//------------------------------// // The Truth // Story: Growth through the Thorn // by Soniclink137 //------------------------------// It was that day. As the cold snow fell down on Soarin’s cloud home he knew it was that day. He promised himself six months ago that at this day, he would do it. He managed to survive all that long, trying to avoid the feeling of guilt of what he was about to admit. But now on the day that it happened so many years ago, Soarin’ was going to confess the truth to all of the Apple Family, and let them take it how they will. Even if they hate him for it, it’s something he needs to get off his chest. After finishing up his breakfast in his cloud kitchen, Soarin put his bowl in the rainwater sink and walked upstairs where his wife, his son, and his adopted daughter are waiting even if they don’t know it yet. After going up the cloud steps he stepped up into a long hallway and took the first cloud door to the right. Inside the room Rainbow Dash, currently in a blue scarf embroidered with a lightning bolt, was fitting their squirming light blue pegasus son with a mane filled with the cool colors of the rainbow into a violet coat so he could venture outside with the family. She was having a bit of trouble, as evident by her annoyed expression, and not being the most patient pony she looked like she was on the verge of giving up. But eventually she managed to fit him in the coat, to which she breathed a sigh of relief. “Finally Cool Breeze,” Rainbow Dash said. “*sigh* could you have been any harder to fit in that?” “You know you could have asked me,” Soarin’ said as he walked in to grab his Wonderbolt scarf. Rainbow Dash looked over at Soarin’. “Yeah, I could have, but I need to learn to do this on my own,” Rainbow Dash told him. “You won’t always be available to help me get him in this coat, and if we happen to have more than one foal I’m not going to make you put coats on both of them.” “More than one foal?” Soarin’ asked. “I’m…not against it,” Rainbow Dash said with an elongated I’m. “We’ll see what happens.” She…probably won’t want to after she learns what I have to say, Soarin’ thought pessimistically. But…I’m not going to let that stop me. I have to tell the truth. “Rainbow Dash…would you mind coming with me to Sweet Apple Acres?” Soarin’ asked. “I…there’s something I need to tell everypony there.” “Alright Soarin’?” Rainbow Dash said as she tilted his head and looked at Soarin’ with a questioning look. Rainbow Dash placed Cool Breeze into the pegasus foal carrier Twilight bought her and then walked out to the door. She looked over to the right and yelled, “Scootaloo, we’re heading to Sweet Apple Acres! You want to come with?” “Yeah sure I guess!” Scootaloo said. “Just give me a second!” There was the sound of movement and thunder as Scootaloo shifted around in her room, doing whatever it is that she’s doing. Eventually Scootaloo’s door opened up and she walked out of her room wearing her purple scarf and a random hat with red, white, and orange put together on four sections and a green propeller on top that was not doing well at covering her purple mane. She didn’t look too happy, and that propeller hat is probably why. “Uhh…Scootaloo?” Rainbow Dash asked. Rainbow Dash and Soarin’ were both looking at her confused, while Cool Breeze was laughing, probably for unrelated reasons. “What’s with the…” “I lost a bet to Rumble,” Scootaloo answered quickly. “I don’t even know where the heck he got this hat. I guess it looks familiar but that’s about it.” “Alright we’ll take your word for it,” Soarin’ said as he attempted to suppress a laugh. He noticed to the right of him Rainbow Dash was also trying not to laugh. “Can we just go?” Scootaloo asked. “Let’s get this over with.” “What do you have to do anyways?” Rainbow Dash asked. Scootaloo did not answer Rainbow Dash and just kept silent, her annoyed expression telling it all. Soarin’ figured that she had to wear it out for a day or something, just to embarrass herself. This wasn’t the first bet Scootaloo lost and it probably won’t be the last so both Soarin’ and Rainbow Dash were used to stuff like this happening. So long as it was all in good fun they were fine with it, and as far as they have heard it is all in good fun. If it’s for today I…I almost feel bad that we’re dragging Scootaloo out here, Soarin’ thought. But I doubt it’s just for today if she’s so eager to get whatever it is done. Either way I’m not going to let it stop me. I can’t. ~ The three pegasi flew over the white ground through the gray skies, and the pegasus foal was flapping his wings frantically even though he was strapped to Rainbow Dash’s side tight and couldn’t go anywhere. They flew effortlessly through the cold sky as they went in the direction of the white trees of Sweet Apple Acres. The empty flat white ground passed by as they went through. Scootaloo was flying more focused on just flying, Rainbow Dash was focused on her husband, and Soarin’ was focused on what he was