Chapters The school bell has rung signifying the end of classes for all school fillies. Excited to hear this, it also represented their last classes for the week. All the fillies and colts had burst through the doors of their homeroom rushing to their destination, home.
Home now, it really isn't a place, it's that feeling you get surrounded by those you love and cherish, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. Mother and Father . Those everyday blessings we are gifted with just to hear and see them. Some aren't as fortunate to receive them at young, but it is they who will never understand but for us to fill in that gap as best as we can. We cannot replace such important figures, but how can you replace that was never there?
Applebloom exited the school doors and watched her surroundings of the courtyard filled with happy foals rushing to their parental figures who only looked forward to seeing their beloved child again, who could only open their arms wide for a loving embrace being apart from each other throughout the usual school day. Sweetie Belle left immediately as the bell rang to meet Rarity, mentioning something about going to their parent's house for the weekend. Scootaloo didn't turn up in school today, she was practicing her flying skills, something that meant more to her than simple school studies which could have easily been caught up on.
It is only in times of loneliness do our minds begin to wander, when we are idle we over think certain situations, coming up with either good or bad outcomes, only how you were brought up is the only variable which can manipulate the outcome.
AppleBloom's mind wandered throughout her trip to her home 'Sweet Apple Acres', over processing in her loneliness and quietude without her friends. Only one question came to her mind and she needed an answer," Where's Mom and Dad?"
AppleBloom never once in her life, was not grateful for what she had, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith and the wielder of the element of honesty, AppleJack. Like everything in life, all we want is an answer. Curiosity always killed the cat but when it is killed, was it worth it?
Winona emerged from the barn doors and rushed towards AppleBloom, with a wag of her tail, a joyous and playful mood emitted from the dog but as soon as it came, it changed to one of a small grief and understanding as she watched one of her many owners expression.
Before visiting AppleJack, she entered the house to unwind for a few minutes from her deep thoughts and a tiring day at school. She laid on the couch, a cozy one, able to fit two, she glanced at the various knickknacks held upon a shelf with family photos.
One was Granny Smith in her youthful days, another AppleJack with her friends all in a group photos, none with negative emotions but rather with laughter,pride, shyness, a simple smile and a pose. Countless photos sat on that very shelf, one even fitted the entire apple family but something was missing. Something obvious, there were none of those she had seek answers about. Her parents.
With a sense of urgency AppleBloom rushed to the widened and vast Apple Orchard to find her sister, the one who knew the answers. Big Macintosh was a stallion of a few words, truthful and a greater sense of understanding to not let AppleBloom know. Granny Smith would tell the truth but she was old enough as is, bringing up painful memories of her son.
Life and Death always worked in strange ways, even opposite to each other, they still worked hand in hand. The way life was suppose to be, the elder gave birth to the young and died before them. The parental figure is suppose to watch their little flower bloom, not wither before them.
AppleJack was the right mare to give her the answers, she was the element of honesty and thus will play her role.
AppleBloom knew where her sister would be on a Friday, the north eastern side of the orchard. With an apple farm this big, there needed to be an order which Twilight before had gladly obliged to help.
"AppleJack?" Only one word came out from the youngest sister's mouth, not joyous, not vexatious but calm and with a purpose.
The orange mare immediately took notice of her non exuberant tone," AppleBloom. What seems t'be the matter?"
One question was all it took," Where's Ma an' 'Pa?"
The one question that she dreaded, waiting for this day for AppleBloom to ask. She had the answer and she needed her mind only on one thing to tell her, the apples could wait. She didn't ask why AppleBloom wanted to know, they were her parents, it was her right to know.
AppleJack said to AppleBloom in a soothing, motherly tone as she took off her famous Stetson hat," Follow me, AppleBloom and listen well."
The younger sister obeyed such a simple command, the body signs AppleJack showed were never this warming towards her. AppleBloom followed the elder sister to the barn as she talked.
" Our pa's name was JonaGold, an orange stallion, always wore the Stetson hat, the family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation, always worn wit' pride. It was he who built and raised th's farm but he never did this alone....."
JonaGold always wanted to be more than an apple farmer, his cutie mark did not allow him that, here was where he needed to be, where he belonged. Without him the barn could have never been built alone with one pony, but we will get to that later.
Stubbornness ran through their blood, no matter how much his family begged, nothing could have stopped him like AppleJack, to go to the big city known for its hustle and bustle, Manehattan.
" Well son if ya like visitin' tha' busy town so much, at least help out your family! Take out some apples and sell, spread the apple family name far n' wide!" his father commanded JonaGold. It was a fair deal with only seeing both advantages, JonaGold was allowed to go to Manehattan and the family would have been receiving bits, so he agreed to such contract.
JonaGold nodded and headed off towards Manehattan, his cart filled with apples to sell. It wasn't a long travel for him but he managed the usual one hour trot back and forth.
Hours he would be there by his usual location in the market district with other ponies; purchasing,selling, viewing and rarely, stealing. Manehattan was never as safe as PonyVille, there were the usual thieves and gangs which hid and lived in alleys and only did such horrid for a living.
Hours would turn to days selling the usual apples, back and forth JonaGold traveled from home to work, he loved the city life, he could live there, it was meant for him but life was never so satisfactory . Never will be.
On one special day JonaGold saw the most beautiful mare walk up to his stand, a red mare with green eyes and a mane coated of a deep red. She walked up to the stand, hungry and eyeing down the produce, pretending not to pay attention to the stallion behind the cart," How much does this Big Macintosh cost?"
"Four bits m'am, but for a mare like you, two will suffice," JonaGold tried using more advanced vocabulary, trying to 'fit in' with the crowds of Manehattan and also that he was trying to impress such a mare of her standards.
Even through her red coat she blushed and it was obvious," Why thank you, such a gentlepony, what is your name?"
