//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 Old Friends 
// Story: My little Twily 
// by Bronycommander 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 3: Old Friends


I had a wonderful Dream. My Wife and I were sitting in the garden. John and Twilight played together. “I love you, James” 
“I love you, too.” Just as we were about to kiss, a friendly “Meow” came from behind. “Hello Tiger, how’s going?” I asked our Cat while petting him. A purring was his answer. “Good? Glad to hear it.” 

“James, I’m very proud of you. If you hadn’t found Twilight when you were heading home from work, she would be dead.” 
“You know me, Lena. I always care about children.” 
“And this is what I love about you.” We moved closer to kiss. But this time, a Thunder followed by Lighting struck in our garden. This was enough to tear me out of my Dream.

Jesus! It sounded like the Artillery when the Reds bombed Berlin. I looked outside, it rained. There was also a Thunderstorm. 

I heard Twily scream, ”Mommy, Mommy!” She cried. She cried or called for her parents, even her brother and foal sitter.
I stand up and sprinted to the guest room. Twilight was crying, scared to death. “Twily, what’s the matter?” I asked. 

“I-I’m scared of the Thunderstorm. I’m sorry if I wake you,” She told me between sobs.

“Twilight, you didn’t wake me. It was the Thunderstorm. It’s ok to be scared. Sometimes, they scare me, because they remind me of the bombs and explosion of the War.” 
“James, can you stay with me until the Thunderstorm is over?” 
“Of Course. I know a trick to calm down. Count to four, inhale. Count to four, exhale. It helps me always when I need to stay calm.” 
After I said this, Twilight counted to four inhaled and exhaled just as I told her. 

“It works James, I’m calmer now," Twilight said with a calmer voice. “Well Twily, I learned that in the Imperial German Army. As a Sniper, it helped me also to have a steady aim. It is important to have a steady heartbeat to aim steady.” Just after these words leaved my mouth, a loud Thunder came. Twilight covered her ears. An Idea came into my mind. I grabbed Smarty Pants and gave her a voice. “Scared Twilight? Njet, I do not tolerate this! Must cheer you up.” I booped her nose with Smarty Pants. 

Twilight laughed, “James, you know really how to make me happy.” 
“I tried my best to give Smarty a voice.” The rain was getting weaker. “I think the Thunderstorm is over, we should try to sleep again.” 

“Ok James, but what does ‘Njet’ mean?” she asked me. 

“It’s Russian for no.” 
“Oh, Ok” After we were both in a comfortable position in the guest bed, it didn’t take long until we were both asleep.

I woke up at 9 AM In the morning. I noticed that Twily was not in the bed anymore. Before I could look where she was, I heard hoof steps. Twilight came into the room with a tray surrounded by her Magic aura. “Good morning James, I did make you breakfast.” She putted the tray on the table. On it were a glass of Juice and a bowl of oatmeal. 
“Thanks Twily, that’s very nice from you.” 
"You welcome.” She replied with a smile. 
After I finished both, she asked, “Did it taste good?” 
“Yes, it did." 
Twilight blushed, “Glad to hear it.”
“Twily, do you know what for a Day it is today?” “No James, it is something important?” “Yes Twily, the Weinfest is starting today. You know what that is in Germany?” 
“Of course,” She responded. 
“Well Twilight, I thought because there is a fairground, we could go to it and you could have some Fun. Maybe, we meet your two friends again, so the Fun will be doubled.” 

“James, you are a Genius!” She said with Joy in her voice. 
“Thanks Twily, but it’s starting in the evening and I think you should let your knee rest, so you can walk normal again when we are going. By the Way, the picture you drawn look very nice.” I pointed to the fridge. 

Twilights ears dropped, “Well thanks, but it’s just despite what you said to me, I miss my Family very much and I can’t get the thought out of my head they will never find me,” She sobbed close to tears. I hugged her without thinking. 

“Twilight, I can understand your fear but don’t worry, I can feel that they will not stop looking for you, until they have found you.” 
Twilight calmed down. “Thanks for making me hope.” 
"Anytime.” Oh, I almost forgot, I need to refuel my Car. “Twilight, I have something to do, can I leave you alone for a few minutes?” 

“But James, I don’t want to be alone.” 
“Twily, you have Smarty Pants and I’m only away for a few minutes. You can watch TV to kill the time.” 

