//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Family // Story: The Mortal Sin // by Humanarian //------------------------------// Family... What did that word really mean to me? Bradley family was just a disguise for me and Wrath... a perfect mask to put on our faces. Poor miss Bradley had no idea. She truly accepted me as her son, even though I was adpoted. She was always kind to me. One time, she had almost given her life away to save me from that car. Of course, she had no idea that the car was of a little threat to me, but that's not the point. She was willing to give away her own life to save mine, which meant she truly loved me as her son. I am Pride, but that woman... had made me feel greatful. The only thing I could repay her with was loving her back as my mother. But, on the other hand, my real family had nothing to do with her. My real family was my Father and my siblings. We, Homunculi, are different from humans. And our family was different too. Yes, we cared for each other, but since we knew how exactly we had been made, most of us realised that all of us were the parts of one being. Gluttony was a bit too dumb to see that, and Greed was... Greed. He always wanted the things to be his way. However, in our family I had never seen the same love and affection that miss Bradley was giving me in my human family. And the thing is... I grew to like that affection. Not to the point where I would leave my Father and siblings for it, of course, but it still was... nice. "Ehm... what are ya'll doing in my bed?" - Apple Bloom's question drew my atention back to reality. It was already a morning. "I'll answer your question, but in return, you'll have to answer mine," - I offered with a smile. "Ehm... okay?" - she was unsure, but still had agreed to that deal. "Applejack said that we should share this room until she and her friends find out what happened to me and where my parents are," - I said. The filly looked like she was about to protest, but I beat her to it - "It's my turn now. Tell me, what are you doing?" The question took Apple Bloom by surprise, and her gaze slowly trailed down, allowing her to see our current... predicament. Her reaction was interesting to observe: first, her face started to turn red, until her original color could not be seen on it anymore. Are these ponies able to change the color of their coat? Then she quickly pushed me off the bed. It could hurt a human child, but... Good thing I am Homunculus. "Oh my gosh!" - I heard her shouting to me, - "Are you okay? Ah didn't mean to do this!" "Please, calm down," - I smiled, looking up at her from my current position, - "I'm fine, I promise. No hard feelings." She got down from the bed and helped me up. Just in time, as Applejack opened the door. "Rise and shine, little... Oh. Ya're up already?" - her dramatic entrance had been entirely ruined. A moment later I heard Apple Bloom starting to chuckle. I had joined her soon. The Apple Family gathered at the table once again. And I had to admit, there was something in the air... Something not physical, something I couldn't explain. But it felt... warm. I observed them closely. Apple Bloom was enjoying both her food and the conversation with her sister. Both had such genuine and kind smiles on their faces, and their eyes offered no glimpse of lie or faking. The old pony, Granny Smith, was muttering something to herself, but it was obvious that she enjoyed being in the company of her grandchildren. The large red stallion whose name was Big Macintosh was the most quiet of them all, simply focusing on his meal. He seemed a bit nervous, and I could notice him glancing my way when he thought I wasn't looking. "Big Macintosh," - I asked him, smiling brightly. The big stallion winced - "Why are you so silent? Is something wrong? May I help?" I knew that my approach wasn't eactly appropriate, but approaching things bluntly is what kids do. My battery of questions, however, seemed to catch the pony off-guard, as it was obvious he didn't know how to reply. That caused Applejack's attention to turn to him. "Ah've noticed that too, Big Mac," - she joined in - "Ya're acting weird since the last evening. Something on your mind?" The large stallion turned his face to the side, only saying one word: "Nope". Something defenitely was on his mind. But is it really my business? That thought had brought me to a surprising revelation: why did I suddenly feel like getting to the bottom of it? Why would that stallion's strange behaviour bother me at all? Yes, I was still acting like a child, and children are known for being curious about everything. My questions were just a part of the act. But then... Then the act turned to something more genuine. "If ya say so..." - said Applejack, but the look on her face suggested that she wasn't letting it go so easily. It seems, it was a weekend, and the school was closed. That meant Apple Bloom was going to have a free day, unless she too had to do the chores on that farm. Which she did. Acting like a curious child, I was observing her and Applejack collecting some rotten apples. From where I was looking, it looked more like a game than a chore. And both sisters