” five bits and four silvers.” He said, very matter-of-factly. I choked on my mouthful of tea, mouth falling open at the huge sum of coins.

“five bits and four silvers?!” I sputtered, shaken by the amount. I just looked at Taps, shocked. Taps looked at me, completely serious, as I tried to put two thoughts together as I forgot how to speak for a little while.

‘How the hell am I supposed to pay that. It’d take nearly two years of constant work to acquire that much, and even then, I might still not have enough!’

My mind reeled. I tried to formulate a plan. I even considered killing Taps! It was only a fleeting though, but I felt myself returning to it as I became increasingly desperate.

After a second, though, Taps began to laugh as I floundered before him. I looked at him, confused at his mirth at my suffering.

“I’m just kidding Sweet Peach. Jeaz, 5 bits? No pony has that much money around here. Even with your impressive record from last night, you’d have to drink a lot more than 10 pints of my booze to accumulate five bits worth of it as a tab. I imagine that if even you had bought that much alcohol you would most likely have drunk yourself to death.”

“Ugh, you asshole. I can’t believe you! You seriously had me going there,” I said, angry at the deception and my own foolishness in believing him.

Taps gave me a knowing grin.” Only because I know how gullible you can be sometimes Sweets. But, in all seriousness, you do owe me some coin from last night.”

“How much,” I groaned, quickly adding, “and the real amount this time, you old coot.” Taps just snorted at my jab, still chuckling to himself over his prank.

“1 bit and 2 silvers,” Said Tap, long since having memorized the true amount of my tab. I groaned. It was considerably less than the ridiculous amount he’d spouted at me earlier, but it was still more than the paltry amount I had squirreled away back home.

Taps, hearing my defeated groan at the news, reached over the bar and patted me on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it champ, I know it’s a bit above what you can pay all at once. You can just pay me back during the coming months. You’ll be off harvesting season soon, and the common room always gets a little busy with winter fast approaching since everypony wants somewhere warm to spend the night, or get a drink to warm the belly.”

At hearing that, I did feel a bit better. Working at the Inn might be a good change of pace. Who knew, if I did a good enough job, maybe I could start working here full time. It would certainly be a nice change over my grueling farm work, and possibly a necessary change if Green Hoof was still angry at me. Besides, I could spend more time with the waitress Golden Heart! Taps gave a smile as he noticed my change in mood, glad to have cheered me up as I fantasized about Golden Heart and continued to sip my tea.

“By the way, how did I end up in the room to begin with?” I asked, still confused as to how I’d ended up staying the night at the Inn, “I don’t really remember much from last night. But I don’t think even I would believe myself rich enough to rent a whole room to myself” I asked, still hazy on the details.”

“Actually, I put you up there,” Said Taps, to my surprise.

“When you came in last night, you were in a foul mood. After you got a few drinks in you, I was able to gather enough information to figure out the jist of what’d happened to you. After the drinking game, you were beginning to get a bit too rowdy with the other customers. So I had Golden Heart lead you up to one of the vacant guest rooms, and lock you inside for the night,” Said Taps.

I began to complain about him charging me for the room before Taps lifted a hoof to silence me.

“Now, I realize that I did put you there, and that it isn’t entirely fair to charge you for the room, but I did lose potential buisness in doing so. So, I did lower the cost of the room to reflect that, but I gotta charge you all the same,” Said Taps.

I thought about it, and came to the conclusion that it was a fair trade, even if I still felt a little annoyed and cheated.

“Anyways,” said Taps, continuing his tale from the night before, “ after we locked you upstairs to keep you contained for the night, we began hearing some heavy thuds and the sound of hooves stomping all around; sounded like you were dancing up there. Almost unlocked the door to check, but just as I reached your door, you went mysteriously quiet. When I listened through the keyhole, I could hear you snoring, so I just left it at that.”

As Taps finished retelling his side of what had happened last night, I felt my cheeks blushing as I thought about the room and all the trouble I’d most likely caused for Taps and Golden Heart.

I was suddenly very glad I’d taken the time to thoroughly clean the room, and I sincerely hoped Taps didn't notice the minuscule crack on the back of the armoire I’d tipped over. It was just a tiny thing, though, I doubted even Taps would notice, right?

“Thanks, that was really nice of you to do,” I said, truly grateful for Taps help. It probably would have been really bad had I wondered around Haystead in my drunken state, and I shuddered to think about what may have happened had I been free to roam.

“Figured that with you being as drunk as you were, it would be safer keeping you here the night than letting you loose on Haystead. Or worse, back to your own family.”

My mood soured as Taps words brought me back to thoughts about my my “family”,

‘Or the closest thing to one a bastard like me could hope for,’ I sullenly reflected.

I listened quietly to Taps, nodding my thanks to him once more as I took a gulp of the cool refreshing beverage and brooded in silence.

Taps quietly watched me, reading the shift in my mood as I became quiet and sipped my tea.

“You know, Sweets,” Said Taps, stopping his cleaning as he carefully chose his next words, “I know that it’s none of my business and that your Pa, Green Hoof, may not be the most forthcoming of fellas, but it doesn’t mean he hates you.”

“I don’t know, Taps,” I said quietly, “You should have heard him last night. It was just two words. Two words! But he spoke them so…. Vehemently. Like it was a curse, or something. Is that what I am to my family? Some curse they have to live with, stuck with me whether they want me or not, just because we share a bit of blood? I don’t know what to think anymore Taps. I thought I’d finally figured out what my place in the family was. And then, just when I felt like everything was finally starting to connect for me, he pulls something like that on me. It’s just so-so frustrating!” I clenched my teeth in irritation at the whole mess, wrapping my forehooves across my face.

I felt like crying, and I hoped beyond anything that I didn’t. I don’t think I could take crying in front of Taps on top of my hangover and the mounting depression over my own personal family-identity crisis.

