> SiE
>  by Bubbleshy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - Star Child
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Now Doc, I want cha to brace yourself fer what it is exactly you're about to lay eyes on," a dark brown earth pony warned his counterpart. His mane and tail were a lighter shade of brown, and a fully cultivated patch of dirt with a plant growing in it resided on his flank symbolizing his cutie mark. A grey unicorn stood next to him with an orange mane and tail. This associate's cutie mark came in the form of a stethoscope. Both waited before a large yellow and white barn in the back of the earth pony's property. His house lay before the structure, and to its right a large field laid with the beginnings of that year's crop.
 
"Don't worry Firm Roots; I've seen many an odd occurrence in my lifetime. I'm sure yours will not take the cake in my journals. And will you stop calling me that! I've told you once; I've told you a hundred times, I'm but a simple town veterinarian. I don't even have my doctrine to claim the title. Tarturous, the only reason I'm practicing in this town is because the lot of you couldn't bring in a vet to save your hides. Speaking of things that could not be done, why did you paint this structure such a color? By Celestia it hurts my eyes just trying to conceive such a disaster."
 
Firm just smiled back at the vet pony's reaction. "Oh, believe me Doc. This'll certainly take whatever flavor of cake yer plannin' on eatin' tonight. Actually, you know, some cake does sound a might good about now. Maybe I ought to get ol' Storm to whip us up some cake, and we could-"
 
"Roots! Really now, you ripped me from the comfort of my home for this. Let's get all this done so I can return to such. I grow tired of these constant games you play, and would rather-"
 
Before the vet pony could finish his rant, Firm opened the doors. The doctor shut his muzzle and looked in. He stood ready to be in awe, and found no such emotion running through his being. Rather, all he found before him was darkness within the barn. Maybe the late hours of the night was not a good time to hold such a meet. The unicorn was thinking of a clever comment to sarcastically throw in the earth pony's face, but could find nothing before Firm started moving forward. He sufficed to stay quiet as his partner disappeared into the barn.
 
He waited patiently, but nothing came up. It was late, he was tired, this simpleton awoke him in the middle of the night, and now he sat waiting in the dark. Patience certainly wasn't something that was planning to last very long for this unicorn. Finally, his annoyance caught up with him as he yelled out, "Oh come now Roots! Can you please just turn on the darn light so we can get this over with?"
 
"Shhh! You'll wake it Doc!"
"Oh this is utterly- Wake what? I can't see anything in there!"
"Then why didn't you come over here like I beckoned ya to?"
"Because I can't exactly see what it is you're doing in there!"
"Well, if'n y'all join me in here, I'll be more than willin’ ta turn on a light fer ya to see better with."
 
This was it. He had enough. The unicorn was too tired for this anymore. All of his exhaustion had caught up with him, and his care had drained away. Instead of continuing a pointless argument, he sank his head and trudged his way into the barn. He made his way to the center and tried adjusting to the lack of light. This did him no good. Instead, the unicorn slightly lit up his horn to help guide him better to the farm pony. What caught his eyes instead was an animal sleeping in the back of the barn. He could barely make out its features, but it looked...hairless?

"What in Celestia's name is-?"
 
Just as the doctor began his questioning, a light flicked on in the back. There stood Firm Roots. A light fixture hung from the ceiling supporting the half of a second story, and just gave off enough light to help alleviate the problem of darkness. Not far from Firm Roots was a small animal of unknown origin. It was as big as a newborn colt, but had no fur on its skin. A slight black mane rested on the creature's head standing straight up, and a fuzzy tail wrapped its way around it. The thing cradled itself in a burlap bag, sucking on its tail. Its shape was...different, to say the least.
 
"By Luna's moon!" The vet quickened his pace from earlier and galloped next to the creature as fast as possible. He did nothing but stare at it for the good part of a minute before finally lowering his head every which angle to better examine the thing.
 
"Roots, where did you find this?"
 
"Oh, you know, I usually shop at the town market. Dancin' Needles makes some of the best bags you'll ever lay your eyes on Doc! You should really invest in one."
 
The vet stared at the farm pony. The sarcasm was lost on the tired unicorn. He stood before Firm, just staring at him with the blankest face possible to a pony. Finally the statement settled in the Doc's mind. Slowly, what remained of his exhaustion-flooded anger resurfaced. "You dolt, I meant the-"
 
Roots began laughing. "Oh, I know Doc. I'm just pullin' your leg. I'm honestly not real sure. Alls I remember is sitting on the porch with Tornado, watchin' the storm clouds dancing above. When all of a sudden, the sky opened in a blaze of fire! And a star fell not far from the edge of my property."
 
