Chapters Chapter One: No I Will Not
I purchased a one-way ticket to Ponyville, earning myself a few raised eyebrows from the workers behind the counter. I waited for the train to arrive. I had a few hours to spare, but I didn’t feel like doing much of anything except stare at the ground. If I looked up, I would see other ponies and see far too much. Dealing with my mother, the lawyer, city streets full of ponies, the ticket agents, and the bustling train station had been exhausting; at that moment I just wanted to rest.
I was happily ignoring the few ponies walking by me, when a mare paused in front of me and spoke.
“Are you lost, son?” she asked in a concerned tone. My reverie interrupted, I sighed and looked up. A glance into her eyes gave me all the information I needed to get her to leave me alone forever.
“No, Octavia, I am not lost in the slightest.”
She tilted her head to the side. “Oh! You must be a fan of-”
“I’ve have never been to anyone of your concerts. But I do know of your love for Vinyl and your hatred for not being able to work up the courage to ask her out on a date.”
She blinked a few times before letting out and regarded me with a disturbed expression. “Wha- Who in the hay do you think you are-?”
“I also know the odd nature of your ‘unique’ lifestyle.”
“Is that so?” she scoffed.
“Yes. Shall I call you Baby Oct-?”
She gasped. “You creep!” She turned and strode off down the platform, somehow managing to lose herself in the small crowd.
Creep. Like I’d never heard that one before. But it worked, and she was out of my sight forever.
I waited patiently for the next few hours while occasionally sorting through my luggage. I did bring a book, but I wanted to save it for the train. Oh man, do I love books! Fictional books surprise me in so many ways: the characters, the dialogue, the emotions the writers portray. Books have no eyes. I can’t penetrate their souls and just know what they are about in an instant, and that is pure bliss. Even bad books have their charm.
Finally the train pulled in. I checked to make sure it was the right one and immediately boarded, ignoring the stares of a few passengers and workers. I was, after all, only eight and a half and was traveling alone. I was not worried; l had my papers with me and could show them off to any authority figure. I found an empty carriage and took a seat. I then dived into my saddlebag and picked out a random book. I began to read, hoping to ignore the world around me until the train reached its destination.
That’s when the voices started. Always with the voices.
“Is this cabin f-”
I looked up and spotted a mare with her family standing just behind her. I decided perhaps a new tactic was necessary, considering we were all stuck on the train and freaking out the other passengers might make my trip even harder than it had to be.
“Sorry, miss, my mommy and daddy are just about to come back!” I said in the perkiest tone I could muster.
“Oh! Well, sorry to bother you, sweetie!”
I kept my fake grin up for a moment after they left and then instantly returned to my book with a grimace.
It was a pretty neat book. It wasn’t anything substantial or amazing, but it got the job done. I wasn’t bored on the train ride there, and it kept my thoughts occupied. For once, I actually felt relaxed.
That relaxed state lasted for all of about twenty minutes.
“Hi!” a voice said in front of me, causing me to startle and drop my book. I could be surprised if I was busy reading, and I hated that. I looked up. Standing before me was a unicorn filly named Dinky Hooves, favorite color green, six years old, mother named Derpy Hooves, no father that she knows of. She was from Ponyville apparently. She tilted her head to the side and stared right back at me. “What’s your name?”
“…Veritas,” I replied reluctantly.
“I’m Dinky!” she replied cheerfully.
“I know that.”
“You do?” she asked astonished. I sighed and figured it was time to scare her off.
“Yes, Dinky Hooves, daughter of Derpy. You are six years old, your favorite color is green, you are not great at unicorn magic yet, and you live in Ponyville,” I finished with a smug expression.
“Oh my gosh, are you psychic?!” she replied in an excited tone. I face hooved; of course I had to find the one pony it would backfire on.
“No, I’m just freaky. Now would you kindly leave?” I asked in a hopeful tone. She pondered what I had asked for a long while. My patience was as thin as a tissue paper.
“Why?” she asked.
“What?!”
“Why do you want me to leave?”
“I’m trying to read, and I would appreciate it if I was left alone!”
“Oh, okay!” she chirped, and then, just as mysteriously as she arrived, she vanished into the cabin right next to mine.
I groaned and kept reading my book. Thankfully, there were no other interruptions for the rest of the train ride. Every once in a while I would pause from my book and take a break from my fictional world, which in turn would allow me to sense others’ emotions once more, once I see their eyes that is. I hated that I could not turn it off. I could sense Dinky wanted to talk more, but I certainly didn’t.
I glanced out the passenger window as I had been doing throughout the train ride and noticed that buildings were finally coming into view. I closed my book and waited for the announcement.
“Ponyville! The train is pulling into Ponyville! Next stop is Canterlot!” a stallion roared.
I gathered up my things and waited in front of one of the doors. I saw Dinky wave but ignored her. Eventually the doors opened up and I dashed for the exit, before being stopped by the stallion who had yelled before.
“Whoa, slow down there little colt, why you traveling alone?”
“Sir, I’m an emancipated minor, please step aside,” I replied in the most calm manner I could muster.
“Emancipated huh? Care to show me your paperwork? Of course it may take a while and the train is leaving…”
Now he was getting on my nerves.
“You’re cheating on your wife, huh?”
“…What?” he said in a flustered tone. His eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets.
I knew that look, and I had to act quickly.
“You cheat on her a lot, but you won’t be truthful with her. The sad thing is if you just were, she would probably forgive you in a heartbeat, you can tell that she loves you.”
And it was true, I looked into his memories and the strongest ones were when this stallion would look away at his wife while he lied, the strongest memories were always the ones that showed up first.
“…”
He had nothing to reply with and I took that opportunity to jump off the train just as it was leaving. I looked around and sighed, for the first time in my life truly feeling free.
Well, as free as I’m going to get. I could already see memories, emotions and names among other things. I groaned and kept my head as low as possible while exiting the train. Looking around everypony’s eyes I noticed most of the train’s occupants lived here.
“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie and I would-“ One glance into this mare told me everything I needed to know, but a glance more told me too much. She was the Element of Laughter herself, and she was aiming to throw me a party.
“Pinkamena Diane Pie, I do not, nor will I ever want to be part of a party, do you understand me?”
She blinked a few times before narrowing her eyes, I could tell that she had no clue how I just did what I did but she was not going to take no for an answer.
“You will attend my super fabulous party and you will have a great time!”
“No and goodbye.” I started walking but could already sense that she was on my tail.
“Why are you traveling alone anyway? My Pinkie Sense told me a new colt was coming to town and…”
Her voice continued to speak but I was only focused on her Pinkie Sense. It was similar to what I had, in that she could not control it, but I don’t think it was as powerful. She couldn’t sense names or memories, but she did know I was coming.
“I’m emancipated, Pinkie, and I know your Pinkie Sense told you that, now please leave me alone.”
“But I planned this party just for you!” she whined.
“And I don’t have time for a party, goodbye and thank you for the thought...” I watched her leave after a long while, she looked extremely sad and I knew why. She just wants to make others happy, and when she can’t it bothers her deep down. I probably could have bit the bullet and just gone to the stupid party, but I was already going to get enough of ponies at school. I didn’t need an entire party of strangers where a moment’s glance told me too much.
It was midday in spring; I could have waited to enroll myself but the laws stated I needed to do it within the coming two weeks and I wanted to get it out of the way. I guessed where the schoolhouse was and gawked at its size, it was super tiny from what I was used to.
“I could live with this…” I murmured to nopony. Smaller was better in my opinion. I took a few steps forward and noticed that class was in session, luckily all of the students were reading with the teacher who was sitting quietly at her desk. I slowly walked in and ignored the stares of the other students.
“May I help you?”
“Hello, my name is Veritas and I’m here to enroll for classes.”
She nodded her head slowly. “And where are your guardians for this?”
“I’m an emancipated minor, Miss Cheerilee.”
“Really? Do you have your…”
I was already rummaging into my saddlebag and soon my paperwork was sitting on her desk for her to read. I could sense so many colts and fillies taking curious glances at me but I ignored them. Staring at one pony was bad enough.
“Well, this is certainly interesting. I see you have your school placement exams all ready too. Good. When can you start?”
“Immediately.”
“Well, how about starting tomorrow? It shouldn’t take too long to get you enrolled, but, as you can see, our class is already in session.”
“I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow, ma’am.”
“And where are you staying?” her voice said, just a bit louder than I would have liked.
She stopped me and I groaned.
“A hotel,” I replied sarcastically.
“And after that?”
“I’m shopping for that,” I replied and then left her before the conversation spun out of control. I tended to do that with adults: I lose my temper easily, and things get said that should never be said. Luckily for her I found that her record was pretty clean. Looking into her was actually nice for once.
“I better go find City Hall and ask about that house….” Finding the place was easy; not gawking at the unique designs of all the buildings surrounding it was not. I resisted the urge to explore, entered the building, and quickly found a receptionist sitting at a desk.
“May I help you, young stallion?”
“Yes,” I replied and paused to find the document that I needed. “I was looking to purchase this property.”
“…What?”
I sighed and realized this was going to take more explaining. Unfortunately for her, my patience was gone. “Look, I’m an emancipated minor. You can read the documents right here. Now you can spend your day arguing with me on how legal all of this is and if I’m actually emancipated or not, but all that is going to do is waste both of our time. So, would you kindly get the proper documents for me to purchase this particular property, and would you kindly do it, like, now ?”
She scowled and replied, “And what if I don’t?”
“I’ll tell the mayor how long and how often you’ve been stealing office supplies.”
She stammered, and before I knew it I had made a bank transaction to purchase the property in question. It cost me all of five hundred bits. I was warned that it was very worn down, but I could live with that. The property was on the edge of town, which I could also live with. The property description indicated that it was located inside something called the Whitetail Woods.
I had to pass through a park as I walked toward my new home. Tons of children were playing since it was just after class. Some invited me to play, but I declined and continued to search for the woods. I found it odd that these woods had no signposts, yet the paths to the dangerous Everfree were clearly marked. Eventually, I found the right path.
When I entered the Whitetail Woods, I discovered that this part of town was extremely secluded. I was thankful for that. The trail was calm and peaceful, and, again, that suited me just fine. Eventually, I found the place; it was a small cottage that looked pretty run down. Now I knew why it only cost five hundred bits! It was very weathered and worn, but intact, with no noticeable holes in the walls or roofing, thankfully.
I timed the trip back into town, and it took about twenty minutes: not terrible for a walking distance, and I was used to it after living in the city. I figured food was my first priority, and I spotted several stands that were just closing up shop. I hurried over.
“Well howdy there, little fella! You need somethin’?”
I raised an eyebrow. Apparently, all of the Elements of Harmony just lived in this town. Either that, or my sight is on the fritz. I could do with some apples though.
“A dozen apples, please.”
“Sure thing. That’ll be six bits.” I gave her the bits, and she poured the apples into a lunch box I had.
“Thank you,” I replied and left her be. I was glad that she didn’t question me on anything. I sensed so much guilt and pain in her eyes over the loss of her parents that it’s a wonder that she was ever happy. Huh.
Should I be freaked out that, thanks to the Element of Honesty, I already know everything I would ever want to know and more about one of my classmates? Maybe, but I was so used to this crud at this point that I just didn’t care.
I also purchased a loaf of bread for tomorrow and some vegetables. I then paused and logged everything in my journal. That way, I ensured that I never over-spent during each week. I had enough bits to last a lifetime, but you could never be too careful. I looked around saw ponies heading home for the day. I had nothing better to do, so I searched for the local library, hoping to find some books to read later.
As luck would have it, I arrived exactly twenty minutes before closing. I opened the door, came in, and gently shut it behind me. I looked around and spotted what I assumed was a dragon shelving books. One look in his eyes was enough to confirm that. And, wow, did this little guy have issues! I thought I was bad. Spike, aged nine, favorite color white, in love with Rarity Belle, regrets not knowing his real mother and regrets never working up the courage to call Twilight Sparkle his mother. He fears his own dragon greed and almost destroyed the town once… overall I’d say we are about even in terms of how severe both of our issues go.
“Welcome to Ponyville Library, can I help you?” Spike asked from his latter. I pondered his question before shrugging.
“Yes, do you have any books on fiction that you would recommend for somepony who is bored?”
