//------------------------------// // Ackscent // Story: A Day With Friends // by MyOpinionIsSuperior //------------------------------// “Wait for us, Soarin’! We ain’t all got motor-wings like ya’ll Wonderbolts.” The panicked pegasus ignored Applejack’s request, his tunnel-vision failing to pick up on the rainbow trail of his quicker wife, the mare zipping ahead with practiced agility. Tucking her left wing in, Rainbow Dash veered to her left, the change in direction and drop in speed bringing her into collision with her husband. The impact sent both parents sprawling into the ground, grass and mud scattering through the air before splattering on the fringes of Sweet Apple Acre’s trees. Dash rubbed a sore spot on her forehead and recovered quickly, jumping on top of Soarin’ before he could continue his desperate pursuit. His hooves sunk into the mud as he began to rise slowly, the weight of his wife slowing him but not stopping the more developed muscles his stallion body had to offer. “Soarin’!” Rainbow Dash grunted, struggling to force resistance against his body. “Why are you so freaked out? You know he’s an awesome flier, and if something bad had happened by now, he would’ve caused a scene!” “Because I don’t wanna be a bad daddy anymore, Dashie!” He whimpered, letting her weight overtake him, the two athletes bumping with a squish onto the ground. Soarin’ covered his eyes with trembling hooves, sobbing quietly into the moist soil. “I’m not gonna be a bad daddy anymore. I wanna make it right…” Eyes wide, Dash swallowed the lump in her throat, barely able to croak out a word despite the thoughts that raced through her mind. “W-what…?” Soarin’ continued to blubber into the ground, not seeing or caring that the other parents had caught up, each one taken aback at the display. Ignoring their present company, Rainbow Dash laid a gentle hoof on her husband’s shoulder. “Hey now,” She whispered calmly. “You’re not a bad father. You just have a busy job.” “That’s no excuse, Dashie!” Soarin’ growled, sitting up quickly, his wife sliding down his back onto the ground. “When I became a father my life wasn’t supposed to be about myself. It was supposed to be about him. And I haven’t done that, and I can’t leave the Wonderbolts because-“ “Your contract isn’t up for renewal for a long time,” Rainbow Dash finished, a knowing frown on her face. “I already know, Soarin’. I’ve known for awhile, and I’ve been doing research with Princess Egghead to see if there’s a loophole, but there isn’t. You can’t leave the Wonderbolts. Not without voiding your contract and losing everything we have.” Soarin’ slumped, ears drooping in surrender. “But I can.” His ears shot up in surprise, hooves grasping his wife by the shoulders, the rings under his eyes creasing. “No Dashie! You can’t!” He pleaded. “Being a Wonderbolt is what you live for!” “What I lived for,” Rainbow Dash corrected him. “It’s been a dream come true, but our kid is out there trying his best to do something stupid because he’s lonely. He needs me more than the crowd does, and if Spitfire can’t see that then I’ll have no other choice but to resign.” “Besides,” She continued, barely choking out a weak chuckle. “I haven’t done a Sonic Rainboom since… well before I was even pregnant.” “Why’s that?” Applejack cut in, earning a sharp glare from her chromatic friend for intruding on a personal conversation. “I like to save them for special occasions ever since Twilight’s wedding,” Dash explained. “I performed them at almost every Wonderbolts show for a little while, but that was killer on my wings and the crowd just kind’ve expected it after awhile, y’know? There wasn’t anything special about it being a staple in our shows.” “And it’s not exactly like you were in the best condition to perform one when Blitz was born,” Caramel chuckled. “Or even on his birthdays. Kid always sneaks out to visit us instead of being subjected to the public in Cloudsdale.” “Ah still can’t see ya’ quittin’ that fancy flier team, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack said, frowning disapprovingly. “It just ain’t right, but Ah suppose it is the best for Rainbow Blitz. Speakin’ of which, we better find the little rascal before he actually gets himself hurt.” “I actually think I know what to do,” Soarin’ said, earning the quizzical looks of his peers. Fluttershy tilted her head. “You do?” “Yeah,” Soarin’ confirmed with a nod, biting his lower lip in anxiety. “But I’m not gonna like it.” Capricorn didn’t know what was worse: the electric sensation dancing down the spinal chord in his vertebrate column, or the sugary sweet smile Gizmo wore as he recorded the readings his gadget produced. The machine reminded the alicorn colt more of a remote control than anything else, but the effect it had on him was too noticeable for it to be anything but what he had expected from the start: annoying lab testing. He tried to make the best of it. Reading might have helped take his mind off the unbearable itchiness that came with Gizmo’s experimentation if he didn’t have to listen to a certain filly’s constant yammering directly behind him. Golden Delicious sat opposite of Rainbow Blitz on the library floor, the young beauty holding the speedster’s hooves with her own, her mouth moving rapidly as she explained the mechanics of the game they were about to try. The farm filly had decided to take it upon herself to teach the sheltered colt one of the several variants of ‘patty cake’ the children played at the schoolyard. Blitz nodded along as he listened to her instructions, intent on learning something most normal fillies and colts