going to say when he got to Sweet Apple Acres. The time when he was going to tell his secret was coming closer and closer and he knew it. He was so worried about everypony’s reactions that he was amazed he could keep flapping his wings. “Soarin’ we’re here,” Rainbow Dash said snapping Soarin’ into facing up. As Rainbow Dash said they were all right in front of the red farmouse facing it’s snow covered roof. From there they could see Applejack working on shoveling the area, but they could see no other Apple Family members around. Soarin’ hoped if they weren’t outside that they were at least close. He didn’t want to repeat what he has to say multiple times. Once was enough. “Applejack, where is everypony else?!” Soarin’ called out to the farm pony Applejack both looked up from their work to see Soarin’. “There all inside,” Applejack told him. “Fluttershy and Big Mac were thinkin about goin on an anniversary but…” Applejack looked inside, “they decided instead to spend the time with their family.” “Heh yeah I can imagine,” the previously pregnant mare said. “Being pregnant is tiring enough, but I can’t imagin how it feels to have twins.” “Alright then,” Soarin’ said with a sigh. “Applejack, would you mind coming with us inside? I have something I need to tell you all.” “What do ya mean; you’ve got somethin to tell us?” Applejack asked. “I…don’t want to repeat myself,” Soarin’ said. “Just…come with me.” Soarin’ walked around the farmhouse and into the door. As he walked in there Applejack walked over to Rainbow Dash with a look of confusion on her face. They both looked at each other. “I don’t know what this is about either,” Rainbow Dash told her. “He hasn’t told me or Scootaloo anything. Or at least…he hasn’t told me anything.” Rainbow Dash looked over at Scootaloo. Scootaloo was facing in the direction Soarin’ walked but she sensed Rainbow Dash’s gaze. “No he hasn’t told me anything either,” Scootaloo said. “Well Ah guess there’s only one way ta find out,” Applejack said. “Let’s head inside everypony.” ~ Everybody got settled in to the living room. Big Mac and Fluttershy were both together on the couch on Soarin’s left, Big Macintosh barely getting enough room because of his pregnant wife next to him. Braeburn was currently alone on a chair next to Big Mac and Fluttershy, his wife probably at Sugarcube corner for the day. Applejack and her husband Caramel were directly in front of Soarin’ because that is where his focus is. Sitting at his right was Rainbow Dash who was rocking Cool Breeze back and forth with her hooves, and Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were both sitting on the floor at corner in between where Applejack and Big Mac. Finally to Soarin’s right was the empty chair that used to belong to Granny Smith. “Alright everypony…I have something I have to admit to all of you,” Soarin’ said. “This is…hard but I have to tell you.” Soarin’ took a long deep breath. “It’s…about your parents.” “Our parents?” Applejack asked. “What about our parents?” “I…knew your parents,” Soarin’ said. “It was for a short time, but I knew your parents. And…it’s my fault that they’re gone.” “What?!” Applejack, Caramel, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Braeburn all asked at the same time. Big Mac himself lost his stoic expression for one of surprise and Fluttershy looked up questioningly at Soarin’. They all looked at him silently for a few seconds before Big Macintosh decided to break it. “Ah reckin that y’all got a story to tell huh?” he asked Soarin’. Soarin’ nodded. “Yeah.” Soarin’ took another deep breath before continuing. “It…happened a long time ago, back when I was just a colt: ~ If you saw me back then, none of you would recognize me. I was so much different back then than I am now. Back then I was a pretty rambunctious colt. I was that troublemaker that never followed any rules besides my own. I was brash and cocky, even more then Rainbow Dash ever was. “Hey!” Rainbow Dash said, cutting in to Soarin’s speech. “Sugarcube, would ya mind not interrupting,” Applejack said. “Sorry,” Rainbow Dash said apologetically. Soarin’ rolled his eyes before continuing. Anyways, during this day I was in a winter flight camp. We were flying back to Cloudsdale after a trip and Ponyville was in our path to reach Cloudsdale. At that time there was a large blizzard around Ponyville and even miles beyond. We heard from the weather station that the blizzard was going on for a while and out of control, and nopony knew when it would stop. So we all stayed close and didn’t do too much strenuous flying. We all went through the blizzard just fine until nightfall when we needed to stop. Our flight instructor got us a house and we all stayed in that house. It was in the house right before dinner. That was probably not the best time since we had already burned off a lot of calories flying through this place since lunch and most of us were famished at that point in time, but that was when it happened. Me and another pegasus, called