A trade of names was always a good way to start off a friendly relationship," M'uh name's JonaGold m'am, and you are?"
She chuckled at his accent and dialogue," My name is Red Gala, where are you from, your accent doesn't seem to be Manehattan-ite."
" I'm from the farm miss, but I always did love Manehattan, getting to like it more now," he said ashamed also trying to woo the mare.
Another chuckle came from her, he was surely getting to where he had wanted to," Well Mr. JonaGold, you have a regular customer on your hooves but I am sorry to say that I must take my leave, see you back here tomorrow?''
He nodded his head furiously obviously with a smile accepting another chance to interact with the mare again," Of course m'am and JonaGold is fine, no need for the mist'r makes me sound like m'uh Grandpa."
" And there is no need for the miss, makes me sound like m'uh grandma," she teased him using his own accent and waving a hoof goodbye.
For the rest of the day, JonaGold had the brightest smile on his face ear to ear. At afternoon he returned home telling his parents about the day, relieving himself of the bits to the father while the mother used the remaining apple produce for dinner. He barely slept a blink last night, overjoyed of today's experience.
The next day came and JonaGold was at his usual spot selling apples, he waited for the mare of his dreams, or of the dreams he didn't have due to lack of sleep. He began dozing off until a certain voice chimed through the air.
"Hello JonaGold, sleeping on the job are we?" Red Gala called out laughing at him as he woke up instantly from the sound of her voice.
"How is your day m'a... I mean, Red Gala and what would you like to have, my number one customer?"
She blushed at the statement," Oh another Big Macintosh and my morning was fine."
She pulled out her purse and as it was vulnerable a pony ran, grabbing it and ran from the scene," THIEF!! THIEF!!" She shouted.
JonaGold immediately responded to the call and told her to stay by the stand. He chased after the victim, dodging a few ponies while galloping for a few minutes until catching up to him. With a pounce, he tackled the thief and grabbed the purse back. Violence was never the pony way, all he wanted was the purse, all he needed from the thief was the purse.
JonaGold rushed back towards his cart, Red Gala awaiting for his return. He smiled as he came upon the sight of her with the purse in his mouth. He laid it down on his cart's counter and smiled at her.
"No pony has ever stood up for me like that," She said then hugged JonaGold and kissed him on the cheek,"Thank you."
All of JonaGold's blood ran through his cheeks, blushing furiously emitting heat, he responded, " How bout ah take you on a date t'nite?"
She nodded and walked off home promising to see him later on.
The first date was successful, which lead onto a few more thus moving onto a relationship, a firm, steady and loving one which blossomed into proposal, a golden wedding band and a permanent life on the farm.
A few years passed and it was time. Time for the new apple family member. JonaGold stood with his wife as she endured the hours of labor. Many hours passed until the fruit of her labor was finally in front of her eyes.
" He's got your mane and coat," JonaGold said tears of joy from his eyes.
" And he's got your eyes," She said through her pants.
"What are we going to name him?"
"Big Macintosh."
The father embraced his first child in his hooves while the mother was allowed to rest from such a tiring event.
Many months passed and Red Gala was taking care of Big Macintosh while the newly announced father and newly announced Grandfather began their work on the barn.
Time passed, at least four years, and the newly announced grandfather passed away, it was simply his time. He didn't die sad, he died happily knowing his child had a son who lived happily with a loving and caring wife.
It never really was how someone died, it was how they lived.
The mourning and sorrow passed away,even though Big Macintosh was young, he understood what had happened and was saddened with the fact that he would never see his grandfather again.
More time had passed and soon a new apple member was in the family, AppleJack. Born with the her mother's eyes and mane but with the father's coat and stubbornness.
Time fast forwarded again, the barn was built and life was well as they knew it but as I stated earlier on, Life and Death worked hand in hand.
Jona Gold grew ill one winter, trying to patch up the roof of the barn which tried it's best to withstand nature's wrath, but only could have been done with his help. Through the continuous hardworking nights of sheer cold, pneumonia took it's place and was now about to take their father figure from the world. All that was left was a ten year old Big Macintosh, a six year old AppleJack, Granny Smith who still had the gift of life in her and a pregnant mother. He did not leave the world without his last gift.
With his dying breath he said to Big Mac," Son, you're the stallion of the house now, be strong and keep our family safe. I have faith in ya."
He turned to AppleJack," My only daughter, you're going to become a beautiful mare one day, y'h have your mother's eyes and my stubbornness. If Big Macintosh slips up, which I know he won't, give him a good tap. With that said I give to you the Apple Family Stetson hat. Wear it with pride, ah know ah did."
Turning to his wife JonaGold said," Honey I love you, always had and I always will. Ah will look after you and the family from my grave, always. I never regret the day ah met you and ah rather not change anything that happened in muh perfect life with ya. And ah'm grateful for you spending these last few years with me. " With his last bit of strength he gave her his final kiss and with that he was gone. His eyes closed never to open again.
Sorrow had its place as a family member in the Apple family but a new member was also going to arrive, soon.
Two months later, the mother was weak, in pain and in labor again. The doctor knew she wouldn't live from this a third time and prepared the family for the worse. They had conflicting emotions of joy and happiness for their newest member, AppleBloom but the loss of their mother took its toll.
With her last breath she said to both her children," Big Mac, AJ both of you all are my pride and joy, I have always loved you. I know it's unfair for children of your age but I know you can and I want you with the help of Granny Smith to look after this foal and raise it like your own blood, because she is. I will and forever always loved the both of you, I was always proud of you and I never won't be. Show the love I gave both of you to our newest member, AppleBloom."
With her final breath and a new name of a foal, the light in her green eyes were covered as a hoof closed her lids.
"--and that's where Mom and Dad are, looking at us and loving us from heaven and that is also why you are here today." AppleJack said in her room while smiling at her sister.
