The light of Celestia's sun shined through the treetop window of the Golden Oaks Library upon the sleeping form of Twilight. She let out a big yawn as she stretched her forelegs, and hindlegs in the bed before climbing onto the floor to stretch out her wings. She looked toward Spike's basket to see that he wasn't resting in it.
"Hmm.. I wonder where that little dragon could..." She was cut off by the aroma of a freshly made breakfast. "Mm.. nevermind." She thought to herself as she giggled lightly. She carefully trotted over to the mirror to brush her mane before going downstairs.
Spike was in the kitchen preparing pancakes with some blueberries mixed in with the batter. He looked to see Twilight descending the stairs. "Good morning Twilight. Just take a seat at the table, and your breakfast shall be served shortly." Smiling proudly, and giving her a wink.
Twilight smiled, and giggled at her assistant. "Well, thank you Spike. It smells good as always." She sat down on a red velvet pillow on her haunches, and waited for Spike to bring the food.
Spike came in with two plates. One had the blueberry pancakes on them with toast, and his had pancakes on it sprinkled with gem chips, and toast, and he served both a glass of milk. "Bon appetite Twilight." He gave Twilight her plate, and he sat down on the other red velvet pillow that was available.
Twilight took a whiff of the freshly made pancakes, and used her magic to use her knife and fork to cut them. She levitated the fork toward her mouth and took a bite. "Mm.. mm.. mm.. that is delicious Spike. You did a great job adding the blueberries." Giving her assistant a blushing smile.
Spike smirked, and acted like he was dusting off his shoulder with a claw. "Something new I wanted to whip up. Glad that it was a success." He smiled at her as he took a bite out of his pancakes making a crunching sound the gem chips being grinded with his sharp teeth. "Mm.. gems are the best on pancakes though Twi." He smiled, chuckling.
"Well, you can keep them as a topping all you want Spike." She giggled as they continued to enjoy their breakfast.
After finishing up their morning meals, Spike took Twilight's empty dishes, and his into the kitchen to wash them. While he was washing them, he felt his stomach start to rumble, and he belched out emerald flame that quickly formed into a scroll. He stopped washing the dishes, and went to Twilight. "Twilight, I got a letter from Princess Celestia."
Twilight gave a curious look. "Hmm.. I wonder why the princess would be sending a letter on such a beautiful day like today. I guess she just wants to check up on how Ponyville is going." She gave Spike a soft smile. "You can read it Spike." She laid down on her pillow crossing her forelegs.as she listened closely to the baby dragon.
Spike cleared his throat. "Hm. hm.hm. alright Twi. Here I go." He unfolded the scroll, and started to read.
"Dear Twilight Sparkle,
An urgent matter has arisen and myself along with my sister Princess Luna require the presence of all of you who have become the family, and friends of the young child Toby. Two nights ago my sister heard the mind of the little one's father, and what she told me shocked me to the core. So I asked Luna to bring Toby's father here to Equestria to see his son, but another tragic bit of news has fallen upon mine, and Luna's hearts.
Luna was willing to collect the memories of the small child's father, and it brought tears to our eyes when watching them. It hurts me to speak of it in this letter, but please come to Canterlot by the Friendship Express. I have included sixteen tickets. I have discovered that Toby have become friends with the little fillies Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon, and also the spa ponies of the Ponyville Spa, Lotus Blossom, and Aloe.
I ask for all of you to come, because the little one is going to need all of you with him when he finds out the dark secret his father has been keeping from him. We will be waiting for your arrival, and to make sure young Toby's father cannot harm anypony or Toby, we have him locked up in the Canterlot dungeons.
Sincerely your fellow princess,
Princess Celestia."
Spike felt tears stinging his eyes as a bundle of tickets tied together by a red ribbon appeared. "Gosh Twilight, what do you think that beast of a father has hidden from the poor little guy?" Giving Twilight a saddened look.
Twilight frowned deeply. "I don't know Spike. Whatever it is, we need to be there for Toby." Giving the baby dragon a tear-filled smile. Spike nodded in agreement. There was a knock at the door, and Twilight opened it with her magic to reveal her friends, the CMC, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Big Mac, and the two spa ponies Lotus Blossom, and Aloe.