"I remember no such event occurring in the past few days. Not to mention, there was no earthquake or explosive noise to relate with your accusations."
 
Firm Roots shook his head. "Nah Doc, this is all serious! It was extremely late, so no one but the three of us noticed it happenin'. Stormy was off takin' care of the night weather above our house. And no one in town seemed roused by the noise! When I got there to investigate, there was a crater and some circular metal-like thingy at the sight with...well, this in it!"
 
The unicorn just stared at this creature wrapped in the sack. He racked his mind for what it could possibly be. His knowledge of animals was not limited to the pets of the locals. He had done extensive research on many types of fauna. He hadn't earned the veterinarian position by just stepping up to the plate when no one else would. Although, something told him that he could have earned the job just the same if he had. A doctorate was far beyond his reach, but if money was no option he would have a better chance than most ponies going for the same degree. They studied for the degree. He studied for the pure love of the career. But no matter how much he racked, no animal came to mind that was close to what this was.
 
"So you're telling me that this thing is..."
"From the stars, Doc."
 
A child of the stars. Although not the best description for what the creature was, it would have to do until more was known of it. Then there was the whole factor of how reliable the information was. "I'm going to need to talk to your son about this whole ordeal before we follow suit on crediting you on this info."
 
"That's fine by me Doc, but maybe we should wait 'till the light of the morn? It's a might late to be wakin' the colt just to ask him fer info."
 
The unicorn sighed, knowing that's exactly why he was in this predicament in the first place. Though a growing colt and a full grown stallion were two different topics to discuss. This thing was what was important now. The doctor could feel it. Tornado could sleep, but the discussion over this thing would be top concern as soon as he woke. "Do you have a name for the little thing yet?"
 
"Actually yeah! I was thinking Blood Cry."
 
The unicorn raised an eyebrow to such a claim. "Okay, and would you like to indulge me as to how you came up with such a ludicrous name?"
 
The earth pony just stood there with a stupid smile on his face. As though he was waiting for just that question to pop up. He slowly raised his hoof and held it in front of the doctor's face. Without hesitation, he ripped the tail right out of the star child's mouth and hands. Slowly, the realization began to hit the little thing. It roused from its slumber, and sat up groggily. The thing looked around for a moment before crunching up its face in frustration. A torrent of noise sprang from its mouth. Best described as hysterics incarnate.
 
Louder than any pony child could scream, this little one threw a fit loud enough to make the doctor's ear drums ring in agony. Nothing was disturbing it anymore, but the fact it had been disturbed in the first place was enough to send it into a rage that was nearly loud enough to wake the entire town without hesitation. It was obvious that this was only a baby, but it was much feistier than a pony baby.
 
"Okay Firm Roots! You've made your point. Now get this thing to stop making that awful noise."
"Dunno how to yet Doc."
"What! What do you mean? It was sleeping earlier."
 
"Yeah, that was just coinkydink. Don't know what calmed him down, and I have no idea what it'll take to get him to stop this time either. So, how about them cakes?"
 
The vet's eyes went wide in agony. If this point had not manifested itself earlier: it was clear that it was going to be a long night.

> 2 - Years Later
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The early morning sun shone through the eastbound window. It illuminated a room whose only occupant had long since awoken for the day. Notes lay all over the bed. All dated and then signed by an ineligible name. As the paperwork became younger, the signature began with a third part. A sir name, Doctor, had been added. "Curse that Firm Roots for his incessant use of calling me Doctor," chimed a grey unicorn at the foot of the bed.
 
Doc sat next to his bed, studying over all the notes laid out. All began with varying titles, but sharing the name 'Star Child' in each. The vet scratched at his orange mane. "Five years," he muttered. "Five long years, and I still haven't a clue as to what you are, Blood Cry!"
 
The doctor huffed, and looked over to his dresser. There sat a lit candle, the reason he was able to study so early. He stumbled over to the light fixture and blew it out. Although the sun did provide the light needed to study, Doc had a separate desire for extinguishing the candle.
 
The vet sat upon his rump, and breathed a heavy sigh. His head lowered itself and he rested for another minute. Finally, the doctor smiled as wide as his lips would allow. He raised his head with a new determination and pronounced to the world, "It's time for your check up Blood Cry!"
 
His trek to the farm was not a short one. Doc made sure to stop at the local apple market to grab himself some lunch. He slid the fruit into his burlap bag with his fresh paper for the day's notes. This elicited a wink and a click of the tongue from Dancing Needles as she passed. The doctor blushed, but continued on towards the farm. She might have not known why, but every Wednesday when the doctor went out to the farm he almost always needed a new bag.
 