“Listen, Sweets, you might be a bastard, but damn if you don’t earn your food and board. You’re a hard worker son, and everypony in town can see that. Or, at least I can,” Said Taps gently.

I looked up at Taps as he continued to talk. Taps was scrutinizing the polished wood of his counter top as he continued to speak to me.

“You stick by what you believe, even if you are a complete twat about it sometimes, from what I hear. But that’s a rare trait, sticking to what you say. Not many ponies like that in these parts, apart from the clergy. It’s mighty decent if you ask me.”

Taps waited a second for that to sink in. I just sat there for a second before I poured myself the remaining contents of the tea in my cup and continued to drink. Taps left me to my thoughts as I quietly contemplating his words and what they meant for me. I couldn’t come to any conclusions, but Taps words rang with some truth, and they certainly made me feel better.

A call from a pony down the bar suddenly caught our attention. One of the rooms’ tenants was hailing Taps, looking to get something to drink himself.

Taps gave me a reassuring nod, which I returned, before moving down the bar to serve the other patron.

“Sweet Peach? Sweet Peach, are you here?”

I shifted in my seat, looking over towards the door. Outlined by the light from outside stood Peach Tea, looking at me. I returned her gaze as we just starred at each other uncertainly.

“Hey,” Said Peach Tea.

“Hey,” I said back, unsure of any other response.

“Mind if I join you?” asked Peach Tea, I shrugged and motioned towards the empty stools around me. Peach Tea slid into one nearby.

As she did, Taps suddenly re-appeared, putting a glass of water on the counter in front of Peach Tea before he once again disappeared down his bar, giving us some privacy. The silence stretched out between us as we both just sat there, neither of us sure of what to say.

“You really freaked me out too, taking off like that,” Said Peach Tea quietly.

Peach Tea waited for me to respond, sighing when my silence continued.

“Dad just came back in with his stone mask on, just said you’d left and wouldn’t tell us why or where-to. Sprouts and Pits just said that you probably needed some space, or something stupid like that, but I think even they were worried a bit for you.”

Peach Tea looked at me, still waiting for me to talk to her as I continued to sip my tea and look at the counter.

“Come on, Sweet Peach, talk to me here. It’s like I’m talking to Dad again from last night,” Said Peach Tea.

It really hurt hearing that, and I just grimaced at the thought we were even slightly similar.

“I’m not like that man,” I growled back.

“Maybe, but you’re doing a pretty good job impersonating him right now,” Said Peach Tea with a scowl.

“Your Dad, not mine,” I said bitterly, angry Peach Tea would compare me to him.

“Oh, is that what this is all about? Blood relation? Sorry, I guess I missed the memo on when that actually fucking mattered to anyone,” Said Peach angrily.

“Well it fucking does,” I said, getting pretty pissed myself now. It wasn’t Peach Tea’s fault, but she was quickly becoming the target of my ire.

“No, Sweet Peach, it really doesn’t,” Said Peach Tea, “and if you’d pull your head out of your own ass, you’d realize that.”

“Oh? If it doesn’t matter then why does it seem like Dad wont get over it? I’m not his son, and it seems he’s pretty hell-bent on reminding me that at the most inopportune of times. I don’t even remember Mom, Peach. What the hell am I supposed to do? It’s just so frustrating when I try to help somepony, or stick up for myself, and then get shot down by him because I actually have the balls to stand up for whats right. Am I just supposed to curl up on the ground and die so he can forget his wife ever got pregnant with another pony’s kid.”

“Since apparently you’ve forgotten that there is more to family than just blood relation and Dad, then I guess I’ll remind you,” hissed Peach Tea at me, her eyes boring into me.

“Pits, Blossom, and I all missed you last night. We were up, worried sick! Hell, I think even Sprouts was worried, although he’d never be caught dead saying so to us. You’re still our brother, even if Dad doesn’t see you as such, we do.”

After Peach Tea had finished scolding me, she just looked away from me. Her anger sibsiding a bit as she added, “Sweet Peach… you made Blossom cry herself to sleep last night.” Said Peach Tea, her voice low and angry as she pointedly refused to look at me and took a sip of water.

I winced, hearing that last bit really stung. I’d always been very protective of Blossom, and I felt like a monster at the thought that I had caused her such grief with my absence. I hadn’t even been thinking about how my leaving might have affected the family.

I didn’t really know what to say. I tried to come up with a response that wouldn’t sound hollow, and insincere, but the words turned to ash in my mouth every time I tried to say them. So I just said the only thing that kept coming to mind as I sat next to my step-sister.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, “I didn’t mean to cause you guys to worry last night.”

“Yeah, well just don’t do it again, alright?” said Peach Tea, taking another sip of water.

“Guess I should be getting back to the house then,” I said, grimacing at the thought of facing Dad.

“Oh no, you are not going home, especially after last night,” said Peach Tea.

“Wait, what?” I said, confused now. “I thought the point of everything you just said was to get me to face my issues with Dad.”

Peach Tea rolled her eyes at me, “Well, yes you should, but at this point I think that the both of you could use a little extra space. So, in the meantime, you’re going to help me out with our stall at the market today. Dad’s back at the farm, and Pits couldn’t stay around to help me after pulling the cart over here since he had to fill in for you today because you disappeared.”

I realized that I was going to owe Pits a favor for that.

“Come on. I gotta get back out there and it’s not like the day is getting any younger with us chatting here,” Said Peach Tea, putting her glass back on the countertop with a tink of glass.

I finished off the last of the tea in one gulp, waving towards Taps as we headed out so he’d know we were leaving.

Taps replied with a curt nod towards us before going back to his patrons as Peach Tea and I strolled out into the blinding sunlight.