Fluttershy had the small child on her back sleeping peacefully wrapped up in a couple of blankets. "Um.. I didn't have the heart to wake him up, so I gently tucked the blankets around him, and carried him here." She looked at Twilight with a saddened expression. "Twilight, I am scared for Toby knowing that his father is here." She turned her head back at the sleeping child with a frown. She carefully trotted in along with the others into the library.
"I know Fluttershy. I don't know what this dark truth is, but whatever it is I promise we will all be there for Toby." Twilight gave Fluttershy a soft, and reassuring smile looking back at the little colt.
"That jerk!" Rainbow yelled. Everpony shushed her so not to wake Toby up. Rainbow smiled awkwardly. "Sorry." She hovered in the air as she pounded her forehooves together. "Oh, I hope Princess Celestia will let me give him one real good buck to the face."
"Simmer down some Rainbow." Applejack spoke up. "Ah' agree with ya, the no good varmint deserves a good buck or two, but we got to consider the little feller's feelings. Ah' mean he is still Toby's father." The others nodded in unison.
"I would have to agree with Applejack darling." Rarity looked up at Rainbow. "Although the ruffian does deserve a good thrashing, I wouldn't want to frighten the poor little colt with us hurting his father." She carefully trotted close to Fluttershy, and nuzzled at the sleeping child carefully, so not to wake him. "I believe it will be best when we do go see the young one's father, that we let him speak to him first before we get our turn."
"My sister is right everypony. It would be best for Toby to talk with his father first, and maybe we can all have a word with him." Sweetie Belle gave a light smile as she looked at the little colt.
"Yah, that varmint will be sorry that he ever laid a hoof on our sweet little buddy." Applebloom stated proudly with her brows furrowed.
"Yea, that's right. If you mess with one member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, you mess with all of us." Scootaloo raised her foreleg in the air.
Rainbow chuckled. "Haha.. you learned from the best squirt." She wiped at her shoulder with a forehoof.
Pinkie Pie looked at the small child with a frown. "I knew my pinkie sense were trying to tell me something, but I just didn't know what. I could sense somepony was sad, and it was Princess Luna." She lowered her head sadly.
Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy all looked at each other awkwardly.
Applejack was the first of the three to speak. "Ah' sure am sorry sugarcube. Ah' told ya that it was probably because of the storm that your pinkie sense acted like the way it did. Ah' shouldn't have judged ya for overreacting like Ah' did. Can ya ever forgive me Pink?"
"Yes darling, I also thought you was overreacting yesterday when I saw you sitting underneath that tree." Rarity gave Pinkie a sad smile. "Can a lady ask for your forgiveness as well?"
Fluttershy was the last to speak. "Um.. yes Pinkie I was wrong in thinking you were kind of jumping to conclusions with something was wrong with my precious little Toby." She turned her head to nuzzle at the sleeping colt, then turned back to Pinkie. "Can you please forgive me too?"
Pinkie laughed softly. "Of course you silly willies. Sometimes I know my pinkie sense can get the better of me, so I understood where you three were coming from." Giving them a big bright smile "Now I am just worried what this scary super duper dark secret is that little wittle Toby's father is keeping from him." She gave a frown as she looked a the little colt.
Diamond Tiara who was standing in the back carefully trotted up to Fluttershy as Silver Spoon followed behind her. She looked up at her with a saddened expression. "Miss Fluttershy, I am Diamond Tiara, and I was the filly who was mean to Toby on his first day of school, and continued to be mean to him." She lowered her head as she felt tears sting her eyes. "I just wanted to apologize to you Miss Fluttershy for treating your son rudely, and saying that he didn't belong here."
Fluttershy gave a warm, yet sad smile at the filly, and gently laid a forehoof on her shoulder. "Diamond sweetie, please look at me." Diamond lifted her head with a tearful look. "I admit, I was disappointed, and mad at you for hurting my precious little Toby's feelings on his first day of school." She took her forehoof, and carefully wiped away Diamond's tears. "But Toby told me that he forgave you, and I forgive you too. Now dry those tears, okay?" Diamond nodded sadly as she looked at the sleeping child on Fluttershy's back.