“Um, well there’s the Darring Do series-“
“Read them,” I interrupted in a quiet tone. That was another thing about me, I love to interrupt anyone but I try to do it in a calm manner without sounding too rude.
“Well, we have the Legendary Series by –“
“Read those too.”
He scratched his head a few times. I had to hand it to him; he was remaining awfully patient for somepony who was being awfully rude.
“How about some romance novels maybe?” I paused and actually considered it for a moment. True, it wasn’t something I would ever ask for but I had been reading an awful lot lately and I needed something new. I nodded and he gathered up a few for me.
“You’ll need a library card, name?”
“Veritas.”
“Location or address?”
“Cottage in The White Tail Woods, it doesn’t have a-“
“No problem got it right there. Age?”
“Eight.”
“Perfect, just be sure to return those within two weeks.”
He was smiling, when he gave me the books and for once I actually did feel like helping somepony instead of using my ‘curse’ to get my way. But I thought better of it, I was going to advise him that this Twilight would probably not mind being called mother but that would require making friends most likely and I was feeling too tired to care as much. It sucks too because that little dragon was hurting inside.
I left the library and checked my saddlebags. I had a sleeping bag and a pillow along with some bathroom supplies. I figured that would be enough for the next few days so I was all set. I spent a quiet trip back and thanked Celestia that the place had some oil lanterns. Not that I was afraid of the dark, but in a sense I was because that meant I wouldn’t be able to read my books!
The first novel was just so cliché, at least in my opinion it was. I mean the writer built up to the love parts but they seemed forced. I tossed it aside and tried the other. The second book was better; I relaxed again finally and was glad that nopony was going to bother me out here. I couldn’t even hear any animals, come to think about it I didn’t see any out in town. Oh well.
I brushed my teeth and went to bed, or as close as I was going to get. I hated sleeping because then the dreams would start. Not so many nightmares, but something far more sinister. Memories, so many memories from all the ponies I had ever laid eyes on. I knew that dreams were the brain's way of managing everything that you see in a day and sometimes you would remember them while other times you don’t. I always remember them, even if I didn’t there would still be the memories I had gained from all the ponies. Tartarus, I still felt kind of guilty for not helping out Spike after waking up in the morning. It would pass though, it always does.
I had no clock but I figured it was six when I woke up. I stretched and ate one apple for breakfast, and then made my lunch for my first school day. I sighed when I realized I was going to be carrying around my saddlebags filled to the brim with my stuff all around until I found better locks for my doors and windows. I just now realized I had windows as well with the sun coming up.
School was at eight so I had plenty of time to get ready. I looked in my saddlebags and realized that I was ready, kind of made me wish I’d of slept in but oh well.
I found, to my amazement, that I had a shower that worked, just no hot water. That secretary did mention I would have water bills but I would worry about that later. I took a quick shower in solitude and walked into town with my head held down. Shops were being set up, ponies were getting ready to head to work and I was utterly bored out of my mind.
I figured I should start looking up at this point, it’s going to happen one way or the other. The first pony I spot was a mare, named Lyra Heartstrings who obsessed with some fictional creatures, special talent is mostly music related and I guess she is playing for the other team, hmm. I was glad she had no guilt-ridden past or anything.
I looked to her right and spotted a stallion. His name was Dr. Whooves, I have no clue how to describe this guy, it was almost scary but in an exciting way. Too bad he looked down at this watch and ran off like no tomorrow.
I spotted another, Twilight Sparkle, what a mess. She’s insecure about her own abilities despite being able to stop Nightmare Moon and Discord and the changelings and so many other things. So she compensates by pleasing the princess in any way she can. She loves Spike -no surprise there- and somewhat wishes he would call her mother… I groaned as the guilt built up more. Maybe I could write them an anonymous letter and just leave it at the library? I figured it had a shot so I wrote that down in my journal to try later.
Then I spotted Derpy, the mother of Dinky. I felt, pride? Yes, she was proud of her daughter and proud of herself despite all of her shortcomings. It was an odd feeling and made me shudder almost.
I checked the time on the clock tower and noticed it was nearing eight so I made a dash for class. Along the way, two fillies stopped me.
“Well, well, well if it isn’t-“
“Stop, Diamond Tiara I have no interest in joining your stupid gang and it would just be best if you left me be.” I tried to walk around them but the other filly, Silver Spoon stopped me. Now that was interesting, Silver Spoon was not her real name, hmm…
“Now, where do you think you’re going-“
“Silver Delight,” I replied which caused her to freeze up in response, “move, now!” She moved slightly but was still frozen in shock of my knowledge of her name, a name she kept quiet even from her best friend.
“Silver Spoon! What the hay?!” I heard Diamond Tiara yell, but then I was out of sight in a hurry.
I only hoped that class was not going to be any trouble. Hope never works.
Chapter Two: Yes I know Who You Are
I took a seat up in the front ten minutes before class and waited for the teacher to call me up so I could introduce myself to all the colts and fillies, oh joy. I tapped my hoof on the desk a few times while she silently finished off a few papers. Pretty soon the school bell rang, and everypony was called back in.
“Good morning, class!”
“Good morning, Miss Cheerilee,” they all replied in that monotone unison all classes have. Except me. I was just sitting there, practically scowling away.
“Well, today we have a new student joining us, so let’s have him come up and introduce himself, and then each of you will line up and introduce yourselves!” Oh crud, these moments try my patience so much. I don’t think I can hold it in and if she does ask about my cutie mark, then it’s all over anyway.
I slowly walked up and turned around and spoke while trying to avoid as many eyes as possible, “Hello, my name is Veritas.” My reply was simple because I was trying to see how much she wanted me to say. One glance into her eyes told me she was running on autopilot and it was kind of up to me.
“And where are you from?” she asked in a monotone response. I mean, geez, there’s being bored with class and then there’s just… routine.
“Manehatten,” I replied dryly. Instantly, some faces perked up as the colts and fillies formed a line away from the comfort of their desks.
“Interesting,” she said, but I could tell she did not find it interesting in the slightest. “And what is your special talent?” Now at this she tilted her head to the side and was actually sort of interested in knowing. I don’t blame her, or the curious kids in the class; I mean, how often does a pony have a giant eyeball on their flank? The answer to that riddle is never, except me.
I looked into all of the fillies and colts faces and saw nothing but pure curiosity edged into their brains, especially with Silver Delight and Diamond Tiara. I leaned forward and cleared my throat just as everypony’s eyes had snapped to attention.
“Truth,” I replied simply.
“Uh, what do you mean, dear?” the teacher stammered.
“Just truth,” I replied again, which was the truth. I was not lying to this mare; in fact, I tend not to lie ever. If nopony is able to lie to me, then I figured I should at least return the favor and be as honest as I can.
“Well, alright then,” she replied, looking very confused. The other students also looked quite confused, but snapped to attention at the teacher’s next words. “Children, why don’t you all introduce yourselves to Veritas here?”
Apple Bloom walked up first and began to speak. “Hi, my name’s-“
“Apple Bloom,” I interrupted.
She blinked several times and looked up to the teacher who shook her head a few times, unsure how to respond. She looked down to me and I shrugged. Slowly, Apple Bloom returned to her seat as the next colt walked up. I guess they just figured I knew her. He breathed in but before he could say one word I was there.
“Featherweight.” He stammered out a few syllables but didn’t actually say anything coherent, and the room was so silent that I couldn’t help but groan and spoke up for everypony. “Let me just speed things along here. You are Scootaloo.” I pointed to an orange pegasus who was next in line. “Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Twist, Snips, Snails, and if I’m not mistaken one Sweetie Belle is missing.” I finished and again the room was silent before Miss Cheerilee forced herself to respond.
“Have you met them before?”
“Nope,” I replied while still standing in front of the class. I didn’t mind, when it comes to children you can, for the most part, never see horrible things that they have done because kids don’t do any of that stuff, usually.
“Then how?” She demanded in an authoritative tone. I turned to her with my expression as serious as possible.
“I can see it in their eyes.”
The teacher narrowed her eyes on me for a moment, seemingly lost in thought before realization dawned on her. I had to hand it to this teacher, she knew her stuff.
“True Sight, is it?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The teacher frowned for a moment before nodding. “I see... Well, then, I think perhaps it is time for a surprise lesson regarding our new student’s special talent!” She actually grinned at this and would not let me sit down. Good luck , I thought with a roll of my eyes. Not even my last teacher fully understood it. I don’t think anypony did, really.
“Is everypony listening?” They all nodded with eager smiles on their faces, I knew why she was doing this, but it kind of singled me out. Not that I wanted friends… still, what a-
“Good! Now, our Veritas here has a very special gift.”
Gift?! Ha! It’s a curse, you-
“True Sight is a very rare special talent that has appeared on several figures in history, the last of which was over two hundred years ago, at least she was the last reported …” She stole a nervous glance at me and again I shrugged, while avoiding eye contact with every living soul at this point. “A single glance into anypony’s eyes and Veritas here knows everything he would ever want to know about you.”
Instantly, all hoofs in the class shot up straight in the air, I was not paying attention and groaned when the teacher motioned for me to answer them. I looked in her eyes and I saw something I didn’t expect--compassion, of all things. She knew this was best for me and, for once, an authoritative figure in my life did not seem so cold. Still, I wished I wasn’t here. I picked Scootaloo out of random.
“Yeah, so you’re psychic?”
“…Sure, why not,” I replied with a sly smile. She grinned and thought of the possibilities. The rest of the hooves were still in the air. I closed my eyes and then turned slowly to give the teacher a pleading look.
“Alright, two more questions and then we have to move on with today’s lessons,” she said in response to my plea. I grumbled. She could have just said no more questions. Jerk.
“Yeah, you, I guess…”
“So if you looked into the Princess’s eyes, would you, like, know all sorts of government secrets or something?” Snips asked.
“I don’t think I would ever, and I mean ever , want to look into one of their eyes. I’m pretty sure I would go insane…”
“Why?”
“That counts as the second question. Because she has had to kill before. It’s in your history books,” I replied, bowed and then took a seat without skipping a beat. The silence that followed was blissful to me, but awkward to everypony else. To my surprise, the lessons started immediately after. The other children kept giving me nervous glances, but I ignored them. After all, it was nothing I hadn’t gotten before. I did notice that the teacher was purposely avoiding eye contact with me for as long as possible, which in turn led me to guess as to why. It was actually kind of nice to have mystery in a pony. Small as it may have been, it made me feel normal for once. I assumed she was doing it though to keep her secrets from me, but really she was just trying to help me focus on my work, which I was, mostly.
“Now who could tell me the name of the unicorn pony that invented the teleportation spell, perhaps Veritas?” She asked while ignoring the other colts and fillies entirely who had excitedly raised their hooves. I looked up and, to my amazement, her eyes were closed. I smirked and actually chuckled a bit at this. Still with eyes firmly shut, she asked again. “This is not a joke, do you know the answer or not?”
“Star Swirl the Bearded.” I replied with my eyes closed. I knew the other children knew the answer and I wanted to humor her.
“Very good!” She smirked at me and winked. She then continued to teach our history and math lessons with the occasional random question sprinkled in, I got a few wrong and, for once, I didn’t feel like I was cheating. I was actually learning! Not that I needed to learn much, as I was pretty advanced when compared to the other students. That is, with the exception of science. I hated science.
Time flew by and pretty soon it was lunch time, I was overjoyed. As expected, all of the ponies singled me out and left me alone at a bench, and that suited me juuuust fine.
I figured that most of them were in denial, I already saw it in a few of their eyes. Can he really do that? Does he know I have a crush on her? Does he know about… me? I wish I could say no, I wish that with all of my heart and soul. But I did know, I did know who he had a crush on and I can really do that.
“And that’s why you blank flanks will never be as talented as us.” Diamond Tiara finished after I had just finished eating my sandwich. I guess my chewing noises muffled her little speech. I looked over curiously and noticed that the two along with the rest of the class were signaling out the two fillies with no special talent in the class. Of course, bullies. I groaned, hating myself for what I was about to do, but I had enough guilt from not speaking up with Spike and I decided it was worth it.
“Excuse me,” I interjected, which caused Diamond Tiara to meet my gaze. She immediately scoffed but I had gotten everything I needed.
“Oh look, it’s the freak!” she said, causing several ponies to snicker a bit.
