Living alone and the mysterious shrine.
My name is Richard. I don't exactly find myself... fond... of my world. Earth. It's tainted now in most places.. A sad place.
My past is not pleasant. My parents are dead. I went from foster home to foster home. My last foster home was a musical professor and a very rich man. He saw my love for instruments, and he filled my heart with them.
For awhile I started to not want to leave, but then that started to fear me... What if I ended leaving him..? I spent night after night after night trying to figure it out... Emancipation..? I'd still be leaving him, but I wouldn't go to another foster home... He's got a huge job, I'm not sure if taking care of a sixteen year old kid should be for him...
If I were to leave him, I'd want it to be on good terms. It was 'the talk' or bust!
I sat down with him and we talked about emancipation.
"I'm sixteen... I can't handle the stress of moving home to home... You seem to have your hands full with work... I've been thinking about emancipation..."
Silence. Why won't he say anything..?
"Then do it. I'll completely support you. I'll pay for your apartment. I'll even let you take some instruments with you."
"But why..?" I looked at him with tears starting to fill my eyes.
"Because you're the closest thing I've had for a son..."
I broke out in tears, I can't believe this. He's going to help me. Maybe this world isn't so bad after all...
After that, I got emancipated, I moved out, got a small but perfect apartment, and that was that.
I got a part-time job, and started going to a new school. I don't know why though. I was already smart.
Day 1
Living alone is perfect. It's so quite, and absolutely wonderful. It appears that way though. I just got back from school, and I've made some new friends. They seem nice, I'm really happy. I don't think this could get any better. I think I'm going to play my harp to my hearts content to celebrate.
Day 2
Taking break from here. Anything below this line is from the original version. I am changing it in an attempt to make it better, but r
"Ah, this walk is refreshing. When you need to escape stress, sometimes a walk does perfect. Maybe I should have told someone before I decided to leave without a word...the guard might get worr--"
"Princess! There you are! You could have informed us of your leave." One of the guards was flying towards me.
"I do apologize, I acted without thinking. I was just about to return....do you hear that?"
"Hear what, Princess?" The guard said as he looked around, obviously confused.
A little cry broke out from behind a bush.
"That..! It sounds like a baby!" I shouted as I started running to it, and sure enough, I'm shocked.
A baby with black hair, a Unicorn Pegasus, its mane and tail resembled mine, only it was more similar to a starry void changing colors. The guard let out a gasp, "what will you do with it? You won't just leave it out here, will you?"
I looked at him with horror, "of course not! How could anyone possibly do that?! I'll take him...what's that?"
I looked more closely and next to the crying baby was, "Richard".
"Richard..." I said, "his name must be Richard. Odd, but it'll do. I'll take Richard in, however, I may have to change his mane and tail to a more subtle appearance, black and cyan seem like they would work. Someday when he's older, I'll return his original mane back." I began a spell and touched my horn to his head, turning his mane and tail black and cyan.
"Are you sure, Princess?" Asked the guard, probably confused as to why I would do this.
"Yes. I'm positive, this will be best for now. This is just so strange though, what would a baby Pegasus Unicorn be doing here? Even more strange, there's such a... How do I put it... 'Pure' feeling about him."
"I'm not sure, Princess, he seems normal to me, despite being a Pegasus Unicorn, and how his mane and tail were. Princess, shall we return?"
"Yes."
I picked the baby up with magic and began flying to the caste. Regardless of this confusion, I will take this child in and raise him. He will be a wonderful pony.
Years Later...
I woke with a start, the bird were singing, and I was absolutely ready! Time for the exam!
I jumped out of bed right out the window. I love flying so much! Everything seems so peaceful in the sky.
The peace was immediately broken by the guard shouting, "Richard! You shouldn't be flying! You can barely do it anyways! You just learned last month! That's dangerous! Have you even had breakfast yet?"
They were right... I'm hungry, so I started to descend, but then I started thinking, "I wonder if Celestia is awake yet," so I decided to fly to her window.
I picked up speed, and speed, and speed, maybe I'm going too fast? Wait, how am I going so fast? I can barely fly...
"Oh no!" Too fast, as expected. I crashed through Celestia's window and landed on my back, "Ouuccchhhhhh..."
"And what is the meaning of this?" Celestia said as she leaned over me.
"I, uh, just wanted to stop by and say good morning, but..." I got up and looked down in shame.
"Relax Richard, everything is fine. As a matter of fact, I'm glad you stopped by! I have something I want for you to do."
I perked right up and smiled, "really?"
"Yes! Your exam is today, It is also an exam for a young pony your age named Twilight Sparkle, I'd like for you to meet her. She has gone to the classes here, but she has been enrolled for my school for gifted unicorns. The exam she is going to is her entrance exam. Unlike her, you have never gone to a school because, well, you know, you've received your education from within the Castle, and because of that, well... You haven't had a real chance to socialize with ponies your age, so I think this would be a great chance for you to get to know...some...Richard?" She looked around and found me clinging to the ceiling and flew up to me, "listen, this is what I'm talking about. You're so shy, I want you to meet her, please, for me?"