Fluttershy looked at her, Silver Spoon, then all around at her friends. "Thank you all for being here for Toby. Whatever this dark secret may be, we need to let this precious child know that he is not alone, and that he is truly loved, and cared for." Everypony nodded in agreement as the smiled warmly at the sleeping little colt.
Twilight wiped away a stray tear, and sighed deeply. "Well, everypony, I have all the tickets for the Friendship Express. Shall we get ready to leave for Canterlot?' They all nodded. "Okay then. Let's be strong for our precious little Toby." Twilight opened the door to the library with her magic, and everypony exited one at a time. Twilight shut the door, and locked as the group headed toward the Ponyville train station.
After they arrived at the train station and waited for the Friendship Express to arrive, Fluttershy smiled warmly at the sleeping child on her back. She sighed deeply knowing that she had to wake him up. She leaned her head close to his, and nuzzled at his cheek. "Sweetheart, it is time to wake up."
He let out a soft yawn blinking his eyes open to discover he already had his glasses on, and that he was outside. He carefully stretched as he noticed he was on Fluttershy's back, and that everypony watched him as he woke up. "Good morning Momma, and good morning everyone." He spoke softly giving them a light smile.
"Good morning Toby." They all replied in unison as the returned a warm smile of their own.
"Good morning my precious little one. We are all going to go visit your Auntie Luna, and Auntie Celestia, okay sweetie?" Fluttershy smiled softly as she gave him a kiss on the forehead.
He smiled, and rubbed at his eyes. "Okay Momma."
The train came pulling up to the waiting dock as Twilight trotted up to the front levitating the bundle of tickets. The conductor trotted out onto the waiting dock. "Welcome aboard the Friendship Express, do you have your tickets Miss?"
Twilight nodded. "Yes Sir." She levitated the bundle over to him. "There is a total of sixteen in all."
The conductor gasped a little. "Sixteen?" He looked behind her, and saw all the other ponies. "Oh, I see now. Well, please come aboard one, and all." He stepped aside to let everypony and Toby onto the train.
With everypony aboard, Fluttershy leaned down to let Toby climb off. She gave him a warm smile. "Toby sweetie, how about you go join the other young ones, okay? Momma, and the others will all be a few seats behind you if you need me." He nodded as he gave her a big smile then turned to walk over to the fillies, and baby dragon.
Fluttershy gave a sad smile, and thought to herself. "C'mon Fluttershy, you have to be strong for him." She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and walked over to the other mares, and stallion.
The train started to move to start it's trek to Canterlot.
*Underneath Canterlot Castle*
James was slowly stirring from a deep intoxicated sleep. "Aw.. my head. I've got to lay off the whiskey from now on, and just drink plain beer." He thought to himself as he reached a hand up to rub at his forehead, and eyes. He slowly blinked his eyes open. With his vision blurry, he clenched his eyes shut tight, and rubbed them with his forefinger and thumb.
He shook his head as his vision became clear now. He looked to find himself in a dark cavern, and his face reflecting off crystals that made up most of the cave except for the ground. He blinked harder thinking it was a dream to realize it wasn't. "Where the hell am I?" He asked himself aloud.
He shook his head harder, and felt something cold and metal around his right ankle. He looked down to see there was like a metal cuff around his ankle, and he traced he gaze down a chain to see the end wrapped around a metal stake that was placed deeply into the ground. He reached down to pull at the chain to see if he can break it loose, but was unable to. He frantically looked around the cave which gave off a royal purple hue due to the crystals.
"What the hell is this place, and why am I shackled like a common criminal?" He thought as he could hear hoofsteps approaching. He looked up to see a royal blue, and a golden yellow glow. "Hey, whose there? Get me out of here."
"Calm yourself Mr. Mason, we are not here to harm you, but just to talk." Celestia spoke first as she, and Luna came into view of James.
His face contorted in confusion, and shock. "How the hell do you know my name, and how are you able to talk?" He demanded as he stood up. He stood tall coming just above the tip of Celestia's horn.
Luna stomped her hoof. "Thou will not talk to thy sister in that manner thou foul beast!"
"Shh.. calm yourself Luna." Celestia spoke softly to her sister, then turned back to James. "First Sir, you are in the land of Equestria, home of all ponykind, and creatures alike. For the reason we are able to talk is simple, we talk the same language you do on your planet." She sighed deeply. "For me knowing your name Mr. Mason is because your young son, Toby lives with us now."
