//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: The tales of the Friendship Crusaders // by Blaze Wing //------------------------------// "What's up everypony! Yeah it's me, the only Vinyl Scratch, and I'm here to drop the beat DJ-Pon3 style!" Vinyl started one of her famous dubstep beat who everyone knows, just to warm up the audience. And it worked! Well, it wasn't each Friday you can saw our grand master vinyl scratcher live. Except for someone, her son named Coltbain Scratchorn. The young unicorn with a black and purple mane in a white coat sitting alone on the corner of the room, that was Coltbain. Vinyl raised him with her good old friend and room-mate Octavia after the death of his father. And now, her young foal was almost a great colt. But the young unicorn didn't finish school, cause of the last tour started by Vinyl and Tavi. He didn't either had found his cutie mark, but still hoped to follow the same path as his beloved mom. Coltbain had a great mother and love Tavi too, but no one could fill the hole of a missing father, and nothing except music could make him forget his daddy. The music he heard almost each day, from his birth to today was the only known remedy to his loneliness. Mommy always made him feel better. Now back to the real world. The party didn't stopped, we had all night for it! Luckily, because Coltbain still needed his brainwash to went through all his problems, even for only a couple of hours. We all needed a break sometime, somepony more often, like him. Octavia was closing her cello case, because she couldn't compete with a DJ, of course. Better spent it to speak a little bit with Coltbain. They talked so much rarely, a good conversation could only be benefic. "Hi dear, how are you?" said calmly Octavia. "Hi Tavi, like everytime, you know..."respond Coltbain with a following sight. "Enjoying the show?" "Yeah, mom's always in great shape for party rocking hard." The corner of his mouth turn on a tiny smile while thinking of her. "Indeed. But tell me, except us, when did you really meet a pony for the last time?" "I don't know, far away in my memories, propably last year at school." "You look depressive, my dear Coltbain, you don't see any friends anymore, stop isolating yourself! I'm pretty sure we will be able to see your beautiful smile if you simply accept to find some new pony to get some fun!" "How? I'm happy to follow Vinyl in her Equestrian Tour, but we're always travelling, I can't develop a good relationship in so short laps of time! It's wasting time, anyway..."The last sign of the previous smile faded away. Octavia took a deep breath, before continuing. "...ok... I was supposed to wait for tomorrow before told you, but I have great news to cheer you up!" "About what?" Tavi had catched the attention of the young pony. "Your mother, Vinyl Scratch, finally had a permanent employment in the capital city of Canterlot! Celestia herself wants to see her performing each Friday in the royal castle! We already have bought an house near the place, in a small village called Ponyville. There is a great school where you will complete your education!" "Really?" A glimmer of hope finally emerged in the face of the young pony. "Wow! I mean, it's incredible! I will end up my studies!" "...And meet new friends! I'm so glad to see this smile in your face! You start Monday in the class of Miss Cherilee. I heard that she is a great teacher, you can't have a better one in all this town. And I'm sure your will also find your cutie mark this year!" "Are you sure?" "Absolutely! Coltbain, Monday, your life will change, I'm sure of it!" "Thanks, Tavi, you mean a lot to me!" "You're welcome, my dear Coltbain!" Both ponies exchanged a big hug and a great smile. They didn't talked a lot after that in the night, but their happyness was still there till the end a few hours later. Coltbain, Octavia and Vinyl all went to bed really tired, and the next days wouldn't be much more easier. The entire week end was spent to move into the new house. ***** Sunday morning, Celestia's sun illuminate the bedroom of Desmon Whitehorn. The young unicorn slowly opens one eye, then the second. He still felt sleepy, but didn't care and got up of his bed. He pushed back his long and white mane and walked to the window. The view of Tramplevania from inside the family manor was always beautiful. He was really lucky to live in a great house like this! Desmon was born in the luxury his father gave him. He lived in a castle, had a personnal teacher to insure his education. Some strange rumors circulate around his family, but who cares? Not him. Well, it can't help to make friend, but it was only details... "Desmon, are you awake?" A familiar voice spoked. "Yes I am, dad!" "Could you come here?" Something in his voice sounded a little bit too serious, but the young pony did not pay attention. "Sure I can!" Desmon turned his back and walked trough the door of his room. His father was waiting on the living room with is mother. "What is it for?" His mother spoke first. "Well, it's pretty delicate..." "Let me do it, darling." broke off his dad. "Okay son, listen carefully to what I have to say..." Desmon cut baldly his monolog "About what?" "Don't cut me off, son." told his father slightly disappointed. "We have bad news..." "...what happen?" Interrupted his son. "Oh! sorry! Continue dad." His father sighed."...where I was? Oh yes, what I'm trying to told you is...hum...we...we are bankrupt..." "What!? But how is it possible? It has never happen before! How is it poss..." The young unicorn suddenly stopped talking, realizing he interrupted his daddy again. He continued, ignoring his son this time. "In the last months, my company had bad sales and now is on the brink of collapse." He took a break and pursued."I had no choice but cut some money here to save the company. Me and your mother will move in a smaller house. In a few months, maybe years, I will probably gain all what I've lost." "What do you mean ''me and your mother'' ?" The unicorn looked confused. "The second thing...in our new monetary conditions, we cannot continue to paid a private teacher and we will even have difficulties to feed you and everything... and I talked to your mother and finally find the best solution, no, the only solution available." "And what it is?" Desmon was still confused, but he didn't liked where the conversation was going. His mother finally spoke again. "I have a cousine in a small town who have a lot of contact there. She could let you sleep in her house and give everything you need. You will have to go to school with every other pony, but it's the best we can do for you. I'm really sorry, so sorry..." His mother has shed a tear, because she will have to let go her son earlier. "But...but..." All happened too fast for the young unicorn. His father continued to talk. "I'm sorry son, but we don't have any other choice. You have two hours to be ready before the next departure for Ponyville. You need to start school tomorrow." Like his mother before, Desmon shed a few tears. "Ok then, I understand..." He walked to his chamber, low head and joyless. Like his father asked, he prepared his luggage and two hours after, he was ready to go. "It's time to say goodbye, my son. But first, I have to warn you. Because There is no train departure to Ponyville from here until a few days, you will first go to New Saddle. At 10pm, you will take a carriage to Ponyville. You're supposed to be in the town around four in the morning. You will easily find an hostel to sleep. You'll have to ask for the school location. Mrs Mare will take you at the end of class." "Thanks, daddy! Bye mom!" He got a last hug from both parent before climbing the train of a new life...