Era of Harmony

by Gambling_Sam


Chapter 30: Heartache under the stars

*Raiden POV*

I awoke to the sound of a loud beeping coming from my left. Ever since I had gotten a job at the bakery, I had started using an alarm clock that Twilight had given to me. Apparently, it was supposed to be used for spike, but the little guy seemed to sleep through it every time, so it went to me.

I hit the off switch on it and got up quickly. Out of my brothers and I, I have always been the morning person. So it took only about thirty minutes for me to be downstairs in a fresh pair of jeans and a blank white shirt cooking a hashbrown breakfast for my housemates.

The sound of hooves coming downstairs alerted me to Twilights presence. I finished the hashbrowns and put some on a plate for her as she walked into the room and started making coffee. I smiled and sat the plate at the table and went to make myself one as well.

"Morning, Raiden." She said after taking a swig of coffee. I piled my hashbrowns onto my plate and took my seat next to her at the table.

"Morning, Sparkles. How'd you enjoy the bonfire yesterday?" I asked as I started eating quickly since I had about twenty minutes until I had to be at work. Twilight smiled big as she responded.

"I enjoyed it greatly. It was nice seeing the town come together after such a frightful event." She said as she dawned a look of confusion. "However, I noticed you disappeared halfway through the party. I was going to ask you about your world some more but couldn't find you." She stated as I choked on my hashbrowns.

Crap...not even a day in and I'm already fielding these questions. I cleared my throat and turned to her. "I was in Canterlot trying to prove to Luna that the big dipper existed." I said as she looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Big dipper?" She asked as I smiled and stood up, picking up my plate, and dumped it into the sink. I turned back to Twilight

"Yeah, it's a constellation back on earth. Sadly, it doesn't exist here." That is, until I can convince Luna to make it appear. I thought as Twilight took the information in like a sponge. I then looked at the clock which read a solid eight-fourty.

"Well, I have to get to work. But I'll talk more about my world with you when I get back, aight." I said as she nodded. I walked out the house and started a light jog to Sugercube corner.

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Nicholas POV
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I had awakened about an hour ago when Fluttershy had nudged me awake. She had made a pancake breakfast for me and it was absolutely delicious! (Seriously, how has she not had a boyfriend or husband by now?) It was at the breakfast table that I accidently let it slip that I had been kissed at the bonfire, much to Fluttershys delight.

"oh, that's wonderful Nicholas. I'm so glad the girls got the courage to show you how they feel about you." She said as I paused mid-bite of my pancake and gave her a very confused look.

"What are you talking about?" I asked her as she tilted her head, apparently just as confused now.

"Didn't Applebloom or Sweetiebelle kiss you at the bonfire?" She asked as I looked at her for a couple of seconds before bursting out laughing.

"Hahaha, your joking right? Those two don't like me like that, we're all just friends! Nah, it was Diamond Tiara who kissed me." I said as her whole body froze up in suprise.

"T-tiara?!" She squeaked as I nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I know she has this bully reputation and all, but I saw someone very different at the bonfire. And honestly, Tiara's pretty cute." I said as I finished my plate and grabbed my bookbag. I walked over and gave Fluttershy a hug. "Well, I got to go, so I'll see you later!" I said as I ran out the door, not hearing the whispered "oh no" from Fluttershy.

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Ronin POV
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I was on my way over to Sweet Apple Acres when Nicholas came jogging by.

"Sorrycanttalkhavetogettoschool!" he said quickly as he ran by. I turned and faced the fleeing Nicholas before shrugging and continuing my walk. After a bit of walking I made it the farm.

Now, I don't know much about farms, but this place is HUGE! I couldn't see an end to the place from where I was standing. As walked through the front gate, I was spotted by an already working Applejack who walked over to me.

"Well, howdy Ronin. What can ah do ya for?" She asked me. I smiled and stretched a bit.

"I was wondering if I could help out here at the farm. I don't have a job and I thought I could try something here." I said as she smiled at me.

"Well, ya came by at the right time." She said as she turned and started walking towards a bunch of apple trees. I followed her until she stopped in front of one. She turned to face me and stepped to the side. "Alright, Ronin. Go ahead and buck this here apple tree." She said as I raised an eyebrow.

"Uh, what do ya mean buck?" I asked as her eyes widened in realization before she smiled and shook her head.

"Ah forgot yer from another world. Ah want ya tah kick the tree." She stated as I blinked.

"Your the boss, cowgirl." I said as I walked up to the tree. Now how was I gonna do this?

Focus your power into your legs, child. I heard Melfesia state in my mind. I took a deep breath and felt my power transfer to my legs. Afterwards, I spun around and swung a roundhouse kick at the tree.