James looked at the two royal sisters with his mouth agape. "Wait, my son is here? Where is that little brat at, did he put you up to this in taking me hostage, and putting me here?" He yanked at the chain tied to his ankle.
Celestia took a deep breath. "No Sir, I promise you, that precious child haven't had anything to do with you being locked up here under our castle. In fact, your son doesn't even know you are here, but he is on his way to see you."
James just chuckled.
"What is so funny thou sorry excuse of a father?" Luna furrowed her brows in anger lighting up her horn, but Celestia laid a wing over to calm her.
"It is just I would have guessed that weakling would want to be friends with a bunch of talking horses. I mean it isn't like he can't get real friends." Shaking his head as he looked at the two.
Celestia lowered, and shook her head. "How can you say something so horrid about your own child like that Mr. Mason? Especially about such one as caring, and sweet as Toby?"
She looked at him intently. "Is it because you blamed him for the loss of your wife, and his mother instead of yourself?"
James' face suddenly went pale. "Wait, how.." He was cut off by a guard at the entrance of the cave.
"Your highnesses, your guests have arrived."
Celestia bowed her head at the guard. "Thank you." She turned back toward James. "Mr. Mason, I suggest you prepare yourself, because I will send my guard back down to retrieve you, and you will have to face your son, and tell him the truth." She, and Luna turned to leave the cavern.
James sat down on his rear shaking his head in disbelief. "How do they know?" He thought to himself.
Celestia and Luna trotted into the main hall of the palace to see everypony at the bottom of the staircase. "Greeting my little ponies, and young Toby." Celestia greeted the group which everypony bowed respectfully. The royal sisters descended the stairs.
Luna looked at the small child with a little smile. "Hello dear Toby, how are you doing this morning?"
He smiled up softly. "I am doing good Auntie Luna, and Auntie Celestia."
Celestia gave the same small smile to the little colt. "That is good to hear little one." She sighed deeply.
"Toby dear, my sister and I would like to tell you something." Luna looked at her with a saddened expression as all the others did the same.
Toby noticed the sad looks on everypony's face and swallowed deeply. "What's wrong Auntie Celestia? Why is everyone sad?"
Luna took a deep breath. "Two nights ago my young nephew, I heard the mind of your father."
Toby suddenly looked up at Luna with a concerned look. "My daddy? Is he okay?"
Luna gave him a light smile. "Yes Toby he is okay, but it is his thought that was bad." She sighed deeply, and looked at Fluttershy. "My kind friend Fluttershy, would it be okay if Toby comes to me for a little bit?"
Fluttershy nodded. "Um.. of course Princess Luna." She leaned down on her forelegs to let Toby climb off. He carefully walked to Luna.
"Now my friends please take a seat, and Toby you just stand, okay?" He nodded as all the others first sat down on their haunches then laid down on all four legs.
Toby started to become nervous, and looked up into Luna's eyes. "Auntie Luna did something bad happen to my daddy?"
Luna sighed deeply. "Precious one, I want to show you something. I was able to collect your father's memories." She took a deep breath, and laid a wing over his small form. "My dear Toby, just know that we are all here for you, okay? I am going to show you what I saw in your father's mind. Just close your eyes my young nephew, and relax." He nodded, and closed his eyes. She looked at everypony, and they nodded as they closed their eyes as well.
Her warm blue glow enveloped them all, and they were suddenly in a black void which rippled into another environment.
*James Memories : April 12, 2011*
"Alright everypony, open your eyes." They did as they found themselves in a living room area.
Toby gently spoke. "This is my home, and that is my Mommy." He smiled brightly as he watched a blonde woman kneeling down on one knee on the porch of the house they were in.
"Okay my baby boy, you have a good day at school, and I will be there to pick you up after work, okay?"
"Okay Mommy, I love you." He gave her a big warm hug around her neck as Ashley gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"Mommy loves you to sweetheart." She waved at him as he ran down the steps, and got onto the school bus that just pulled up in front of the house.
Ashley walked back in the house, and carefully shut the door. James was sitting on the living room sofa watching television drinking a bottle of beer. "You know, that is why he is weak like he is, because you coddle him, so much." He took a sip of the beer bottle. "I wish you would show me the half the love you show him."