Far before he got to the grounds of the farm he could hear the shouts of Firm. Doc's ears fell back as he got closer to what was going to welcome him this week. The screams became more prominent the closer he got to the household. Stormy Weather sat on her front porch, smoking a pipe. "Good mornin' to you Storm!" The doctor cursed himself for the simpleton accent that protruded from his mouth. Unfortunately, he could not avoid this feat due to living in such a hick town.
 
A black pegasi rocked back in her chair as she waved to the vet. She wore a jolted yellow style for a mane and tail. "Mornin' sir! I'm sure you’re here to inspect the little monkey for this week."
 
"A-actually Storm, he isn't a monkey," the unicorn tried to correct. Soon after, his ears fell flat again due to the screaming. "I take it Firm Roots is-"
 
"Out back with the little demon and Tornado Flyer. Celestia bless that child, less we couldn't control that beast she also 'blessed' us with!"
 
Stormy glared towards the side of the house the screaming was coming from. Both of the ponies were welcomed with another series of shouts coming from Roots. "That's right honey! Give him Tartarus."
 
Doc started getting worried about the Star Child's current predicament, and started inching towards the side of the house. "Well Mrs. Weather, it was nice talking to you again! I'll see you before I leave for the day."
 
"Yes sir," the mare responded. "Now Doc, you ought to stay for dinner this time around. That little bugger is so much calmer after you've visited. It makes our Thursdays go so well!"
 
The unicorn gave a nervous laugh and continued around the house. "The last thing I want is to have dinner with you uncivilized ponies," he whispered under his breath. He gave a nice trot before he heard another series of shouts go out.
 
"Now get yer coatless hide in gear and pull ya varmint!"
 
Doc decided to pick it up a notch and stride over to the area the trio was currently occupying. He rounded a hill, and before him laid the image of Firm Roots riding atop a stone plow. Blood Cry, who was considerably bigger since he first appeared on the planet, was tied up to the front of it. Cry was wearing the old burlap bag Firm placed him in as a baby as a shirt covering him to his knees. He was meant to be pulling the plow, but instead sat in front of it with a smirk on his disobedient face. "I told ya ta git," Firm shouted before throwing a stick at Blood Cry.
 
The stick smacked him over the head, which elicited a growl from the little guy. He stood up a bit and Firm began to smile. Only Blood didn't start pulling the plow. He instead lifted the ropes that suspended him and began chewing on them viciously. "Nah! Nah! Don' be chewing that there rope. That's the only thing keepin' you attached."
 
Firm reached down, picked up a rock from the loose dirt behind the till, and threw it at Blood Cry. The stone struck him square on the side of the head, and the little guy crouched down in pain. Cry held onto his head as his eyes watered from the impact. After a moment, Blood Cry turned to Roots with fury in his eyes. "Now, now, ya lil' vermin. No need ta- HEAD FOR COVER!"
 
Blood Cry pounced for the plow. Firm Roots fell over from this sudden shock as he screamed of the impending danger. Firm flipped over and ran away as Blood landed on the top of the plow and growled. He watched Firm for a moment before pouncing again. Only this time, the ropes attaching him to the plow snagged him mid-air, and slammed him into the ground.
 
The unicorn had been filling with anger over this entire sight, but the last tidbit raised his spirits. When he saw Blood Cry get snagged by the till, he saw more than a futile effort of attack. He saw the till come off the ground by at least a foot. The till was huge, to say the least. As wide as three ponies, and as tall as two. Made out of stone, and weighing no short amount. For Cry to pull it off the ground that high was incredible. Actually, more than incredible; it was astonishing!
 
A pegasi colt sat away from the spectacle. His coat was black, his mane was brown, and his tail was a muddy yellow. An odd assortment, and the brown certainly contrasted with the black, but it definitely showed off his heritage. Tornado bit his lower lip in worry as his father feigned an attack, and winced upon watching Cry being slammed back to the ground. "Bloody, are you okay?" he asked worried about the hairless creature. Cry just simply lay on the ground, choosing to not move out of annoyance.
 
"Is he - is Bloody okay? That vermin nearly tackled me ta the ground!"
 
Doc chuckled at this, and stepped forward. "Yes Roots, I believe that is the normal reaction for one who has had a rock thrown at his head!"
 