“You know, if you would just apologize to the Cutie Mark Crusaders over there, I bet they would forgive you for everything and actually count you as a friend. I know that’s what you want. I know you feel jealous of them for their little adventures and not being forced down by a special talent that’s practically worthless. And I know that you know that they are better ponies than you, so you hide behind your money and your daddy and you use your bullying to make yourself feel better; when all you have to do is apologize and ask for forgiveness and their friendship.” Shocked faces all around, Diamond Tiara’s mind blanked and her blood seemed to run cold right in front of my face. “But you have too much pride for that, huh?” I finished and left for the classroom.
Now, normally this never works. The bully will scoff or deny anything and everything I said. It only took two minutes, however, for me to hear Diamond Tiara break down and cry out in the open, though. I felt… weird. I took a quick glance back and saw Apple Bloom patting her back and Scootaloo trying to cheer her up. I almost smiled. Almost. I knew I had fixed a bully problem, and probably fixed Diamond Tiara for life. The school bell rang again and all the ponies came back in, smiles on all of their faces. Diamond Tiara was quietly sniffling, but a quick glance to her new friends told her that she was okay in their book. Silver Delight gave a nervous smile to the Cutie Mark Crusaders as well.
Diamond Tiara then whispered to me. “Thank you…”
“All I showed you and them was the truth,” I replied, and dove back into my book. Again, the other classmates kept stealing nervous glances at me, wondering if I was going to target them next. Well, I wasn’t. I wasn’t even going to out Scootaloo, who probably had the biggest secret of them all. She was a loner and lived in a club house of all places, without guardians. It wasn’t legal what she was doing, but we did have something in common and it was her secret to bear and not any of my business.
Lessons started again with the teacher ignorant to the new found friendship and crying on the playground. The lessons flew by quickly until finally it was two o’clock and time to leave. And of course, as expected, the teacher stopped me while all the kids got to go home.
“I know this is none of my-“
“Yes, I found a place to live, it’s the cottage just inside The White Tail Woods, I assume you need it down on record?”
“Uh, yes I do… How deep does your ab-“
“Pretty deep,” I cut her off there. “Is that all?”
The teacher sighed and gave a weak smile. “Yes, I’m sorry for outing you this morning but I had to-“
“It was necessary, I understand. If they can’t keep secrets from me, then the least you could do is let them know.”
She frowned. “You know it’s rude to interrupt.”
I smirked. “It’s still fun to do.”
“Have a nice day, Veritas.”
“You too.”
And that was my first day of class. All in all, not bad, and certainly better than my last school. I had already finished my books and the homework the teacher assigned looked like a walk in the park, so I made my way to the library. Again I found Spike shelving books while I assumed Twilight was somewhere else, or upstairs maybe.
“Hey dude, you like those books?”
“Yeah, they weren’t bad… But I finished them.”
“Really? You remind me of Twi, heh… Did you want anything else, or were you just returning these?”
I shrugged. “Maybe I’ll browse for a bit.”
“Sure thing,” Spike said and went back to his shelves.
I sighed and figured a more direct approach might work; well it worked with the bully.
“Hey, Spike?”
“Yes? Wait, how do you-”
“I know a lot of things about you; I also know that you regret never calling Twilight your mother. I can safely say that she wishes you would.”
As expected, just like Diamond Tiara his mind went blank. Then his emotions went from betrayal to anger to pure and utter confusion in a split second.
“I get that a lot, the confusion bit. But just so you know, anytime I look into anyone’s eyes, I can see anything about them and right now I see a pony and a dragon in pain because they both won’t be honest with each other.”
“You have True Sight?”
“Yeah… and I saw both of your eyes.”
“Twilight taught me about it…” he muttered nervously.
“I know she did.”
“What should I do now?”
Spike looked pitiful. In a state of pure shock yet nervous excitement.
I groaned and fought the urge to facehoof; or even better, slap him upside the head. “Where is she now?”
“Just upstairs.”
“Then what do you think you should do, idiot?”
He shook his head and crossed his arms defiantly. “I can’t do that! Nope, too crazy.”
“It is probably the sanest thing I’ve heard all week and trust me; I’ve seen a lot of eyes and a lot of secrets.”
Spike nervously tapped his, claws? I think they were claws... well, he tapped his whatever he had and then, without warning, dashed upstairs in a desperate attempt to force himself to do this. At least, that’s what I got out of the corner of his eyes. As much as I wanted to leave, I had to make sure I hadn’t screwed anything up, so I waited and listened. Luckily, the library was pretty vacant.
“Twilight?”
The rest of the noise became incredibly muffled and I was unable to hear a thing. So I waited patiently for them to be finished. I did, however, hear some crying, so I assumed my job here was done.
And then there was a long silence and yada yada yada, happily ever after for them, whoop-i-dee-doo. I assumed that they were hugging and I actually did feel slightly better. I went to leave but then Twilight the ever-curious had to speak up. “But, what brought this on?” I finally heard.
“Oh, there’s a colt downstairs with True Sight! Remember the book you showed me once? It’s amazing, Twilight!”
And that’s when I slammed the door shut and left in a hurry. Now, with her being the Element of Magic and all, I assumed she could keep up with me and was probably pursuing me now in order to thank me or do tests on me or something. None of those things appealed to me, so I took a few random turns into some dark alley ways. I peeked into the light and, sure enough, Twilight was running around with Spike on her back, looking for a young colt. I caught a single glimpse into her eyes and BINGO she wanted to experiment on me and thank me. Fat chance.
I caught another glimpse into Spike’s eyes and saw a memory unfold before me, a very strong one that was just created.
“Twilight?”
“Yes Spike?”
“There… there’s something I need to tell you…”
“What is it?”
“You see- I- remember the day you hatched me?”
“That was one of the best days of my life, of course I do!”
"It's just... since that day, you've cared for me... I know you've cared for me along with Princess Celestia, but you've always been there for me... you taught me how to read, write and speak... you also taught me how to discern from right and wrong... but most of all, you loved me..."
“Spike… what are you saying?”
“Can I- Can I call you mom from now on? It's started to bother me that I can’t…”
Twilight started to tear up inside and then outside and without warning used a bit of magic to levitate him into the air and brought him in for a bone crunching hug.
“Of course you can! I guess I’ve always kind of hoped you would, too- we’ve been stupid, huh? Not sharing this with each other?”
“Uh… Yep!” Spike said and they laughed together while hugging. “I love you, Twilight.”
Then the memory stopped all of a sudden, like they always do. It’s always the strongest moments, sure I can sense weak ones by the hundred but the strongest moments are always shown to me first. At least I did the right thing…
I waited in the darkness for at least ten minutes before taking cautious steps and looking around. They had vanished and I sighed in relief. I had my adventure books and my homework and some food left for the next few days so I walked the trail home, actually enjoying the tranquility of the forest. My day had to be ruined though when I found my cottage had been broken into. I giggled like crazy when I realized nothing had been stolen because there was nothing to steal--I carried everything I owned on me at all times. I pictured the burglar in question running in and then cursing the world around them when they realized that there was nothing light enough to take.
“Guess that means I’m going shopping again…”
I walked right back into town, feeling slightly annoyed that I would not be getting as much reading done with my homework in the way. I tried looking for a lock store or something, but found nothing of the sort. I had heard that small towns had less crime so it made sense, but obviously there had been some crime.
I figured City Hall might be able to help so I headed there. I found the same secretary looking at me with a nervous smile. Oddly enough, she was not the one who had robbed me. I suppose that was a good thing.
“Yes?” she questioned in a annoyed tone.
“My cottage was broken into; do you know of any place in town with high quality locks?”
“Well-“
I groaned. “Twilight? Seriously, that’s what you think of?”
“I don’t know how you’re doing this, but yes. She would probably be the one to ask.”
This was all the help I was going to get; and a few more glances told me that the mayor was actually busy for once. I groaned and left in a hurry, as if speeding up to the library would get this over with faster. I opened the door and closed it to find Spike once more, only this time he was reading a book. He glanced over and gasped making me roll my eyes quite profoundly.
“It’s you! Uh, can you wait here… I’ll go get Twi!” He was blushing and then he darted up the stairs all the while yelling his new mother’s name. Twilight quickly came down the stairs with a nervous very fake grin on her face.
“Listen, I need your help,” I replied after a short, awkward silence.
“Oh? Well, I wanted to-“
“Thank me and experiment on me, I know. But my cottage was broken into-“ I paused and waited for their gasps to die down. “-and I need something to keep others out. Luckily, everything I own was on me at the time and it’s quite empty in there anyway. So can you help?” Oddly enough, her eyes shut as she began to think, probably a habit but it meant I was kept in the dark until those eyes of hers opened.
Then her eyes snapped open and she grinned.
“Magical locks?” I asked, cutting her off.
“Yeah… you know of them?”
“I do now. True Sight, remember?”
“Uh, how deep does your ability go?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“...Yes?”
“Very deep, I can see memories, emotions, names, dates, thoughts. Nothing is hidden, ever.”
“Must be-“
“I’m fine, now I take it the spell will take a little bit?”
“Hmm?” She snapped out from her thoughts. “Oh yes, you can use the public section while you're waiting.” I noticed she was not instinctively keeping her eyes shut, like that would help at this point. I almost laughed. “How many ponies live with you?”
“Just me,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Uhh…..”
“I’m an emancipated minor. Just let me know how many bits it will cost.“
“Oh, uh-“ She stuttered with her speech but quickly steadied herself. “No charge. It’s the least I could do for helping us with our little problem. Least I can do for a-“
“We’re not friends,” I replied bluntly. “Just let me know how many bits. I’ll be in the public section.” I turned around before she could respond, I could tell that I just said something that pissed her off to no end, but it was true. I had no real friends and I liked it that way. I don’t care if this mare studied the magic of friendship , magic my flank.
I waited for a while before she finally approached me, again with her eyes closed. “Alright, just use a paintbrush to paint over any windows or doors using this magical material that I just enchanted. It’s coded to your magical signature that I gathered when we were talking-“ Clever girl I thought. “Nopony should be able to enter your cottage unless you invite them in, or it’s you alone.”
I looked into her eyes and confirmed this. “How much?” I asked.
“I told you, it’s free.” She was not going to take no for an answer. Oh, I could tell she was insanely curious about me. I almost allowed her to do some insane experiments, almost, but I figured that we had each done a favor for each other and that made us more or less even.
“Thank you,” I replied and placed the material in my saddlebag and then left in a hurry. I couldn’t tell from not being in the library, but I know for a fact that Twilight probably just screamed after hearing a muffled sound.
Painting worked like a charm, when I entered my building I felt this odd magical sense overcome me which showed me that it was, in fact, working. It did bother me that I couldn’t test the dang thing on somepony else but I let it slide and dived into my homework. I thought of tomorrow and groaned when I realized it was only Tuesday and I had three more days of fun ahead of me. I just hoped that I could make it more interesting along the way…
Chapter Three: One Like Me
I awoke at the same time as yesterday and followed the same routine. I debated whether or not to bring all of my stuff to class, but I decided to risk it and left most of my belongings inside my cottage. If my home was broken into, I could at least blame Twilight later. After all, tt had taken me hours yesterday to paint it and test each opening. I had barely gotten my homework done; luckily it was my first day and thus fairly simple. I was only slightly annoyed that I had had no time to start reading any of my new books.
I made my way towards the schoolhouse at about the same time as yesterday. This time, however, the two ex-bullies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon-- or should that be Delight? I thought snidely-- were walking happily with the Cutie Mark Crusaders Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and even Sweetie Belle today. I ignored them all and didn’t even bother making eye contact. What would be the point?
I found my seat, which just happened to be next to Sweetie Belle’s. I kept my eyes glued to a history book, trying to find some entertainment value in it.
“Hi I’m-”
“Sweetie Belle, I know,” I replied without even looking up from my book. Sometimes, being rude is fun. Who am I kidding? It’s all I live for now.
She huffed. “It wouldn’t kill ya to look up.”
“No, but it would be pointless.”
“And why’s that?” she challenged.
I groaned and decided to humor her. At this point many of the other ponies had started to notice our private conversation. I guess when you turn the school bully into the school nice kid, you earn some attention.