seemed to enjoy it. They are having a good time and also getting the work done. Interesting strategy... "Come join us, ehm...!" - Apple Bloom shouted to me, before remembering she didn't know my name, - "What should I call him, sis?" "We'll find his parents and figure out his name soon," - the orange mare sounded confident, - "Princess Twillight is busy right now, and we still have some chores to do, so..." She kept her explanation going, but I wasn't listening. I thought it was about time I chose a name for myself. So, let's see... my mane is black, but my coat is white. As if it symbolizes that I need the light source in order to use my shadow. Perhaps, my name could be born from that fact. When the lights hit me, the shadow created by my body becomes my weapon. I can use my natural form through it. It is my... "...Dark Side!" - I said, causing Applejack to stop mid-word and look at me with her eyebrow raised, - "Call me Dark Side, until we can figure my real name." Which, I hope, they never will. The orange pony was about to either protest or ask a question, but her sister had spoken first: "Come join us, Dark Side"! After saying that, she giggled: "Usually it's the other way around," - to which her sister giggled as way. I suppose, I could join their little game. Catching Applejack's throws was harder than I expected, especially since I still wasn't used to that new body of mine. No, I wasn't falling on my face every step on the way, but when it came to jumping and moving quickly, I still needed some practice. And some practice is exactly what I've got. So, in the end, playing that game also had it's value to me. It seems, my body is that of an earth pony. That means no flying and no magic, except for my shadow. I need to explore it's limits... "Phew, all done here, sis!" - exclaimed the little filly. She looks still full of energy. - "Ah wish Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were here. I'll never earn mah cutiemark if there's no crusading!" Her sister rolled eyes at that. Appearantly, it was the topic her sister mentioned too much... Are those cutiemarks really of that much vallue in pony society? I still needed to learn more about their traditions, and I knew just the filly to ask. "I can go crusading with you," - I offered, beaming at her. She looked at me with a confusion clear on her face. "You? B... but ya already have your cutiemark! What's the point in crusading for the cutiemark if ya'll already got one?" "Ah think little Dark Side here just wants to spend time with ya," - her sister stepped in, to which I smiled and noded, - "Okay then, you two! Go ahead and have fun!" I'm not sure that sitting in the wooden club house on a tree and listening to the filly going on and on about her adventures with the other "crusaders" could be identified as fun. However, it still had it's vallue to me. For example, I learnt about Applejack's close friends, which also happened to be the other crusaders' elder sisters. Or something along the lines... It appeared, Scootaloo was the adopted sister of the pegasus named Rainbow Dash. Sweetie Belle, however, was a blood relative of the unicorn Rarity. I had also managed to get another important bit of information: it seemed that those three, along with Princess Twillight Sparkle and the other two ponies I haven't heard of before - Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy - were some sort of the national heroes. I tried to dwell on that topic, but Apple Bloom didn't seem to know much. Still, she had some rather interesting stories to share. The important thing was that those ponies helped defend their country named Equestria from the monsters who attacked it. The monsters like me... However, my thoughts were interrupted once again. That time though, it wasn't another pony. It was another... creature. A loud sound of the club house's wall being broken in a rather harsh manner brought both mine and filly's attention to the cause of the destruction: a large wolf... no, a wooden and rock golem, which had the appearance of a wolf. I had never seen anything like that before. Is someone using alchemy to create such chimeras in this world? "TIMBER WOLF!!!" - a scream coming from the little filly gave me the name of that creature. It looked dangerous... even deadly. The reaction of the filly suggested that it was uncommon for it to intrude that area. However, it is here. What do I do?... "Quick, Apple Bloom, let's get out of here!" - I yelled to free the filly from a fear-induced trance. I grabbed her hoof with mine and pulled her towards the exit. It seems, I've managed to learn how to hold things with my hooves, and have done so purely on instinct. Interesting... Running away, I tried to figure out the best course of action. The timber wolf obviously was strong. However, judging by the fact it got stuck in the doorway instead of leaving the clubhouse the same way it came in, it wasn't very intelligent. Obviously enough, it soon had broken through, leaving the clubhouse in ruins. I saw the reaction on the filly's face: even though she was scared beyond measure, seeing the clubhouse destroyed had brought the colors of sadness and even despair