AppleBloom looked sad and disappointed," Because of me.....mom died..."
AppleJack grew in shock and quickly displaced her of that thought, with a motherly tone again she said," No sugarcube, she didn't die because of you, you lived...because of her."
Applejack walked to her chest, opened it and pulled out a picture of her mother and father.
"She's beautiful," AppleBloom said gazing at her mother.
"Eeyup," a single word came from the red stallion as he had listened to the entire story.
That night, the picture of their mother and father joined the lineage of other stacked upon the shelves. Never to be removed.
In many societies it is believed to say that opposites attract, common studies can tell us that and prove it. But with life it is a completely strange and different enigma. Once they have found each other, true love is likely to form but what makes it last is the acceptance of their differences and there being an understanding of it. Love exists in many forms to many it means nothing but to those who hold dear to it, builds their character. When such a foundation of trust and true harmony is broken, it changes us whether we like it or not. Love can also take form of something false and corrupted, Lust. This taints love only to maintain what we held dear wanting more of it just so we can feel better of ourselves of what we had lost. The irony of Life and Love is that the only constant thing is change, it changes us, it changes those around us, our children. The question is when it occurs, do we it let it change us for the better or the worst?
FlutterShy was in her cottage one afternoon relaxing and resting from such a day's events of taking care of her many woodland creatures. It was never a task for her, it kept her mind busy, it was a relief. She enjoyed the company of Angel, as he rested on her lap, sleeping and quiet. Things were too quiet, she began looking around the house for something to do but all the chores were completed. She wandered the house like a ghost, without purpose until her eyes glanced at a family portrait, it caught her attention for a while and she soon burst into tears. The portrait contained a shy filly FlutterShy smiling between two figures, an Earth mellow yellow pony, his mane red with orange streaks with a simple smile which displayed a lot more that simplicity, it showed a happier life, it represented pride in his family. Next to the flame streaked stallion was a splitting image of the filly but more exuberant and emitted happiness, all with one grin and an expression of joy with her eyes closed, it was as if she didn't need to see to be happy, she had all that she ever wanted. All she ever needed.
Those two smiles in the portrait can be translated easily but what caused them is unknown. A picture contains one thousand words a famous author once said. My version is what about the other pictures we aren't allowed to see? Or the other words we aren't allowed to read? Many emotions can be translated either negatively or positively, it depends on how you were brought up, some of us can't even show proper emotion and thus rather become socially awkward not wanting to change.
FlutterShy picked herself up and looked at the painful image before her." Mom...Dad...Where did everything go?" she asked herself as painful as memories are they will always be there. To remember, to learn from them and possibly if it isn't too late, to fix them.
----------------Memories--------------------
A young earth stallion out on his own would always look at the clouds, he could only dream of being a pegasus pony. The clouds looked so free and relaxing, not a single trouble in the world. It was like a mockery to him, so close yet so far. He would come and enjoy the view everyday, sunrise and sunset. That's basically what his cutie mark was, a sun stuck between two clouds brightening the day.
From time to time, he would see pegasi, flying across the skies, so free, he wanted those wings, those angelic wings. He would even talk to the fellow Pegasi ponies more than he would with more Earth ponies being as close as he can get. Day after day, he would cloud gaze and soon he looked lonelier than ever before. He was broken down to tears, all he ever wanted was to join the angels in the sky, flying and carefree.
One lone pegasus mare landed on the greener grass next to him, she asked," What's wrong?"
" I only want to be a pegasus but I'm stuck here forever on the ground as a regular pony." He replied.
" Well, I prefer the ground more than the sky, it's so calming and relaxing, all they ever want to do up there is fly and act fast." She said to him, understanding him," All I want to do is live the moment and stay there for a while."
" But you have a choice, you have wings and hooves," He said stating the obvious yet the truth to her.
" It is true, we all have choices and I choose to stay with this earth pony for a while," she said with a smile.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners, my name is Crimson Sun."
"Glad to meet you, my name is Pink Lotus," she introduced herself, meeting her new acquaintance," Why don't we stay here and cloud gaze, get to know each other better."
He nodded but yet showed some negativity," All that brings to me is lust and a tease."
" You're looking at them wrong," she chuckled," First of all you don't sit on the grass, you lay on it."
Even though she was a pegasus pony, she seemed to know more about living life still and enjoying the moment. She was the one who enjoyed the Earth's surface more than he did.
Crimson followed her and laid down at the grass next to her," Second of all, you don't stare at only one cloud, they are meant to drift, to move on but the great thing is you embrace the moment while it's there and soon another one will come along." She was so relaxed and happy. He was beginning to learn about being an earth pony from a pegasus.
They laid there on the grass without a care in the world as they watched the clouds go by doing the same. Words don't always need to be said to have laughter or enjoy a moment, it's the silence that makes us embrace it, miss it and thus once we miss it, we recreate it.
Like all good things it came to an end and Lotus had to go home and so did Crimson. He wasn't jealous of the pegasus anymore, for the matter of fact, he felt sorry for them, they won't be able to sit down for a moment, stay still and enjoy the moment, enjoy the clouds that they continuously created for his viewing.
Things were changing for the better, he didn't want those angel wings, he had found his own angel who would return the next day to enjoy more cloud gazing with each other. That night he didn't dream of being a pegasus pony, he dreamt just to stay with that one who had taught him, to enjoy what he had.
The next day came, his cutie mark was seen throughout Equestria, the sun had risen from the east, beckoning a new bright day for more clouds. He would usually sing since his talent was a cutie mark which seemed fit for a pegasi.
He sat by his usual spot, laying on the grass, cloud gazing and thinking of lyrics for a new song. He began to think to himself, where was she? Where was Lotus? He waited patiently looking at the clouds, his stomach soon grumbled, time flew extremely fast that day but the clouds were only a poor representation of time as they moved so slowly.