Blood Cry twitched at the sound of the good doctor’s voice. His tail went up and flicked around before he pushed himself onto his elbow. He looked around excitedly until his eyes settled on the vet. Cry jumped to his feet making a jubilant noise. He pulled gently at the rope as it slid right off, and ran over to the doctor. He sat down next to him and looked up at him bewildered as the doctor smiled down at Cry. Blood Cry's tail swung back and forth.
 
"Ah! Mornin' Doc! Was hopin' you'd show up soon and cheer that thing up enough to get it to do some chores. Funny how it took me until sunrise to get those straps on him before he woke, and yet he just shrugs them off so easily. I tied them tight enough to cut the circulation off a pony's limb!"
 
The doctor looked at Roots disapprovingly. "Why would you subject him to such torture? He may be older now, but the boy is still just a child!"
 
"Child or not Doc, the little thing can pack a wallop," Firm Roots mentioned as he approached the vet. Right as he got within a yard of him, Blood Cry turned to him growling and reached out to snap at the earth pony. Firm fell on his rump in shock, and tried to sprawl away from the hungry mouth of the alien. "Help! He's gonna eat me."
 
"Will you look at those beauties," the doctor exclaimed merrily. Cry, Firm, and Tornado all looked at him questioningly. Cry smiled up at the doctor as he sat down and took off his bag. "Now open!" Cry's eyes went wide as he realized what Doc was asking of him and opened his mouth as wide as he could manage. For added emphasis, he even splayed his tongue out to the side.
 
Doc took this as a welcomed invitation, and brought a hoof up to the star child's mouth. He gently moved Cry's lips and tongue out of the way as he thoroughly examined the teeth within. Firm sat up and stared at this display with the utmost disgust and horror. Tornado just smiled and trotted up to the pair. "Cool!" he proclaimed.
 
The vet finished his inspection by lightly tapping on a tooth to make sure Cry's enamel wasn't being inhibited by his improper diet. "Well, he certainly is forming quite a carnivorous set in that little muzzle of his." Doc pushed Cry's mouth shut and ruffled the Star Child's hair a bit. Cry giggled in response, and started looking around like a busy little monkey.
 
"My turn! My turn!" Tornado shouted as he got up to Cry. Cry turned to the colt and smiled in response. "Bloody! Open!" Blood Cry responded in suit, and opened his mouth on command to the colt. "Neatest trick ever!" Tornado stated as he reached a hoof towards Cry's snout.
 
"Tornado! Don't you dare go poking around that things mouth. You have no idea when he'll snap at you. Tartarus, I'm surprised the doc was so anxious to put his hoof in the little beast's mouth." As Firm spoke, he approached the group. Only once he got too close, Cry made it all too aware to every pony that he didn't appreciate this by turning and growling at the earth pony. "Now don't you dare give me that -" Firm would have continued with his scolding, but changed for a more honest scream as Cry leaned over to bite the pony. Lucky for Firm, Cry missed by a long shot. But he was aggressive enough to scare Firm away.
 
Doc chuckled to himself as Firm Roots ran off in fear. Blood Cry stood on his four paws, and raised his back up growling. He scratched at the dirt, as though ready to charge at any moment. Cry didn't have enough fur to expand and look menacing, but his tail still shot in the air and fluffed up. Something about that jump seemed out of place though. If Cry could lift a plow, surely he could have easily made it to Firm Roots. Obviously the little one had held back, knowing he could probably snap the pony in two at any moment.
 
Doc had a mischievous smile on his face as an idea ran through his head. "Alright everypony! It's time to experiment. Let's test just how powerful this little Star Child has gotten."

> 3 - Over Achiever
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Doc pulled another apple out of his bag. Today had certainly been a long one. He brushed the sweat off his brow and checked his bag. One apple left, and he knew exactly where it was going. He pulled his attention back to where it was needed. What started as a simple little test had become an extensive sports run to find out what Blood Cry was even capable of.

Tornado stood next to Doc, looking on in excitement. Firm Roots stared on in pure shock, whose face couldn't get any more paler without having the blood drained from it. Doc glanced forward. There stood Blood Cry, perpendicular to them, on his hind legs next to a tree. Cry was pulling himself every which way to get in one last stretch before the final event began.

"I say," Doc stated before taking a bite out of his apple. "It's a good thing I pulled in that artist a year ago to get a more accurate idea for where Blood Cry's muscles are and how they perform properly. He's increased exponentially since last year! He seems to enjoy all the exercises I've come up for him."

"A good thing?" Firm couldn't turn his face to meet with Doc’s. He was still stuck in his daydream of realizing how close to death he'd been this whole time. "We had to swear that artist to secrecy before he went around and told everyone about our little pet from Tartarus. Not to mention, how is something that powerful a good thing?"