A loud thunk sounded off in the farm, followed by a swarm of apples falling from the trees into baskets Applejack left out underneath it. Thanks, Mel.I thought as I smiled and turned to Applejack, who wore a look of suprise.

"That's a mighty strong kick ya got there, partner." She said as I shrugged.

"Well, it takes a lot of practice." I said as she turned to the rest of the trees.

"Well, lets git the rest of the trees done, then we can talk about employement." She said as we continued the work.

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Nicholas POV
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I made it to school earlier than anyone else(minus Ms.Cherilee, who was writing something on the board.) I walked into the classroom and immediately started thinking about how I was going to help Tiara with her problem with Silverspoon.

Cherilee finally noticed I was there and smiled. "Ah, Nicholas. Your here early! What's the occasion?" She said, walking over to my seat. I looked up at her and sighed.

"I told a friend of mine I would help them salvage a friendship they had, but how would I go about doing that?" I asked as she thought for a second before responding.

"Well, have the two talked to each other yet about how they feel?" She asked as I shook my head, realization dawning on my face.

"Ahh, I see what you mean. Thanks Ms.Cherilee." I said as she beamed, proud to have helped a student. After a couple of minutes, everyone else arrived. Sweetiebelle sat next to me and leaned over in her seat.

"Why did you get here so early?" She asked as Diamond walked in and immediately walked up to me.

"He is helping me in a matter that is not of your business!" She said while glaring at Sweetiebelle. I sighed and leaned back.

"Tiara, remember how said matter became an issue, so please don't be a pain to my friends while I'm around." I asked her as she relented and nodded, looking slightly saddened by the mention of her current problem.

"Your right Nick. Being snappy isn't going to help anypony. Even if some deserve it." She said with a side glare to Sweetiebelle, who looked very perplexed at what was going on. I cleared my throat and continued talking to Diamond Tiara.

"Now, when we get let out to recess, that will be when we approach Silverspoon with said problem, alright?" She nodded and took her seat next to Silverspoon, who was currently ignoring her completely. I turned to Sweetiebelle with a slightly forced grin.

"Sorry about that, she's going through some things and I am helping her out." I told her as she raised an eyebrow.

"When did you two even become friends anyway?" She asked as memories of last night flashed through my mind, especially the kiss I had shared with Tiara. Slightly red-faced, I answered.

"We bonded at the bonfire, and now I'm helping her out." I said as Tak and Scootaloo arrived just before the school bell rang. Tak took his seat next to me after winking at a now blushing Scootaloo.

I took notice of his giddy appearance and leaned in close to him. "Somebody has a girlfriend now?" I asked him quietly as he jumped a mile high before turning to face me.

"Don't do that!" He quietly screeched at me as I suppressed a snort.

"Well, tell me what happened after you left then." I whispered as he sighed, resigning to his fate, yet he had this horribly sad expression on his face.

"Very well, it went like this..." He began as Cherilee began a lecture of basic math

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Tak POV/ the night before
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What the heck was I thinking?

I had opened my mouth almost without thinking back there! What would mother think when she found out I had decided to escort somepony to their house without any guards or anything.

As I walked along the path with Scootaloo going on about how cool the element of loyalty was, I simply decided to roll with it.

Oh well. I thought as Scootaloo being mimicking her idol making poses. I'm already this far, I might as well stick with it. Suddenly, she stopped as we approached a lone house by a small farm.

The little house, more like a hut on closer inspection, was old looking and seemed in a state of disrepair. I looked to my close friend in shock.

"Scootaloo...this is where you live?" I asked incredulously as she nodded, but never looked towards me. Instead she walked ahead while motioning for me to follow.

"Tak....You can keep secrets, right?" She asked me as we approached the little house. I nodded slowly but a chill went doen my back at the tone of her voice. It was a mix between sorrow and fear, and I had only heard it once before when Mother was pleading with Ronin in Canterlot. "There is something I have been hiding from the others, and your the only one I can trust with this, Ok?" She said quietly.

I tilted my head in confusion. "Whatever do you mean, Scootaloo?" I asked her as she sighed and reached out for the doorknob.

"Applebloom and Sweetiebelle come from families that are healthy and secure, so I could never expect them to understand. But you know what its like to have a family that struggles to survive." She opened the door and walked in, and I followed after her.

Only to stop dead in my tracks at the sight in the hut.

In front of me was possibly the worst living conditions I had ever seen. There was moisture and rot eating away at several of the planks on the walls and floor. There was three small hammock like beds in the corner. One was empty, one had a picture in it, and another had an older mare laying in it. A light brightened the room as I saw Scootaloo had light a candle. She motioned for me to follow her to the sleeping mare.

