//------------------------------// // Uncle's Wisdom // Story: Finding Happiness // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// One afternoon at Fluttershy's cottage, Anton was helping Fluttershy clean up the place. As Fluttershy was dusting the ceiling, Anton was sweeping dirt and dust outside. "There, that should be it," Anton said, as he placed the broom off to the side, "Hey, Fluttershy. I'm done sweeping. Anything else you need done?" "Oh, no. That should be enough, Anton. Why don't you go out and have some fun. Just don't be out too late." she answered. "I won't. Later, mom." Anton said quickly as he left the cottage. Fluttershy smiled, "Ah, mom," suddenly she did a double take, "Mom?" she began fluttering around, "Oh, I wasn't prepared for this. I know I agreed to take Anton in, but I wasn't expecting him to be calling me that this quickly," a smile suddenly returned to her face, "But it does have a nice ring to it." Meanwhile Anton was bike riding through Ponyville park without a care in the world, 'Ah, what a day. After all that house work I definitely need this. Living with Fluttershy's been the best thing that's happened to me in years. It really is like living with mom.' He sighed happily, as he recalled what he said to Fluttershy when he left the cottage. The words 'Later, mom' echoed in his head until he snapped out of it and looked shocked, "Mom?!" he gasped, and realizing he rode onto the grass and lost balance before falling onto the side, "Oh, wipe out." he groaned. "Anton!" came a familiar Trottingham voice. Anton saw Pip, Rumble, Button Mash and Featherweight looking down at him, "Are you ok?" Rumble asked in concern. "We saw you fall when you rode on the grass." Featherweight explained. "Are ya hurt?" Pip inquired. Anton quickly got up and straightened himself, "I meant to do that." "If you say so." Rumble said. "We were on our way to play some arcade games. Wanna come?" Button inquired. "You bet." Anton agreed, as he picked his bike up. "Then let's go." Pip said, as the group of boys hurried off. Back at Fluttershy's cottage, Fluttershy had called Twilight over to talk with her. The two were in Fluttershy's living room having tea, as the Princess spoke. "So what's going on, Fluttershy?" "Well, Twilight. It's about Anton." "Anton? Is he all right?" Twilight asked in concern. "Oh, he's fine, but it's just..." "What?" "When he left today he called me mom." Fluttershy explained, while feeling a bit sheepish. "He what?" "I know. I'm not even sure he was aware of what he said himself." "This is great." Twilight gasped in joy. "Oh, it is?" "Of course. The fact Anton called you mom, must mean he's truly gotten used to living here with you. He truly sees you as a parental figure now." Twilight explained with joy. "Well, that is what I was thinking too. I have been wondering if he ever would call me that. But I'm worried if he'll forget about his real mom." "I'm sure Anton won't. But you just keep treating Anton with kindness and love and I'm sure both of you will be fine." Twilight assured. "If you think so, Twilight." Fluttershy answered, while thinking about Anton recognizing her as a maternal figure. Meanwhile at the arcade in Ponyville, Anton and his pony boys were busy playing all sorts of games. Button was playing away and showing off his mad skills in a fighting game with Anton as his opponent. Anton was playing, but from the looks of things wasn't playing at his best. The words 'You Lose' flashed on the screen when his game avatar lost to Button's. "Another loss?" Pip asked. "Anton wasn't even putting up a fight in that one." Rumble noticed. "Are you really ok, Anton?" Button asked. "Fine, why do you ask?" he replied. "Because out of the dozen matches we've had so far, you've only beaten me twice." "And?" "Last time we were here, you put up a bigger challenge than this. I mean this was just embarrassing. For you, of course." "Sorry, guys. I just have a lot on my mind today." Anton answered with a sigh. "Like what?" Pip wondered. "I... can't say." "Anton?" the boys wondered. "Sorry. I need some time to myself." he left the arcade. His friends watched him leave and looked concerned for him. As Anton was riding back, he was deep in thought, 'Why did I just call Fluttershy mom so casually? I know she took me in, but should I really be calling her that? And if I did, would I just be casting my real mom aside as if I no longer care about her? I don't know anymore.' When he returned to the cottage, he parked Silver against the place before going inside. As he entered he spoke up, "I'm back." Fluttershy trotted in, "Welcome back, Anton. Dinner will be ready shortly." "Actually, I'm not all that hungry." he answered. Fluttershy looked at Anton in concern, "Is something wrong. Are you sick?" "No, I just don't feel hungry." he said trying to avoid eye contact. Fluttershy knowing it was best to not push Anton answered, "Ok, Anton. I understand." Anton went upstairs to his bedroom, and plopped on his bed. He sighed at how awkward things have suddenly gotten between him and Fluttershy. "I don't know what to feel now." he said to himself. When nighttime came, Fluttershy and Anton were both asleep in their beds. As Anton slept, he still felt distressed about what went on that day, until he heard a voice whispering to him. "Anton. Anton." Anton groaned as he woke up and looked around his dark room seeing nothing, "I'm hearing things." he was about to go back to sleep, until he heard it again. "Anton." "Ok. I definitely heard that." he listened as the voice sounded like it was coming form outside the cottage. Anton felt compelled to check it out. He put his shirt and shorts back on, before tiptoeing down the stairs while carrying