Doc smirked at Firm as he swallowed. "Oh come now Firm Roots. It's not as though he's used this power against you...yet! Not to mention, imagine all the possibilities out there for a creature like this. Once we've raised him, there is so much potential!"

Blood Cry gave one last stretch and turned to the ponies about a hundred feet from him. He gave an open grin and put a thumb up to indicate he was ready. Doc smiled at the acknowledgement and took another bite. "Alright Blood Cry! Now, I want you to sprint as fast as you can to the tree twenty meters in front of you. Let's see how fast you can move."

Cry smiled at the challenge and turned, ready to spring forth. He was going to give it all he got, and prove to every pony just what he was made of. "Ready?" Doc yelled out to him. Cry put a leg behind him, crouched down, and braced his hands on the ground below. His form was sporadic, but he was now loose enough to fire himself off like a cannon. "Go!"

What came next was not on the agenda for what could possibly be expected. When Blood Cry launched himself, he didn't just force his way forward. Cry pushed off the ground so violently, the ground beneath him literally exploded. Dirt went flying all over while an audible boom resonated in the air. Doc and Firm flinched from the pressure wave. Tornado, on the other hand, was too awestruck to let a single moment slip out of his view.

Blood Cry ran with such intensity that his legs almost seemed to disappear. Constantly, he brought his knees up to his chest with impossible speed, and slammed them down behind him. The movements were so quick; it was almost like his legs were either against him or on the ground, but never in between. Twenty meters quickly turned into ten feet. Before Cry moved any further, he leapt into the air after the tree before him. He flew at his goal in a blaze of speed. Right as the distance between the two vanished, Cry flipped around and brought both knees back up to his chest.

Cry was about to impact into the tree when he released the full volley of his legs. His feet blurred as he kicked against its base with all his might. The tree swayed clumsily towards him as his kick bowed it in the center. An old and painful crack sounded out right before a low pitched snap. Actually, it could barely be considered a snap. It was more like a rip! There, opposite of Cry, a quarter of the tree ripped itself from the base.

The tree began swaying back as Blood Cry fell to the ground. As it twisted the other way another crack snapped its way across the bow of the tree. Splinters from the bark shot off every which way, and Cry's footprints were permanently implanted into the trunk of the tree. Cry watched in fascination as the tree swayed for another minute. It finally found a place to lay still at and leaned slightly from the new damage.

Finally, Cry stood up and dusted himself off. He looked back to Doc, Firm, and Tornado about to give them a thumb's up. He smiled towards them before he stopped moving. All three ponies laid there, frozen in pure awe by what the Star Child had succeeded in. Cry chuckled at what was before him and grinned broadly at them as they marveled at his work.
 
"That...was...incredible!" shouted Tornado as he went sprinting after Cry.

Doc was the first of the two stallions to recover from his shock. He smiled, and started a trot in Cry’s direction. After a moment, he noticed that Firm Roots wasn’t following him, and turned back to the earth pony. Doc let out a chuckle once he saw the fear deep in the pony’s eyes. “Are you going to be okay Roots?”
 
Firm Roots was slowly coming back to the world around him. He began to mumble as he stared at the Star Child. The mumble slowly gained volume. He was repeating himself over and over, and he kept getting louder. “No...no...no...no...” he kept repeating under his breath.
 
Doc changed his attitude to one of concern. “It’s alright Roots, you don’t have to fear the little guy,” he tried informing Firm.
“No, no, no, no, no...” Firm Roots was now at a normal speaking level.
“We all knew he was powerful. Just because he’s a little stronger than what we first assumed is no reason to freak out.”
“No, no, no, no, no!” Firm Roots was now on the verge of screaming.
 
Doc lowered his ears. This was a moment to be celebrated. Obviously the Star Child was stronger than what was believed of him, but it was obvious the little guy could have done some damage prior to this. Firm was always avoiding Cry for that very reason. Pain was one thing, but everypony should have known Cry could have done more than nick them. He stepped towards Firm to console him before the pony finally snapped.
 
“No! No! No! No! No!” he shouted.
Firm Roots raised a hoof and slammed it on the ground as he cried, “NO!!”
 
The earth pony pulled his head back and shook it violently. Once done he opened his eyes and glared in Blood Cry’s general direction. “There’s no way I’ll be puttin’ up with this. No way, no how! It’s already bad enough as it is. This little varmint is always giving me trouble. Turning around and biting me back when I showed him nothin’ but kindness. Uprootin’ and eatin’ whatever he pleased from mah farm. Always fightin’ and screamin’ as he pleased. You don’t know the half of it Doc! There’s a reason I wasn’t kind ta him this morning. It’s because I am done with him. I am done! This right here was all the proof I needed to decide there’s no reason to hold on to him anymore.”
 