I looked up and met her eyes. My jaw did not drop, but my brain froze so hard it might as well have dropped off at the face of the planet. In her eyes I saw... nothing! I saw no emotions, saw no memories, saw no names or places or regret or sadness. My True Sight was on the fritz! Quickly I looked over at the faces of the other ponies that had been watching us and noticed, no, it was not actually on the fritz, it was working just fine. I slowly turned back to the unicorn who was now studying me with great curiosity. I still saw nothing. The only memories I had of her were from the other ponies. I knew enough about Sweetie from the others that her blankness shouldn’t bother me, yet it did. Nopony had ever—and I mean ever—been able to resist my True Sight before! What was going on? Then it occurred to me. I couldn’t be sure why it wasn’t working, but I did have one idea.
Sweetie Belle, good luck, because if I’m right, you are really going to need it!
I blinked and slowly went back to my book, hoping to play it off. The others groaned and soon the class had started. I did notice Sweetie taking random glances at me. I guess staring for too long had piqued her interest. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in her, but right now I only wanted to talk to one pony: Rarity, her older sister. I had learned enough from the eyes of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo to know that Sweetie Belle had an older sister but no parents. Because Apple Bloom and Scootaloo did not know what happened to them, I didn’t either.
The rest of the day passed by at a crawl. The more I wanted to see Rarity, the more time worked against me. The lunch bell finally rang, but I still had half a day left. As I sat alone once more and slowly ate my food, I could overhear the other ponies talking.
“So… are we just gonna ignore him or something?” Scootaloo asked. I assumed at this point that she, along with the others, must not realize the extent of my ability. Maybe Scootaloo thought on some strange level that, because her living arrangements was such a big, big secret, I did not know about them? It made no sense to me, but perhaps it did to her.
“I thanked him… so I think I’m good with how we both stand,” Diamond Tiara replied with a smirk before starting a hushed conversation with Silver Spoon.
“Yeah, but he’s eating there all alone. That can’t be fun,” Apple Bloom replied. On the contrary. This was bliss.
“I don’t know. If he can see all of our secrets and stuff… isn’t that bad?” Sweetie Belle asked. If only you knew. Thinking about her filled me with unease once more. Why wouldn’t it work on her?
“Ahh, c’mon. I’m sure he can control it and wouldn’t use it on his new best friends!” Scootaloo piped up.
BINGO! That’s why she’s not afraid of me. She assumes she knows how it works. If only I could control this curse, if only I could…. Scootaloo, if you were smart, which I know you are despite your attitude, you would leave me alone. She didn’t.
“Hey!” Scootaloo came over and shouted at me. “We wanted to-”
“Let me stop you right there,” I interrupted. I paused, waiting for her to finish her groan. “I heard everything you five were talking about. I’m actually pretty happy being alone over here, so please don’t change that. As for me controlling this around my new best friends ,” I continued in a mocking fashion, “it does not work that way. I can’t control True Sight. I look into your eyes and after a moment, everything changes for me. I see your fears, your memories, names, dates, places, secrets... If I were you, Scootaloo, I would just leave me be. I know you have a secret, a pretty big one that would be devastating if it came out, because you’re afraid of what might happen…” By this point I was whispering into her ear with the filly hanging onto my every word. “Now, I’m emancipated, which means I also live on my own. Your situation is not legal in any respect… but I won’t say a thing, ever. Still, if I were you, I would walk back over to that table and let everypony know that I do not want friends and that it will never change.”
I don’t know what made her stay and utter her next sentence. I could sense her emotions, and yet I still could not tell what it would take to make her leave me be. Maybe it was her longing to have a new friend that was sort of like her, or that was at least in a similar situation. We were both loners, the only difference being the legality and the friends part. Maybe it was just curiosity.
“But why?” she asked in a very pleading, almost begging tone. If only things were different….
I sighed. “Would you still want to be friends with somepony after figuring them out at a single glance? You don’t get to know them as real friends should; you just know. I know you Scootaloo. I know you very well, and we have barely even spoken to each other. And I hate that about myself. I hate that this will never change. No matter how many ponies I see, I will always know them in an instant. And it’s for that very reason that I cannot have friends. What would be the point? For you to get to know me? I’m a creepy colt who lives on his own and likes it that way. What’s there to know?” I finished with a harsh whisper, and it was at that moment I realized I might have gone just a bit too far. I hadn’t broken her per se , but I had certainly destroyed the hopes for a normal life that she had begun building around me. When she had discovered that I was emancipated, she had hoped she would finally get a friend who was likewise on their own, one who couldn’t help but understand. She had hoped that that friendship would give her the courage to tell the rest of her friends the awful truth. Now, it would never happen. Scootaloo was too chicken, too scared of losing her friends. She would do anything to keep them. I had to at least respect that as I watched her slow, mechanical march back to the table where her friends were.
Scootaloo did not speak when she got to their table. I’m pretty sure that none of her friends noticed, though. That’s the biggest issue with most fillies and colts: they don’t think. That is, they don’t see the subtle cues and signs of a filly in emotional distress. I groaned when I realized that my stupid sense of guilt was bubbling up again, burdening me with a new task: get Scootaloo a real home. However, my conscience would have to wait until I actually had a freakin’ idea of how to accomplish this. Of all the ponies whose eyes I had glanced into, none were parent material and none were likely to be interested in taking in Scootaloo. I grudgingly took out my journal and jotted down a reminder to myself to help Scootaloo. Rarity remained my first priority, however.
As class continued, I observed that Scootaloo seemed detached from reality. A glance at her eyes told me just how literal that was. She was thinking about absolutely nothing except pure defeat. I hissed slightly as the guilt just built up even more. I really felt bad for her. At least I had plenty of bits to keep me well fed, entertained, clothed, etcetera. Scootaloo only had a lousy paper route job to keep her fed. She never once stole, but it was becoming harder for her not to do that from what I could see. She was an adventurous filly that did her stunts so the world would notice her. She was not even aware of it, but I could see that subconsciously she wanted to be caught so she would finally be loved by somepony. I understood why she felt so hopeless when I just basically told her to screw off. I groaned when I finally realized that I had gone way too far. I’d find her a home near her friends if it killed me (which might well happen if she found out who helped her). But... then she would want to be friends with me, and she’d refuse to take no for an answer, and… NO! I DO NOT WANT friends. Still, I would help her, I vowed with a silent promise. But first, Rarity.
After class, I stealthily made my way to Rarity’s boutique. Though I hadn’t yet been there, I knew where it was from Spike’s memories. I waited outside, just out of view, and, as expected, Sweetie Belle came trotting out with a happy smile plastered on her face. I waited a few minutes longer and then walked in.
“Welcome to… oh, a little colt! Are you one of Sweetie’s classmates?”
“Yes, now-”
“Oh, how wonderful! Are you two-”
“Stop! No, we are not friends. I am here to talk about her, though.”
She narrowed her eyes as a million thoughts ran through her head. Dang she had an imagination! Finally she settled on cautious optimism and motioned for me to continue.
“Have you ever heard of True Sight?” I asked, knowing full well that she had not.
“Uh, no.”
“True Sight is my special talent. All I have to do is look into your eyes and in an instant I know everything about you, from memories, to thoughts, to emotions, to secrets.”
She scoffed and then laughed a bit, clearly in denial. “So, you’re psychic you're saying?” She spoke lightly, but I could see in her eyes the ocean of sarcasm behind her words.
“Might as well be.” I gave her my best disconcertingly calm stare. “Rarity, age twenty seven, favorite color is silver. You started taking care of Sweetie Belle after your parents died on vacation and have continued to do so ever since.”
“That doesn’t prove anything!” she growled. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but clearly you have been a naughty colt who’s been spying on me!”
“Not enough, eh? You resent the very idea of taking care of Sweetie; you love her more than anything in the world, but can’t help but feel bitter that you had to pick up the pieces so early in your life when you were not ready in the slightest.”
I could literally see it in her eyes when chilling realization set in. It made me bitter every time. Finally, she spoke. “What do you want?”
“In my life, I have always known so many things, Rarity. Things I would rather not know, but it’s just how I work. When I met Sweetie Belle… it didn’t work.”
“What didn’t work?”
“True Sight. It won’t work on her.”
“So what? I’m sure you're bound to-”
“It has never not worked. She is unique, the only pony I’ve ever seen who is like this. My only idea is that her special talent is also True Sight.”
“She has no special talent…”
“Not yet, but my True Sight even shows me the special talents of blank flanked ponies. Sometimes it changes over time before they actually get their talent, but with Sweetie… there’s nothing there. It all leads to one conclusion: She has True Sight. Eventually, it will just click for her.”
“And then what?” Her voice was bitter, tinged with anger and sorrow.
“And then, nothing will ever be a secret again, between you two.”
An awkward silence came over both of us. I saw the same defeat in her eyes that I had seen in Scootaloo’s. Then a glimmer of hope came to her.
“Is True Sight always the same?”
“…No.” I uttered, knowing full well from the books I had read that it can be different for each pony. I was just dealt a bad hand. “Sometimes it’s really weak, like only knowing names or a few secrets. Other times, it’s insanely strong, like in me.” I sighed. “I know so much, Rarity. So many things that I would really rather forget, but I can’t.”
“What should I do?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. Maybe talk to Twilight for some advice. If I were you, though, I would get any secrets you have been keeping from her out of the way so she doesn’t hate you when she finds out the hard way.”
“I don’t keep secrets from her!”
“No, but you still feel bitter sometimes when you take care of her…”
“I- I know.”
“Yeah. Good luck, Rarity. If I am right, that is. If I’m wrong about her special talent, then this conversation never happened. By the way, hypothetically speaking, can I ask you something?”
“Uh, sure?”
Normally I know everything about somepony, but with these types of questions I had to ask first before I got the answer. It made me feel oddly normal, too.
“If there was, say, a filly that was on their own, with no parents of their own, would you take them in?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can’t say, but would you?”
She pondered this for a long while before speaking. “Probably not, unless I knew this filly…”
I looked into her eyes again, and she was mostly telling the truth. It was still a hypothetical situation, so her feelings were probably skewed from what they would be in actual dire circumstances. Still, I had to know, and this was as close as anypony could get.
“Would you turn them in?”
“Who are you talking about, and why do I get the feeling that this is no longer hypothetical?”
I sighed; I was a bad liar anyway. “It’s not, but I’m not going to say who. Now, would you turn them in or not?”
“To the authorities? I don’t think so, but why would a filly be on their own? What in the world for?”
“Many reasons. I, for example (even though I’m not a filly), am on my own. I was emancipated from my mother, my only family. On the other hand, the filly’s parents could be dead.”
“But then why is said filly not in a home of some sort, an orphanage?”
“She’s determined to stay with her friends, and Ponyville has no orphanage. Her luck won’t last forever though.”
“I see. In that case, I might take them in, but it would have to be-”
“Somepony close to you, got it. This is not hypothetical, but I said I wouldn’t say. I can go ask her if she wants to tell you of her situation, though. Should I?”
“I- I suppose so?” She was too shocked to say much of anything else. Telling her about Sweetie Belle’s True Sight had already knocked her for a loop, emotionally. It wouldn’t do me any good to push Rarity beyond what she could handle, but I hated feeling guilty and wanted to solve this as quickly as possible.
I left Carousel Boutique and raced to the apple orchard. I knew Scootaloo was probably there by now. I was lucky, luckier than I had remembered being lately, as I was not discovered or stopped by Applejack or Apple Bloom while trespassing.
I found the clubhouse and ignored my surroundings as I found the door and knocked a few times.
“Guys?” Scootaloo asked.
“Nope,” I replied.
There was a long pause before the door opened. She was angry. Oh colt, was she angry.
“What do you want, jerk ?” Ouch? It didn’t really hurt since I had been trying to be a jerk at the time.
“Alright, I know I said all those things, but I’m sorry.”
“That’s it?”
“No. I also may have found you a home in Ponyville.”
“Huh?” Another mind blank. This was just getting too easy.
“I didn’t tell anypony, but, if I were you, I would head to Rarity’s boutique and spill your guts in front of her.”
“Why would I do that?” she snapped, her voice growing loud and squeaky.
“I have True Sight, remember? When I asked her if she would take in a filly like you, she said yes, and she wasn’t lying. I would know, I sensed nothing that would suggest otherwise.”
“Why should I even trust you?”
I hated what I was about to say more than I hate cupcakes, and I absolutely despise cupcakes. I’ve never been able to figure out why, but seriously, cupcakes are nasty.