did in their free time. “Aaaaaaand if you could use a little more magic, I should be able to get the eighty-sixth reading.” With a grunt and roll of his eyes, Capricorn ignited his horn into a brighter light, the green aura sparking at the tip of the keratin. He didn’t mind the increase in power; he needed to turn the page of his book anyways. The salmon pony looked down at the literature he had borrowed- or rather bargained with Gizmo for to provide himself with entertainment while the unicorn did his busywork. He smirked, knowing the princess would be anything but happy if she were to discover he had taken the time to read from books on advanced magic that she had forbidden him from even laying a hoof on. Was it his fault he cared more about practical spells rather than turning a pencil into a feather? Capricorn cringed as a powerful jolt of electrical current surged through his horseshoes, the metal acting as a lightning rod for the magical signals amplified through Gizmo’s contraption. The alicorn kicked at the ground and snorted bitterly. Stupid horseshoes. He still remembered the day Princess Celestia gave them to him. “Horseshoes?! You said you were going to give me something cool!” Celestia smiled. “They are very cool, my little student.” Capricorn caught the implication, his eyes widening to match his growing smile. “What do they do?” “They are enchanted with a spell to create an illusion,” The Sun princess explained. “They will hide your horn, allowing you to live the life of a normal pegasus. At least, when you’re not studying under my teachings, that is.” She paused, her smile fading as she noticed the unenthused look her student was projecting. “Is there something wrong, Capricorn?” He squirmed uncomfortably. “What’s wrong with my horn? Why do I have to hide it? Mom always makes me wear a hat, but-” “There is nothing wrong with it,” Celestia assured him, a hoof placed under his chin to bring him into comforting eye contact. “Your mother has done a wonderful job of keeping you out of the public eye, but you’ll be four soon, and it’s time you made some friends.” She moved her hoof to his snout, predicting his response with practiced ease. “Pony friends. Your animal friends are wonderful, but you cannot develop the necessary social skills a young colt will need. As an alicorn, you may attract unwanted attention, but as a pegasus, ponies will love you for being you, not because they assume you are royalty.” “But what about magic?” Celestia shook her head. “No magic when you are not in your lessons. To use magic would draw attention to your horn and break the illusionary spell.” “I think I get it!” Capricorn beamed. “Make a bunch of friends when they think I’m a pegasus, and then I can take the horseshoes off and they’ll still be my friends because they like me for me!” His confidence faltered as the princess cringed. “You… could. But it may be safer to keep the horseshoes on. Better to keep away from attention that could make your mother uncomfortable,” She finished confidently, hoping her answer would satisfy her young student. “Oh she won’t mind,” The young alicorn said. “I think it would be best if you let me explain it to him, sister.” Celestia and Capricorn turned to the new presence that walked towards them, her starlit blue mane flowing from her as if it blew in the wind. Princess Luna approached the tiny alicorn, looking down at him with an intimidating gaze, causing him to shrink down towards the floor. “Luna, I-“ “No, Celestia,” She interrupted, “You only sugarcoat the matter. Capricorn, my sister does speak the truth when she tells you that the charmed horseshoes will protect you from ponies who wish to use your alicorn status to their advantage. But she has neglected you by withholding the real reason you will need to be ‘protected’. My little pony, you simply are currently unworthy to hold such a high status.” “Luna!” “You haven’t proven yourself to handle such responsibilities,” She continued, ignoring Celestia’s outcry. “Cadence spread love. Twilight saved the world multiple times and invented a new strain of magic. You simply flitter away your talents for your own amusement.” “B-but I-I-“ “You will withhold all your ‘buts’, young alicorn!” Luna roared, a hoof cracking the floor tiles as she stomped down. “You are not ready! Why somepony like you was gifted with both the horn and wings is bey-“ “Enough!” Celestia’s command echoed through the chambers, the sound ringing in Luna’s ears. The princess of the day met her sister’s gaze, two sharp glares failing to pierce the other. Celestia directed her gaze downward, Luna’s aqua eyes following the lavender ones. Capricorn’s blonde bangs obscured a clear view of his face, but the tears accumulating on the ground and the sobs that wracked his body didn’t leave much room for guessing. The princess of the night touched a hoof to her lips, true regret showing through her wavering eyes. As quickly as her recognition of guilt appeared, it was gone, replaced by her practiced indifference. A cough resonated from her throat, commanding attention from her sister and her student. “I will… entrust you to finish my speech, sister,” She said hesitantly, turning around to leave the two to their privacy. Celestia draped a comforting wing over the crying child, his tears rolling off the pristine feathers. “There there,” She cooed softly. “She didn’t mean it-“ “She did,” Capricorn said suddenly, interrupting his teacher. “And she’s right.” “Capricorn,” Celestia said sternly. “I want you to look at me.” He obliged, bringing a small smile to the princess’ lips and a small reflection to her