She walked up and nudged the lump of fur. "Momma, I'm back from the bonfire, and I brought the colt I had been talking about." She said as the earth pony stirred and faced us. She had a coat the same color as Scootaloo, but her hair was red. She bore a single cloud on her flank.

The mare looked to Scootaloo and smiled, though her eyes looked as if they had seen the wars my ancestors fought in. "My little sunshine, I'm glad to see you in such a fit state." She turned to me and nodded. "So you must be Tak. My daughter has spoke many stories of you. She's quite fond of you, you know." She said as Scootaloo groaned.

"Momma, don't embarrass me!" She said with a light blush as the mare laughed before suddenly invoking a coughing fit. I jumped a bit in suprise as Scootaloo rushed to her mother.

"Momma, you shouldn't do things like that. Especially with you being sick." She said as a sad smile graced the moms tired features.

"Listen, my dear. There was a reason I wanted to meet your friend here after how much you talked about him." She turned to me and the smile faded. "I am on my deathbed, child. So listen carefully to me please." She said as I nodded slowly, fixed in place by sorrow.

"Anything, ma'am." I quietly said as Scootaloo hugged her mom, burying her face into her mane. The mother put a foreleg around her daughter before continuing.

"Please, take care of my little sunshine for me. There aren't many she opens up to, and after hearing about you from her stories, I know you are the one who can watch over her for me." She said as I could feel a tear going down my left cheek while the sounds of muffled sobbing could now be heard from Scootaloo. The mare pulled her daughter to face her and wiped away some of the tears from her face.

"My sweet daughter, promise me you will stay strong and look out for this young stallion." She said this as Scootaloo nodded slowly before hugging her mother fiercely.

"Momma, please don't go! I don't want you to leave me!" She said as the mare simply smiled and leaned back into the hammock, lightly pushing Scootaloo back from her. She coughed violently for a second or two before laying all the way back.

"My dear, fate is cruel. But we will see each other again one day. And when we do...I will be....waiting...." She trailed off as her eyes closed gently.

Scootaloo stood there for a second before breaking down in tears, hugging her mother and whispering the words "momma" over and over again. I stood there for a minute or two before turning Scootaloo towards me and pulling her into a strong hug, allowing her to cry into my shoulder.

I have no idea how long we sat there in the hug, but after what seemed like hours Scootaloo walked outside the house. I followed her and found her staring across the feild of crops.

"My mom and I grew a small potato farm here." She said quietly. "I never knew my father, but all mom said he was an amazing wonderbolt who died in a hurricane accident before I was born." She turned to me with a sad smile. "She wanted to meet you immediately after I told her about who you were and your own past. I guess she was holding out until she knew her daughter would be ok." She said, tears going down her face as I hugged her again.

All my life, I had known ponies to have better lives than changelings in all aspects, that we were as different as possible. But ever since I had met Ronin, I was learning just how wrong that belief really was. One of my closest friends was now currently crying into my shoulder again as she comes to terms with her mothers death. Ever since coming to ponyville, I have seen that everything isn't all butterflies and rainbows in pony society. Ponies die like we do, suffer like we do, cry like we do. And as I held Scootaloo close, I felt this fire in me to defend her until my last breath. I had never felt this way before, and I could only place it as one thing.

Love.

I pulled Scootaloo to face me as I smiled softly at her. "Scootaloo, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you. You don't need to hide your emotions from me, nor do you have to confide in me if you feel uncomfortable doing so. I'll be here either way." I said as I stared into those lovely purple eyes of hers.

Without hesitation, she leaned in and kissed me. It wasn't long or anything crazy, but strong enough to show her appreciation. I stood there slightly dazed as she giggled slightly.

"Thanks, Tak." She said as she turned to the moon, which seemed to shine extra bright tonight, as if it too had something special to itself.

I simply nodded and sat next to Scootaloo as we watched the stars together.

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Nicholas POV/ present.
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I sat there slack jawed and suprised by what I was told. It was so much to take in and so sad at the same time.

"Why are you telling me all of this?" I asked him as he smiled softly.

"Your my closest friend, Nick. And you know pain like Scootaloo does. I asked her if I could tell you, and she agreed. Though the others can't know yet." He said and I nodded.

"Alright, but you better turn around before Ms.Cherilee realizes that we weren't paying attention." As he turned around, I shook the sad thoughts from my mind.

I had to focus on figuring out the Diamond Tiara situation I currently had. Scootaloo will probably be hurt for a while, but she has Tak. And having your friends when you need them is the best way to heal said hurt.

...I think I know how to help Diamond Tiara get Silverspoon back as a friend.