“If she says no or tries to turn you in, then you can come to my place, in the Whitetail Woods, and… live with me…” I muttered under my breath while gritting my teeth.
“If she tries to turn me in then everypony will already know, stupid! How would you-”
“In the eyes of her majesty’s government, I’m not a minor. I can legally take you in and take care of you financially, and that’s all they really care about. Now, if I were you, I would take this chance and run with it before I change my mind.”
She hesitated for a good while while breathing in and out to calm her nerves. “Fine! I’m gonna do it! You’d better not-”
“I get it. Now just go. I have some stuff to do. Bye.”
I left before she had time to find an excuse to back out. With nothing better to do, I searched around and eventually found a massive lake near my cottage. I had no homework and nothing else to do. So, of course, my thoughts drifted to Sweetie Belle. I wanted to be her friend, I really did. I knew my idea was right. It had to be that she had True Sight. As I looked into my reflection in the lake, as I gazed into my eyes, I saw the same thing I had always seen since I was very young: nothing. True Sight will not work on itself; it never has. Sweetie Belle was going to get it. When? I had no clue to be honest, and I loved that. For me, ignorance was bliss. I could even tell how close a pony was to earning their special talent: if it was far off then it would seem distant and grey, while if it was close then the special talent would practically be flashing before my eyes. With Sweetie, I had no clue! My only problem was how to befriend Sweetie and gain a real, proper friend while interacting with the rest of her entourage as little as possible. I had no interest in them because I already knew them all too well.
I’d figure something out. I was actually excited to have a real friend finally, somepony who I could get to know the natural way. I might have been a loner, but that was for a reason completely outside of my control. Sweetie Belle removed this reason entirely, without even trying.
Then a horrible thought came to my mind. Would she even want to be my friend?
I was quickly consumed with doubt. Just because we were alike did not mean she would want anything to do with me. Thinking about all the possible ways she might react made me feel dizzy and exhausted. From Rarity I knew she liked making new friends just as much as the other Crusaders, but that amounted to nothing. I was still the odd colt who had shunned the others, so why should she treat me any differently? Why would she listen to me and want to be my ally or friend after I told the others to essentially buck off ?
I realized then and there that I needed some sort of plan to get Sweetie to talk to me. I had to isolate her for just a little while so I could explain things. For a time, I thought of lying to her and keeping her in that ignorant bliss that I longed for, but eventually she was going to find out about her talent one way or another. At least if I told her, she could prepare and it wouldn’t be such a shock when her talent did reveal itself.
I still remember when it first happened for me, when I finally got my special talent. It was a pretty good day, oddly enough. I was not cursed yet. I spent my whole day walking around town with my mother, correctly guessing ponies’ names. It was both shocking and amusing to my mom, but she loved me all the same.
Then, slowly, it started to get stronger and stronger. I no longer just saw names; I saw dates and memories and all sorts of secrets. At first, it was amazing to just know everything! Then I saw my first sex scene. It was so disgusting, and my mother was beyond shocked to hear what I told her I’d seen. A few doctor visits later, they found out my True Sight talent was one of the strongest they had ever heard of. While, as Miss Cheerilee had told the class, it was true that documented cases of True Sight were few and far between, there were still ponies who got True Sight nowadays. Nopony who had it, however, was able to see as much as could. I was unique. My mother, thankfully, kept it a secret. The doctors wanted to publish a paper, but under threat of a lawsuit they kept quiet. It was the first time I saw my mother get that angry, but it was not the last.
Slowly, the city, my city, began to turn into a dark and twisted place. So many ponies had committed so many acts of violence or sex. And I just wanted my special talent to stop. I did not want to feel so guilty by looking into so many secrets, but no matter where I went, I did. I tried to remain aloof from the myriad ponies that lived in my city, to distance myself. When that didn’t work, they became my enemies. That’s when I started to grow bitter. By age seven, I had abandoned all of my friends from school and started using True Sight to avoid other ponies. It worked almost too well. My teacher tried to talk to me, but I used my ability to shut him out. By the time I had reached a new grade and a new age, I had accumulated so much knowledge that it was almost sad to be in third grade. I knew so much that I started to become complacent, not so much with my school work, but with my ability to make a pony speechless. I saw no need for social skills.
My mother noticed some of this, but she was too preoccupied with dwelling on the past. Manehatten had become familiar to the point of sickening me. The street vendors I saw selling food would play out their grim home lives right before my eyes. Instead of school children playing on a playground, I saw petty squabbles and petty triumphs, wholesome families and broken ones. I saw laborers, office workers, nobles, and politicians, and, big as it was, I knew every routine of every pony in the whole damn city. I didn’t want to know so much that I was like some sort of god. I just wanted out. So I promised myself that if I came to Ponyville, I would shut myself away and try to avoid as many ponies’ eyes as I possibly could.
Now Sweetie Belle faced the same thing. If she wasn’t warned or prepared, she was going to find her life slowly turning into a living Tartarus. Oh, she wouldn’t start out hating her friends or her big sister; but pretty soon nopony would be able to keep secrets from her, and I knew just how poisonous that could be. I felt I had to do something, for both of our sakes. If I could not befriend her and explain the truth, then I feared for our lingering sanity and our futures.
Chapter Four: To Gain a Friend
I barely slept last night; my mind was ablaze with plans and worries. I could only assume that Scootaloo had been taken in by Rarity, since that filly never came to my cottage to take me up on my offer. That did little to ease my guilt; now my concerns over Sweetie Belle were making me feel as guilty as ever. I did a double take as those two thoughts came together and I realized I had just made Scootaloo Sweetie Belle’s unofficial sister, or something close to it. Great. More complications.
The more I thought about it, the more I dreaded going to go to school at all, yet I had to. After all, who knew what had actually happened? Maybe things had gone horribly for Scootaloo. Or, maybe she never ended up speaking to Rarity. She was being honest when she had said she was going to confront her potential new guardian, but ponies have certainly been known to get nervous and change their minds. I groaned and decided to take a slower shower today. Sometimes I would take quiet moments and try to sort through my gained memories. Sometimes it actually helped, and I could place stuff aside forever. Most of the time, however, I just wished amnesia spells existed.
I stepped out of my cottage and let out a muzzle stretching yawn. I felt exhausted not only from my lack of sleep but also from my swirling memories. I had never really been an excitable colt, even before my ‘gift’ happened. However, with so much at stake, I couldn’t help but feel nervous; the unknown results of my actions weighed heavy on my mind. I yawned three more times that morning while walking to school.
I saw Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon traveling together as a group this morning. I walked past them and noticed that they were all avoiding eye contact with me. I couldn’t blame them. Fortunately for me, I caught enough out of the corner of Scootaloo’s eye.
Rarity was staring down the filly before her, frozen in shock. Scootaloo could guess what was going through her head: was this really the filly Veritas was talking about? Unthinkable!
“Hi, Rarity,” Scootaloo said in a nervous tone.
“Darling,” she replied automatically.
“So, uh, Vertias was here, right?”
“...Yes.”
“And he said you would be cool with letting me stay here… like forever?”
“Scoota-” She shook her head a few times to clear her thoughts. “What in Luna’s name happened to your parents?!” She practically screamed. Scootaloo flinched and hung her head low.
“I, uh, well, my dad died during the changeling invasion… and my mom died giving birth to me…”
“Oh,” she replied. Rarity looked away guiltily. She had fought in the invasion. She knew that some ponies had died; she had just never considered the plight of the shattered families trying to pick up the pieces. “I, I’m so sorry sweetie…”
“It’s okay, it’s not your faul-”
“But I was unable to stop the invasion! The Elements were-”
“I know you tried your best. I don’t blame anypony. I- I don’t even blame the changelings…”
“But why? It was because of them-”
“I know that, but my father always told me never to hold grudges. Hay, I don’t even hold anything against Diamond Tiara from before we became friends. Still can’t believe that happened. Heh. Anyway, uh, can I stay?”
“Yes, you can stay here. I suppose I’ll have to-”
Scootaloo jumped forward and hugged her around the neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Of course, darling. I couldn’t let you sleep out there alone. Sweetie would kill me if I did that…” She muttered the last part, hoping Scootaloo did not hear it.
“What?”
“Nothing! That Veritas sure is something though.”
“I’ll say. Kind of scary though. He just knows everything after looking at ya; that’s not right…”
“It’s not something he can help. If he was your friend-”
“But he’s not my friend. He doesn’t even want to be friends! Does he really live on his own? I heard him say something about being ema... emansa...”
“Emancipated? If that is true, then yes, but to be emancipated from his mother or father at such a young age, well, there would need to be a very good reason.”
Scootaloo pondered this before smirking. “If I was his mom or dad, I ’d want him to be emancipated right away! I’m sorry, but he’s kind of creepy!”
Rarity scowled. “Young lady, that is not something you should be saying!”
“Young lady? What?!”
“If you are going to be living under my roof , then you will be living under my rules. Whether or not he is creepy is something you should keep to yourself! That was also a very rude thing to say about his parents, very rude indeed!” Rarity stomped her hoof once to emphasize her point.
“But I-”
“No buts! He did help you, no matter how uncouth his manners are . Where have you been living, anyway?”
Rarity’s rapid mood swings were making Scootaloo frantic with uncertainty. “The club house. Rarity, I-”
“Well, we can’t have that! Let’s get you into a bath, pronto!”
The memory ended there. Scootaloo felt as if a giant weight had been lifted. I almost laughed from the way Rarity had begun to treat her. I’m sure it confused Scootaloo more than anything, but I could tell it was love. Well, something close to love, I guess. You don’t start controlling a filly’s or colt’s life like that without loving them. From Scootaloo’s memories I couldn’t tell for sure what Rarity or Sweetie Belle had been thinking though. I hoped that Rarity was not too upset. Sweetie did look pretty pleased, judging by the smirk on her face. I even heard her say something to Scootaloo about being her new sister.
If I was going to isolate Sweetie, I would need a reason. A good reason. As I entered the schoolhouse, I saw they were all still avoiding eye contact, especially Scootaloo.
Ungrateful little-! My thoughts were interrupted as the school bell rang out.
“Good morning class,” Cheerilee said warmly.
“Good morning Miss Cheerilee,” everyone except for me replied in unison. My only response was a pretty loud yawn and my eyes drooping down. She noticed this but said nothing.
“Today we will be getting together in study groups to review the chapter we are currently covering on Equestrian History!” I heard murmurs around me as the students immediately began recruiting their friends. “I will be assigning groups of two.” The whole class let out a muted groan.
There was no way that she was going to pick Sweetie and I. The odds had to be mathematically impossible, despite the small class size.
“Let’s see, Scootaloo and Snips. Snails and Apple Bloom. Silver Spoon and Twist. Diamond Tiara and…” It was getting pretty close; her mind was whirling from pony to pony as I scanned her eyes. “Me, I think I could be your partner.” Diamond Tiara groaned, and I couldn’t blame her; that was still the ultimate embarrassment no matter what grade you were in. “That just leaves Sweetie Belle and Veritas.”
Each student found their respective partner. Sweetie walked up to my desk and took a seat. As expected, she was avoiding eye contact, and her friends were throwing us nervous glances. I waited for the other students to start speaking to one another before talking to her.
“Hi,” I said, feeling stupid.
“Hello,” she said shyly in response.
“So are you avoiding eye contact cause of my special talent?”
“Yep,” she said in a blunt manner. “If I can’t see your eyes then it can’t work!” she said smugly, and then used a bit of magic to open her book.
“That’s only half right. I can still see stuff from-”
“Then keep it to yourself!” she snapped. Cheerilee looked over. “Sorry, Miss Cheerilee…”
I had nothing to say. Sweetie Belle turned back to me.
“I don’t care if you can see everything; just keep it to yourself and it won’t matter,” she said in a hushed whisper.
“I-”
“Shhh,” she said and began to quietly read her book. I was speechless. For once in my freakin’ life I was speechless, and I didn’t want to be! I gritted my teeth and began to read my book as well. I was no stranger to study groups; it was just an excuse to keep the class quiet and under control.
“Sweetie?” I tried asking.
“Yes? Do you need any help with your reading, or do you want to discuss the book?”
“Uh, no I-“
“Then, shh! You’re going to get us in trouble.”