Everyone had stopped and stared back at Firm Roots. Doc held his ears to his head in concern. Tornado looked back in curiosity to all the screaming. Blood Cry was back on all fours with his tail raised and poofed up as he growled as soon as he discovered who it was screaming. Firm Roots paid no mind to anyone. He merely scrunched up his face in annoyance as he glared daggers back at Cry.
 
“If I knew where I could take him, I’d ship him there as soon as I could. Problem is there ain’t no place I can take him that won’t endanger everythin’ around the area! I can’t even let him loose out in these parts, because he’d just eat the animals of the local farms.”
 
Doc opened his mouth and raised a hoof to make a point, but Firm Roots cut him off before his voice could form the words. He threw a hoof in his direction and proclaimed, “Doc, we’re gettin’ rid of this little devil and that’s final! You best have a plan for him if you plan to study him anymore, because I ain’t dealin’ with it no more. As soon as I know how to dispose of him, I’mma do it. I have just the mind to write a letter to the Princess and ask her to dispose of him justly. In fact, I’ll do just that right now.”
 
Doc watched Firm leave the area. The older unicorn did not want to test his luck with speaking to the enraged earth pony. “Oh my,” he stated under his breath.
 
The unicorn turned to the two young ones behind him. He admired both the ten year old colt and the creature with unknown origins that had been on their planet for five years now. “Well, little ones, it seems my time here is short. I must head home to prepare a report for the Princess if your father is to go through with what he has planned.”
 
Doc spoke more to Tornado. All of the ponies believed the Star Child to not have the intelligence to speak. It was obvious he was smart enough to pick up on what the ponies were saying, or could at least piece it together like a normal pet, but the young creature never showed any sign of being able to reply back. Cry looked back at the vet with a curious head tilt. He knew what leaving meant, and awaited Doc’s command for its acknowledgement.
 
Doc looked solely to Cry and smiled. “So, without further ado,” he announced, laying his bag down. Cry’s whole world lit up. He became so excited, he forgot to get off his hands and bounded on all four paws to the unicorn. Tornado, not one to miss out on all the fun, ran over to Doc excitedly.
 
Doc waited for both of them to get over to him. He chuckled at their excitement. He made a tradition years ago before he left every time. It was the main reason Cry behaved so well around him. This of course was not his favorite thing about the Star Child, but it proved its worth today when he was able to show his hoof into Cry’s mouth without fear. Doc rummaged through his bag, surprised Cry hadn’t ripped it open in anticipation already.
 
“Now, before you get your treat, you have to treat me,” Doc told Cry with a smile. Cry nodded fast enough to make the unicorn’s head hurt. He pulled out the final apple from his bag. “Eat this, and you can have it.”
 
Doc tossed the apple into the air and Cry jumped up for it. He didn’t even try to catch it with anything other than his mouth. Nothing was going to stop him in getting what he wanted, and he chomped right down on it. Within seconds he ground the piece in his mouth to pulp, and grasped the remaining apple out of the dirt. Cry swallowed as fast as his throat would allow, and shoved the bottom half into his mouth. He chomped down on it quickly, chewing it with unbelievable speed, and swallowed it down. Seeds and all, this little Star Child was shoving as much of the remaining apple into his mouth and munched it away as fast as he could.
 
Doc saw that Blood Cry was almost done, and opened his burlap bag back up. He knew if he didn’t have Cry’s treat ready that he would have to get yet another bag from Dancing Needles. The very thought made the vet swallow nervously. He found his prize, and began pulling it from the bag with a levitation spell. Right as he pulled it out and hid it behind him, Cry was putting the last part of the apple in his mouth. Doc smiled at the Star Child’s progress.
 
“Okay Blood Cry! You’ve earned your treat for a check-up well done. Fortunately for you, there was a pet in this town that died of old age not too long ago. So this week, you get something better than a fish!” Doc pulled a cat out from behind him, and Cry stared at it. His mouth began to water as nothing else mattered to him anymore. Doc threw the cat out into the field so that he wouldn’t have to watch what followed. Blood Cry galloped over to the dead pile of fur and went to town on his weekly helping of meat.
 