"Boo!" A joyous voice scared him as a face appeared out of nowhere.
Crimson was startled at the sight of her and yet overjoyed that she had come again," Hey Lotus! That scared me!"
"That's the point of it," She smiled and chuckled at him, laying by his side once more talking and enjoying the scenery.
It didn't really show much but her return to the earth bound stallion, showed that she cared. He didn't ask for her to come back even though he did inside but he was always the lonely type and never knew how to express himself. Lotus on the other hoof, expressed hers quite well and helped him express himself slowly.
Two blind ponies don't need to see each other to express love, all they needed was each other. So what was so different between an earth pony and a pegasus? Absolutely nothing, love is in the eyes of the beholder. His dream was never to be among the clouds, it was to be with her as close as he could have.Days passed spending time with Lotus, turning into months, their love for each other grew stronger and stronger, so strong there was a new foal in the world..
" What shall we name her dear? She looks exactly like you."
Lotus smiled at her new foal," She seems quite scared for a foal. I know exactly what to name her. FlutterShy."
Their foal, was a small pegasus pony, splitting image of her mother, pink hair, buttery yellow coat and even her eyes.
Time passed on and it was time for her to begin learning how to fly.
The father was saddened that he had no power, or rather the ability of flight to guide his only child. He looked at himself as useless, he only wanted to be there for her daughter every way possible in her life and he was missing out on an important step, flight.
Lotus returned to the clouds with FlutterShy as flight school had begun. Crimson never had a chance to see his daughter, she was a pegasi and belonged in the clouds. He would wait hours upon hours, awaiting for his family members to see him, he felt as if he was a burden to them, only anchoring down on them, preventing them from moving on.
His love for his family corrupted, becoming lust, he felt as if he was losing them, he only wanted things to stay the same.
Any chance he got with his daughter seemed to be a moment in the sun, he would never leave her alone, he always looked over her making up for loss time. Anytime she refused always lead to anger and misunderstanding, all he ever wanted was to spend time his family which he barely got.
This misunderstanding placed fear in little FlutterShy and the mother only wanting to protect her daughter. They slowly began to move away from him. He grew angrier, not at them, at himself, he caused this and blamed himself for not being a pegasus, which only made him want for it more in his silence. He promised change. Was it change for the better or change for the worse?
He cursed Celestia blaming her for him not having wings, not being there for his family. He wanted to be closer and closer with them.
When there is no one to blame but yourself. You would still look for something to relieve you of the problem.
Time passed and Crimson soon built a house on the same hill close to the clouds where Lotus and FlutterShy lived, trying to be there for his beloveds. This act of love was misinterpreted as a sign to fear.
Lotus grew scared at this act as he moved closer towards them wanting to be with them. He was seen as a changed stallion in her eyes, not the stallion she had loved back years ago.
All these sudden changes had its affect on Lotus, she succumbed to drinking to ease her pain, to relieve her self from reality. She became more abusive to FlutterShy unconscious about her actions as the poison of alcohol slowly warped her way of thinking making her more dependent on the liquid to deal with her problems.
When we are weak, we look for a voice to guide us. When there is no one to talk to, we blame the problems on ourselves.
And that is what FlutterShy did, she blamed everything on herself as she knew her parents were happier before.
Life was changing too fast for her and she couldn't keep up, she wasn't in those clouds her father used to watch as they moved peacefully. She was in the pegasus world where she didn't belong. She may have had the looks of her mother but it's the inside of her that made her who she was, her father before everything happened. An earth pony.
Life was changing quickly for FlutterShy and she returned to Flight Camp. It was that day of the race between Rainbow Dash who stood up for her against the trio of bullies that life took a change for the better. She was where she belonged, away from her parents, the ponies she blamed herself for causing so much trouble in their life. It was that day life changed, she got her cutie mark and her place on the ground where she can be relaxed and free.
She still loves her parents and there isn't a day that goes by that she wants to see them again but is it worth it?
FlutterShy watched the portrait of her family smiling altogether. She knew what really happened and know the fact that life for them as a family will never be the same.
FlutterShy walks away from her past and takes a glance back at the portrait of wonders of how things had changed so much from then.
A caged bird is no more than a pony without free thought or free will. They are both chained to their master's will, only able to do what he says only when it is said. When not given the ability of free speech or rather when we are denied it, we slowly lose ourselves. Communication and interaction with others builds character, without character we are nothing. We do not know who we really are until the time comes to show itself but all we can do for now is practice, practice building a better character, a better personality so we too can change others. No pony alone is an island by itself, it is the others who interact with each other, affecting them both negatively and positively which builds a society and most importantly, personality. No pony alone can overcome all tasks by itself.
The word "society" as I explained doesn't have to be big, for the least two ponies who interact with one another, a group of friends, school, work and also, a family. What are any of these without interaction or communication might I ask? The answer is nothing. So how do you build character? You don't, you rely on yourself, rely on yourself for communication. We as interactive creatures, so curious yet so magnificent, depend on each other for many things and we don't even realize it. When we aren't given it, what is their to lose when their was nothing? Simple, you don't lose anything, you gain. You gain insanity from being alone, trying to grasp an understanding on something which has no proper definition. You build split personalities of your thoughts unaffected by interaction with others, therefore you only repeat the cycle of what you believe, of what you know and only of what interests you. Sadly this trend, when there is no change or edit to this loop, it only acts like a virus without treatment, spreading and worsening every passing second.
You can't force someone to love you; all you can do is become someone who can be loved; the rest is up to them. But when you become someone that you are not, is it truly love or does the person just have passion for the fake you?
Pinkie Pie was having her usual day at Sugar Cube Corner, working the register, helping with the baking and also taking care of the two new foals, PoundCake and PumpkinCake. Life for her was getting pretty busy with these two new foals but it didn't matter, she loved them and took care of them as her own flesh and blood, which they weren't.