I did not need True Sight to know that what she had just said was a lie. Students all around us were having playful conversations. She just didn’t want to be my friend or talk to me. I felt many things at that moment: I felt stupid for telling Scootaloo that I would never want friends when clearly that wasn’t true. I felt powerless because my True Sight had failed me. I felt annoyed that Sweetie would not talk to me about anything but our assignment. Finally, I felt sad that she did not wish to be my friend.
I had brought it all on myself. “I hate my life...” I muttered very quietly under my breath.
“What did you just say?” Sweetie asked.
She heard that?! Buck. I hesitated before speaking, by getting a grip on myself.
“Let’s just get our reading done,” I replied dryly. I couldn’t tell with my face buried in my book, but I was pretty sure that Sweetie was staring at me now.
A couple moments later, I heard Sweetie mutter something. It was so quiet that even if the classroom had been silent nopony else would have heard it, but I certainly did.
“You shouldn’t say things like that. At least you are alive.”
Her voice, it sounded so bitter. It didn’t take a genius to know she was alluding to her parents. From what I had seen in Rarity, Sweetie still remembered them very well. The ‘accident’ was only a year ago, after all. Officially it had been ruled an accident, but the emotions I felt from Rarity in those memories made the whole thing seem suspicious. Well, what’s done is done.
“Yeah, I am,” I replied.
Unfortunately that was our entire conversation. I felt so mad that such a golden opportunity was just wasted in actual class activities.
At lunch I ate alone. Nopony looked at me, and nopony talked to me. I had finally gotten what I wanted, and now I wanted something different! Isn’t it funny how the universe works out? So funny, I forgot to laugh.
It was then that I got desperate and hatched a really, really stupid plan. My plan was to… well, I had no real plan other than to just wait for them at their clubhouse and brazenly confront Sweetie Belle like some immature child. I knew that this could only end badly. I would probably just get kicked out of their hangout on my flank, but I had to try. I waited for school to end and then surprised everypony by dashing out first and making a run for the Cutie Mark Crusader Clubhouse.
I hesitated before entering the clubhouse and sitting down on one of their pillows. As I was running, I had developed a basic plan for what to say, but oh colt they were going to be angry at me. As the minutes ticked by, my pulse quickened. For the first time in a long time, I was nervous. I was extremely afraid that I would ruin any chance of gaining a friendship with Sweetie Belle by doing this, but I couldn’t think of anything better. I didn’t give a crud about her other two friends, just her.
Finally, after a good twenty minutes, I heard five voices nearing the tree house. I guess Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were now crusaders, or were about to become crusaders. The door opened and in walked Sweetie Belle. She screamed at the top of her lungs when she saw me.
“What are you doing here?!” she yelled, her voice squeaking. The others rushed inside and quickly joined in gawking at me. Now, I’m a patient colt. I’m no actor, and I hate lying as well, but I knew that I had to jump into my act quickly before I lost the upper hoof.
“You know,” I started with a smirk, “when I lived in Manehattan, I would often find myself on the wrong end of a conversation. Ponies would call me things like ‘that little freak’ or ‘weirdo’ and even start fights with me.” I began to circle them to buy myself some time as I racked my brains for the best way to just blurt out what I needed to say. They tried to avoid my eyes, but it didn’t matter at this point. “It didn’t take long for the district that I lived in to figure me out and label me the outcast. Being the outcast is no fun; I think you all know this.” I finished while glaring at them. They again avoided my eyes, but I got the feeling that now they were doing so out of shame. “But I digress. I’m here to offer you all a deal.”
“What deal?” Scootaloo questioned.
“It’s very simple. Give me ten minutes alone to talk to Sweetie Belle,” I said, gesturing at her, “or I tell all of your guardians and parents all of your dirty...little...secrets.” This was the biggest lie I had ever told. Now, granted, each of these ponies did have a few things to keep from their parents. Nothing devastating, but they didn’t know that. They were still children, and their imaginations tended to run a bit more rampant than mine. Hell, sometimes even my imagination was too enthusiastic for its own good. I used to find it odd that other children would behave so imprudently and predictably. Eventually I realized that all the memories I had gained could also stand in for personal experience. I had to accept that I had grown far, far more mature than the other ponies my age, for better or for worse.
“You’re a scumbag! And I thought I used to act low,” Diamond Tiara declared. I ignored her.
“I don’t believe you! Why would you help me with my, uh, problem and then do this all of a sudden?” Scootaloo questioned. Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow at her friend, but Scootaloo avoided eye contact with her.
“Why indeed? Tell me Scootaloo, have you been honest with your friends? With Apple-“
“I’ll do it!” Sweetie blurted out. I blinked in surprise. Apple Bloom had no idea that her friend had been living in the clubhouse this whole time, but a glance into Scootaloo’s eyes told me that she and Sweetie had made a pact to never share that. I, of course, would never break this pact in a million years, but they didn’t need to know that. “Just don’t hurt my friends,” she said in defeat.
“Deal. Sweetie Belle, meet me at the lake, and come alone!” Then I dashed off, leaving the five scowling at my departing figure.
I waited near the water. I picked this lake because the open shoreline made it impossible for the others to sneak up unseen and eavesdrop. We would actually be alone.
Fifteen minutes later she came, marching along with her head held high. I guess she figured there was no point in hiding her eyes, which was true.
“I’m here, now what?”
“Right. First off I would like to apologize for my little stunt back there.”
She snorted. “Oh really? Then why don’t you seem apologetic?”
“Probably because I never planned on spilling those secrets, ever,” I said in the most serious tone I could muster.
“Then why do that?! What was the point?!”
“I really, really needed to talk to you. Just please give me ten minutes, and then I’m gone.”
“Fine, but you better leave me alone after this.”
I sighed and hesitated before speaking, “Right. You know my True Sight?”
“How could I forget?” she replied, her voice absolutely dripping with sarcasm.
“It doesn’t work on you.”
She quirked a brow in my direction. “Come again?”
“You heard me. It won’t work on you,” I repeated.
“I take it that’s weird?” she said, probably not believing me in the slightest.
“Well, uh, not for those that have True Sight as well…”
Her eyes narrowed at me. “What do you mean?” she demanded.
Instead of answering, I walked over to my reflection in the lake and gazed into my eyes. “What do you think I see, Sweetie Belle?”
“Your ugly face?”
“In my eyes, what do you think I see?” I ignored her jibe and began to smile into the lake, my eyes unfocused.
“I don’t know. Your memories or something? Doesn’t that hurt your eyes to do it to yourself?”
“No, because I see nothing. No memories, no names, no emotions, nothing at all. True Sight does not work on those with True Sight.” I slowly glanced back to her. “Do you understand?”
She scoffed. “Hello! I don’t have True Sight. I don’t even have a cutie mark, dummy. It’s not like-”
“You will,” I interrupted in a bold tone, my eyes still gazing down with a sad smile on my face. “You may not have it yet, but True Sight goes so deep, Sweetie Belle. I can see other ponies talents before they even get them. I know the cutie marks of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo already. And pretty soon, you will too. Pretty soon nothing will be the same.” I stood up and gazed into her eyes as she looked on with just a hint of fear. “And the reason I tell you this, the reason I brought you out here, is not to scare you but to warn you so you can prepare.”
“Warn me about what?” she asked, her voice finally starting to soften.
“When I said nothing would be the same again, I meant it. Your True Sight has to be strong to be able to block mine so easily. Pretty soon, nopony will be able to keep secrets from you. At least you have time to prepare so you don’t end up like me.”
She eyed me for a long time after that. When she spoke again, there was just a hint of compassion in her voice.
“What happened to you? Why are you like this? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what you did for Scootaloo. It was probably the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard of, but you’re still so-”
“Complacent and a jerk?”
“Yes!” she exclaimed, then blushed a bit. “Oops. I mean, maybe a little…”
I sighed. “It’s just who I am now. I’ve seen so many things, Sweetie Belle. Terrible things and amazing things.” She slowly walked up to me and took a seat. By this point, I wasn’t trying to manipulate her; I was pouring my heart out. “At first it was pretty fun, when I first got this. It only showed names to start with. I spent a few days just running around the big city and surprising ponies by correctly ‘guessing’ their names. It was so much fun.” My breathing was sharp, she noticed. “Then the memories started, and emotions, and finally everything. It wasn’t so bad until I started watching my mom. The more I saw her memories, the more I hated her. I still love her very much, but she started to show me my dead father, whom I had never known. Each memory of him was bitter, to say the least. She was also bitter at herself for losing him, but that still didn’t change the fact that every memory of my father was bitter and hateful. I eventually knew everything about my dad without ever meeting him.
“Please stop talking,” she pleaded.
I continued as if I was in a trance. “I should have been happy with the life we had. My dad left us plenty of bits when he passed away. But every single time I looked into my mom’s eyes, I felt her pain and I felt her longing for my father to be alive once more. I was okay in the anonymous tumult of the city, but being with my mother was the only time when I was truly sad. True Sight is like a curse.... Pretty soon I tried avoiding eye contact with her like you all did with me, but it was only a matter of time before I would have to look into her eyes for some reason. Each time I did, the wretched sadness would be right back, as strong as ever, and I’d hate it even more. I knew I had to leave.”
“I get it! Please stop!”
“The eman-”
A hoof came up to my face as she slapped me. “Stop! I told you to stop talking, okay?” I looked over in shock and saw that she was actually crying. She sniffled a few times before speaking again. “I’m sorry all those things happened to you, but how am I supposed to stop it?”
I looked at her for a few moments, my physical pain forgotten. “You don’t, you just learn from my mistakes. Don’t hate Rarity for what she feels, and respect your friends’ privacy even when the doors will always be open with them.”
“That’s it? I just wait for this stupid thing to happen and then nothing will be the same?”
“I guess, yeah. And that’s all I wanted to tell you. I’ll leave you be as promised-”
“Now hold it right here mister!” She jumped to her feet, stomped a hoof, and narrowed her eyes in my face. “I may not be able to control my new talent when I get it, but I’m not going to watch me friends leave me!”
“And how are you going to stop that?” I tried not to sound mocking, but I did anyway.
“By proving to them that you’re not a freak, that you’re just a pony who wants friends like everypony else!”
“But I don’t want friends. Just you, maybe…”
She raised an eyebrow at hearing this. “Why me?”
“Because you have True Sight, and at least with you I can actually get to know you as a friend. It’s kind of a rare thing for me,” I admitted ashamedly. I was being as honest as possible.
“Yeah, well, that’s going to change! Right now! You are going to march over to them and apologize, and then you’re going to say how much you want to be their friends and that’s why you dragged me away and did all of this. Understand?”
“You’re going to lie to them?”
“Of course not! I’m just not going to tell them that I have True Sight yet, if I even really do. They already fear you, and I don’t want them fearing me. The only way to do that is to prove to them that you're just a normal pony and not some-“
“Freak, I get it!” I snapped.
“I wasn’t going to say that!” she screamed in my face, causing me to recoil. She sighed and calmed herself before speaking again. “You’re not a bad pony, Veritas. You’ve just had bad stuff happen to you.”
I scowled. “Spare me. I make ponies fear me without even trying.”
“I’m not lying when I say you’re not a bad pony. Now are you going to march over there, or do I have to drag you kicking and screaming?”
“And what if I don’t?” I challenged. I really did not want to associate with the others, even if it would help make Sweetie Belle my friend. There just had to be some other way of befriending her.
“If you don’t do what I say, then I will never be your friend! Simple as that.”
I couldn’t believe her. She was manipulating me and my feelings! I had poured my freakin’ heart out, so she knew that she had me. She was going to force me to make other friends to earn her friendship!
Without warning, she turned and started walking away. “My offer is slipping away,” she said in a sing song voice.
“Weren’t you listening to me? There’s no point in making friends with the ponies I already know!” I yelled back in a mocking sing song voice. She kept right on walking, not looking back.
As I watched her leave for the clubhouse, I felt something like a knife in my heart. She was pretty much the only hope I had for actually having a real friend, somepony like me. I hesitated for just a moment longer before sprinting for all I was worth. I caught up with her and collapsed at her hooves.
“I’m *pant*, I *pant*, I’ll do it.”