Doc was disgusted with what he had just done, but knew the omnivorous creature needed some form of protein other than nuts. He magically lifted his bag back around his neck, and turned to walk away. Except, little Tornado was stuck watching Cry in fascination. Doc stopped, about to ask the colt what had his attention so well, but the colt answered first. “Paw says you’re breedin’ an awful habit into Bloody by doin’ that.”
 
The unicorn simply smiled and responded, “That might be true, but he would probably be more aggressive towards us if I didn’t do it.”
 
Tornado refused to look away from the bloody show before him. It didn’t bother him one bit. “I agree with ya Doc. And I think it’d be wrong for my paw to let him go. Bloody’s great if you know how to act around him!”
 
“I’m sure that’s more the natural tendency of siblinghood than it is a true relationship between the two of you. But, nonetheless, you do have a great handle on him. Just make sure to get him back to his barn before your father gets back. Something tells me he won’t want the little guy roaming after today’s events.”
 
Tornado finally looked at the vet and nodded. As Doc trotted away, the colt approached Blood Cry. He was smart enough not to mess with him while eating meat, but knew Doc was right about getting the Star Child put up. This would be the end of the day for the poor little guy. His fate rested in the hands of an angry earth pony and a studious unicorn.

> 4 - Memories 1
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	Not much occurred for the remainder of the day. Tornado returned Blood Cry to the barn under the promise that he would return later that night. Cry sat before the wooden doors, staring at the large wooden figures. A few hours passed before Cry started looking around the building. Light had begun receding from the barn, and the changes did not go unnoticed by him. He gave a sly smile, and galloped further into the barn on both his hands and feet. He began gathering straw and carrying it to a single location in the middle, little by little.

The rest of the farm was quiet as the sun set. After Doc had left, the farm followed a peaceful vibe. It was a nice break from the constant ruckus made from the Star Child. Not that Firm Roots would know. Inside the house, Roots sat at his desk with an almost complete letter. He poured his heart into the letter and used every bit of knowledge and professionalism he had. Firm was sure if he mailed this letter out tomorrow, it would be in the Princess's hooves within the week.

Firm Roots sat at his desk and looked upon the finished letter. Exhaustion poured over him. Straining one's mind was much different than physical labor. Roots sighed as he laid his head upon the desk. What was it that lead to all of this? How did it come to this point?

-----

"Well, come on Tornada, I saw the meteor fly off dat-a-way!" called an earth pony stallion as he climbed up the steep hill. His coat was a dark brown with a fully grown farm patch for a cutie mark. While his mane and tail were a light brown and messy with a straw hat placed upon his head. He stuck out his tongue as he continued to climb the hill.

"We'll never see what landed there if'n ya takes yer time like ya does."

"Aww, come on paw," calls a small black pegasi colt from below. His mane was bright yellow, but his tail was a muddy combination of his own hair color and his father’s. The two had been enjoying the night sky even with the stars and moon had been covered in a thick gathering of clouds. A cloudy night usually meant the third of their party was off making sure the storm didn't get worse than it was. They found this to be a marvelous reason to keep awake in the wee hours.

"You're always keep'n me in the dust when you get all excited like ya is!" Tornado leapt forward, and began to vibrate his wings. The effect didn't allow him to fly, but he was able to hover up to his father.

"Quit yer belly achin' colt! We've got ourselves a treasure to be collectin'. Whatever came a-flamin' down o'er thur has t'be worth a fortune!"
"That's just it paw, how're we gonna get it if'n we ain't got nothin' to carry it with?"
"Colt, why you think I got this bag with me?"

Tornado looked to his father's side. Nothing was there but the fur on his coat. The pegasi squinted and noticed a part to his hide was swaying. The pegasi reared his head back as he made the connection. "Paw, it's as dark as a dragon’s smoke cloud out here. It ain't helpin' none that that there bag just looks like your own fur! You really need to get a new bag."

Firm Roots just looked down Tornado and scoffed. Roots probably would be there by now if he had just put the colt to bed and came out here on his own. Though, he also thought it was a lot closer than this. Tornado was at least good for passing the time through his little conversations. "How much farther we gots until we're there paw?"

"Now don't cha start that again! I done told ya that I'd go get your maw if'n you kept that up any longer."

The pegasi just looked at his father odd. "Paw, how you think you're gonna get her if you can't fly like her?"

Firm Roots gave his colt an odd look. "Now Tornada, don' make me have y'all turn back an-" he started. Just then, the two of them got to the top of the hill and found themselves overlooking a crater. Tornado had yet to notice the wreckage and laughed at his father.

"What's that paw? I can't hear ya over the sound of your- what in the name of Celestia be that?"

