Chapter 8 – It’s just not my day!
After another good sleep, I was ready to take steps into a new day. I was so excited. It was just a few hours after I did it… I kissed a girl for my first time… Sunset Shimmer loves me… but how can I repay her?
I started thinking. Probably I might ask Applejack if she has any job for me.
“Girls… look, I’m going out for now.” I said. “I don’t exactly know when I’ll be back.”
“No problem, Alex. Just be safe!” The girls replied and waved to me.
Sunset Shimmer sighed. “Oh, sweet Celestia… he’s like no other colt I have ever seen…” She said.
“I’m glad he found you. Why won’t you send a letter to Princess Celestia?”
Sunset Shimmer gasped. “What? But…”
“Oh, relax! Grab my quill!”
Sunset Shimmer also took a parchment and started writing.
Dear Princess Celestia!
First, I want to tell you something about him… Alex, he’s like no other colt I have met, I feel somehow so warm and safe in his presence… I can’t explain my feelings… Please write back if you have any reply for me.
Yours faithfully.
Sunset Shimmer
“Here we go…” Sunset Shimmer shrugged. “Spike… you can send this letter.”
“Off we go.” And with a single breath, Spike sent this letter to Princess Celestia.
“Hope she won’t have anything against this.” Sunset sighed.
Soon, Spike spat a letter, it was certainly from Celestia. And, as Sunset approached the letter, she opened it, slightly worried.
My dear Sunset Shimmer.
Thanks a lot for sending me a letter, it’s like thousand years since we wrote to each other. It’s no surprise to me you actually wanted to write a letter to me.
First, I wanted to ask you how are you doing so far in Ponyville. It’s been a while when you were gone… I’m right to say I’m glad you’ve come back. But one question, you may want to come from time to time to the human world and back, I’d like to hear something new about your Canterlot friends.
Second, I heard you in fact fell in love with Alex. Certainly he needs real care, as where he came from, he lived a true nightmare. His parents didn’t love him, and I wonder how that terrible thing could happen. I hope you’ll get along well. We will do everything to cheer him up.
Again, thanks for your letter.
Princess Celestia
“So it’s not so bad with me…” Sunset soon realized what was the problem. “But… oh, poor thing! How could they beat my boy so much?”
“His parents didn’t want him… I hope he’ll be alright.” Twilight replied.
Ponyville streets
Roaming through the streets now was very easy. I was now very familiar to almost entire Ponyville… even these strange unicorns, who only recently arrived to Equestria…
“Oh, what a nice day…” The stallion said. “Shish, but how the hell he appeared here? Look at him…”
“So happy… but we should get to know something that can… erase his mind until the day before we went to that… stupid shop.” Julia said. “So then he won’t remember anything from there… neither will he know what awaits him… hehehe.”
“But now… we should wait until this moment will arrive…” Gregorios said. “Hey, did he mention anything about Equestrian history?”
“No… we might find a library here.”
“Sure thing.”
Sweet Apple Acres
Not so long later, I could see Sweet Apple Acres from a little distance.
“Okay. Here I come. Applejack? Are you busy?” I called.
“Oh, hi Alex.” Applejack waved her hoof. “What’s driving you to us today?”
“Well… seems like I need a job, AJ.” I said swiftly.
“Oh, yes. We’ve been looking for a delivery pony lately but when nobody applied, we retreated our announcements. Big Mac, tell him about our job.”
“Eeyup.” Big Macintosh called. “All you need to do is… deliver our apples to these addresses through Ponyville. Remember, deliver all the orders and collect the pay. No deliveries, no pay.”
“Will do it. Do you have a cart?”
“Off we go.”
Applejack then mounted the cart on me with a little help of her little sister.
“Um… let me move first… yes, I think I’m strong enough. Besides, should anything happen, I won’t blame ya. I can only blame just myself for everything.”
Applejack then got worried. “Everything? Oh, you worry too much, boy.”
“We believe ya can do anything.” Granny Smith yelled.
“Thanks… okay, I won’t be wasting time. See you later.” I called before going.
Castle of Friendship
The two unicorns now banged their hooves to the doors.
“Good morning. How can I help you?” Twilight welcomed them. Not even knowing they were my parents.
“Hello, Miss…” Julia said with a gentle smile.
“Sparkle. Princess Twilight Sparkle at your service!” Twilight said.
Gregorios and Julia looked at each other with slight disgust.
“Is… something troubling you?” Twilight asked, slightly worried.
Julia then shook her head. “Uh… no, no! We came… do you have a library? I’d like to read about… your… ancient history.”