mind. For all the attitude, the supposed indifference, and questionable moralities the young colt had, he was just that. A young colt. “She simply went about it poorly, Cappy,” The elder alicorn finally said. “You are young- so very young. You’ve never been given the full freedom to explore and discover what it is that makes you truly happy. This is why I am giving you these shoes. They’ll allow you to live a normal life and find your special talent and from there on your studies will intensify.” She placed a hoof on the crown of his head, rustling the blonde mane affectionately. “I know you will find yourself. You just have to look. I have high hopes for you, Capricorn.” Maybe my special talent is being a guinea pig, Capricorn thought bitterly to himself, his teeth gritting as the irritating magic danced around him, taking his measurements. The library door swung open without warning, a large burly red earth stallion with auburn hair behind it and a long hay straw between his lips. All activity in the room halted immediately, bringing Capricorn the sweet relief he desperately needed. The straw dropped from Big Macintosh’s mouth as he gaped in shock at the scene. “D-dad!” Gizmo stuttered nervously, forcing a toothy smile. “What're ya' doing home early?” “What’m Ah doin’ home early?” The farmer growled, his tone accusatory. “What’re you doin’ with Capricorn, Gizzy?” “…Gizzy?” Rainbow Blitz snickered, sharing a mirthful smile with Golden Delicious. “And I thought I had it bad with Blitzy.” “We were just playin’ laser tag, Pa!” The mechanic lied, sweat accumulating at his brow. “Honest!” “That’s two weeks grounded, Gizmo!” Big Macintosh roared. “One fer experimentin’ on your friends again when we told ya’ not to and another one fer lyin’ ta’ me!” “Yikes,” Capricorn said, feeling instinctive sympathy for the unicorn colt. Big Macintosh didn’t allow anyone else to express their thoughts on the matter, immediately turning to the other three juveniles in the library. “And you three!” He barked. “Don’t think ya’ll are off the hook!” Unphased, Golden Delicious smiled sweetly. “Whatever do ya mean, Uncle Macintosh? Lemme get ya’ some nice cool lemonade after workin’ hard all day and we can discuss this like civil ponies. Ah really think-” “Don’cha try an butter me up, little missy!” Her uncle interrupted, well aware of the game she was trying to play. “Ah saw you hurtle that boy straight into the orchard. Ya’ll must’ve taken out fifty bits of crop, and you ain’t gettin’ off easy, ya' hear? Ah would’ve stopped ya’ clear at the market if it weren’t fer that dang crowd!” Rainbow Blitz slowly inched toward Capricorn, eager to escape the stallion’s reprimanding. He wasn’t so fortunate. “You two!” Macintosh bellowed. “What’d you boys do with Fluttershy! Ah’m well aware she was babysittin’ today-“ “Macintosh sweety! Is that you?” Twilight’s voice called out from upstairs, stopping the interrogation in its tracks. Big Macintosh paused and blinked, slowly coming to reality with the situation. “Eeyup!” He called out. Turning to address the four children, he spoke in a calm, soft tone. “Now listen. Ya’ll are in a heap of trouble, but it ain’t often that Gizmo’s mama gets ta’ see her friends that don’t live in Ponyville, even when she’s off on business in Canterlot, and after all the ruckus Ah’m guessin’ Blitz’s mama will probably be showin’ up.” Macintosh walked to one of the library’s shelves, poking his muzzle deep into the hollow space. An audible ‘click’ was heard and a secret compartment opened up, revealing a small bag. Taking the bag with his teeth, Macintosh tossed it to his son, the unicorn colt’s horn instinctively glowing and catching it in his telekinetic grasp. “Here are some bits, Gizmo,” His father explained. “Go take yer friends to Sugarcube Corner and get somethin’ sweet ta' eat, and no funny business, ya' hear? Ah want ya’ll ta’ be perfectly behaved little children sittin' in the sweet shop when your parents come ta’ pick you up. Ah’m entrustin’ this ta’ you, son. Are we clear?” “Ah understand, Pa,” Gizmo said shakily, taking the bag of bits with his magic. One by one, the little ponies exited the library single file, the door closed gently by Golden Delicious’s delicate touch. Big Macintosh sighed heavily. He sure as hay didn’t like disciplining the children, but somepony had to and he wasn’t about to let his wife taint her reunion just because the kids decided to act out. Macintosh made a note to have a talk with his sister about her daughter’s behavior, but pushed these thoughts aside as he climbed the library’s stairs, meeting the purple pony waiting for him at the top. Blinking a few times, the stallion smiled. “Sometimes when Ah’m tired enough, your horseshoes even work on me, hon.” “So how are we gonna get Blitz to do the Sonic Rainboom now?” Capricorn groaned, his hooves creating a small trail as he dragged his feet along the dirt path. “You nuts, hon?” Golden Delicious chided, an eyebrow raised in disbelief. “Ah say we count our blessings and be grateful that crowd is gone. Cousin Gizmo’s experimentin’ took quite awhile.” “Yeah, we had our fun, but I’m not ticking my dad off anymore,” Gizmo said matter of factly. Capricorn merely smiled and tilted his head. “Say Gizmo, does anypony else know about that nervous accent of yours?” He asked teasingly. “Ah don’t recall ever hearin’ ya’ talk like that before, and boy howdy, Ah’ve known ya’ for quite some time, ya’ hear?” Gizmo stopped dead in his tracks. The mechanic broke a sweat and smiled nervously. “You know with a few modifications, I think Pinkie Pie may have exactly what we need.”