Comet Blitz, one guy who I hated back then because he didn’t think of me as the best around, got in a fight. A very, very stupid fight. “Yeah right, there is no way you can fly normally in this blizzard,” he told me. “The winds are howling out there. Winds at that speed would greatly impede your flight.” “Yeah whatever you dork,” I told him right back. “This blizzard is nothing! A foal could fly just fine through this thing. You guys are just all a bunch of wimps.” “I’m telling you that nopony can possibly do anything here,” Comet Blitz pointed out. “Our instructor is having trouble around here if you hadn’t noticed. Heck I don’t even think a Wonderbolt would be able to fly here.” “Yeah I’m sure they wouldn’t,” I said sarcastically. “You want me to prove it? Because I can!” “You’re going to seriously fly out there?” “Oh I’m not just going to fly out there,” I told him. “I’m going to do a trick out there. And not just any trick…” I thought about it for a few seconds before I came to a very stupid realization. “I’m going to do that one trick. That spinning trick that used to be used for Winter Wrap Ups. Yeah that’s it! Not only will I show you just how good I am, but I’ll also help us get out of here faster. Then you’ll be thanking me.” “You wanted to try out that trick?” Scootaloo interrupted. “Scootaloo…there’s a reason I was so harsh to you last year,” Soarin’ said. “I’m sorry for what happened but you reminded me of my greatest mistake ever. I didn’t want you to do something you would regret just like I did.” “You know, y’all really don’t sound like yourself back then,” Applejack pointed out. “I told you, I was much different back then than I am now,” Soarin’ said. “I…actually hate how I was back then.” “Well go on,” Apple Bloom said. “What happened after that?” “Soarin’ that’s an advanced level trick,” Comet pointed out. “You may be top of the class but that doesn’t mean you can do an advanced level trick especially in this weather. It’s just not possible.” “Watch and learn Comet,” I said. “Soarin’ you’re not doing this,” Comet said as he walked around me to the entrance to block me. “This is mad!” “Heh, just admit that I can do it!” I told him. Truthfully I wasn’t even sure I was able to, so just getting him to admit it was good enough for me. “No I’m not going to,” Comet said stubbornly. “Then get out of the way!” I yelled. I moved past him and out the door and into the cold blizzard. Giving him a cocky smile I spread my wings and took off for the skies. And that’s…the last thing I remember from that moment. I was told later that I did the trick well at first, and even bragged about it, but then I spiraled off into a random direction and nopony was able to find me. But I don’t remember any of that. “So what does all this have ta do with my parents?” Applejack asked. “That’s the next part,” Soarin’ said. “I’m…getting there.” The next thing I remember is the sweet taste of apple pie in my mouth and going down my throat. I woke up slowly to the taste of that and as I looked up I noticed two earth ponies, a light green earth pony stallion who was wearing a Stetson hat and a yolk and an orange earth pony mare wearing a red bow, standing right in front of me who were sort of force feeding me the pie. After I fully woke up I backed up out of surprise from seeing them, and seeing them feed me. “Who are you?” I asked. “Where am I? What happened?” “It’s ok,” the orange earth pony told me. “You’re safe right now.” I then once again realized that I was eating something. I looked over at the female’s face and saw she had a pie tin in her mouth with a slice of pie missing. They both obviously noticed my questioning look so they explained it to me. “We heard a noise outside and when we looked out we found ya all tucked out there,” the light green earth pony explained to me in a country accent. “We brought ya in here ta get ya outta the cold, and when we did we heard your belly rumbilin somethin fierce. So we thought it might help ya by givin y’all a slice of pie.” “Alright…” I said. “Thanks…I guess.” I noticed I was still hungry so I looked back at them. “Hey…do you mind if I…have a bit more? I’m still…really hungry.” They both gave each other a look before nodding at each other. “Sure,” the orange earth pony told me. She dropped the pie off right in front of my face. “Here you go. Eat up as much as you want.” “We’ll be in the other room if ya need us,” the light green earth pony said. I started eating and as I did the two earth ponies walked away from me and into the other room. They closed the door, but they didn’t do it tightly enough to block out the sound. So while I was eating and they were talking I was able to hear everything they said. “You know, that is out last…” “Yeah Ah know Clementine. Ah know all about it. But Ah…it just feel right ta do that for him. Ah…you know Ah would feel bad if Ah did something else.” “Yeah I know. Eraligold I…just want to make sure you’re ok with it.” “You’re the one who gave that colt the