//------------------------------// // Chapter 52, You did your Part // Story: An Unexpected Life // by alejin //------------------------------// Bright opened his eyes and immediately noticed he was lying on his bed in his room. His body didn’t hurt at all and he felt recovered. "I guess somepony already casted a healing spell on me…" (Sigh) "I really need to get used to becoming one with lightning as soon as possible. The recoil after is a real pain in the ass." The human thought. "Bright…?" Bright was paralyzed when he heard that voice. Normally hearing his mother's voice would bring him a warm and safe feeling, but now he didn’t know how to react. He turned around to see where the voice came from and there she was, sitting on a cushion was his mother Celestia. He immediately noticed her eyes were tired and a little red. "Was she crying moments ago?" He wondered. Bright didn’t have much time to think about that since the Princess immediately stood up and ran as fast as she could to grab him in her hooves. She didn’t waste anytime to start snuggling him as there was no tomorrow. After a couple of minutes, he started to feel very embarassed. "Mom… I think that's enough…" "I’ll decide that!" She replied and continued snuggling her son. After five more minutes, Celestia just kept hugging her son with her hooves and wings, shielding him from the world. Bright was about to say something again, but then he felt something falling on his cheek, it was a tear. Soon many others followed it. "Why?" She asked. "Uh?" Bright said confused. "Why do you keep putting yourself in danger? Do you enjoy watching me worried?" "Mother, we have already talked about…" "I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE! I KNOW I PROMISED TO TRY TO NOT GET WORRIED OR BEING OVERPROTECTIVE! BUT I’M YOUR MOTHER! I JUST CAN’T HELP IT!" Celestia yelled. Celestia hugged her even more tightly while more tears were coming out, at that moment Bright felt like shit again… True he was upset with his mom, but he didn’t enjoy watching her sad at all. She was right, it was always the same. It was like if there was danger, he would always take it on. But what other choices did he have? He had to protect his friends, to protect Equestria… his family. "Mom… I’m sorry." Bright said. "You should be! Ohhhhh I’m so mad at you…" Bright lowered his head in shame. "But I’m also so proud of you, even when I hate with all my heart watching you or any of my little ponies in danger, I’m proud to see you protecting your kingdom and everypony in it." "Thanks Mom." "It’s ok, I guess I can let it pass… again, since my subjects, Shinning Armor, and Twilight spoke so well about how you helped them during the whole incident." "They did? Is everypony ok?" Bright asked. "Don’t worry my son, after Twilight and her friends defeated Tirek, they returned all the magic to everypony including me, your Aunt Luna, and Cadence." "That’s a relief, but now it’s my turn to ask. What happened to you, Luna and Cadence? What did Twilight and her friends do to beat Tirek? Where is he now? Where…" "Shuuuuuu, one question at a time my son, I promise all of them will be answered. Come, let’s sit together and have a nice tea while we talk. Ok?" Bright nodded and proceeded to do as his mother said, while drinking their tea in his room. As she promised Celestia told Bright everything that happened while he was unconscious. How Twilight and her friends got their new powers with the help of the Tree of Harmony and how it became her new castle. Bright couldn’t help but get surprised when he heard about that, his mother also explained how they forgave Discord after he helped Twilight and the Elements. He also gave a public apology and was still sentenced to public service for some months. They couldn’t forget that he helped a monster to almost take over all of Equestria. At last she told him about her imprisonment in Tartarus alongside with Luna and Cadence and how Tirek was back there now. "Wow, Twilight and her friends never stop to surprise me. I’m glad to see they have their powers back and stronger than before. They... are amazing." "Huh? Is something wrong sweetie?" She asked worried. " Its nothing…" "C’mon Bright, you know I’m not that easy to be fooled. Anything you want to share with me?" "It’s just, I gave everything I had against Tirek and he still mopped the floor with me. It was just like with that dragon months ago, I couldn’t do anything again." "Sweetie! That’s not true! From what I heard, you were doing just fine until that coward stole the Alicorn magic, there is almost nopony who could face a monster with that kind of power." "Almost? Is there someone who could match the power of 4 alicorns combined? Bright asked. "There was… but that was centuries ago, but don’t think about that. Speaking of power, Twilight told me that you showed some abilities against Tirek that left her very impressed. She mentioned some kind of… transformation you did. Mind if I see it?" Bright doubted for a moment, but he nodded afterwards. He started to charge his lightning again and merged with it. Soon Bright took the form he showed to Twilight before. Celestia looked at her son marveled, she could feel all the power her little colt was radiating. After the initial surprise, she spoke: "Wow my son, there are not many things that can surprise me, but this definitely did, and I must say I’m very surprised. You really became stronger