on her face. That clubhouse must have been of a great value to her and her friends... "Don't stop! Run, run, keep running!" - I kept the Apple Bloom's attention on the task at the hoof. We needed to run away, because I couldn't allow my dusguise to break by using my powers. Running away was the only appropriate course of action at the moment. But the golem was faster. Much faster than a couple of pony kids. I felt it hit us both from behind, effectively knocking us down. I wasn't really worried about my safety: I knew that the timber wolf would need a few days of attacking me non-stop in order to do any significant damage. However, the filly was a different case... And the timberwolf chose to attack her. I had caught myself wincing as I watched the golem biting the filly's foreleg. And even more so at her screaming in response. Why? Why do I care about what's happening to her? I'm in the new world, I should have much more important things to care about than this filly. The filly who was in a grave danger at the moment... "I am giving you a chance to redeem yourself..." - the words of that strange white creature echoed through my mind. Before I knew it, something had overtaken me. It was a strong feeling, something I had never experienced before. It had made me move before I could think my actions through. I had quickly slid under the wolf's head and, standing on my forelegs, bucked it hard on the chin. It whined and let Apple Bloom go. That was a good opportunity to run, but the bitten filly couldn't move. I briefly looked at her and saw the cute face covered in tears. That image alone seemed to fuel whatever was happening to me. I stood between the filly and the golem, ready to do everything I could to protect her, even if it involved using my powers. Why am I doing that? "Get away from them this instant!" - the yell from the side caused both me and the timber wolf to shift our attention to Applejack and Big Macintosh, who were galloping towards us. The golem took a nervous step back, then turned around and ran away, though not before looking my way and growling. As I watched it run away, I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding and switched my attention to the still crying and wounded filly. She needed some medical assistance. What happened to me?... Apple Bloom was sitting on her bed, with the bondages on her foreleg. She had long since stopped crying, and I had to admit, she was a tough filly. But she was still a filly, and the experience like that could traumatise any kid. Applejack had left us in her room, the night was about to come. But I knew she was in no mental state for sleeping. It could be seen in her eyes that her mind kept replaying the scenes from the last afternoon. Is she blaming herself for what happened? I didn't know what to do to make it easier for her. So, I tried what I knew was human's way of a silent support. She didn't notice me moving closer to her until I locked her in my embrace. She went stiff at first, but then relaxed, leaning against me. "Thank you..." - she said, burying her muzzle under my chin, - "...for saving my life." I hadn't given it much thought before, but at that moment I had realised that, indeed, if it wasn't for me, that filly would be already dead. I saved her... But why? "Ya'll did us a favor Ah can never repay ya for," - Applejack's words from an hour ago came back to me, - "Just know that this here family will always open it's doors for ya". Family, huh?... "I need to go use the bathroom," - I said, gently pulling back from the embrace, - "Would you like me to bring a glass of water for you or something?" She looked like she didn't want to let me go, but after holding the embrace for a few more seconds, she did. "It's okay, Dark Side. Ah'm good," - I nodded at her words and was about to leave, - "Just, please... Come back soon." Her last phrase had caught me by surprise, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. There is a thing I need to do... The sun had almost completely hidden behind the horizon, and the night was about to cover "Sweet Apple Acres". It was a perfect time for a hunt, and the timber wolf knew it. He had never really come back to the Everfree Forest, instead choosing to lay low and wait until those ponies went to sleep. Then, it would be the perfect time to attack. Step by step, it was moving closer to the house of Apple Family. Step by step, it was getting closer to his revenge on that colt who dared to interrupt his well-deserved meal. What it didn't know was the fact it was not the only hunter around. Something else was watching it from the shadows, something else was preparing for the attack. At some point, the wolf had noticed that and turned around. What it saw was the pure darkness, and a couple of purple eyes. "Checkmate," - said the mysterious voice, and the number of eyes grew tenfold. To make the image even scarier, the large white teeth had appeared from those shadows. For the first time in it's life, the timber wolf had felt a pure undeniable fear. The creature in front of it could only be described as a monster. The sound of cracking branches and breaking stones had filled the cold night air.