She watched everyday as Mr. and Mrs. Cake give their two new foals something she barely received from her own, interaction, communication, affection. Love. Pinkie gave a small smile at this display of affection from Mr. Cake to his daughter, but then disappeared as quickly as it came.
Repressed memories began to flood Pinkie's mind, they all came to fast and she had no control over it. First, it began as a small drop of unwanted memories, polluting the vast sea of her mind, then a tiny leak was sprung polluting it more and more. One small step lead to another and the whole dam had burst. She began crying as the unwanted memories of her foalhood days. Painful ones.
Clyde was a simple light brown earth pony who had a grey mane, his cutie mark was a pickax which represented his talent as a miner. He was born in a family who over generations worked in the mine they owned and also the jewels they had found. The only way the knew how to strive for a living was with jewels and soon the cave would not produce as many riches as they desired. As I said, the mine was owned by the family, they didn't want to share the only resources available to trade for bits to survive.....
" But Pa, I don't want to get married," said Clyde as he was putting on a tie with the assistance of his father.
" Son, this jewel business needs to be done so we can all live," his father, Caesar replied.
Caesar was a light brown stallion, with a neatly groomed brown mane.
"But the mine is running dry, it will be a waste of bits!" Clyde argued.
" I have a theory son, it's about Rock Farming."
"What the hay is Rock Farming?" Clyde said confused.
" Simply to put it, rocks can harvest jewels if fertilized and treated correctly."
" You roll them Clyde... Ah it looks perfect on you," the father pony said after he finished putting the tie on his son," Now go, your mother is waiting to see you."
Clyde exited the door to meet his over excited mother, Cherry Pie," My stars, such a handsome colt! C'mon let's meet the other family!" She seemed to always be happy which in turn made Clyde's life less miserable being forced into marriage.
Cherry Pie was a bright pink mare, her mane was slightly exotic and had a "poof" in it. She was always happy and seemed to emit happiness from her body. Her eyes were green and always filled with Joy. How she fell in love with Caesar is a mystery.
Love is a very complicated entity.
He never did like the idea of being forced into marriage but in life sacrifices have to be made.
" Hi again, meet my son, Clyde." Cherry introduced.
" What a dashing colt, this is our daughter, Roxy," a slightly grey mare said," Why don't you and Clyde talk with each other, get to know one another."
Roxy, a grey white mare, her mane and tail was a darker grey than her coat and she had a cutie mark of three rocks. She relieved herself of the seat from her parents and made her way to Clyde.
Clyde watched her cutie mark and began adding the small pieces together. Roxy had rocks as a cutie mark and his father had mentioned something about Rock Farming. This was the perfect plan, for such an unproved theory and also for more "workers" on the rock farm. Honestly, both families were striving, running out of time and ideas. Why not just place this burden on the children?
"Uhmmm, hi my name is Roxy," she began and held out a hoof.
" I am Clyde." The conversation between them was dull and boring, just like the idea of Rock Farming to both of them.
The silence grew and suddenly it was broken," Look, I don't really want to get married, I was forced into this by my dad."
She looked up in shock," Me too! I was dragged into this but.... I dare not wish to even go against my mother's will."
" Same with my dad, my mom is against it even though she may look like she is happy.... so what does your cutie mark mean?" Clyde asked trying to change the mood of the topic.
"Oh, these three rocks? It's nothing much, I just favor and love geology. Yours?" Roxy curiously asked.
" Well, I was a miner before it went dry..."
The two of these ponies talked, trying to get to know each other before their marriage. It seemed like the best idea.
From across the room Cherry Pie and Caesar with the other two parents discussed and made arrangements of living conditions. Cherry had let out a sigh and a breath she didn't know she was holding. She knew this was a wrong thing to do but they needed to survive. From the day the families merged, she would make the best out of it.
Forced love will never be true love. Love is free and doesn't need a reason to be there, it just happens.
Time passed on, Roxy moved in with the Pie family, adopting their name becoming one of them. Life on the rock farm continued, rolling rocks as it "fertilized" them, praying that they produced the well needed gems. The idea of Rock Farming was unknown and probably a big risk, which was needed to be taken. They survived off any remaining gems and jewels they scavenged from their mine.
As time went on, so did the age of Caesar, the pony who had this strange theory but was also a beloved member to his son and wife. Never experiencing this, Clyde became a quieter pony now with the responsibilities of his father, the stallion of the house and owner of a Rock Farm. The teachings of the father passed down to him.....They needed more "workers."
Never seen happier in his life, Clyde was overjoyed at the sight of his three newborn daughters," They are beautiful. You did a good job honey." Clyde said as he kissed Roxy on her cheek.
"We did a good job, what shall we name them?"
He looked at a grey earth foal with a straight dark grey mane,"Inkie Pie," he said smiling at her.
Clyde then looked at the other foal, fast asleep with a white grey mane and a grey coat, yet again with a straight mane," Blinkie Pie," he then kissed the foal on her forehead.
He then looked at a smiling pink coated, curly, poof-y, mane and tail,".....Uhrmmm..."
"PINKIE PIE!!" Cherry Pie, a now elderly and still yet exotic happy mare said.
Throughout the years as soon as the three daughters learned how to walk, they began rolling the rocks from different directions of the field at different days, believing to "Fertilize them". It was a boring, sad life, no talking was allowed and there was only interaction with the rocks. The newly announced Granny Pie would often visit teaching those willing, which was only Pinkie how to bake, sing and soon she picked up on her grandmother's peppy , happy personality, it was who she wanted to be, not dull and boring.
Often the parents would have to calm Pinkie down, groom her mane to be neat and straight yet it would only be natural for it to "Poof" back into it's original state.
One night, Pinkie was scared as she believed she saw something move in her open closet, representing something evil and scary, her mind began playing tricks on her and she soon squealed out of terror.
