At the dinner hall, Viper, the young colt found by Princesses, was only eating a small amount of cereals, despite the amounts of food they would have given for him. The stallion just shook his head and stood up from his chair, after he finished. The princesses followed the boy on the back yard.
"Well, if we can't return you back, the only option is that we take care of the stallion." Celestia whispered for her sister, being next to each other and behind Viper's back.
"But sis! I never have been babysitting!" She let out, giving a red blush on her face. "Besides, he's all grown up. Just give him a place to stay, some bits and job? He'll be alright...."
"I don't think that is what his heart wants......" Tia sighed and brushed her sister's dark blue mane. "We should ask from him...."
The alicorn sisters nodded and walked next to Viper, who managed in time to sit on the front yard. He was looking up the sky, before descending his view on the green plains, the mountains on the area and on the Everfree Forest. He sighed for his sight and glanced back to see the princesses.
"What took you so long?" He asked, being rather worried. "Did I happened to do something?"
"No, Viper, you haven't. Though, this is something I won't do for anything, but......" She took a deep breath. "Bow in front of me." She ordered.
Luna's jaw dropped on the ground and Viper's eyes widen, but without resisting, the stallion went on his knees and dropped his head down.
After that, Celestia immediately pierced Viper's head with her horn, as magic started to flow from it. Luna gasped and went little back, away from what was going to happen.
"Please.......tell me your secrets......"
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"Oh, please, tell me your secrets~" A group of stallions, wearing leather clothes all over them, were holding Viper, as young colt still, teasing with him and bullying him.
"You'll never become become sellsword! Ever! You try and try, but never become as one of us, thanks to that you can't climb at all! And what's with these note sheets?" One stallion pulled out his sketch book, containing obviously sketches, but also ideas, novels of him and music scores of him. Without a spite, one unicorn set them on fire and burned them in front of him. But Viper didn't cry at all. He wasn't given chance to it, yet he tried to resist it as best as he could. Before leaving, some of them gave him a few punches and kicks on the stomach, before leaving him on the ground.
Viper was laying there, thinking what would happen next. All his thoughts were centered on climbing up to the tallest point of the world and dive from it to his doom.
"Don't let those bullies outnumber you! You will become one of them, if you will....and you always want so and will!" He repeated his mother's thoughts on his head, before walking off towards his home.
At that current night, everything changed. He woke up from the smell of smoke and started to investigate if something was burning. Before he could react, his father tackled him on the ground.
"Oh, my son!" He yelped, giving him a tight hug. "There's no time for you to be here! The town's on fire. You must get away...." He told to Viper.
"But father, what is happening? Why is the place on fire? Are the sellswords behind this?"
"LOOK, I can't hold them off, before they find us, but you need to run!" He pulled from the lever that was hidden on the bookshelf, breaking the tile wall of their house. "That route leads to the Everfree Forest. Follow the road and you eventually arrive on Ponyville. Go. Now!" He explained, as he pushed him from the hole and sealed it quickly back.
"Father!" Viper let out. Screaming of townspeople and angry, dark shouts were filling Viper's ear and only what he could do was to run.
Not before while, he was exhausted, alone, at the woods. The forest covered the sun and moon, only showing pitch black for his eyes. Eventually, he couldn't make anymore and laid next to a big tree, before passing out, leaving himself open for wild life. Few footsteps came and dragged him towards small hut.
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Celestia pulled the horn out and Viper fell on the ground, being exhausted from all of that. Looking at himself, he stood up and gasped to be now more taller than ever. Even though Celestia and Luna were just few inches taller than him, it was quite impressive size for him. He was full, adult stallion, physically on his best condition by now.
"Did......did you grow me back or was it just wearing off?" He asked, as he panted.
Celestia chuckled and turned around, facing towards Luna, showing with her hand to move on her room. Luna nodded and did as Celestia ordered. She then turned back towards Viper.
"Viper.....just one day and you have grown up on a fine stallion......" She smiled and caressed his cheek.
"Heyheyhey! You couldn't even take care of me even for a day!" He chuckled and pushed her hand away.
Celestia waved Viper to follow him and turned around to walk back, inside the Canterlot. Viper, without any question, followed Celestia along with her.