The earth pony just shook his head. "I've got not a clue there son. Maybe we should get a better look."

Firm Roots turned to find his son not even there. When the earth pony looked around for the child he couldn't find a sign of him. Finally the stallion caught Tornado hovering over to the cause of the crater. "Now careful colt! You've got no idea what that thing might be."

The warning fell on deaf ears as Tornado approached the center of the crater. In the pit sat a near perfect sphere. The object was much larger than three ponies combined, and had seals going all around it. Where the largest seals were was a protruding orb made of glass. Tornado peared into the glass but found he couldn't see through it. "Paw, I'm not thinking this be a rock!"

Just as Tornado finished his statement, the main seals to the pod fumed with the pent up gases held in the craft. Tornado took note of the fumes, and did his best to fly back to his father. As he took wing, the seals of the craft extended out and opened to allow the inside of the craft fresh air. The earth pony kept approaching the opening craft as Tornado hid inside his father's bag.

Tornado peaked out of the bag once his father came to a halt. Inside was a padded hull of a craft with a small creature inside. The being was a tiny hairless ape with a short mane and a monkey's tail. This creature laid peacefully inside the ship, and slept soundly as the two ogled at it. "What in th' name o' the great Creators is that?" cried out the stallion.

"I dun know paw, but I think it eats meat! I read somethin' about wild amnimals from far away once. I'm thinkin' that be like an ape or a monkey."

"Colt, what has I told y'all about them darn books? Ain't no use in ya learnin' anythin' other than what cha needs ta know! Anythin' else'll just make y'all depressed like. Like your uncle Corn Popper. That poor pony been struck all like he be ill with the book depressions." Firm Roots took off his hat and placed it upon his dark brown chest while lowering his head as he spoke.

"Oh come on now paw! What about maw? She's been readin' all them fancy books. Tartarus, she's the one who's been givin' me the books."

Firm Roots looked back up and placed his hat back on his head. "Now don' be silly colt. Your maw be a special case. She be one of them smart ponies. Celestia knows not how a bucker like me got her hoof in marriage."

Tornado stepped back in shock. "Paw, that be one of them bad words I can' be hearin'!"

Firm Roots looked down at Tornado with a stern look. "Colt, you know I make a livin' in buckin'! The word is not bad when ya don' use it bad."

With all the commotion going on, the baby began to stir. With the last comment from the stallion, the child started to cry. Both ponies backed off from the screams of the creature: Tornado out of fear, and Roots from annoyance. "Creatures be damned, that there be one loud lil beast."

Firm Roots approached the child with a look of concern. As he got closer, Tornado slid out of his bag and backed away. The little colt shielded his ears from the shrieking child as his father raised himself to the inner workings of the pod. "Come now lil’n. There be no need to be a-hollerin’ like that." The stallion reached a hoof into the pod and pet the child's cheek with his wrist.

Firm Roots’ fetlock began calming down the child. Soon enough the boy stopped screaming, and began cooing as he reached up and tugged on the fur. "There now. Y'all be likin' the fur, don' cha? No tellin' how nice that feels when you're all hairless."

Just as Firm Roots stopped commenting away, the baby pulled his hoof as close as possible and chomped down on the fuzzy pony. The old stallion gasped in pain, and held his breath so to not disturb the child. Firm used the baby's own grip to lift it out of the pod, and gently placed it into the sack on his side. The baby’s grip slowly loosened as it became accustomed to the softness of the bag. Once the stallion found his opening, he ripped his hoof from the bag. "Lil thing nearly bit my hoof off."

Tornado looked up at his father. Worry construed itself in his eyes, and his ears laid flat upon his head. "I dunno paw. I don' like the idea of takin' that thing."

Firm replied by rolling his eyes and flicking his hoof. “Not to worry Tornada! Tomorrow night I’ll go get the good Doctor and he’ll help us figure out where to go from here.”

-----

“Honey, I won’t tell ya again. Get down here and get ya some supper!”

Firm Roots snorted himself back into the world of the conscious. He lazily pulled himself off the desk and looked up at the letter he wrote, but knew he couldn’t check it with his condition. Firm knew this was as good of an edit as he was going to get anyways. He shook off the dream as he slid to the floor. “Why did I ever have to make that decision back then?” he asked to no one in particular.

As Firm Roots made his way to the stairs, he realized one last question buzzing in the back of his mind. “Why didn’t I give the child to the Doc when I first showed it to him? He would have loved to have raised it himself.” Knowing his lament over the past would not answer his questions, he made his way down to enjoy a meal with his family. Topic of the night: their futures and how bright they were looking.