"Pinkie deary, what seems to be a problem?" Cherry Pie said.
" M-monster!!" Pinkie stuttered and pointed to the closet.
Cherry Pie walked over to the closet when Pinkie only being protective of her family shouted," NO YOU'RE GOING TO GET EATEN!"
Cherry Pie turned on the light which illuminated the darkness, revealing piles of items which may have seemed to represent the monster.
She smiled at Pinkie and began in a soft tone:
When I was a little filly
And the sun was going down
The darkness and the shadows
They would always make me frown
I'd hide under my pillow
From what I thought I saw
But Mother said that wasn't the way
To deal with fears at all
She said, "Cherry, you've gotta stand up tall
Learn to face your fears
You'll see that they can't hurt you
Just laugh and make them disappear."
Ha, ha, ha!
So giggle at the ghosty,
Guffaw at the grossly,
Crack up at the creepy,
Whoop it up with the weepy,
Chortle at the pukey,
Snortle at the spooky
Granny Pie repeated the last verse in a slower tone and the song soon ended with a laughing Pinkie Pie, she leaned over and kissed her on the forehead," Good Night Pinkie, those big ole meanie monsters can't scare you now."
Whenever Granny Pie visited, Pinkie felt like herself, singing and dancing with the grandmother who had taught her who she really was and loved her for it. She was spoilt with love which is never really a bad thing.
But as time progressed and the circle of life must make its revolution. Pinkie Pie looked over the tomb stone of her grandmother who was buried under a nice, green patch of grass far away from the rock field.
Filly Pinkie Pie remembered her grandmother's last words," Keep on smiling Pinkie, only you know who you are and don't let anyone change you. You have always been my itty bitty pinky helper and I will always love you, Never Forget that."
That one pony who showed her how to giggle, fear nothing, dance, sing, who defined her and loved her was now gone. Her grandmother played a deep role in her life and she couldn't do anything to prevent what had already happened.
Life and Death were both unforgiving, it did not matter who it was taking away or when it happened. It just needed to happen and we only have one choice but to accept it.
Pinkie had no choice but to "act" or pretend as one of the other family members, the ones which showed no emotion all because they were forced.
She was quieter since the funeral, lonelier and of course much sadder. The other sisters felt remorse for Pinkie too but Clyde never allowed talking on the farm as they worked.
A bell rang signifying the end of days work as Clyde and the other members walked inside the house from the east field. Pinkie needed to be alone, saddened by the fact that her grandmother was gone.
All of a sudden, a huge rainbow spectrum in shape of circle widened it's diameter throughout the skies of Equestria. The powerful gust that came from out almost blew Pinkie back but only undid her well kept mane. She was happier and joyous. It made her want to keep smiling forever. She had an idea, she planned to make everyone smile too...somehow.
-----------------The Next Morning---------------
"We better harvest the rocks from the south field today," Clyde said and now surprised hearing music from the silo.
"Pinkamena Diane Pie, is that you?" Roxy called out. They "edited" the name that Pinkie's beloved grandmother had given to her, hoping it would give her a more serious effect on work throughout the Rock Farm.
"MOM DAD! I NEED YOU AND THE SISTERS TO COME IN HERE QUICK!" Pinkie said joyously as she quickly opened and closed the door.
The family approached the door and Clyde had opened it to find in shock that the entire silo was filled with snacks, desserts, party decorations and music.
" Surprise! Do you like it? It's called a party!" Pinkie said hoping for the reaction she had wanted, the family looked all around the room, shocked and in disbelief of what happened.
The family stood still as they looked around while their lip muscles tried to display a certain emotion which has not been seen in apparently years.
" Oh....you don't like it." Pinkie said saddened that all her hard work has been put to waste.
The entire family then instantly expressed many faces of joy, delight and anything bright. They began dancing with Pinkie as she exclaimed," YOU LIKE IT! I'M SO HAPPY!" At that moment, her cutie mark had appeared, being one of the happiest moments of her life.
It soon ended as the entire day was not wasted but invested as a true family spent time with each other communicating and interacting with one another.
Days passed and so did many other parties as Pinkie tried to keep her family happy. Clyde grew angry," PINKIE! YOU HAVE WASTED ENOUGH TIMES WITH THESE PARTIES! IT'S TIME TO GET TO WORK!"
The mother just looked at what was happening while Pinkie stayed quiet.
" WE NEED TO HARVEST THESE ROCKS! WE NEED TO LIVE AND YOU KEEP WASTING OUR TIME, WITH THESE PARTIES. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES, KEEP YOUR MANE TIDY! YOU LOOK LIKE YOU AREN'T ONE OF US!" He continued with angry rant at Pinkie Pie who only tried to spring joy into the family.
She finally snapped, her mane deflated and her pink coat darkened," I'VE ONLY BEEN TRYING TO BRING HAPPINESS INTO THIS FAMILY WITH MY PARTIES SOMETHING A FATHER SHOULD DO! BUT NO! WE DON'T EVEN SHOW ANY SORT OF INTERACTION HERE!! WHAT KIND OF FAMILY ARE WE?? WHEN GRANNY PIE WAS STILL ALIVE THINGS WERE BETTER AND NOW WE DON'T EVEN TALK TO ONE ANOTHER!!" She inhaled and took a deep breath," THIS CUTIE MARK IS WHO I AM AND IF YOU CAN'T ACCEPT WHO I AM, I DON'T NEED TO BE PART OF THIS FAMILY!!"
" WHO EVEN CAME UP WITH ROCK FARMING ANYWAY? WE DON'T EVEN GET ANY GEMS!!! THIS WHOLE THING IS USELESS!! AND YOU SAY I'M WASTING OUR TIME?!" Pinkie didn't know where this build of rage came from but it drove her to fight for who she was, she was fighting for what Granny Pie didn't even want from the start.