“Sure thing! Follow me, please!”
Streets of Ponyville
“Um… Ponyville Schoolhouse. Mustn’t be so far away…” I hummed. One look on the right was enough for me to see the school. “Here we go.” I said.
On my road, I saw even more ponies than I’ve ever seen. They were mostly occupied with their matters, but some waved their hooves to me and smiled warmly.
“Hello.” One of them called.
“Hi.” I replied, also with a smile.
Soon I approached the school. I gave a light knock on the door.
“Good morning, and thanks for the delivery.” Cheerilee said.
“Not at all, Miss Cheerilee.” I replied with a warm smile.
It seemed to be my last delivery, but to be sure, I checked my list again.
I was right, there were no more deliveries.
Castle library
My parents were now sitting in the library, reading one of the books.
“Well, seems like King Sombra managed to curse the Crystal Empire.” Gregorios said.
“And… Nightmare Moon wanted to destroy Princess Celestia and bring an eternal Night.” Julia said.
“Well, there are many things that would need further explanation… I think you will be tired.” Twilight hummed. “Would you like to write a letter to Princess Celestia?”
Gregorios was a little surprised. “Why… yes! Yes, I’d like to.” Soon he grabbed a quill, a piece of parchment and went away.
Twilight started to worry. “Why he’s acting like this? Usually we don’t have secrets.” She said.
Julia cleared her throat. “He needs privacy, that’s what he wants. I know him very good, he does so since he was a kid.”
“Sounds strange to me, Mrs. Julia.” Twilight replied.
A room in the castle
Gregorios now was writing something addressed to Princess Celestia. It was clear he was up to no good. He was so focused he didn’t notice that Sunset Shimmer entered the room.
“Want some tea, Mister…?” She asked.
My dad huffed. “No. Go away.”
Sunset was surprised by this reply. She just met Gregorios… no, wait! There was something wrong.
“Look, I understand that you know me as a thief, just…” She replied.
“It’s not about the crown. How could that kid stand up for you?!”
“What do you mean? Who’s that boy?”
My dad huffed and even groaned. “Do you even know what he is? My son… He’s the worst kid the world could ever see. Wait… not a kid, he’s a cry-baby, begging everyone for mercy… but he’s just naïve. Naïve like all of you! We know what’s the best for him, and you shall not interfere…”
“What?! How… how can you be so… RUDE?!”
“Rude? Did you say RUDE!!!”
In this moment, Gregorios punched Sunset so hard that she fell on the floor.
“I will NEVER accept any rudeness in front of me. He’s gonna marry the woman WE chose for him! He will not even dare to date ya, he’s a liar, a coward, a cry-baby, he’s… the most stupid, foolish and naive bastard the world has ever seen! Now… say goodbye to your boyfriend, STUPID, DIRTY BITCH!!!”
Sunset Shimmer ran away, crying hard and loud. Gregorios let out another angry huff and kicked in mid-air. Soon, going back to write the letter.
Castle library
Twilight was now serving hot tea to my mother.
“Why does it take so long?” Julia said.
Soon, Gregorios returned to library.
“Well… who can deliver my letter?” He asked.
“Spike, it’s your duty now.” Twilight cheered.
Spike grabbed the letter and blew it in flames.
“Wow… this is so magic…” Gregorios said. He looked at his wrist watch. “Oh dear! It’s getting late! I have some serious matters to do. Thanks for letting us here, Twilight.”
“Don’t mention it.” Twilight said with a smile.
Soon, my parents left the castle.
Castle halls
Starlight Glimmer just went out of her room, only to hear loud crying.
“Hello? Who is crying?” She called, but to no reply.
Somepony was crying, but who was it?
Starlight noticed the cries came from behind her, and she went to check every room.
Soon, she reached a door which were locked. From there came the cry.
“Hello? Who’s crying?” She asked.
“LEAVE ME!!!” Sunset replied.
“Sunset, what’s happening? Injured leg?”
The wail continued, flowing through the corridors…
Lavatory
Spike was now looking at his reflection, trying to figure out what could possibly wrong with his look. Soon, he burped out a letter, absolutely from Princess Celestia.
He unrolled the letter and started reading.
Dear Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, Starlight Glimmer and Alex.
Some minutes ago I received an anonymous letter. The pony who wrote it says he’s after his son and threatens to kill all of you, including even me, if we won’t help him one way or another.
I’m also really sorry to tell you that he called both of you per ‘stupid, filthy ponies who do not respect his decision’ over marrying his son to a woman he selected for him.
