//------------------------------// // Chapter XVIII: An Unexpected Encounter (Part 1) - A Place to Stay // Story: The Young Prince of Equestria // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// On yet another bright sunny day, an old minotaur was relaxing next to a river while sitting on a tree stump bordered by rocks, with his fishing net already in place to catch some fish. While waiting for his catch of the day, he was thinking of a calm, peaceful and quiet place in his mind, relieving himself of any stress he may have been having, until he started playing some music on his handmade guitar. Suddenly, he then heard his net being pulled. The minotaur immediately stopped his music, then stood up and went to see what he got. By the sound it was making, it had to be a huge fish, or several more. When he retrieved the fishnet and then saw what was inside, he was somehow shocked, but confused, inside the net mixed with some of the other fish, he found the strangest discovery he had ever seen. He looked at the sight of an unconscious 10 year old child, which looked like a man-cub. It wasn’t moving at that moment, assuming he thought it was dead, so he knelt down and carefully poked the kid. Until the moment he poked the kid’s stomach, he started to cough up lots of water from underneath his lungs, and then passed out again. The big guy jumped back for the surprise, but what surprised him more was that when the kid was turned around, a huge cut in his head was revealed, meaning he was bleeding very badly and by the looks of it, he seemed to have one broken arm as well. The old minotaur sighed and then said, “Figures.” Of course, the little one couldn’t hear him, as the minotaur scratched his mane, and then proceeded to pull him up into his arms. Of course he may be old due to retirement months back, but the minotaur still had enough strength that his species were so proud of. “What do you say, Tex? Let’s you and I get you outta the sunlight and somewhere comfy for ya,” he asked in a southwestern tone, until he started to walk back to somewhere safe with the kid in his arms and his fishing net full of fish along as well. “Bowen… Bowen... wake up, sweetie... wake up…” The little child heard someone calling him. It was the voice of a female, but he somehow couldn’t see who it was since everything was dark and foggy, but she sounded… warm and kind, and he somehow started to feel warm too. Raising his arm towards somewhere in the dark, trying to reach the source of that beautiful voice, he managed to get a closer look, and asked, “Who are you?” Suddenly, everything went all white in a flash before it went black, as the little boy then opened his eyes and found himself in some kind of hut. It wasn’t dark like his dream since there were some lanterns lighting half of the place, but windows reflecting the sunlight, and a fireplace. He somehow couldn’t see or hear much because he started to feel a terrible headache that forced him to close his eyes for the immense pain and not only that, one of his arms also hurt… like a lot, as his head did hurt too. It was unexpectedly bandaged, and his arm was also bandaged and wrapped in a cast, but he really didn’t know how he ended in that place, but certainly was thankful to whoever helped him. He opened his eyes to watch his surroundings, until the first thing he noticed was that he was somehow wearing blue shorts. He didn’t know why, but he felt embarrassed and shocked, and somehow knew it was wrong to be around others like that, so he used one of the sheets of his bed to make an improvised gown. He then tried to stand up, but he was still too tired to do so, and his legs were even hurting and aching to move. He then laid back down on the bed again and tried to sleep a little more, but somehow, sooner or later, his savior had to show up. One hour later, after getting more rest, he finally heard some hoofsteps. When he raised his head, he saw a big strange creature sitting on his chair by the fire and cooking something in a big pot. What the little creature could tell, from his point of view, he had hair covering all of his body. It was gray with a silverback spot on his back, but he also had a dark gray mane, a gray and white beard and leg fur. He was also pretty wrinkly, but he also had very big muscles, but also a little round gut with a few abs leftover, making it very clear that he wasn’t weak, and his head, along with his mane, was adorned with two giant horns. This creature was definitely someone he didn’t want to piss off. The kid felt scared, asking himself, who was he? Maybe he is the one who saved him? Maybe he was the same species as him. Hoping to know if he was right, he tried to see if he had the same pointed things in his head, but somehow didn’t find any. Maybe for him being younger, he didn’t have them yet, before the creature immediately noticed him and stared back, and he started to walk to him. The little two-legged creature, feeling scared, shielded himself with his good arm while he hid underneath his blanket, as he then heard something landing on the bed. He uncovered himself and looked at the object on his bed. It was a bowl filled with some kind of soup. As the big, tall, buff creature put it on there, he stared at the little one with disbelievingly confused eyes, until the big creature sighed and said, “Eat up, son. I need you fully healed as soon as possible so you can start to recover.” The kid was shocked. He