Emerald's House
Emerald laid on his soft new bed reading on his magical scrolls, he had removed the bandages from his head due to it feeling a bit better. It was still a little sore but should be fine, he just hope it didn't bother him when goes to see Zecora for work tomorrow. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard three knocks on his door. He used his magic to roll up the scroll and place it back in his saddlebags. The zebra unicorn made his way down the steps of his house approached the door, he turned the handle.
He wasn't surprised to see Pinkie on the other side, he was shocked to see Zecora, Nurse Redheart, and a new pony with her that he hasn't met before. The mare had a pink coat, purple irises, and a dark purple mane with light blue streaks, for some reason he thought he heard or seen this mare before but he couldn't put his hoof on it.
"Hey Pinkie," greeted Emerald, "Can I help you?"
"Emmy did you forget? You had a party remember!" replied Pinkie.
"Oh yeah, it must've slipped my mind. Is it just going to be the five of us?"
"Yeperoonie! I thought we have a party with ponies you already met! Well besides Starlight...Oh no! You wanted more ponies at the party did you!"
"No, No...it's fine, I'm not really good with crowds."
Zecora gave a chuckle, "I understand your plight, crowds can give one quite a fright."
"Yeah, do you guys want to come inside?" the group of mares nodded as Emerald motioned them inside. He noticed that the pink unicorn mare hadn't said anything. Maybe she was just shy? He couldn't blame her, he was shy also when it came to meeting new ponies, especially Canterlot ponies. As he closed the door and his eyes widened when he turned around, there was Pinkie in what looked like a DJ booth, and started to blast music from the speakers.
"How did she get that in here?" asked Emerald as he heard Redheart giggle beside him.
"It's best not to question it," she says, "You'll get used to it though. How are you doing in Ponyville so far? Well, besides ending up in the hospital."
Emerald chuckles in embarrassment, "Well, going good so far. I start working with Zecora tomorrow, so I'm kind of excited for that."
Redheart gave him a worried look, "What's wrong?" ,Emerald asked.
"Well, it's just that Zecora lives in the Everfree, one of the most dangerous places in Equestria. She's been fine because she used to that kind of environment but, your just from Canterlot."
"Hey," said Emerald in a comforting tone, "I'll be alright, but if it makes you feel better I'll ask Zecora to guide me through."
"Alright, sorry if I acted a little protective."
"That's fine, my mom acts the same way. Plus you're a nurse so it's kind of a habit."
Redheart giggles, "Yeah, I'm going to get some punch."
Emerald nods as he watches Redheart head over to the counter where a line of cups present, he glanced around and saw that Zecora and Pinkie were dancing to the music. The pink unicorn from earlier though was sitting alone at the table, she looked like she didn't know what to do. Now that he thought about it Pinkie said she bought ponies that he had already met but he never talked , let alone, seen this mare before when he came here.
She kind of reminded him of when he first started Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, how he was alone around ponies he didn't know and how they would think of him. Emerald gave a sad sigh at the memory and made his over to the table, the pink unicorn was reading a book. "Uhm...excuse me." said Emerald catching the mare's attention.
"Oh!' said the surprised mare, "Hello...can I help you?"
"Well, you just seemed lonely so I just thought we got to know each other." replied Emerald with a nervous smile.
"Thank you...that's really nice of you. I don't think I caught your name?"
"Emerald," the zebra-unicorn replied sticking out his hoof, "Emerald Crescent."
"Starlight, Starlight Glimmer," said Starlight as Emerald's ears perked up a bit.
"Excuse me, but what was your last name?"
"Glimmer? Is something wrong with it?"
"N-No! Not at all, it's just sounded like somepony I used to know."
Starlight tilted her head at this, "Really? who?"
Emerald bit his lip, he really didn't like talking about Sunset, every time he did his mind would drift back to the last time he saw her and how they didn't really leave off on the best of terms.
5 years ago
Canterlot Library
"And here you go, 10 Facts About Griffonstone" said Emerald as he handed a stallion the checked out book. The stallion thanked him and left the library as Emerald went back to stacking books with Moondancer. He had been loving his job so far, some of the ponies that came in were actually respectful toward him and Moondancer was fun to be around with.
Well, besides the experiments they would do, which would sometimes end up with him being transformed into something or something literally blowing up in his face just by sneezing. There was even that time when she 'accidentally' turned him into a mare, he shivered at the thought and was thankful they were able to find a reverse spell. That would have been an awkward talk with his mother. Sunburst and Sunset would come by also, but Sunset would always come by complaining on how Celestia kept treating her like a child and he would always tell her the same thing, which was to be patient.
"What am I going-"
"Emerald!" he was caught from his train of thought as he heard Moondancer call out to him. Emerald put his books down and went to the front desk of the library to see Moondancer trying to calm down an angered Sunset. Emerald let out a defeated sigh as he made his way over to the two mares.
"Here we go again.." muttered Emerald.
"M-Mrs. Shimmer if you'll just calm down-" stuttered Moondancer.
She was cut off as Sunset, growled in anger, "I'll calm down when Emerald gets here! It's urgent that I talk to him!"