In addition, he also swore that he will never stop, even if we refused to cooperate with him.
As this requires standard procedures, I’m calling all of you to Canterlot. If, for some reason, have a difficulty, please write me a reply, so I can come. I still believe that you couldn’t do such a thing, but these are standard steps we need to take. We need to identify the pony standing behind all of this, and we can’t let him free around Equestria.
Hope you will reply to me.
Princess Celestia
Spike was more than shocked. A pony delivered a blackmailing letter to Princess Celestia…
Sweet Apple Acres
“Hi AJ. I made the deliveries.” I called.
“Back so soon? And congratulations.” Applejack said. “You really are a good pony… Here’s your pay, 100 bits. Do something useful, be sure to buy Sunset a gift.”
I was shocked, one hundred bits, that was unbelievable. Soon, I had a flashback, where I could hear my dad yelling he won’t give me any money… That was terrible.
I decided to fly to the castle, I thought it will be faster. And the weather was really nice… despite there were just a few clouds in the sky.
Back to the castle
With each step through the castle corridors, I felt happy. Happy that I will see Sunset again.
I approached slowly the library as I heard some worried voices.
“Hey Twilight. Hi Starlight. Where’s Spike?” I asked.
“He went to check on Sunset. I got a really worrying letter from Princess Celestia. Somepony has blackmailed her. We don’t know who could do that.” Twilight replied.
My smile quickly turned into a frown. Who dared to blackmail the kind Princess? Soon, Spike came back.
“No reply. She’s crying. She won’t allow me to speak!” Spike shouted.
Twilight got the point. “Then we need to call Princess Celestia!”
She then grabbed another parchment and started writing.
Dear Princess Celestia.
Thanks for letting us know what was happening. We just received your letter. Sadly, however, Sunset doesn’t want to speak with us about what happened. Starlight Glimmer noticed somepony yelled at her and dared to punch her. Please come to us fast, we need your help.
Twilight Sparkle, Starlight Glimmer and Alex.
Twilight then put the letter to Spike’s throat.
“Alex, I don’t know what it could be about, but the pony went to a bedroom to write the letter.” Spike told. “He wrote that letter!”
We all, except for Spike, gasped in total shock. “What the hay?!” Twilight asked.
“Didn’t you see how he just went away from us?!” Spike yet added. “How could he! This is unlikely in Equestria. To have such secrets?!”
Soon, Princess Celestia arrived.
“Oh, thanks heavens you’re here!” Starlight called. “Sunset doesn’t even want to talk with me!”
“We might ask somepony else to do it.” Celestia answered.
I knew the point. I could be possibly the only pony who Sunset fully trusted.
“Celestia… I guess I should try to talk to her. And you… all of you… come with me. Starlight, guide us!” I said.
Castle corridors
Starlight guided us to the corridor she heard the cry. Sunset was still crying.
“Girls, Princess Celestia…” I said. “First question, what these ponies were looking for?”
“They… they wanted to read about the ancient history of Equestria.” Twilight answered.
“Second question, what ponies are they?”
“They are both unicorns. Stallion has black mane and tail… light brown coat… and brown eyes…”
Soon I started imagining the pony’s look. It greatly resembled my father.
“Mare… younger than the stallion… mane and tail the same… pale coat… and green eyes.”
“What were their cutie marks?” Starlight asked.
“He had a closed fist, she… blood droplets.”
Now that was not good. These ponies… they strikingly resemble my real parents… but who they are?
“Okay. Moment of truth. I should now speak to her. If I’m lucky, we will know the truth.”
I took three deep breaths. Then, I knocked on the door.
“GO AWAY!!!” Sunset yelled.
“Sunset… it’s me, Alex! We need to talk!” I asked.
“Don’t you realize what they said? They called me a bitch!!!”
I was surprised. The pony… called my girlfriend… a bitch? What on Equestria could he!
“Listen, my dear! I need to talk! What was he doing!”
“H-He… wrote… a l-letter…”
First clue is here. The pony did write the letter.
“Did he mention me?”
“Y-Yes…” Sunset sobbed louder.
My heart was pounding, and I was sweating. Now we have the second clue, that pony mentioned me when he talked to Sunset.
“Okay… Celestia, did he mention anypony from us in his letter?”
“He did. All of you, and Spike. He swore to kill all of you, if we won’t help him to find you.”
Third clue: he wants us dead if nopony will help him.
“Twilight. Was he rude to any of you, except Sunset? We now know he was rude to her.”
Twilight let out a tear. “Y… Yes.” She sniffed.