his shoes so not to make any creaking sounds. Once he was out the door, he put his shoes on and walked around the cottage, and spoke, "Hello? Is someone there?" "Anton." came the whispering voice as a light started shining above him. Anton was in shock at this phenomenon expecting something more shocking, and true enough appearing above him was a transparent adult man wearing red monk garb. Among the noticeable features was his head was clean bald with no traces of hair on his head. "Oh, I finally managed to master this ability." the adult said in relief. Anton looked at the man in shock before speaking, "Uncle Ron?" "That's right, Anton. It's me." the man confirmed. Anton looked his uncle over before speaking, "What're you wearing? And..." he observed his uncle's head envisioning a mullet of hair on it, "What happened to your head?" Ron looked at his hea and chuckled, "Oh, right. I shaved it." "You shaved your luxurious mullet? That's not like you!" Anton cried in shock. "A lot of things have happened to me, Anton." Anton looked at his uncle noticing his transparent state, "I can see right through you, but how? Oh, don't tell me you..." "No. I am not a ghost and I am not dead." his uncle assured him. "Then what are you?" "I am merely projecting my astral self before you, while my body remains in a state of suspended animation." "I know about that ability from my favorite superhero shows. But how are you of all people doing this?" Anton wondered. "Well, not long after I divorced your aunt I was so filled with so much anger and pain because of her I sought out the monks of the Tibetan monastery hoping they could help me rid myself of all my inner feelings." "Go on." Anton beckoned him to continue. "They took me in and taught me their ways. Through the various meditations and practices I was able to cleanse myself of all my hatred and anger of your aunt. I continued to stay there and train harder. Eventually I learned to become one with the world itself and detach myself from the physical plane of existence and see beyond what the human eyes cannot see. Such as a world like this. And let me say I've seen plenty of worlds." "Amazing." Anton gasped. "But I have questions of my own. Like how did you get here and why are you here?" Ron asked. Anton sighed knowing it was time his uncle heard what happened since he left them, "Well, uncle Ron. Like you, a lot has happened to me too. Mostly bad things." "Speak to me, Anton." Anton nodded and began telling the full tale of what happened since he divorced Anton's aunt. After the story, Anton spoke, "And that's everything." Ron was beyond the levels of shocked, angry, and guilty, "Anton, I-I had no idea." "No one did." Anton assured him. "I knew Katrina wasn't the best person to be with, and my son... I never expected them to go this far." "Well, they did. And look what happened." "My apologies about your mom, Anton. Stacey was truly a kind soul. I wished I could've married someone more like her instead of Katrina." "Well, what's done is done. And the good news is I no longer have to live with those jerks." Anton said. "Yes. And based off what you told me, these ponies seem to be quite the family to you, huh?" Ron nudged him. "Yeah. They've been more of a family than Katrina and Rodney ever were to me and mom." "And yet, I'm feeling as if you're still unhappy." ron noticed. "Well, it's actually something that happened today," Anton began, "Fluttershy, the pony I told you I'm staying with. I accidentally called her mom." "Accidentally?" "Accident, meant it, I don't know anymore," Anton sighed in frustration, "Point is, if I start calling her mom, am I betraying and forgetting about my own mother?" Ron smiled and spoke, "Anton, no one could ever replace your mother. Just as no one can ever replace your father. They will always be your parents. But if you've found others to fill in certain voids in your life like parental figure, then don't be afraid to address that person or pony in such a way." "Are you sure, Uncle?" "I'm more than sure. Have I ever lied to you?" "No. You never have." Anton smiled knowing him too well. "Then don't be afraid to miss out on a chance to have a real family again. Do what you feel is right for yourself." Ron started fading away. "Uncle Ron, where you going?" Anton gasped. "My meditation is ending. I must return to my body." "No! Don't go! I don't wanna lose you again!" Anton pleaded. "You'll never lose me, Anton. If ever you need someone to talk to, I will hear you." Ron smiled, before his astral form vanished. Anton smiled, "See you soon, Uncle Ron." he looked at the cottage and knew what he had to do. In Fluttershy's room, the pegasus was sleeping peacefully, until she felt something nudge her. She woke up and saw Anton standing by her side. She sat up and looked at him. "Oh, Anton. What're you doing up so late? Did you have a bad dream?" she asked in concern. "No, I'm fine, but listen, Fluttershy. There's something I need to talk to you about." "At this hour?" "I'm sory, but it can't wait until morning." "Well, you can tell me anything." Anton sighed knowing this was it. He remembered what his uncle told him, and spoke up, "Fluttershy... May I call you mom?" Fluttershy hearing Anton say those words suddenly felt as if her heart burst. She smiled, as tears of happiness fell from her eyes, and pulled Anton into an embrace, much to his surprise. "Oh, Anton. I thought you'd never ask." she sniffled. "Then you're ok with it?" Anton asked hopefully. "I am, if you don't mind." Anton smiled, and embraced her, "I don't mind at all." As they hugged, Anton looked out the window and smiled knowing his mom would be proud to see he found someone to love and care for him as much as she did.