“Wonderful! I’ll just meet you back at the clubhouse then,” she replied, and walked off. After a moment, she turned her head back to speak to me. “Oh, and you really need to start exercising. You’re not fat or anything, but, really? You collapse after five seconds of running?” She scoffed and giggled before walking away again. I groaned, hoping deep down that what I was doing was the right thing.
As I walked slowly back to the clubhouse, I racked my brain to come up a workable plan to talk this out. I knew these ponies and what would please them individually in a conversation, but I didn’t know how to talk to all of them at once. It was just too much. I knew this was going to be awkward. Sweetie Belle knew it was going to be awkward, but she was willing to fight through it for the sake of her friends.
I wanted Sweetie Belle to be my friend, almost desperately so. For her part, she was terribly worried that her friends would reject her when they found out her special talent was the same as mine. Certainly the same talent would lead to the same despicable behavior, right? So, for the sake of our potential friendship, I would show the others that I actually could be bearable to be around. My plan was simple. I would do my best to ignore whatever came from her friend’s eyes as I tried to make friends with them. It was a terrible plan, and I knew it was doomed to fail, but I had to try.
I knocked on the clubhouse a few times and waited. Sweetie Belle opened the door. I thought she looked nervous, but without my Sight I couldn’t quite tell.
“Come in,” she replied, stepping aside. As I walked inside, all eyes were on me. They did not look happy.
“Sweetie Belle, why are we allowing this again?” Apple Bloom questioned, glaring at me.
I sighed as my plan started falling apart already. I couldn’t help but see all the outrage in her eyes. The fact that colts were not allowed in the clubhouse was just the tip of the iceberg. I felt myself start to bridle at all the animosity.
“Why don’t you tell my friends why you pulled me aside? Hmm?” Luckily, I didn’t need True Sight to recognize the pleading in Sweetie Belle’s eyes. She was begging me to play along and play nice. For her, I reigned in my temper.
“Uh, right. First off, I’d like to apologize for-”
“You’re darn right you’re gonna apologize!” Apple Bloom interrupted. I had seen it coming, of course, but had played dumb and allowed her to do it. It seemed to make her feel a little better to score a point on me, I noticed. If I could just get into the habit of ignoring my True Sight, then maybe this could work.
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I was never going to reveal any secrets or anything like that,” I finished, and saw mixed reactions. Apple Bloom tilted her head quizzically. Sweetie Belle smiled. Scootaloo was not buying it in the slightest and was still afraid that I would tell Apple Bloom about her living in the clubhouse. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon scoffed in unison before the former spoke up.
“Then why even do it? What did you have to talk to her about anyway?” She narrowed her eyes and waited.
Sweetie Belle spoke up before I could even glance at her for guidance. I had to hand it to her; she was smart. If her friends noticed us coaching each other, they might add conspiracy on top of all the other wild guesses about me running through their minds.
“He just wants friends. He singled me out at random and wouldn’t admit it in front of all of you. So I told him, fine, but he had to admit to it or it wouldn’t make any sense,” Sweetie Belle finished.
“You didn’t seem that interested in becoming friends before,” Scootaloo replied, with just a hint of bitterness in her voice.
“That was before I...” I gritted my teeth with my mouth closed so they wouldn’t notice, “...realized how much of a jerk I was being.” I was hoping that by admitting a mistake, they might sympathize. As expected, I got a uniform result from everypony but Sweetie Belle: they demanded satisfaction but were not sure how. I waited for one of them to give voice to the group opinion.
“Well, okay, but we still don’t trust ya. No offense…” Apple Bloom practically muttered, but we all heard it. I didn’t care, but Sweetie Belle did. I saw her flinch.
“How can I get you to trust me?”
I could tell that Sweetie Belle wanted to scream that she trusts me, but she thought better of it. Again, I had to give her credit. The easy way out of this situation would do her no favors. They needed to see that ponies with True Sight could be trusted.
Apple Bloom pondered this for all of five seconds before yelling out, “Cutie Mark Crusaders, huddle!” In an instant, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo huddled up with her. They then saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara giving them quizzical looks. “That means you huddle up with us, like this!”
“Oh,” they both replied and reluctantly huddled in.
Rather than feeling shunned, I actually enjoyed myself for a moment. I couldn’t tell what they were saying, and I was completely in the dark. Nice! Very quickly, however, Scootaloo broke the huddle and looked toward me with her eyes closed. Apparently she was finally figuring out this whole True Sight thing.
“We want to know something embarrassing about you,” Scootaloo said.
“What?!”
“You do know everything about each one of us, right?”
“I do.”
“We figure it would make it even, or at least closer, if we knew something big about you, something secret and embarrassing.”
“Oh.”
Well, that complicated things. Was there anything embarrassing about me? I thought back to the last couple of years while I had True Sight and nothing came to mind. Then I thought back to before that and plenty of things came to mind. I couldn’t exactly be sure of what kind of secret they wanted, especially with Scootaloo’s eyes closed, but it had to be good to make it fair.
Bed wetting? Nah, two of them have done that before. Getting bullied? No, that’s still a raw and painful topic for this group. What about... Oh Celestia, not that. I know it would work, but, please, not that.
“Do I have to?”
“If you want to be part of the club,” Scootaloo said.
I looked over to Sweetie Belle, and as soon as she met my gaze she nodded her head furiously with a grin on her face. She looked around and saw the other fillies in the room had their eyes locked on me, so she mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
I sighed.
“Alright,” I began, and the fillies all stepped closer in anticipation of juicy knowledge. “When I was young, before I got my cutie mark… I once asked my teacher out.”
“On a date?!” Sweetie Belle practically squealed.
“…Yeah…” I admitted ashamedly. I had been young and stupid and, to be honest, I had seen nothing wrong with what I was doing. Why would I?
“Well, go on. We wanna know how it played out!” Scootaloo urged. They all had grins on their faces.
“Oh, alright. It was Hearts n’ Hooves day, and all of the kids were exchanging cards for fun, you know, with candy in them and stuff...” I started slowly. They leaned in closer, their smiles growing wider by the second, which was not making this any easier.
“And?” Scootaloo pressed.
“I had a professional card made with help from my mom-” I paused when Scootaloo couldn’t help but snicker. “And when everypony was opening their candy, I walked up to the teacher. She was working on our assignments or something at her desk. I gave her the card with a big grin on my face, and she read it...”
“What did it say?” Apple Bloom asked.
“I really don’t remember, sorry,” I replied honestly. Thankfully they did not press the issue.
“And what did your teacher say?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Hmm. ‘Thank you for the thought’ or somesuch when I gave her the card, and then, hmm, what did she say?” I wracked my brain until the really embarrassing memories began to flow. “Oh, right. I think she pitied me or something because when she finished reading, she said, ‘I would love to!’ We ended up going out on a date at a pizza place...” I sucked in a huge breath to steel myself, “...with my mother coming along,” I admitted with a whoosh.
It took fully four minutes for the fits of giggles to die down. Scootaloo actually had tears in her eyes. I let out a nervous chuckle and waited.
“That was so funny!” Scootaloo gritted her teeth to stop from laughing.
“Okay,” I said and paused for a moment. “Can we all be friends now?”
There was a long, uncomfortable silence. Again, it was Scootaloo who first spoke up, which I found funny. The group didn’t really seem to have a set leader, but Scootaloo always thought she was. She did live in the freakin’ clubhouse, so I found it fair.
“You have to join our club to be our friends.” She looked at me eagerly, and her eyes unintentionally revealed everything : her goal, her plan, her hopes, her readied arguments. It would be so easy to just skip this conversation! To win their trust, however, I would have to do my best to play along as if I didn’t already know all of this. I started with the obvious.
“But I already have a cutie mark.”
“So do they,” she pointed to the former bullies. “This club is about helping each other find our special talents , not just our cutie marks. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon aren’t all that happy with their marks, so they joined up. I suspect you aren’t either?”
“That’s one way of putting it,” I said dryly.
“C’mon!” Sweetie Belle chimed in. “Join the club! Who knows, maybe you can find another special talent? Something relating to a job or something?!”
I turned my head towards her, and for a moment I could almost see into her thoughts like my True Sight was working. It became clear to me that she was nervous about getting True Sight for multiple reasons. Besides worrying about her friends, she must also be worried about how a special talent like True Sight could be used to get a job and earn a living. It was true that I never worried about that because of my inheritance from my father, but for Sweetie Belle things might be different. I suspected she was hoping to get another special talent on top of True Sight and was using me as a test to see if that would work.
“Sure, but how do I join?” I asked, turning back to Scootaloo. I really tried my best to not peek into her thoughts again, but it didn’t matter. She was feeling lazy and decided to skip the initiation.
“You’re in; we can get you a cape later. We already wasted enough time with all of this. Now we need some plans for how to find our special talents!” For a moment she had considered making me go through the pointless ritual with the drums, but she had finally thought better of it. I approved the omission wholeheartedly.
“Right,” Sweetie Belle started. “Anypony have any ideas?”
I had to resist the urge to laugh out loud as we all actually went silent and began to ponder our future crusades. Scootaloo’s talent was as a stunts pony similar to the Wonderbolts, only focused more on amazing precision and finesse with props rather than high speed aerial acrobatics. Apple Bloom’s talent involved construction, which was actually pretty special. She could build almost anything, even a full blown castle if she planned it out. Diamond Tiara was a leader who was having troubles accepting her role in life. Silver Spoon was an assistant who was having the same issue. I felt the two former bullies needed something to keep their mind off of that. I figured they would eventually accept their fates, which I didn’t think seemed too bad.
“What kind of crusades have you all tried before?” I asked, knowing full well that they had tried almost everything but what their talents actually were.
“Skydiving, foraging, monster slaying, fishing, animal caretaking, foalsitting, uh, and a bunch of other things,” Scootaloo replied, ticking each item off on her hoof.
“Have you tried construction?” I asked, after a long silence. They all shared looks. Sweetie Belle narrowed her eyes at me, and I smirked. “You know, building floats or forts, fixing up old shacks or cottages, making a go cart or a piece of furniture, or anything like that…”
“That’s a great idea!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
“It is?” Scootaloo replied dryly.
“Got any better ideas?”
“No, but where are we going to find a cottage or shack to fix up?”
“Why did you just automatically go with fixing a cottage? You could make a dresser or something smaller,” I asked, perplexed. Her thoughts shifted so quickly that I got no read on her.
“Duh. Furniture sounds so boring! Fixing up a house or something at least sounds more interesting.”
“Well, I live in a rundown cottage. You could all try to fix my place up, I guess.” All of them beamed and jumped in the air as they cheered. “But, no half-hearted or rushed work, and no fighting with each other with the tools.”
“Okay!” they all said together.
“Right. Apple Bloom, do you think your sister might have some tools we can borrow?” I hoped that by phrasing it as a question she would not realize I was using True Sight, and I was right. She nodded and dashed off in a hurry. Pretty soon she had returned with a large assortment of tools. “So, I guess we’re all set to fix up my cottage?”
“Yeah!” they all screamed in unison. I noticed that Silver and Tiara were less enthusiastic than the others, but they were still happy to be included instead of just watching jealously from the sidelines for once.
“And now I’m deaf!” I exclaimed, just before being smacked in the back of the head by Sweetie Belle. The others all giggled. So far, so good. Now to walk to my cottage. As I led the way, I did my best to not catch their eyes and merely listened to their conversations.
“You really live out here?” Sweetie Belle asked. She and the other Crusaders were looking all around and had noticed the quiet of the woods. It was no dark and spooky Everfree Forest, but it was certainly not as inviting as they were used to.
“Yeah. Too quiet?” I asked, trying to make casual conversation.
“Maybe a little…” Apple Bloom muttered. I knew that she was used to constantly being around her family on a busy farm, so it made sense that she would feel out of place here. I don’t think any of them were really afraid, though, especially not Scootaloo.
“So, who knows the most about construction?” Diamond Tiara asked the group five minutes into our little journey. A quick glance back at the rest of the Crusaders to gauge their reaction incidentally told me that this path was used for the Running of the Leaves.
I wanted to speak up so badly, but I shrugged and just kept on walking.
“Hey!” Sweetie Belle said after a long awkward silence. “Apple Bloom, you fixed up the clubhouse. You gotta know something about fixing up a cottage, right?”