Clyde looked in shock at Pinkie who had just disrespected him, the family and his father's last theory for the family to survive. He snapped and had no control of himself as his hoof made contact with Pinkie's face.
She began to cry at the sting of the hit, she was only a filly, a correct filly. She cried and cried, walking to her room.
The mother and father began to argue," YOU DO NOT HIT MY CHILD!!" Was one thing she heard Roxy say as Pinkie locked herself in the room.
Pinkie came to realization. This wasn't the place meant for her, she was not a member of this family. She was pretending, putting on a mask to deceive her parent's from who she really was the entire time. It pained her inside that her father didn't accept her. So why stay in a place where you aren't wanted?
Pinkie began packing her things, she remembered of a place called "PonyVille." Granny Pie used to take her to Sugar Cube Corner all the time for treats and desserts.
Pinkie later that night scavenged the house for supplies for her trip and soon journeyed to PonyVille.
~ Two hours after Pinkie Escaped~
Clyde entered Pinkie's room and progressed to her bed.
"Pinkamen... I mean Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry for what I did, I wasn't the stallion I used to be, I changed and I will change for you, I really do love you.... I'm really sorry." He then pulled the sheets off looking at a decoy of pillows looked like a body of a filly.
He began to cry, knowing he had lost one of his daughters. He searched the entire house, the entire farm, EVERYWHERE! But no sign of Pinkie. He cried that night and so did Roxy as they lost a child because of something that was forced upon them, because they weren't able to change for their beloved fillies.
-----------------The Same Night---------------
Pinkie Pie walked in the middle of the night to the only place she had known, Sugar Cube Corner with her bag of scavenged goods.
She knocked on the door with a slight tapping, awaiting an answer," Oh deary Pinkie Pie, why are you out so late! Come in! Come in! You are going to catch a cold" a response coming from Mrs. Cake.
Pinkie Pie explained the entire story to her and Mr. Cake.
"Well you are always welcome to stay here with us but you need to go home, your family must be worried sick," Mrs. Cake said.
"No! They don't, to them I'm not even a part of the family, I want to be a place where I'm respected and people who will take care of me! Granny Pie is gone! No one understands!" She began to cry on the table where they talked.
Mr. and Mrs. Cake looked at each other and knew what they were going to do,with a smile Mr. Cake said," Okay Pinkie, you can stay here but you will have to help out a little bit, I'm sorry but we can't handle all the baking with a new filly in here as well."
Pinkie skipped, smiled and hugged Mr. and Mrs. Cake," Thank you! Thank you! And don't you worry, Granny Pie taught me how to bake."
"Haha Okay Pinkie, let's show you to your room," Mr. Cake motioned for her to follow while Mrs. Cake did as well.
Pinkie Pie looked and smiled at her adopted guardians playing with their foals, something she never experienced from her paternal figures. She then remembered Granny Pie and gave another small smile as she realized not all things bad were in her foalhood.
Keep on smiling Pinkie, only you know who you are and don't let anyone change you. You have always been my itty bitty pinky helper and I will always love you, Never Forget that.
Her smile grew larger remember those last words. She began to hop towards the new foals and her adoptive parents.
*Knock Knock Knock*
"Oooo I wonder who that could be," Pinkie chimed and hopped towards the door.
Chapter 4 - Rainbow Dash- Part 1
Why do we seek approval? We all do it to some extent even though we may not like it. This all boils down to the desire to feel loved and appreciated. For most ponies in the world approval-seeking is an expression of low self-esteem. Praise temporarily fills the void created by the feeling of not being loved as we experience pleasant emotions. Because we don't know how to close this void we figure that we can only be happy when others approve of us.
Usually we come to this conclusion when we are still very little because the bigger ponies around us that we look up to may it be our teachers and most importantly our parents, are fond of harshly expressing their disapproval when we don't act the way they expect us to. Disapproval feels bad so we start trying to act in a way that others will like and gradually this kind of behavior becomes a habit. Slowly the emotional high we get from approval becomes addictive and when we don't get our dose, we suffer. That motivates to conform to others' rules even more.
Due to the recent accident caused by another failure of a stunt, Rainbow Dash rested her back firm and straight upon the wooden frame of her bed as she was going to be hospitalized for at least one more week. It was a good thing that she wasn't going to be bored once again thanks to Twilight's wide ranged series and collection of " The Daring Do Adventures." Rainbow had been completely engrossed and addicted to these books, reading and picturing every detail and motion Daring Do experienced because of the fine but yet correct grammatical and descriptive words written specifically to attract the readers attention.
You could have said that nothing would be able to break Dash's concentration as she progressed through the book, almost anything in matter of fact. Rainbow Dash's ears perked up at the sound of a foal's laughter which had only seemed to disrupt her concentration. She impatiently awaited for the foal to take its pass from her room thus causing her to gaze back and forth from the empty view which the frame of her door provided and the book which unlike Rainbow, patiently awaited to be picked up and read.
Suddenly, something came into view, not only was it a foal but it was a filly who had now been given permission to leave such a horrid place upon the back of her father as he playfully trotted along the corridors, his daughter laughing with him enjoying every second together. Rainbow harrumph'd at the scene before her, she didn't need to see something so heartwarming when she had a full book of adventure and thrill, this sappy scene wasn't Rainbow Dash but yet, something deep within her subconscious made her watch the whole scene play out with both father and daughter.
Vexed at this scene, Rainbow bookmarked the page and closed the book, resting it near a lamp upon a table. She laid upon her side, facing the opposite direction of the door with all of her will to read lost, why? Simply because of a ruined childhood.
Aurora Light was a timid, and beautiful mare in her late teens, her silky mane adored with colors of the rainbow contrasting perfectly with her cyan coat. Her timid behavior nevertheless stopped her from enjoying flight, may it be slow to feel the soothing wind through her mane or the adrenaline rush of speed as a challenge to best herself.