after… the incident." Bright returned to normal and spoke: "Thanks mom… and I will get even stronger and next time I’ll be able to do something." After hearing that, Celestia sighed and slapped her son’s head with one of her wings. "Hey! What was that for?" Bright said while holding his head. "Son, even though I love you with all my heart, sometimes your stubborness really pisses me off. You really think your actions were worthless?" "Well… I always ended of being saved by you or the Elements, with Sombra, the dragon… Tirek." "I guess you are right… I mean, the fact that you fought Sombra and gave Twilight and her friends enough time to find the Crystal Heart didn’t help at all. All those ponies who were able to be rescued from that train on fire while you were distracting that dragon probably are not grateful to you at all. Those pegasi colts and fillies who you gave hope in Cloudsdale are probably thinking the worst of you, and don’t make me start with the fact that you were willing to sacrifice yourself to let Twilight and her friends have a chance to escape from that mad Centaur. I’m sure she will kill you for that." …………. Once again Celestia raised her wing, but this time she used it to place her son next to her. "Bright, never think you didn’t do your part to protect your subjects. Where you see failure there are great victories. Maybe you don’t like the fact that you couldn’t do it all on your own, but with the help of your friends and family, those days were saved and for that, your subjects love and respect you. Remember that you asked me before to have faith in you, now I ask you to have faith in me and your friends and family. We will always be there to lend you a hoof whenever you need it. You don’t have to go solo all the time." Bright couldn’t help it anymore and hugged his mother, she gladly returned the hug. "Thanks Mom, I guess my desires to become strong to protect others sometimes gets the best of me." "Sometimes?" Celestia said. "Ok! All the time, I think I can relax once in a while." "That’s my colt, now I think we need to tell the others you are alright. "Shall we go?" "You said it." Before they exited the room, Celestia looked at her son again and said: "Bright… after all we talked today… Does that mean you forgive me?" She asked a little nervous, it was true she and Bright just had a beautiful mother and son time, but maybe it was just for the heat of the moment, but she needed a straight answer. Bright thought about it for some seconds and… "Mom, during all of the Tirek’s incident, all I could think about was yours and our family’s safety. I was scared to not be able to tell you how sorry I was for being an idiot… it’s me the one who need your forgiveness." Celestia’s face showed a beautiful smile, she kissed her son on the forehead and cheek and said: "Let’s just say we both are forgiven. What do you say?" "I can work with that." Bright said. They smiled to each other and exited the room hugging each other like only a true mother and son could do. Once the duo entered to the Palace’s living room, they found Twilight and the Elements, Spike, Luna, Cadence and Shinning Armor. They didn’t lose time to surround Bright in the biggest group hug he ever had in his lfe, of course like Celestia, Cadence and Twilight scolded him for his stubborness again but they soon let it go to hugged him again. His Aunt Luna kissed him in the cheek like her sister, after that tearful reunión, all of them started to walk to the dinning room to have dinner. On their way there, they found Blueblood walking to their direction. Bright groaned inside, he really wasn’t in the mood to deal with that unicorn but decided to play nice. "Hi Blueblood." Bright said. "Hi… Bright." The human immediately noticed how the unicorn didn’t mention any nickname or insult when he reffered to him. His thought were interrupted when the unicorn prince spoke again: "Listen… I’m really not used to it so I’m gonna just say it once…tha… tha… thank you for saving us! Ouch my mouth hurts… see you later." Blueblood walked as fast as he could, when he was out of the halls, Bright turned to see his mother. "Mother, did Blueblood just… thank me?" "Indeed he did, once again I’m surprised, two times in one day, that’s a record." Trying to still process what just happened, everypony and the human continued their walk to the dinning room, after a good dinner, it was time to get some rest but that was not the case for the human, he walked to the Palace’s exit with his Mom and Aunt next to him. "Are you sure you can’t wait until tomorrow son? I’d like to talk a little more with you." Celestia said hopefully. "Not to mention I’d like to have a little fighting practice with you, maybe with your new abilities I can be serious this time." Luna stated. "Awww thanks Aunt Luna, but you will have to wait and for you Mom, sorry but I really need to get going. Flying Hope, Mr Jilt, and Mrs Margaret are probably worried, not to mention I made a promise and I intend to keep it." "I understand my son, please be careful and make sure to keep us informed about what happens." "I will, now if you excuse me, there is a hot unicorn I really need to see and a filly to take care of. See you in a few weeks!" Bright kissed his mother and aunt’s forehead before starting his way back to Minus where his second family and a special pegasus was waiting for him. ……………….. Two months after the Tirek’s