//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Return // by Void Streak //------------------------------// Hearing the sound of the front door closing, I waited for a minute to see if he would return then crept out of bed. Moving to the corner of the room I removed a loose floor board and took out two bags, one if them was a blue, beaten down saddlebags made for school aged foals while the second was a more newer, tan, adult sized saddlebags. Both of them filled with supplies. Grabbing them both I snuck through the hallway to my sons bedroom, where he was fast asleep. I smiled at his sleeping form however upon seeing the black eye that sported his face, reminded me of the task in hoof. I nudged his sleeping body and whispered “Come on Void, you need to wake up” After repeating myself several times, I watched his eyes flutter open as he sat up in bed rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. Yawning he muttered “What’s going on, Mummy” I tried to think of how I was going to answer him as I put my old purple jacket that I used to wear as a filly onto him along with an old, light blue scarf and beanie. “We’re going on holiday” I told him. “Is daddy, coming?” He asked me. I hid the scowl that came across my face when he mentioned his father. Despite the constant abuse he had to put up with, he still loved his father. “I’m sorry, honey but he can’t make it” I told him and my heart broke as his face turned to sadness. He then asked “Where are we going?” “We’re going to see some old friends” I explained. I then added while putting the saddlebags on him “But, we need to be quick, so we don’t miss the train” “What about my toys” he asked, holding onto a wonderbolt Rainbow Dash plush toy. “I’ll buy you some new ones” I then put him on my back and left the house. *** Looking at the darkening sky, I ran to the train station. Thats when I heard it “Where do you think you’re going!” Turning around, my face fell as I saw my husband, once again, drunk as a skunk. I heard Void shout “Daddy!” I then continued to run, I heard Void ask me “Why are we leaving, Daddy?” Wanting to concentrate on running I ignored him, I felt bad as I felt him tugging on my mane in attempt to get my attention, but I kept on running. The train station now in sight I heard a crashing sound behind me but I still didn’t turn around to see what it was. “Daddy fell, we need to go and help him” he pleaded, tapping my shoulder now but I kept on running, knowing that our lives depended on it. I ran into the train station and practically shouted at the conductor “One adult and One foal ticket to Ponyville, please hurry” I pleaded while shoving the bits into his chest. I then watched the main entrance for any sign of my crazy husband “Hurry” I urged. Just as he gave me the tickets I saw him burst into the station his light blue face, red with fury. I instantly rushed into the train just as the doors were closing, looking out the window I saw him push the conductor to the ground as he jumped over the ticket barriers and started to chase the train, which had begun pulling away. I sighed in relief as I watched him disappear in the distance. *** I then looked at my son, who was on the verge of tears as he asked me in an accusatory voice “Why did you leave him?” I looked into his golden eyes, which glared at me as I started to explain “Void, your father is a bad pony.” “No he’s not” he said in denial. “He is Void, he hurts you” I told him pointing at his black eye, which was one the reminders that we needed to get away as soon as possible. “Thats only because I’m naughty. He says it’s because I’m useless and a bad colt” he tried to explain in vain. “Hey, you are not a bad colt, you’re a good boy” I told him putting my hoof on his shoulder before pulling him into a hug. I could feel his tears staining my fur. I then lied him down on one of the beds and placed a light blue blanket on him and told him “Why don’t you go to sleep and i’ll wake you up when we arrive at our stop” he nodded, cuddling up with his plushie. He then asked me “Can you sleep with me mummy?” I smiled at him before saying “I can’t sleep as we might miss our stop but I will lie in bed with you” He muttered “ok” as I climbed into the bed and covered him with my wing and pulled him close to me. I then kissed him on his forehead and whispered “Good night, my little streak” He replied sleepily “Good night mummy, I love you” My heart fluttered as he said this, I began to stroke his mane and gave him another peck on his forehead “I love you too” Once I hear quiet snores erupting from his mouth. I looked out the dark window as I thought about, what would happen when I arrived at my foalhood home. I thought about my friends and what they would say once they seen me. The last I heard of them, Sweetie Belle had became a famous singer and Apple Bloom had started her own engineering company called, Bloom Tech. I also knew that they both turned the old Cutie Mark Crusader club into an actual charity helping those who haven’t yet found their cutie marks. My Sister had achieved her dream of becoming a wonderbolt and had her own range of merchandise. *** Suddenly I heard the shrill whistle of the train arriving into a station along with the conductor announcing “We have now arrived at Ponyville” I looked down at Void who had been woken up by the whistle, I then packed up the blanket and left the train and nearly slipped on the icy platform. Looking at the clock I noticed that the time had just passed midnight, thats when I realised that it was technically Hearts Warming Eve. I looked down at my son as I had the nasty realisation that I hadn’t gotten anything for Void. Tears started to whell up in my eyes as I thought about how Void would feel, waking up to no gifts. Every Hearts Warming without fail I had gotten him gift of some kind despite the daily struggle I had to put myself through finding him a gift, knowing full well that I was going to get a beating of my jack ass of a husband for spending all the bits on a present, I still got him something for Void. Void noticed my sadness and asked “What’s up, Mummy?” “Nothing, sweetheart. Im just cold” I explained trying to hold back sobs. He then offered me his scarf but I immediately turned it down saying “No honey, you keep it your more important” I then began to walk through town, thankfull that the streets were empty. I then noticed my destination in the distance and picked up my son and I began to fly. Void put his hooves up in the air and cheered, he loved it when he was flying. His sorry excuse for a father refused to teach him, I tried to teach him but I hardly had time, the best I had managed was teaching him how to hover and glide. I was hoping that she was in, I didn’t want to think about what would happen if she was out. I was also worried about how she would react to seeing me after so long without an explanation as to why I left. *** Rainbow Dash yawned as she was sat with her husband, Soarin Skies. They had just finished setting up the Hearts Warming Eve boxes for her three kids when they heard a knock on the door. Rainbow muttered angrily “Whoever’s knocking at this time of night had better have a good excuse” Soarin jokingly said “Maybe, its Santa” “Don’t be stupid” Dash told him but giving him a playful jab on the shoulder. Answering the door, her jaw dropped as her face looked like she had seen a ghost…