"Sunset.." Emerald said in a serious tone, gaining Sunset's and Moondancer's attention, "I got this Moon."
Moondancer nods before giving a nervous look at Emerald before heading toward the rows of books, "You wouldn't believe what happened this time Emerald!" exclaimed Sunset.
"What is it this time...." said an annoyed Emerald.
"It's that Celestia! She moved me back from the advanced spells! Telling me that 'I'm not ready' or that 'I need to understand friendship better'. I know everything about friendship!"
Emerald rolled his eyes, this was getting ridiculous, "First off, Sunset, your in library so can you keep your voice down. Second why is all this Princess Celestia's fault?"
"Are you serious! Were you listening to anything I said?"
"I did, but....I have to be honest with you Sunset. Me and Sunburst are worried about your behavior."
"What about it?!"
"You complain about everything especially Celestia, and you've been kind of selfish."
"I should've known..."
"What?"
"You two are on Celestia's side! Turning against me!"
Emerald felt his anger start to build up, "Sunset I'm not on Celestia's side!"
"Then your on my side?"
"I'm on nopony's side! Sunset...you've been blinded by being the best so much you forgot about why Celestia chose you as a personal student."
"Of course I know why she chose me!"
"Then you you should know that what you're doing right now is not friendship!"
"Ugh, your starting to even sound like her!"
"Maybe that's a good thing! Maybe it could finally get through that stubborn attitude of yours!"
Sunset's anger got the best of her as she slammed her hoof down, as a small flame can be seen in her eyes, "You know what! I can't believe you can take her side! This is probably why your dad isn't with a stupid zebra like you!" Sunset instantly caught herself realizing what she just said. She put a hoof over her mouth as her hateful gaze turned into one of sorrow. Emerald felt like someone just pierced his chest, he had been insulted by many ponies in his life, especially the nobles. He's been called abomination, stripey, and a bunch of other malicious things. He ignored them though, but when it came from Sunset his friend he knew since he first started Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns, it made him feel like somepony crushed his heart, chewed it, and then spit it in the trash. He put his head down fighting the tears that were trying to escape.
"Emerald...I..." said Sunset softly.
"Get out..." whispered Emerald.
"Emerald...I didn't mean...I wasn't..."
"Get out!" screamed Emerald as Sunset took a few steps back at the unicorns outburst, She could have sworn she saw his horn glow a bit which was a sign that he wasn't kidding around.
"Emerald, I'm sorry..I was angry and..." Sunset tried to explain.
"I don't want to see you again! Me and Sunburst tried to help you but you just won't listen! So now I want you out!" yelled Emerald again as tears began to flow down his cheeks.
Sunset trying to fight her own tears ran out of the library, leaving Emerald to fall in a sitting position, he felt a hoof on his shoulder and looked to see Moondancer giving him a sorrowful look. He sniffed and wiped his tears trying to compose himself.
"Emerald..." Moondancer.
"I'm fine Moon, I'm just..."
He was cut off as Moondancer pulled him into a hug, he returned the embrace as tears began to escape once again. The two stayed like this for a few moments before separating.
"Look, Emerald...you can go home early." Moondancer suggested.
Emerald wiped the last of his tears, "N-No I'm good."
"No, I know how touchy you with your...father. And you just lost a friend that you knew since...ever."
"What about you?"
"Don't worry, it wouldn't be the first time I ran this place by myself."
Emerald nods, and stands and makes his way back to the front desks and grabs his things. The pain in his chest was till present but at least he wasn't crying. He slung his saddlebags across his back with a flick of his horn and was about to leave the library.
"Emerald, remember I'm always here when you need me." comfortably said Moondancer.
The zebra just nodded as as he went through the from doors of the library and started his dressing walk home. Not caring of the usual hated and prejudice stares he got along the way.
"Emerald?"
Emerald was snapped out of his flashback as he heard Starlight call out his name, "I'm sorry what did you say?" asked Emerald a little embarrassed at the situation he was now in.
"I asked, who I reminded you of." she replies.
"Just...an old friend." replied Emerald.
He could tell that she didn't buy his answer just by the look in her eyes, but instead of pushing him further she just smiled. "That's nice....you were from Canterlot right?"
Emerald nods, "Yeah, attend Celestia's school. Why do you ask?"
"Did you meet anypony by the name of Sunburst?"
"Oh yeah! Me and him were pals back then!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, he was one of the first friends I made, how do you know him?"
Starlight smiled at the sudden change in attitude, "Well, you could say that I was his old friend too."
"Nice! Have you talked to him recently?"
"I just visited him in the Crystal Empire not too long ago." , Starlight let out a sigh of relief as she gave Emerald a smile making him tilt his head in confusion, "I never knew making a friend was this easy."
"What do you mean by that?" asked Emerald still confused.
"Oh! Don't take it the wrong way! I'm the student of Princess Twilight Sparkle and I'm learning what friendship really is.....we are friends right?"
Emerald paused as her purple eyes locked on to his yellow ones, he had to admit they were cute. He had to admit he was actually having deja vu but decided that it was probably nothing.
"Yeah, we're friends."