It was at the time around, her parents had enrolled her to Equestrian University as a freshpony during the middle of the semester. They were not rich neither poor, but as everypony in their lives, they had experienced somewhat difficulty with their finances but yet, giving their only daughter an education was important too and had taken top priority. The principal on the other hoof had somewhat difficulty pulling a few strings, finding her an extra dorm as well as the list of required materials.
" We'll pay for it!" Her father, Vortex exclaimed.
" It's not a matter of money, it's a matter of space and the only extra dorm we have is to be shared with a colt," the principal furrowed his eye brow as if making a suggestion.
Both parents gave one another a worried look and nodded. The wife being a white mare with the same spectrum of colors appeared before the principal and replied," We'll take it."
" Excellent," the principal said relaxing on his chair and rummaged through his desk," Here is the key to your room Ms. Aurora, you shall be sharing it with a, Tyco Dash. Lose it and their are no others."
Aurora lent out her wing and grabbed the keys placing them in her saddlebag." Thank you," she said mannerly exiting the room with her parents. With their final hugs goodbye and a kiss on the cheeks, both parents had bid her farewell to her new life, only to hope she would one day return to the nest she was born and raised in.
Through several hallways and passing various classes, she had finally made it to her room and opened the door. Something was odd, the place was quiet, too quiet.
" Hello? Anyone home?" She asked curiously scanning her environment only to notice that the place had looked ransacked as if the Running of the Leaves had taken place here. She trotted through feeling a trespassing wind had blown through the room's curtains from an open window pane. Adding two plus two, being the ransacked room and the window, only one thing came to her mind. " Oh no no no no no! Please Celestia don't tell me I got robbed!" She made a short hasty gallop to her window and peeped her head out looking for any sign of the thief.
" Hey! Look out!" A voice shouted from the sky soon crashing into the mare by the window pane. Aurora being on the floor tried her best to relieve herself of the heavyweight upon her.
" Ugh! Get off me!" She exclaimed mustering all her strength to push the pony's body soon being successful as it simply rolled off her. She stood up and stared intently at the stallion in front of her," Who are you and why did you bucking crash into my room?!"
" Your room?!" He got up starting an argument," Excuse me but I've been living here ever since the beginning of the term, who are you?" He questioned with a stare and a smile, taking slight interest to her getting a proper look.
" I'm guessing you're Tyco Dash?" She inquired only now getting a proper look at the pegasus. She stared at him with disgust carefully nitpicking at every detail of his physical appearance, dirty was a perfect word to fit the description. His icy colored coat tainted with dirt and his white mane slightly disheveled.
" Eeyup!" He smiled and then apologized," Sorry about the whole crash scene, I wasn't expecting guest."
" Oh, I'm not a guest. I'm your new room mate," she replied and introduced herself," My name is Aurora Light."
" Pleasure to meet ya Aurora," he lent out a hoof and smiled.
" Oh no, the pleasure is all mine, are you sure you have no problem sharing your room with me?" She then paused looking at the pig sty," this is a room right?"
" Ahahahaha, as I said before please excuse the mess, I was not expecting any pony," he smiled at her who simply rolled her eyes.
" Well, since we do live in this room, I may as well help you tidy the place," she said starting with the beds that had not been made," wait a second, why are both beds--"
" Oh well, you see," Tyco smiled sheepishly," I sorta slept on my own at first and the next day I slept on the tidier one, vice versa." She gave a small chuckle and continued making up the beds. ' Why is she so kind to me? I'm a filthy pig!' He admitted in his thoughts and blushed only to fake a cough covering his tracks. ' Does she like me? She does seem kinda cute but, I don't want to freak her out.'
A few minutes later and somehow by the miracles Celestia and this pony, the entire room had been tidied with everything checked in its rightful place. Aurora wiped her hooves together and ended with a clap," Right! Finally, everything is perfect! So, what do you want to do?"
" What do you mean by do?" he squinted a look wondering what exactly she meant.
" Well, there are no more classes right? So, what is there to do around here?" she asked recklessly easily bored.
" Sorry, but I have homework and it's kicking my flank all directions," Tyco replied.
" Maybe I can help! What do you have trouble with?" She offered her help once again.
' Why is this mare so helpful? We just now met and it's like she's my best friend.' Tyco then reached into his saddlebags pulling out a heavy mathematics text book and quickly flipped to the page. He stared at it dramatically and disgust with only one word coming from his mouth as he pointed to a certain question." Calculus."
" Oh, that's easy," Aurora boasted quickly pulling the book and completing the equation," there ya go."
" How'd you do that?"
" Well, I didn't want to be left behind other classes, so anytime I had free at home, I went through all my text books over and over again," she answered.
" I think I can do the rest," he smiled sheepishly grabbing the book as he tapped the pencil on his chin impatiently. For a few minutes his page was blank with the other unsolved questions.
" Do you need any--"
" No, I'm fine, I got this," he answered quickly staring at his empty page once again. In no more than twenty seconds, with frustration and impatience, he slid the paper to Aurora who kindly completed the second equation.
" What? How? Huh?" He looked at the paper confused," You really need to help me out with this."
" Sure," she smiled," when would you like to start? We have all of tonight and since we are roommates, I can't leave you hanging." She lent out a hoof.
Tyco looked at the hoof and smiled knowing what to do. He smacked his hoof with hers, both smiling with their new formed friendship.
- A/N -
I am going to be doing chapters like these from now on as it is literally a bitch for me to keep on writing 3000 words straight and with this, I can actually update frequently. I am sorry for the longest delay, I was caught up with another fic. So please, enjoy as this builds up more emotion and feeling into the story as well as, leave a thumbs up, so I can get a good fixation of how many of you all want me to continue this fic.