was a little reluctant about the food, but when he suddenly heard his stomach growling, he grabbed the spoon and proceeded to eat. He didn’t know what this food was, but it was delicious. He then ate it all with a little enthusiasm, as the little pieces of meat were the best part, before he laid back rubbing and patting his now full tummy and soothing the grumbling noises. The minotaur chuckled and said, “At least, I know now you can eat meat since you gladly ate all your beef bone broth. Now, go ahead and sleep some more. We have work to do in the morning. Oh, and don’t worry, your clothes are almost dried. I’ll give them to you tomorrow. I don’t know how, but I thought you might catch a cold if I didn’t take them from you. You’re even lucky to have survived all of that.” “Tha...thanks, sir,” the kid said. “Don’t thank me yet, son. I’m still not sure what am I going to do with you yet, but everything will pretty much depend on all of your efforts tomorrow and approximately in the next few days.” “Oh. Okay. Umm… sir?” “What?” the minotaur asked. “May I ask a question?” “Go ahead.” The kid then asked, “Forgive me for asking, sir, but… Wh-Who are you?” “Oh, you don’t need to keep calling me sir, Tex. Name’s Bennett Longhorn. Understand?” he said, “Yes, yes sir… I mean Mr. Longhorn, sir… I mean Mr. Longhorn.” “Just call me Ben. Now, what else do you want to ask?” “Am I a creature like you too? I mean, are we the same species?” “Look, son, I can say I am a minotaur, but you, let’s just say that you are definitely not one. And to be honest with you, I’ve never actually saw anything like you. Like what are you? You don’t know?” He shooked his head. “Do you know at least where are you from?” “Umm…… . . . . . . No, Mr. Ben,” the kid replied. “Well, it seems you have amnesia. That is really a problem,” Ben said. “Amnesia?” the kid asked confusingly. “Yes. It’s something that happens when others, including you can’t remember anything about your past. It’s normally a real pain.” The little creature didn’t know what to say. Ben didn’t know what or who he was, everything kept getting more complicated at every second. He then suddenly thought, if he wasn’t a minotaur like Ben, and if he said he never saw something like him, then. . . how or what did he look like? Wanting to know right away, he asked, “Mr. Ben. . . do you think you… maybe have something I can see what I look like? I think… they are called… mirrors?” “A mirror? Uh, sure, wait a minute.” Ben then searched in his belongings and found a little shattered mirror. He then passed it to the kid, who immediately proceeded to look at his reflection. When he saw himself, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Ben was right, they were nothing alike. He stared at the reflection and only asked, “What… What am I?… Who am I?” The next day, the kid was testing his arm, as it was finally healed, meaning he could move it freely by that moment, and his headaches and other aches were gone as well. Last week was a nightmare, meaning worst at nights when he had those strange dreams because they almost showed nothing, but abstract images and voices, except some were very young and some were older, he even heard lots of things but one word predomínate amongs the others… “Bowen…” ‘Bowen?’ he thought. ‘What did that meant?’ That word remained in his head for the last few days, but he was finally able to let it all go. Until he started remembering something, until his thoughts were interrupted when Ben returned, the kid immediately ran to him to see if he had any news. “Hello, Mr . Ben... you managed to find out something?” Ben looked at the kiddo with a disappointed and angry face, because most of all, he was forced to go to Canterlot and the little towns next to it. Ben sighed and then replied, “No, son. Even though I investigated in Canterlot, the pony villages and even asked the travelers, nopony reported a missing pet monkey or anything like you.” “You... think I was a pet?” the kid asked. “Well, I’m not sure. I mean, what other thing you could be for a pony?” “I… I don’t know, maybe I had... a family back there?” Ben sighed again, and approached to the kid, and then he said, “Listen, Tex, I don’t know what is happening inside that little head of yours, but I’m pretty sure you were a family pet, but maybe, with no doubt, you were taken care of by somepony and that pony may be a noble. Heck, a griffon would’ve eaten you right away already, not to mention a minotaur, and believe me when I say this, most ponies are not so kind with non-pony type of creatures, except others with gentle and kind hearts. I’d bet everything I got that you were nothing more than a family, or possibly just a pet or a slave. I don’t know how or what happened to you, but I’m guessing you were probably abandoned for no reason, and that’s something I can’t tolerate.” The kiddo felt very cold and started to shiver. Ben continued, “By looking at your clothes, I can see their quality is indeed rich. But not many ponies can afford this kind of quality, except you also weren’t malnourished, so this pony made sure to feed you well. I can’t be sure what kind of life you had, but I’m sure you were taken care of goodly.” “But… if that were true or not…then. . . why? Why I was in that river that night?” “I can’t honestly answer that, son, because your amnesia doesn’t make it any easier. To my honest opinion, maybe you got tired of being a pet, maybe your owner started