“Well, sure Ah do, Ah guess….” She muttered the last part. I smirked. I suspected that Apple Bloom already knew of her talent. I say suspected because, while I do get more than enough memories from other ponies, I don’t always get everything. If a memory is being suppressed or if the pony is trying not to think about something for long enough, then it becomes hazy. Her muttering and suppressed feelings made me suspect that Apple Bloom might not want to be a construction pony and had been trying not to think about what she feared her talent to be. It made me feel weird, but I kept it to myself.
“Here we are!” I gestured to my crap cottage. It wasn’t terrible in my opinion, but I’ve seen the cottage that Fluttershy owns in the memories of Twilight and the Crusaders, and my cottage was certainly not like hers.
“You live in this crap shack?” Scootaloo asked, studying my home. The others gasped at hearing Scootaloo cuss. I snickered.
“Oh, relax. There aren’t any adults here. Crap, damn—say whatever you want! And, yeah, I do live here. I know it’s not paradise, but it’s certainly quiet when I need it to be.”
“Well, this is gonna take some work…” Apple Bloom muttered once more and began to circle my cottage a few times as her mind went into overdrive. “Okay, Scootaloo, you grab the paint brush and the paint cans.”
“On it!” She saluted and did just that.
“Sweetie Belle, you’re going to use that small magic you learned to light the interiors while I go inside and work there.”
“Um, okay!” Huh. You learn something new every day. I guess Sweetie Belle has a little magic? Not that she had been using any around me.
Apple Bloom then tried to enter my cottage a few times and failed miserably. I explained about my magical locks and officially invited them all inside. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked horrified at the thought of anypony living in such a dreary place. Meh, I’ve seen worse.
Apple Bloom began to give orders to the others. The Cutie Mark Crusaders worked well as a team, and before long they actually got some real work done at my place. Apple Bloom admitted that her talent had limits and thus she could not build me all the things she wanted to, but she did whip up a few pieces of furniture that seemed to come out of nowhere. I almost wondered if she was secretly somehow related to Pinkie Pie. The weird thing was, despite all the use of her special talent, her cutie mark was not showing up.
This was another thing about cutie marks. A pony could resist them. Apple Bloom’s mark could be holding back because conditions were not yet perfect, or maybe she was consciously resisting her destiny, but most likely something in her subconscious could not accept having a construction cutie mark and was preventing its appearance. A few times my True Sight showed me her mark start to appear and then fade away, though to normal eyes her flank remained immutably blank. I wasn’t exactly sure how True Sight did this, but it seemed to try to project the truth about a pony even if physical appearances differed. Clearly, Apple Bloom’s mark was trying to appear but was being blocked. I had to talk to her, because the longer she put this off, the more deeply hurt she was going be when the inevitable finally happened.
I glanced around behind me and saw everypony else was working outside for the moment, so I seized the opportunity.
“Apple Bloom?”
“Hmm?” she mumbled, not looking away from her examination of one of my walls.
“…I know what your special talent is,” I finally said. She flinched badly, but kept examining the wall. When she made no further response, I continued. “I think you know, too. True Sight tells me a lot of things, but for some reason I can’t get the best read on your feelings towards your talent. So, oddly enough, I’m just guessing at this point. However, I think you’re scared of a future with a mark that has nothing to do with apples, because of your sister.”
Apple Bloom’s ears slumped down and she hung her head. She wasn’t looking at the wall or at the floor or at anything at all.
“I can tell you that not getting an apple cutie mark is not the end of the world, and I can tell you, with confidence, that your sister loves you and always will. You’re resisting your mark because you’re afraid of change and because you’re afraid of getting kicked out of your family.” I stopped talking and walked up to her. I was about to hug her, but thought better of it and instead just placed my hoof on her shoulder. She looked up.
“So that’s it? Ah’ll be the first Apple in the family to not get an apple cutie mark, and my big sis won’t hate me? Is that what you’re saying?!” Her yell could be heard all the way outside, but I didn’t care.
“Yep, that’s what I’m saying. You can look down now,” I replied with a smile.
“What are you…? Aahh!” She gasped as she looked down and to her horror found a cutie mark gracing her flank. It had a hammer and a screwdriver crossed in an X shape, but no apple.
For a while, neither of us said anything. I watched her eyes, waiting for her shock to wear off. The others soon came inside to see what the commotion was about. They watched us cautiously, trying to figure out what was happening. They didn’t seem to notice the change on Apple Bloom’s flank. Joy warred with insecurity on Apple Bloom’s face as the reality of her long awaited new cutie mark slowly sank in.
“Are ya sure about my sister?” she asked quietly.
“Positive. Congrats on your new cutie mark.”
In an instant, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ran up and cheered for their friend. They jumped up and down and hugged her for all they were worth. I glanced back and saw Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara clapping for her. Sweetie Belle glanced at me and smiled, mouthing “I told you so.” I couldn’t help but smile back. Apple Bloom had happy tears in her eyes as she turned back to me.
“Are ya absolutel-”
“Yes, damn it! Now go tell Applejack before we drag you there!”
“I think I’m definitely gonna come to your cottage when I want to cuss,” Scootaloo murmured, giggling to herself.
Work on my cottage was clearly done for the day. Overall, my cottage did look slightly better. It was pretty big and, for work from a bunch of fillies, it wasn’t half bad. We immediately ran out of the forest towards Sweet Apple Acres. The fillies were screaming for Applejack the whole way, while I simply followed in bemused silence. Applejack eventually found us, running towards us from where she had been working in the orchard.
“Sis! Ah got my cutie mark!”
“Ya did now? So that’s what y’all were screaming about! Well, let me see then! What’s this?” Applejack asked while examining the mark. Despite my earlier assurances, I could see the lingering traces of doubt flare up brightly in Apple Bloom’s mind. “Well, congrats little sis! We’ll have to celebrate!”
“So you’re not upset that there’s no apple?” she finally asked. I face hoofed, already knowing the answer.
“Course not! You’re still an Apple, ain’t ya?”
“Course! Veritas told me you would never be mad, but Ah was still worried.”
“Veritas?” She looked around before spotting me. “Oh, it’s you. Enjoy them apples you bought?”
“Yes, ma’am. They were delicious.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ll make sure to invite ya to the party I need to make Pinkie plan,” Applejack said thoughtfully and strolled off with Apple Bloom. The other fillies remained there and stared at me. Sweetie Belle broke the silence.
“I told you, he’s just a regular pony who wants friends. See?”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Welcome to the club,” Scootaloo spoke, this time with no bitterness.
“Uh, thanks. It’s getting late though.”
“Yes. Daddy will be quite upset if I’m out too long, plus I have dirt in my mane…”
“Me too!” Silver Spoon replied, practically in unison.
They soon left, leaving behind two fillies and myself.
“I guess we’d better get home.... That’s weird.” Sweetie Belle was now looking into Scootaloo’s eyes, and I knew that look. She shook her head a few times, but then something odd happened. Her horn started to glow. It was subtle at first, but the more she stared into Scootaloo’s eyes, the brighter it glowed. After a minute, Sweetie Belle’s eyes were glowing a bright white, and Scootaloo and I were too transfixed to look away. Another minute passed in silence, before her horn stopped glowing and her eyes turned back to normal. We all shared a confused look before Scootaloo gasped and looked down at Sweetie Belle’s flank.
On her flank was a new cutie mark as well: an open door with a giant eyeball in the middle. It was very similar to mine, and yet something told me it was way different. That door had to mean something.
“Surprise?” I finally said
Scootaloo continued gawking. Her first few attempts at forming words failed, until she finally spat out, “You knew! You knew this whole time!”
“Actually, I guessed. I suspected she had True Sight, but it won’t work on her…”
Her anger faded immediately. “What? What do you mean?”
Sweetie Belle spoke up, “Sorry, Scootaloo. When he pulled me aside, it was to warn me that I probably have True Sight. He told me True Sight won’t work on those with True Sight, so he guessed that might be my talent. What I don’t understand is, what just happened? I don’t know anything more about Scootaloo. I barely saw anything at all!”
“I don’t know. That door has to mean something, but I don’t know what,” I said. I then noticed that Sweetie Belle was smiling bashfully back at Scootaloo’s glare.
“You don’t hate me, right?”
“Hate you?! How could you ever say that?!” said Scootaloo, startled, her glare quickly turning to concern.
“’Cause I have True Sight, and I lied to you…”
“I don’t hate you. Geeze! It just sucks that now I’m the only one in the club without a cutie mark!” she huffed in anger. I wanted to be surprised, but I knew this would be her reaction. She was a year younger than the others, so it made sense that her cutie mark would lag behind.
“Hey, we’ll help you find your cutie mark just like you helped us find ours. You’re our friend, and we Cutie Mark Crusaders stick together! Besides, you’re basically my sister now, thanks to him, so you’re stuck with me for good!”
“Cool, but what now?”
“Now,” I interjected, “we take Sweetie to see Twilight. She knows some things about True Sight, and maybe she has a book that can explain what this door means. It makes no sense to me.”
“Probably a good idea,” said Sweetie Belle. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Six: The Calm before the Storm
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. I stood in front of my mother at the courthouse, my eyes burning into her soul. I could see everything she had done with her life, and everything she would continue to do. Every time I had looked at her, every time I had looked into her eyes, I saw the ponies she had hurt in order to protect and provide for me.
“Well,” the unicorn in front of me started, breaking the silence between my mother and me, “everything seems to be in order here. You, dear colt, have passed the financial test we gave you, meaning you can obviously take care of your finances such as food expenses.”
I nodded. I mean, it doesn't take a genius to figure out how to budget.
“You’ve been given a substantial inheritance from your mother, who obviously approves of this emancipation.” I nodded again, and for once my mother smiled. She was hoping deep down that she was doing the right thing.
“You will be emancipated. It’s pretty much done at this point. Even though you will have full control of your life, the government would still like to know of your future plans,” the lawyer finished.
“I’d like my mother to leave the room then,” I replied with just a hint of bitterness. I didn’t want to feel bitter, just like I didn’t want for any of this to happen, but I couldn’t let her know of my plans. My mother smiled slightly and promptly left the room without hesitation, using her unicorn magic to close the door. I then turned to the lawyer and spoke.
“I’m going to Ponyville. I found a small, empty house there that I can easily afford, and I’ll enroll in school there.”
He nodded. “I see, but why Ponyville? Wouldn’t somewhere far from Manehatten be preferable for your unique situation?”
Why indeed? I figured it was far enough away, but not too far from my old home. I did wish to come back to this city someday after all. I might not enjoy my mother’s company anymore, but I did still love her. I was hoping that with my mother’s separation from me, we could eventually patch things up. Ponyville was an arbitrary choice; it was merely convenient. “No real reason.”
“Alright, well then.” An aura of unicorn magic enveloped the city seal as the lawyer stamped several papers. “Just sign here, please.”
I held a quill to my mouth and signed away. As an earth pony, there was nothing overly special about me on the outside. My special talent, on the other hoof, was entirely something else.
“It’s done, kid. You are now free from this point on to make your own choices without a guardian or parent. Have a nice day; I’ll just have your mother sign these too.” I nodded and left the room in a hurry; I was getting sick of seeing his memories as well.
My mother was waiting outside the office. “Foresight, are you sure this is what you want?” she asked, sadness brimming in her thoughts.
I looked into her eyes, and I saw so many things that simply made me feel sick. I’m sick of my mother telling me that she is fine when she is not fine in the slightest. I’m sick of feeling her guilt that shouldn’t be there in the first place. I’m sick of her looking at me and thinking that I’m okay when I’m not okay, living in this huge city. I’m sick of feeling her hatred for the world around her simply because she will never get over something that was never her fault. And I’m just sick of her, and she knows it. She’s doing this without hesitation because she hopes that, at least in some small way, I will be happy without her.
I sighed. “It’s Veritas now. And I’m certain, Mother, and I’m sorr-“
“Never apologize for being who you are.” I blinked; for once she did something I was not expecting. It was a rare moment, but it was short-lived. With complete predictability, she signed the paper, gave me one last hug, then left me be.
I should have felt sad watching her leave my life. I should have felt a million different things, but not happiness. It bothered me that I was glad, but only for a moment.
It was official: I was on my own.
I closed the door to the courthouse and looked at the city. I was free, free to do anything I wished. My saddlebags were packed, and there was only one thing I wanted to do. I turned towards the train station, started walking, and never looked back.