I pointed to the TV in the Living room. I sat her and Smarty Pants on the couch and turned the TV on. Spooky spooky skeletons from Walt Disney were on. Twilight giggled. She seems to deployed an immediately Like for it. “Well, since you are entertained, I can go”. “That is really funny James. I hope it does not taking too long what you must do.” “Won’t take long Twily. I will be back in a couple of minutes. Bye.” I said to her before I was going out and getting in in my VW Käfer.

I started the engine and drove to the gas station. When I arrived and refueled my car I heard someone say, “Look who we have here.” 

I turned around. I saw a man with brown hear and green eyes. He was wearing a Feldjäger uniform. Next to him was a man with blond hears and brown eyes. He was wearing a Police uniform. I noticed they were the fathers of the two kids, which I and Twily met in the park yesterday. But they were also old friends when I was in the Bundeswehr. 

“Jonas, Hans. Long time not see, how’s going?” I asked both. 
“Good, how come that we do not recognized you in the park yesterday?” Hans asked me. 
“I don’t know. Maybe the time difference when we did not see each other?” I asked in return. They both know my past but I never had the chance to tell them about my Family. 

“Could be. Paul cannot wait to see your daughter again to play with her,” Hans said. 
“Lukas either,” Jonas added. 

“Well, I wanted to take her to the Weinfest today; do you want to come too?” 

"I don’t think that Lukas and Paul will refuse, when we tell them what you have in mind. 6 o clock, your house? We both are of duty anyway,” Hans asked me. 

“Sounds good,” I replied. 
“Ok, see you later,” Jonas said and saluted before he left. I and Hans returned it. Hans also left. While we were having our chat, my car was refueled. I walked into the station to pay and bought some schoka kola for Twilight. Kids liked chocolate and I’m pretty sure Twilight will like schoka kola. 

When I arrived at home, I was greeted by Twilight, “Welcome home, James.” She hugged me. 
“Hello Twilight. I have some good news for you.” 
“What are they?” 
“I met the fathers of the kids. They are also old friends of mine. Their sons are eager to meet you again, so I asked them if they don’t want to come with us to the Weinfest. They meet us at my house at 6 o clock. I also have something for you.” 
“And that is?” She asked with eager. I showed her the chocolate. 

“Schoka kola. The same chocolate we used in the war. Was very popular. I thought you want to try it.” 
“Thank you, James. I read about it in my book. It has a bitter taste but should give strength.” She explained before she tried a piece. Despite the taste, she enjoyed it. “Tastes good James, how do you meet your friends?” she asked.

“Long story but I tell you it.” The rest of the Day, we talked similar when I found her. I told her that I met my friends, when I volunteered for duty when the Bundeswehr was founded. Our friendship however did not last long, as they were transferred. She told me how she liked the cartons, especially Mickey Mouse. She told me that she liked the cartoons when Mickey was a cab driver or when he tried to save Pluto from the mad Doctor, only to find out that it was a Dream. Time was passing fast.

When it was 6 o clock the Doorbell rang. Punctually on the minute. I said to Twilight to stay out of sight until I gave all-clear.

I opened the Door. Outside were standing Hans in his Police uniform, next to him his son Paul, followed by Jonas in his Feldjäger uniform with Lukas. Paul had the hair and eye color of Jonas, Lukas, the colors of Hans “Nice to see you. Are you ready?” I asked. 

“Of course, we cannot wait to play with your daughter!” Paul exclaimed. Before I could say anything, Twilight ran to the two boys. 
“Hello Guys, nice to see you again!” She exclaimed with joy. 
“Well now, we should go, shall we?” Hans asked.

While we walked to into the Town, we talked about what happed between the years. Hans and Jonas told me, that their wife’s will join us later, because they have still something to do. Hans asked me what is with my wife. I lied that she died when she was giving birth. ”Our condolences,” Jonas said. 

“It’s ok,” I replied. Twilight had Smarty Pants with her. She, Paul and Lukas talked about what they could do on the fairground. I smiled and so did my comrades at the sight. Shortly, the wife’s of Hans and Jonas were joining. Hans’s wife called Julia was wearing a Brown Jacket with Jeans. She had brown hair and green eyes. Jonas wife called Sarah was wearing a Blue Jacket with Jeans which looked similar to my blue Suit. She had black hair and blue eyes.