Ashley crossed her arms, and shook her head. "You know what James, I will not let you talk about my son like that. He is not weak." She walked over to him, and grabbed the beer bottle. "And you know one thing, if you would quit drinking this for one damn day, then I would show you some love!" She threw beer bottle against the wall.
James stood up from the sofa, and smacked her across the face. "Listen to me you tramp. Maybe I wouldn't have to drink, so much if you would quit babying that brat of a son, and gave me a little attention." He walked by to go into the kitchen.
Ashley had tears pouring out of her eyes at the slap, but she had a mix of anger, and sadness in them. She stomped into the kitchen standing at the counter across from James. "Don't you ever dare call my son a brat, or anything like that ever again you bastard! You know what James, this past year has been hell for me, but you know what, everyday of hell was made up with everyday of peace with Toby in my life."
"Well, isn't that precious." He took another beer out of the refrigerator, and took a drink of it.
Ashley just shook her head. "What happened to you James? When Toby was first born you were happy to be his father. I remember you calling him your little man when he said "Dada". What happened to you?"
He slammed the beer bottle on the counter, and looked at her with disgust. "I will tell you what happened to me. Yea, I was, and still am proud to be his father, but ever since he was born you have been paying more attention to him, and less attention to me." He took a swallow of the beer looking down at the counter.
Ashley threw her arms up in the air. "So that's it, you are jealous of that precious child, aren't you? Well, you know what James, you can take your jealousy, and take that beer, and make your own life with all your verbal venom." She stomped out of the kitchen which James followed behind her.
"What are you talking about Ashley?"
She came back out carrying her purse brushing right past him. "What I am saying you no good lousy drunk is that after I leave work, and go pick up MY SON, then we are going to my mother's house, until you learn to give up drinking. If you don't, then I promise you James, you won't see Toby or me ever again!" She walked out of the house slamming the door hard.
James took a drink of his beer, and out of anger, threw it against the wall. "We will see about that you tramp. If I can't have you, neither will that little brat."
Toby looked on as the environment slowly started to blacken. The ponies all had a mix of angry, and saddened expressions on their face, and turned to look at the small child. He was on his knees with his head lowered, and tears pouring out of his eyes.
Fluttershy trotted up next to him, and laid a wing over him bringing him close to her. She felt him trembling against her, and she lowered her head down to lay it on top of his to comfort him.
Luna looked at the small child with a frown. "My dear Toby, would you like for me to stop?"
Toby tried to calm his shaking, and his tears as he looked up at Luna as he felt Fluttershy warm him against her. "N-no Auntie Luna. P-please show me more, so I can see what happened." Asking between sobs.
Luna nodded sadly as the environment rippled once again.
*On a desolate road*
The group found themselves in the air above an empty one lane road that was surrounded by trees on both sides. Suddenly they saw a pearl white Volkswagen traveling along the desolate strip of asphalt. "Th-that is my Mommy's car." Toby said still shaken up from the previous memory.
Then they looked to see a red pick up truck speeding up behind the car. Toby shook his head frantically. "No, no, no. That is my daddy's truck." Toby looked down in terror to see the truck speeding up as it went to the side, and caught up to the car. In one swift move the truck rammed into the car causing it to crash into a ditch flipping it onto it's top.
Toby's lower lip quivered, and he couldn't hold back his tears as he watched the truck stop a couple feet away from the car, and James stepped out. James walked over to the car to check to see if Ashley was moving. "You should have shown me some attention Ashley." Toby could hear as James got back into his truck, and drove off.
The environment changed back to black, and the group found themselves back in the castle. Toby shook with sobs, and cried heavily unable to speak. Everypony looked on sadly at the small child, and they all gathered around to give him a hug to try and comfort him.
"Oh, my precious little Toby." Fluttershy said as she hugged him close to her.
Celestia lowered her head in sadness allowing tears of her own to fall. Luna done the same. Celestia raised her head toward the door her, and Luna came in from. "Guards bring him in."
The ponies turned to see who Celestia spoke of, and they immediately gave glares of anger. Toby sobbed as he turned his head from laying against Fluttershy's chest fur. Choking back his sobs he looked at the person Celestia asked for, and said weakly. "Daddy?"