//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: My Little Castlevania: Resurrection of Discord // by Ichtudirweh //------------------------------// "Surprise! Happy Birthday!" The Mane 6 shouted upon my arrival inside the Golden Oaks Library. The interior of the tree house structure was congested with many familiar faces from my past. My entire family, old friends from out of town, and so many warm smiles expressed from both humans and ponies greeted me out of the blue. Pinkie pie blasted her party cannon directly at the doorway. The atmosphere reigned with confetti and glitter. It caused everyone to crack up from her completely random and compulsive nature. Twilight, now an alicorn with her princess duties, trots over to congratulate me on my 24th birthday. "Wow! The big two-four! How's it feel to finally be 24 years old, birthday guy?" "No different then when I was 20 years old, Twi. Thanks for holding the party at your place. You didn't have to do that for me." I returned to her with sincere admiration. "Oh, don't worry about it! It's my pleasure! Really, it is! Pinkie Pie made fruit cocktails for everyone who could attend tonight. Rarity and Fluttershy did the decorations as you can see. Applejack made a few pies, and Dash sent out invitations for everypony in Ponyville. Unfortunately, I could not get Princess Celestia and Luna to attend tonight. They were overwhelmed with many letters. I bet you can't wait to try out Spike's homemade nachos, wouldn't you?" She grinned up to me. "With melted cheese and sour cream? You bet your purple flank I would! By the way, how's the new wings holding up for you?" "Eh, alright I suppose. You remember how I've obtained my wings so suddenly a few months ago. I'm still getting used to how to fly, but I feel slightly awkward having a body part that I wasn't born with. It's like learning how to walk again, or tying your own shoes as you humans metaphorically speak it. Anyways, how's school going for you? I heard the Canterlot Temple foreign exchange program just started up." She changes the subject over to my interests. "The foreign exchange program with the Cruz's is going well. Japan is such a fascinating culture, Twi. Perhaps when I gather enough money, maybe you and your friends can catch a plane ride with me. I'm sure that they would love to have you over. Just....One thing regarding Pinkie Pie. Make sure she's under control inside a Japanese household. Japan is a highly humbled, polite society. Her rambunctious behavior would drive them absolutely insane, if you know what I mean." Twilight giggles slightly. After hearing her name spoken, Pinkie Pie bounces over to our conversation. "Did I hear my name?!?! Hey! Happy 24th birthday party pants! Since your on the topic of Japan, I brought over some purple sake just for you! I know that's your favorite drink! Twi, birthday man, why don't you two follow me?" She squeaks over to Twilight with a high pitched voice. "You know that I'm not much of a drinker, Pinkie Pie, but I'll come over to keep my friend company. I might have a shot or two, just for this occasion." I followed the two mares over towards a bartender's table. Pinkie bounces behind the counter, to pour us both a shot of the purple rice liquor. While I shared a few shots with the purple Alicorn, I looked around to see who was present at the party. Many familiar faces attended the event from around Ponyville. Mayor Mare, Trixie Lulamoon, Lyra Heartstrings, Spitfire, and many others spoke amongst themselves. One peculiar character was present as well. Discord. I wasn't overly thrilled with his presence at the party. Fluttershy claimed and boasted that he was truly reformed. However, Twilight and I still had our reasonable suspicions that he, in fact, wasn't. Do individuals really change over time? Especially figures who enjoy the conformity of chaos? I don't believe so. Just recount all the times Dracula Vlad Tepes was resurrected, and how many Belmont's in the past casted him back to his grave. "What's he doing here?" I pointed out Discord inside the crowd, who was busy chatting with Fluttershy. "Oh I don't know. Fluttershy invited him in your birthday party without my consent. That's for sure. Trust me, I begged and pleaded with Fluttershy to not bring him along. She insisted that he should participate with the social interaction. It's to rebuild trust with Ponyville's citizens I suppose. I'm willing to give him a second chance, but I will not hesitate to cast him back into stone if he expresses even the SLIGHTEST amount of disarray..." Fluttershy trots away from Discord, to join us from where we all sat on the barstools. "Um, hi there. Pinkie Pie, I would like one virgin fruit cocktail...If you don't mind. Happy 24th birthday! How's your Russian domesticated fox? Is he feeling better since the last time I've taken care of him?" "Oh hey Flutters. Yeah, he's feeling much better. Your really a miracle worker. Whatever you gave him did the trick." I returned to her. "Just plenty of love and attention!" She squee's aloud to us. That was one thing that I found attractive about her. Don't worry, this tale will not evolve into something romantically inclined. I will say that I've always expressed a hidden crush on Fluttershy. At the same time, I've always teased Rarity with flirtatious remarks about her appearance. She absorbed it like a dried up sea sponge. Fluttershy and I shared a deep rooted connection with animals. How? It was just a natural bond between us I suppose. However, something held me back from expressing my true feelings for her. During our last ski trip up on Foal Mountain, I was assisting Fluttershy on how to snow plow properly with her skies. You know how it is with overzealous ladies, how frantic they can be over a guy's attention. Rarity was extremely jealous that Fluttershy was receiving all of it. She would even go as far as putting