On the fairground, the kids enjoyed riding on the carousel. Despite her young age, Twilight seems to understand that the horses on the carousel were not real. Probably out of her book. Just like the first Day when I showed her the city, everybody just smiled when they saw her. 

My friends and I were on the shooting range to win some prices. Of course, no one could beat me. After all these years, I was still an excellent marksman. I had won a giant Teddy bear but I decided to give it Paul because he always wanted one. After the ride, we all enjoyed some cotton candy. 

“That was very generously from you James. But how are you still so a good Marksmen after all those years? The War is over since 15 Years,” Hans asked. 
“Thank you. And to answer your Question, I’m in the gun club so I can still practice.” I replied, At 8 PM, were we going Home. 

We were walking through the park. Twilight, Paul and Lukas were walking ahead. Hans asked me, “How do you manage it to look the costume so real?” Dammit. I wasn’t prepared for that Question. 

Before I could give an answer, we heard Twilight scream, “James!”

I sprinted to her. I saw three boys aged 12 to 15. One of them shoved Twilight. The second took Smarty Pants and throw it to the third. Paul and Lukas tried to catch it but they couldn’t, as Smarty Pants flow between the second and the third boy back and forth. Twilight was pinned down by the first Boy. “So the little freak and his useless friends cry for help like the little babies you are,” He said taunting. Twilight couldn’t say anything, because anytime she tried, the Boy pushed her into the mud. The Situation was similar to the nightmare she was having when I found her. But I was not alone.

“Hey you, how about picking someone your own size?!” I screamed in anger. Hans and Jonas backed me up. All Three boys turned in my direction. The two boys let Smarty Pants fall to the ground out of fear. The first however who was apparently the Leader of the group was letting go from Twilight but remained calm. Paul and Lukas used this to their advantage. Paul helped Twilight up, while Lukas picked Smarty Pants of the ground. They both brought Twily and Smarty Pants to safety behind her mother’s which comforted Twilight. “Freeze! Police!” Hans screamed, his pistol drawn. Jonas did the same. 

The Leader said to his colleges who were holding her Hands in surrender, “You two cowards stay back; I will deal with you personally.” He pointed to me. I Gave Hans and Jonas a sign to stay back and raised my hands in a Fight position.

The Leader tried to punch me but I dodged every punch he made and responded with a counter strike. I taunted, “No so tough as I thought.” “Shut up!” The Leader shouted. My tactic to taunt him, to lower his guard worked. I gave him a strong punch which caused him to stumble. I took the opportunity to give him a last punch that made him unconscious.

His friends tried to run away in fear but both crashed in each other. Then, they fell unconscious to the ground. When that happened, a funny line that a comrade said to me back in the Second World War came into my mind. “Our veterans, six years of war, their veterans, six days of war.“ 

Except for their Leader who had little fighting experience, these guys had no fighting experience at all. I had years of experience. “Well, that saves me some talking,” Hans said to me, “I take from here. Now, look after your daughter,” He added before he and Jonas handcuffed the boys. 

I walked over to Twilight. What I saw broke my heart. Twilight was crying her fur dirty and she had multiple scratches and bruises. Blood came out of a small wound of her left hind leg. Now, it was obviously that she was a real unicorn and no costume. Julia hummed a lullaby and rocks her gently, while Sarah was taking care of the wound. Paul and Lukas had both concern looks on their faces. “Please tell us that she will be alright,” Lukas said with a sad voice to me. 
“Don’t worry; it’s only a small wound, nothing serious.” I calmed both down. It took a couple of minutes until Twily was asleep.

After Hans and Jonas had put the boys in a patrol car Julia spoke quiet not to wake Twilight. “Poor girl, she doesn’t deserve this.” 
“Right, but didn’t you say it was a costume?” Jonas asked me. 
“Well, how should I say, she is a real unicorn filly but it is a long story, so I think it is better, when I explain this at my House, ok?” I tried to explain nervous. Everyone had their mouth open in shock, but they all agreed.

When we arrived at my house, Julia was gently putting Twilight in the guest bed.

We all sat down in the Living room. “Ok here goes nothing.” I spoke mentally.