I looked her in the eye, and i agreed by nodding my head. How could I refuse those warm eyes?
"Thank you, Richard. Please head there now, you can eat breakfast on the way. Her exam starts the same time as yours. I want you to find her and walk with her to the exam. Try to become friends with her. " She touched her horn to my head and a lavender pony appeared in my head. "This is her." She should be by the fountain by the time you get there. Make it seem coincidental.
"I understand Celie," I said as I hovered down to the ground and started walking to the fountain.
"The castle is so big. I can't believe I live here, it's amazing, especially the library." I was thinking aloud as I walked out the gate, and when I reached the bottom of the steps I was greeted by a huge gust of wind, and was suddenly filled with energy. I don't know why, but I smiled and started running to the fountain as quickly as I could. "I want to meet her!"
I have a feeling that Celestia is watching me run through Canterlot full speed from the castle, and I'm glad that she cares for me so much.
I arrived at the fountain and I looked around anxiously, I want to meet her so much!
Wait. How do I make it seem like a coincidence? Oh no. What if I mess up? What if she hates me? What do I do, what do I do?! I was pacing back and forward and I bumped into somepony. "I'm sorry! I was lost in thought!" I looked and saw who it was... Twilight Sparkle..!
"Oh it's fine, I'm in a rush, I should have looked at where I was going." She said.
"Well I'm Richard..." I said, just barely loud enough for her to hear me.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle." She said. "I'm on my way to an exam."
"Oh, so am I! May I tag along?" I asked,
"Sure, why not?" She said. So we started walking, and talking.
"So where do you live?" She asked, glancing at my horn, then to my wings.
"At the castle." I said. She stopped walking.
"T-t-t-t-the castle?!" She wore a shocked look on her face.
"Yes, the castle." I said, casually enough to shock her even more.
"How can you say that so casually?! Are you friends with Princess Celestia?!" She spoke so quickly.
"Yeah, she's like a sister and a mother to me."
"That's amazing... I'm kinda jealous."
I looked at her curiously. "Why?" I asked, waiting for her to catch up with me.
"Because I look up to Princess Celestia. Ever since the Summer Sun Festival a few years ago, she inspired me and that inspiration got me to where I am now, but..." She looked to the ground as she finished talking.
"Relax. I'm sure you're wonderful. Nothing to be ashamed of. I'm glad I ran into you. Say, where are your parents?" I looked around trying to find them. How would I? I don't know what they look like.
"Oh! They're waiting at the room." She hurried her pace.
"Let's sprint. Race you!" I stuck my tongue out at her and went full speed.
"You're on!" She shouted as she closely followed.
The exam hall. There aren't many rooms to it, but it's always somehow a relaxing place...unless of course, you're taking an exam.
"This is it. Good luck Twilight!" I said as she walked off to her room.
"Same to you!" I replied before entering.
Wait... This is it... My exam is magic and music... What could it possibly be like? Oh gosh, I'm so nervous my legs are trembling! An image of Cellie appears in my head and I calm down. This is it!
I open the door to my exam room and am shocked.
Instruments! My heart fills with glee when suddenly a voice calls from behind me, "magnificent, are they not?"
"They are," I said in awe.
"I will be testing you. If you are to pass, you must play a third of these instruments using only magic." He spoke quickly. Too quickly for me to take in at once.
"A third with only magic..?" I asked, starting to cower.
"Yes. A third."
I stared at the instruments and realized that I had never used magic to play one before. What do I do?!
"Here I.....go...." I attempted to play, but a failure occurs. I try again. Again... Again... Again..!
Suddenly a loud *boom* happens and I lose control.
My magic picks up every instrument in the hall and puts them into a beautiful musical melody. I notice a loud crash from the room Twilight is in, but before I can think, I'm completely drained of energy and pass out...
"R--... Ri--... Rich--... Richa--... Richar--... Richard..?"
I slowly open my eyes. Bright. Soft. "Where am I..?"
"Your room. Twilight here begged to come along with me after I helped calm her down during her exam and came to get you."
"Twilight..?" I looked at her and smiled. "What happened..? Did you pass..?" I asked slowly.
"You're silly. You're going to ask if I passed before you ask if you passed?" She giggled as she said this.
"Well?" I said.
"Look at Twilight closely. Notice anything new?" Celestia said as she nudged me.
"My goodness, Twilight... Your cutie mark! Lucky!"
"I'm not the only one. Look at yourself."
My goodness... My cutie mark..! It's so amazing and awesome! A treble clef made out of flames!
Celestia and Twilight started laughing. Probably because of my huge smile.
End Chapter 1: Beginning.
