//------------------------------// // The Promise // Story: Disowned // by littlebrony //------------------------------//   It was a warm summers night. The air was full of the sounds of ponies trotting along the sidewalks below. It was a peaceful night in Manehattan. Well that was the case for most ponies. On the rooftop look-out over the busy city sat Wind Charm and Babs Seed. The two had been friends since they were foals, and were always together. They knew almost everything about each other.         Babs Could tell there was something wrong with her friend as she watched him stare blankly at the night sky, his long silver mane flowing in the wind. His green eyes didn't have the shimmer that they normally had. Instead she could see a tear forming in his eye.         Babs was not used to seeing him like this. Normally he was so full of life and energy. But tonight he seemed so distant. She knew she had to get to the bottom of this. She hated to see her best friend hurt.         She scooted in close to him and put a hoof around him. His gaze broke from the sky and turned towards her, tears now flowing from his eyes.         “Hey what’s wrong, Wind Charm?” Babs asked, concerned for her friend.         He then turned his head down towards the roof they were sitting on, tears trickling off his tiny muzzle.         “Babs, I have something very important to tell you.” He said in an unsteady tone. “But, you have to promise me you will still be my friend after I tell you this.” He said looking back at her with a distressed look on his face.         Babs placed her hoof on his cheek. “Nothing you could tell me would make me think any less of you,” she said with a smile on her face.         Wind Charm took a deep breath and looked back out at the city, finding it hard to look at Babs, feeling kind of ashamed of what he was fixing to say. “Babs,” he said with a pause. “I am a filly trapped in a colts body”         Babs was a bit taken aback by this. If it were not for the tears now rolling from her friends eyes she would have thought that he was pulling her leg. But the fact remained that he was telling her the truth.         He continued on, “I have always known I was like this and I have tried to hide it. “But I can't do it any more,” he said, slamming his hoof down on the roof below.         Then it hit Babs. Memories started to flood her head. She could remember him drifting towards things that only fillies would like and then turning his back as if he was trying to avoid it... It all clicked at once.         Babs quickly pulled him into an embrace. “It's okay Charm. I accept you for who you are and I always will,” she said looking into his eyes. “I will always be by your side and promise to protect you from those who may try to hurt you.”         She watched as the sparkle returned to his eyes, as he hugged her tightly. “I am so lucky to have a friend like you,” he said with a smile on his face. But that then faded again. “That's why I need your help Babs,” he said, looking her dead in the face, his tone now more serious. And his body began to shake.         “Babs I need you come with me tonight, and be there for me while I tell my parents,” tears once again pouring from his eyes. Babs even found herself starting to tear up. And she was normally the tougher of the two!         “I'll be there for you if you need me. And I'll be your barrier if things start to go south,” she said with a smile. But behind that smile was the knowledge of what his parents were like.         His father was one the heads of the royal guard, and was feared by most. He had a nasty reputation for beating ponies that showed any signs of weakness—Wind Charm being on the receiving end a couple of times—and his mother worked for the Mayor of Manehatten, and was a well known public figure.         She was brought back to her senses by Wind Charm hugging her tightly. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. She was so happy she could be there for him in his time of need. She would do anything for him. Even jump off the roof if it meant saving his life.         They soon broke from their hold. “Let’s just stay up here a bit longer, Babs,” said Wind Charm as he laid back and stared at the night sky. “Okay” Babs said as she rested her head on his belly. …..................................................................................................................................................................         Soon the moon was high in the sky, and the city below was starting to calm down. This was always the best time to be outside because the city would begin to shut down. And with that, the lights down below would dim and the night sky would become ever more visible.         Babs felt Wind Charm move and sat up. Wind Charm Stood up and stretched and looked at the door leading down into the lower apartments. Babs got up and put a hoof around his neck. “I am ready any time you are,” she said with a slight nuzzle. “I'm ready.” said Wind Charm as he started walking towards the door. Babs following close behind.         Before they knew it, they were standing at the door of Wind Charm’s apartment. Babs looked over at Wind Charm. “If this goes bad. I want you to promise me you will do something for me. No matter what,” Babs said with a concerned look on her face.         “Sure, anything Babs. What do you want me to do?” Wind Charm asked. “If this goes bad, I want you to run from here and head towards Ponyville. I have family down there and they will take good care of ya. They won’t judge you for being the way you are. Just look for Sweet Apple Acres. There you will find Applejack and my cousin Apple Bloom. You can trust them I promise.” Charm could see the serious look on Babs face and knew she meant business.         “I promise, Babs,” he said in an unsteady voice. “Good. I promise I won’t let you get hurt. So, if I tell you to run, you got to promise me you will run and not look back. PROMISE ME!” she said with tears in her eyes. “I promise,” said charm.