Fourth clue: he acted strangely nice to everypony except for Twilight and Princess Celestia.
“Sunset… we’re close. Now tell me! Did he mention the relationship between me and him?!”
Sunset cried louder.
“Tell us, it’s important for our investigation!!” Spike yelled.
“Y…Yes.” Sunset replied finally, but so faintly. “He’s… I guess… he’s your… father…”
This answer hit me like tons of bricks. I was completely shocked, my jaw dropped. My heart was now pounding so unbelievably fast and so hard.
“Oh no!!!” I yelled. “MY PARENTS ARE HERE, IN EQUESTRIA!!!”
Everypony gasped loudly in total shock.
“I wonder what they are up to!” Starlight said.
“Up to no good…” I replied. “They want to take me back… to their world…”
“Bad… that’s really bad…” Celestia said.
“Worse. Not like you think now. They’re very influential. They made everyone think I’m a loser… a traitor… that I betrayed myself… I tried to stand up for them but I grew so cowardly, so scared…” I explained. “They always wanted to berate me for everything I have done. They said they were doing all the best for me… but they are nothing but liars… They wanted to hurt me. They made everyone want to hurt me, they wanted to tell me that having hope is indeed being naïve… before I arrived to Equestria, I tried to kill myself many times, but… I failed. I was considered a born failure, until… I saw that mirror. I thought it was an old junk, but when I saw your letter… I hoped for a new life here.”
“And you got it. You got a new chance.” Starlight told me quietly, hugging me. “Just like Twilight gave me a new chance.”
“I still wonder why I found seven Elements when I broke the crystal.” I asked.
Celestia then stepped in. “You broke the crystal, knowing what it contained… You knew good what it meant if Nightmare Moon merged the powers locked within… With this act, you showed the real bravery… Equestria has never seen such an act of great bravery. This is the Element of Bravery.”
I gasped again. “W-What?!” I asked in even greater shock.
“Do you recall that book? It was told that the Element will show to the one, whose heart was great. Of great will. Of the will to fight. Then you composed your magic, that defeated Nightmare Moon and Midnight Shadow… that’s why this Element chose you.”
“How it was possible if my parents called me a coward?” I asked again.
“They were wrong. They were all the time. They lied to you, in hope they will destroy your life completely. I was watching you… I realized that you will have such a power. To save Equestria. You are an innocent child who was tortured and haunted by evil parents. You didn’t do anything wrong. They wanted to crush you for who you were, for who you wanted to be.”
I started crying. Princess Celestia… it’s thanks to her I’m here. She knew I was pure. That I was a really special pony. And that being different caused my surroundings to turn against me.
I soon went back on my memories. I remembered how bad I was treated.
My flashback
I was standing, probably in my old classroom, surrounded by teachers and fellow students.
“How dare ya hit him!” The teacher yelled. “That was stupid from…”
“I am not stupid! He insulted me!” I screamed. “He did it!”
“Shut up you son of bitch!” The other student growled.
“Yes, shut up!” The teacher told. “You are nothing but a worthless, talentless piece of junk! Now sit down!”
I started crying. With this, people started laughing from me.
“Cry-baby, cry-baby, cry-baby!” They all called. They did not stop.
The flashback then turned to my home, where I was watching TV. Suddenly, my dad came over and plugged it out.
“You will not be watching these stupid things again.” He said.
“Don’t you know how…”
“Quiet! You’re not going to eat for the rest of the week, bastard.”
I cried. He then locked me away in my room. “And don’t you dare to cry!!!” I heard my mother screaming.
Soon, I got another flashback. I was in the park, with my head hanging down. Suddenly, a girl pushed me to the water and started laughing.
I quickly got up. “How dare you do this to me!” I yelled, then I slapped the girl out of my anger.
Soon, my mother stepped in. “You’re nothing but junk!” She yelled. “How dare you slap the girl! EXPLAIN!”
“She started, she threw me…”
“You liar! You slapped her first, you began the whole thing!!!”
Soon, I got a worse flashback.
“Forget the university, you’re going back to kindergarten.” My teacher said. “You got all 0%.”
“This is unfair! I’m smart, how…”
“We all know you have no explanation for this…” The other teacher replied. “No talking back, you’re off to kindergarten!”
Reality
I came back to consciousness. I was still crying.
“And… they hated him just for being different?” Starlight asked.
“Yes…” Celestia replied. “Yes, indeed.”
Celestia hugged me tighter. “I promise I will send some elite guards after them. I will also ask to block entire Equestria from other worlds. That way we will be safe.”