to treat you so badly and you decided to escape, or maybe, just maybe, he or she got tired of you and got rid of you, and I’d say that’s probably the best explanation I can think of so far. But it’s something you’re going to have to figure out yourself soon.” “Why do you say that? Is it the best explanation?” Ben sighed, and then spoke again, “Look. It’s been a week since I found you, and by this moment, if your owner, or owners, were interested in finding you, I would at least be able to get some information or missing charts in Canterlot or the other towns in Equestria. I even asked in the missing pets’s building, but found nothing about a creature with your description.” The kid was now looking at him with tears of sorrow in his eyes. Ben kneeled down and looked at him, “I’m sorry for being the one to tell you this but... there is nopony looking for you. You were definitely abandoned. But the good thing is you are free now, and I’m not going to Canterlot again, because it’s always the same thing, lots of judgmental ponies looking at me like I’m some kind of wanted criminal, but in a way to see it, you were pretty lucky.” The kid then looked up at him, “But… but what am I going to do now? I have nowhere to go!” Ben then made a suggestion, “If you really want to try finding your “real home”, you can try to go to Canterlot, meaning I can take you near that city, unless if that’s what you want?” The kid thought about that offer, after thinking about his options, he said, “No! I don’t want to return to somepony who abandoned me! And to be honest. . . I DON’T WANT TO BE A PET OR A SLAVE! I will never return there, I can’t risk to be found by my previous owner, because I’m afraid what he or she would do to me if I’m found. I can’t let ponies from Canterlot see me. Not ever again.” He then began to cry. Ben then placed his hand on the kid’s shoulder, “Well… then, that’s your decision, and to be honest, I think it’s a good one, I mean, who wants to live as a pet, and it’s almost the same to live as an slave, worst as one for most ponies who are so cruel and snobby. So, what is your plan then?” The kid gathered all his braveness and asked, “Can… Can I stay here?” Ben was surprised when he asked that, somehow he saw it comming, it was a little bit of a bother, but he had to admit it, having the kid could be convenient, and he may be old and cranky, but he wasn’t a monster. If he’d send the kid to that world outside, he wouldn’t last for a day and on top of that, he even had amnesia. Even without wanting it, he had to help him, at least for some time, so he answered, “Well, I was thinking about finding others who could care for you, but… IF you can carry your own weight, find your own food, and help me hunt or do other chores around or outside my home, you can stay, so I guess you take it as my permission to live here. Deal?” The kid nodded, with a smile on his face, “Deal.” He then went over to Ben and wrapped his arms around his waist and hugged the minotaur as he felt squished against his stomach. Ben then realized the kid was being so nice, so he hugged him back. “Alright, take it easy there. Now listen. You’re just my occupational houseguest, so don’t misunderstand our relationship, because we are not friends or pals, but as long as you do everything I tell you, you can stay, and if you try to be careful and stay out of trouble. Because most of these woods are dangerous without proper supervision. Got it?” “Ok, Mr. Ben, thank you,” the kid said. “One more thing. Before we go into more details, I think you need a name, because me calling you kiddo make me feel older every time I say it, so tell me, what kind of name would you like to have?” “It’s my choice?” “Yeah, I mean, it will be your name, at least you can choose it,” The kid concentrated on a good name for him, but suddenly, he remembered something, “Wait a minute! I remember my name!” “Oh? Then what is it?” Ben asked. “I think… I think my name is Bowen. Bowen Mockingjay!” Bowen replied. “Bowen Mockingjay? I never heard that name before, but it kinda suits you,” Ben said. “Alright, then we’ll stick with it. Bowen Mockingjay.” Bowen smiled at the minotaur. Canterlot Castle, Equestria… The next day, Princess Celestia was in her throne in the middle of a trial, with Cadance present by her side, and two or four guards on her throne defending her and her niece. However, Celestia’s eyes were very bloodshot as if she was crying not too long ago and her mane wasn’t floating at all due to a constant aching broken heart. Suddenly the door opened, before her sight started to focus on the culprit, restricted by her royal guards and cuffed in chains. Using not a very motherly voice, she said, “And for the crime of ponynaping my son Prince Bowen Mockingjay and being responsable for his demise, including the murder of Captain Silver Spear, I, Princess Celestia, sentence you to death! Take him out of my sight!” Silent Dagger screamed angrily while the guards took him to his execution, and struggled with his chains. Celestia heard his screams, but her heart was set, her captain’s and son’s murderer had to pay. Then, after that, as every night would go, she said her farewell to her niece who also seemed a little relieved, and proceeded to go to her little sunshine’s bedroom. She laid on his bed, smelling the little aroma his son left in the sheets, tears started to escape from her eyes again. “My little Bowen, now you can rest in peace.”