in harms way, just to compete for my diligence. You know, the whole 'Damsel in Distress' ordeal. It's part of the reason why I've never dated Fluttershy in the first place. Simply for the fact that my presence might cause envy and strife within the Mane 6; And that it may cause separation between her friends. So I was just a single human, living inside a small cot on the outskirts of Ponyville. I had a few pets to claim as my own. One of them being a exotic Russian domesticated Fox. What the heck is a Russian domesticated Fox you might ask? A selective breed of fox raised in Stalliongrad. That fox stuck to me like Velcro where ever I went. I gained the nickname "Fox Man" for that reason alone. The college that I attended to was entitled 'Canterlot Temple'. I've been going to obtain a degree in Historical Mythology, now on my third year of studies. I would later work inside Ponyville's National Museum, giving out tours for visitors on the display of various crypto zoological creatures. Creature displays such as the Cockatrice, Sirens, Minotaurs, Werewolves, and many others that I could recall from the back of my mind. Never would I think I would have to fight one..... "Konichiwa." Twilight, Fluttershy, and I turned away from the bar table. The sudden Japanese greeting nearly made Fluttershy leap from her yellow fur coat. The greeting was spoken by no other than Mr. and Mrs. Cruz! They boarded a plane to fly all the way from Japan, just to attend to this special occasion. I got up from my stool, return a fellow greeting and a bow to them. "Mushi mushi..." I returned to the couple. They expressed a puzzled look to each other, then realized what I was trying to communicate to them. "Oh, silly you! Only use that phase while speaking to someone on the phone. This is great party to attend to. We are glad that we made it here. Are these your friends?" They attempt to speak English, which I was instructed to teach them while overseas. "You mean 'This is a great party to attend to'. Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Cruz, we will work on your grammar structure when we return to Japan. Yes, these are my friends. I want to introduce you to Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle." The embarrassment from my mistake, was swept away with the introduction of Fluttershy and Twilight. The Cruz's were a very humbled couple. Like you would find commonly in Japan. However, Mrs. Cruz was now pregnant with her first child! It made it difficult for her to bow properly. Twilight and Fluttershy bow down with their fore hooves, as a sign of respect for the newfound oriental visitors of Ponyville. Twilight implores the Japanese couple to follow her, to give them a brief tour on the Golden Oak's Library. A few hours pass by. As Fluttershy and I proceeded to speak amongst each other, Mrs. Cruz goes into labor without any prior warning. The entire party evolves into a silent atmosphere. "Rainbow Dash, wave a taxi to transport Mrs. Cruz for the closest hospital! She's going into labor!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Mrs. Cruz collapses onto the hard wood floor. "I'm on it!" She returns. Dash vigorously trots from out the doorway. Fluttershy and I propel away from our barstools, to pace over from where Mrs. Cruz lied on the floor. "Stand back everybody and everypony! Give her some breathing space! Twilight, get a cold rag for Mrs. Cruz's forehead. Rarity, get some pillows and blankets. Fluttershy and I will stay with Mr. Cruz. Applejack, please escort everyone from the party." "Right. We're on it." The three girls return to me in synchronization. "Alright everybody and everypony, y'all heard the man! Party's over 'til further notice!" Applejack blocks off the crowd from viewing the disturbance. The guests disrupt the quiet atmosphere with groans and grumbles. They are escorted by Applejack by the front door. Mr. Cruz spoke Japanese faintly to himself, while he trembled in anxiety over his wife. Fluttershy wrapped her right fore hoof over his shoulder, as an attempt to comfort the distressed man. I kneeled to where Mrs. Cruz lied on the party floor. The girls returned with the objects that I've requested. "Come on! Pusshu! Pusshu!" I dabbed her forehead with the damp rag. Mrs. Cruz cries out in laborious pain, while grasping Mr. Cruz hand and mine. The Mane 6 circle around us in apprehension. The taxi arrives thirty minutes later, with the accompany of an ambulance as well. Two EMT stallions wheeled in with a stretcher. Mrs. Cruz is rushed from the Golden Oaks Library, while we followed from behind the ambulance briskly. As we arrived at the hospital, we waited outside the ER's room in anxiety. About ten minutes later, we all overheard one last cry from Mrs. Cruz. The sounds of a infant crying shortly followed after. Mr. Cruz appeared from the ER doorway, to wave us in overwhelming excitement. He revealed a massive smile that radiated our hearts with joy. There on the hospital bed, cradled Mrs. Cruz's new son in her arms. The tension and anxiety was now over. The girls all exhale a sigh of relief, and congratulate Mr. Cruz for his new son. Pinkie Pie bounced over to the infant, where the infant reached out to her and giggled for his first time. A ER Stallion walked in with a medical clipboard, to acquire information about her newborn son. Their child was born on May 24th, 2017. Directly 18 years after the war on 1999. The child was born directly at midnight on a full moon. A small tremor was felt from across the world. It rattled the bed slightly. The disturbance was so minor, that it was ignored by everyone at the time. "Have you decided the name of your absolutely precious child?" Rarity questions over to the couple, while she extends her hoof over to the infant's hand. The infant runs his hand along the curvature of the mare's fore hoof. "Yes. His name will be Soma.....Soma Cruz....."