incident, all of Ponyville was waiting the prince’s arrival. Thanks to Twilight who recieved a letter from Celestia, they knew the day he would return from Minus. "Here comes the train!" Pinkie screamed bouncing all over the place. "Easy sugarcube." Said Applejack. "Yes Darling, I must say I’m as excited as you but you need to have patience." Rarity said. Pinkie stopped bouncing and turned to see her friends, she nodded and sat there to wait for her friends come out of the train. The Friendship train stopped and the doors were opened, everypony inside started to come out. To everypony’s surprise, only Flying Hope exited the train. Twilight walked to her friend and spoke: "Flying Hope, It’s so good to see you!" Twilight exclaimed. "Thanks Twilight, it’s good to see you and everypony else as well." Twilight looked everywhere behind Flying Hope, when it seemed that nopony else was going to come out, she finally asked: "Soooo. Where is Bright and Scootaloo? Don’t tell me they didn’t come with you!" "They did but a few minutes before arriving, they abandoned the train." "What?" Everypony shouted but before any of them could say anything, Flying turned to see at the distance and spoke again: "There they are!" Everypony and Spike turned to see to where the unicorn was seeing. They immediately saw Bright flying to the station but… he was not alone, an orange pegasus filly everypony knew very well was flying next to him. Her flight was a little clumsy but that wasn’t the point, the Mane 6, the rest of the CMC, Spike, even Mayor Mare were crying at that moment. Rainbow Dash couldn’t help herself and flew top speed to where Bright and her protege were, she scooped up the little filly in her hooves, her eyes couldn’t stop shedding tears. "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! You are flying! You are really flying! I was so scared since Bright didn’t want to tell us anything before returning here but I don’t care anymore! I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!" "Thanks Rainbow!" Scootaloo was already crying by this moment. "Now I can finally fly by your side!" "Not only that my little filly! I will teach you everything I know, be prepared to be even more awesome." Bright only watched the scene in front of him in silence, he only wiped a tear from his eye and continued flying to the station. Once Rainbow and Scootaloo arrived at the station, the cheers and congratulations didn’t wait, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom hugged their friend tightly, everypony else followed after, Pinkie even promised to make a “Congratulations for being able to fly” Party. Bright and Flying Hope stayed on the side, at that moment they knew everything that happened in those past weeks was worth it. All the waiting for her wings to heal after the surgery, all the training they helped her to do, watching Scootaloo celebrating with the ponies she loved so much put an honest smile in their faces. "Bright… I hope you feel proud." Flying Hope said. "I am, Thanks Flying Hope." Both human and unicorn shared a lovely kiss and proceeded to return to Canterlot but a second before they entered the train, they felt a pair of little hooves trying to hug them. They turned around and saw their favorite orange filly. "Thank you so much! I… don’t know what else to say." Scootaloo exclaimed. The couple hugged the little pegasus. "Don’t say anything else, just live to your fullest and become an amazing flyier." "I will! I promise!" The trio shared a last hug and said their goodbyes. Bright and Flying Hope entered the the train, feeling the best they ever felt in their lives, hoping for these happy days to never end. …………………….. In the darkness of Tartarus, a shadow was approaching a cell that was occupied again a couple of months ago, the creature inside watched the hooded figure in front of him. "Finally! You took your time! Now release me." The hooded creature didn’t move at all, he kept staring at the beaten centaur in front of him. "What are you waiting for? Release me now!" Screamed Tirek. The figure revealed two green pawns that started to glow, a little screen appeared in front of Tirek. A little memory was displaying in it. the centaur could watch himself talking to a human he knew too well. "I have to admit you managed to entertain me for a good amount of time, but it seems your big act is over. It would be so easy to kill you now but I’m going to give you an offer. Swear loyalty to me and become my right hand, we will be unstoppable and all this world will be ours. I’m sure we can even take HIM down." "HIM?" Bright thought. The screen disappeared, leaving the hooded creature and Tirek, no one was saying anything, the centaur gulped and with a nervous smile, he talked: "You… you were there?" The shadow nodded "I… I was not talking about HIM… all this is a misunderstanding." Tirek said. The Unknown shadow shooked his head and finally spoke: "You did a good job weakening the Princesses for enough time for me to be able to free my master, it’s really a shame. You could have had an Elite position in his New World, but you know what he thinks about backstabbers." "No please! Wait!" Tirek pleaded. "Your role in this story is over." The shadow realeased a powerful beam that incinerated the centaur to bones. There was no trace of Tirek left, only a burnt cage. After his work was done, it teleported outside that place. Heading to an unknown location.