pie.” “Granny Smith did tell them they sould have packed a bit more just in case,” Big Macintosh mused. “But Pah was always stubborn.” “I know I did. I just…couldn’t turn a blind eye on him. He’ll need the strength if he is going to go back to wherever he came from. But you know I’m still worried about…” “Ah am too. I hope they’ll…be fine without us. They have Mah there with ‘em so Ah…hope they’ll be fine. Mah knows how ta take care of things.” “I just wish Apple Bloom could have…” “At least…we can give them a few things ta remember them by. Do ya know where the bag is?” “Yeah it’s right here.” “Good. Ah think ya know what ta do.” It sounded like they were moving a bit around there but I just stayed there eating the pie and didn’t pay much attention to them. Eventually after I was finally finished with the pie the two ponies, Eraligold and Clementine, came in. They didn’t have any of their accessories on and instead Eraligold was holding a large saddle bag. “Hey kid, do ya think you can carry this bag? It’s kinda heavy,” Eraligold asked me. He placed the saddle bag on me and as he said, it was heavy. I nearly feel with my four hooves moving four ways, but I managed. It just took me a bit to get used to the extra weight on my back. “Yeah I can carry it, but I can’t fly with it,” I said. “It’s way too heavy for me to fly with, especially within this storm.” “Ah figured just about as much,” Eraligold said. “Don’t worry Ah ain’t gonna have ya fly with it, especially since ya got close ta…” Earligold may have stopped but I knew he was about to say dying. “Anyways, all ya need ta do is take this to a place called Sweet Apple Acres. We’ll point ya in the right direction and all ya need to do is walk there. When your there just drop it off and then ya can head back home. Do ya think you can do that?” “Y-yeah I think I can,” I said. I don’t know why I did since I used to never help anypony else and only cared about me, but maybe it was because they saved my life. “Are you sure you’re ready to go out there?” Clementine asked me. “You did just faint.” “Yeah I’ll be fine,” I said, still cocky as ever. “I’m feeling ok and ready to go.” They showed me to the door and we all went out. When we went outside I noticed it was daylight, and probably the next day. In fact it almost looked like I was out for 24 hours. “Alright, just go in this one direction,” Eraligold said as he pointed directly the way we were facing. “Just walk straight in this direction and wait until you reach a large red farmhouse. That is where you need to go. Just place the saddlebag at the door for us if ya would.” “Alright. I will,” I said. “Good luck,” Clementine told me as I walked off. As I walked off they both walked back inside the house and the last thing I heard was the slam of the door. ~ “So I did what they asked me to, and I brought the saddlebag over to Sweet Apple Acres and placed it in front of the door away from the wind,” Soarin’ said to finish off. “I didn’t know exactly what was inside but I had a good guess.” He looked over at Applejack, who was wearing a Stetson hat, Apple Bloom, who was wearing a red bow, and Big Macintosh, who was wearing a yolk. Soarin’ looked towards the floorboards. “Afterwards I flew off and returned back to my flight group. I returned home and besides getting punished for flying off, nothing happened to me. But I still couldn’t get those two out of my mind. I still couldn’t stop thinking about them. So one day I returned back to Sweet Apple Acres to see them again…and that’s when I heard. Eraligold…and Clementine…both died. The night after I was there…they both died because they didn’t have enough calories to keep them warm through the night.” “And you want to know what the worst part is? Do you want to know what hurts the most?” Soarin’ asked as he looked back up. “The next day the weather patrol finally got the snowstorm under control. The blizzard was over the next morning. All they needed to do was last one more night…and they would have survived. If I wasn’t an idiot, if I didn’t go flying when I shouldn’t have…they would have been able to share the pie…and they would have survived.” “So now you know. It is my fault that your parents died. It’s my fault that your parents are gone. It’s…all my fault.” Soarin’ stopped talking for a few minutes. As he was silent the rest of the room was silent, taking in Soarin’s story. Soarin’ noticed that everybody was looking at him in shock, not exactly sure what to make of him. There were no harsh words yet, but Soarin’ figured it was just a matter of time. “So…that’s your story then?” Applejack asked. Soarin’ couldn’t read her voice but he looked over her and nodded. “So Mah and Pah…?” Apple Bloom asked. There were plenty of tears in her eyes. “Both died to give me another chance I didn’t deserve,” Soarin’ finished for her. “Soarin’ aren’t you being a little hard on yourself?” Rainbow Dash asked. Soarin’ looked over to see Rainbow Dash staring at him…and Cool Breeze was asleep in her hooves. “After all, they seemed to both agree with it.” “They wouldn’t have needed to if I didn’t brag about my skills and went out to prove them,” Soarin’ said. “If I wasn’t so cocky and stupid.” Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Braeburn all caught each other’s eyes and a silent conversation came between them. They all nodded and then their eyes bored into Soarin’. Soarin’ gulped, expecting his punishment to come. “Alright, come with me,” Applejack said. She got up from the couch and walked behind Soarin’ towards the door. Soarin’ got up and with shame in his steps, he walked to follow Applejack. Big Macintosh and Braeburn both got up as well to follow him. They walked out of the farmhouse and back in to the orchard. It was a long walk but it was one Soarin’ felt he needed to go on. They passed by tree after tree as they went farther into the orchard. Eventually after a few minutes they reached a clearing. Within that clearing, Soarin’ saw three headstones that were covered in snow on the top, just like the floor around them. Applejack lead him over to those gravestones and that was where Soarin’ figured out where they were going. To the graves of Applejack’s parents. “Well we’re here,” Applejack said. Applejack went behind Soarin’ and gave him a gentle push towards the gravestones. “So what do you want me to do?” Soarin’ asked. He noticed Applejack walked up to his left, Braeburn to his right, and Big Macintosh stayed directly behind him. “Well what do ya think?” Applejack asked. “Thank them.” “Thank…what?!” Soarin’ asked. He was expecting to have to do something much harsher for what he did. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Thank Mah and Pah. Ya know, fur savin your life?” “But…shouldn’t you be angry with me?” Soarin’ asked. “It’s thanks to me that your parents are gone.” “Oh believe me, Ah ain’t exactly happy with you about it,” Applejack said. “But it took guts ta admit the truth ta us. And as the Element of Hnosty, Ah can at least respect that. And we also know somethin y’all don’t know.” “When Mah and Pah were found, they were found cuddling together, with a smile on their face,” Big Macintosh said. “Ah never knew why they had such a smile on their face until now,” Applejack continued. “Ah never knew why they died either. But now Ah do. It was because they gave a stupid kid another chance.” “And if ya ask me, that just gives me much more respect for Uncle Eraligold and Aunt Clementine,” Braeburn continued for Applejack. “And as for you, well I don’t think anypony here thinks any less of you.” “Ya might have been a stupid colt, but at least we know Mah and Pah’s death didn’t go to waste,” Applejack once again continued. “We can’t change the past Soarin’. Ah’ve wanted ta bring back Mah and Pah so many times it ain’t even funny. But Ah know Ah can’t. Same way, ya can’t change what ya did. But ya can learn from it at least. Ya learned from that and Ah reckin ya did much better now didn’t ya?” “And Mah and Pah had done all they needed ta do,” Big Macintosh finished. “And helpin ya out did plenty of good. It’s thanks ta that, that Scootaloo got out of that home and with you and Rainbow Dash, where she wanted ta be. And you’ve even got your own family that’s growin’, none of which would have happened if ya didn’t meet them.” Soarin’ did a 360 to look at all of them. “So do you guys forgive me?” “Well…Mah and Pah did decide ta help you even though it would hurt them themselves, so…” Applejack sighed. “They gave their lives ta save ya. Ah reckin…Ah can’t stay mad at ya if my parents were so kind to ya.” “But do you forgive yourself is the question,” Big Mac said. “It’s…still my fault that your parents aren’t able to watch you guys and see how you’re growing,” Soarin’ said. “Says who?” Applejack asked. “Our parents are watchin us all the time. They might not be there, but they can still see us. And Ah reckin that they wouldn’t want ta see ya beatin up yourself because of it.” “Alright…thanks,” Soarin’ said. He walked up to the gravestones. “Eraligold, Clementine, thanks. Thank you both. I still wish you could have been here to see this, but at least you’re watching. I hope you both are smiling at what you did, for everypony here.” Soarin’ blinked a few times before doing a 180. “Well everypony…let’s head back inside,” Soarin’ said. “I think this calls for some pie.” Everybody else rolled their eyes while still laughing. It wasn’t a happy laugh, because of the situation, but it was still a laugh nevertheless. “Alright fine,” Braeburn said through his laughter as he turned to leave. “But y’all owe me double the cost.” “He’s kiddin by the way,” Applejack said as she saw Soarin’s reaction. “Ah think triple should just about do it.” Soarin’ was aghast, but that didn’t stop the Apple Family. “Ah think quadruple,” Big Macintosh said as he turned to leave. “For every new purchase. “Alright fine,” Soarin’ said. “We’re kiddin Soarin’, we’re just kiddin’,” Applejack said as she and Soarin’ both left.