It was the second day of travel we reached the halfway point. We all remembered what that meant: this was where we cross that big bridge. We reached the bridge and all, including my parents, were amazed. It was much bigger than we thought. It was about a mile and a half long crossing this extra big river. I didn’t remember what the river was called but I didn’t ask because it completely slipped my mind.
A few hours later, we stopped to get some dinner. After that, we left again for about an hour and stopped for the night. We woke up the next morning and saw it was foggy out. We kept our course steadily watching out to make sure that we didn’t run into anypony else. Not too long later, the fog cleared and what we saw amazed us. We looked to our left and saw mountains as high as the sky could be. And near the top, it was all foggy.
“Those are called The Smokey Mountains.” My father began. “They call them that because of the fog near the top makes it look all smokey.
We kept our course all day until Celestia’s sun started to set on the horizon. We stopped for the night just as the moon was rising. When morning came again, my dad said, “This should be the last time that we stop. We should be there around mid afternoon.” Excitement built in us all as we all walked out to the carriage.
Like my father said, we would make it to Greenville by mid afternoon. “This is it everypony.” My mother said. “This is where we begin our new lives.”
As we turned the corner to the street our new home was located on, me and my brothers had so much excitement we couldn’t sit still. But that was all short lived as we stopped in front the house that was supposed to be our home. My parents exchanged glances.
“Are you sure this is the right one dear?” My mother asked my father.
“Yes I’m positive. It’s the same address see. 357 Nrth. Colt Avenue.”
It didn’t look like the beautiful building we saw in the photograph. The house in the picture had a white outside and tan roof and neatly cut green grass. This one had grass too tall and window shutters half hanging. The outside was all dirty and dull as the roof was tan but looked like it was sagging in in the middle.
We hopped out of the carriage and decided to inspect the place. My dad took the key and unlocked the door and when my parents walked in, I heard my other gasp. When I walked in to see what she gasped at, my face cringed at the smell. The air inside was moist and smelt of old smoke and mold. The walls were falling apart and the carpet had bugs crawling in it. I decided to check the basement. That was a bad mistake as I couldn’t breathe at the smell. I looked around and saw mold pockets in some corners. I ran back up the stairs and as I walked through the rest of the house, I heard what sounded like my mother crying. I looked in the door and saw my father holding my mother while she sobbed.
“We can’t live here. We gave up everything. I lost my kids’ home; we have no money left to go back.” She said in between breaths. I turned away and walked outside. I turned the corner to the backyard. The backyard looked no better. Rotting wood and dead leaves littered the whole backyard. I looked up to see an old looking pony sitting in a chair on the back porch of his trailer and stared straight at me. I moved to the left, but his eyes never left from me. I was as scared as to not knowing what he’d do, I ran back to the front. When I turned to the front, I saw my father talking to the lady we bought the house from.
“Ma’am we can’t live here…..mold everywhere……bugs in the carpets…” Was all I could make out what he was saying. I sat down on the porch as Celestia’s sun started to set. A tear fell down my face. We gave up our lives for this? I thought to myself not knowing what to make of all this. Then I heard my mother talking to my Meemaw from inside what was supposed to be the living room.
“We can’t go homeless again. We were homeless when Shifty was just two.” My mother said.
“Come back to my house. You guys can stay until you can get everything figured out on what to do next.”
I felt a pinch just above my hoof. I flinched as I looked to see what it was and saw a giant mosquito. I swatted at it as other made their way over to my legs, back and chest. My brothers too were getting bit.
It was after dark when we loaded back up into the carriage. We stopped at a motel just outside of Greenville. My mother began crying again as she looked at her children who were all covered in bug bites. My brothers fell asleep as I overheard my father say, “We’re going back. And we are gonna make it all better.” That was all I heard before I went into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I woke up to the smell of breakfast. “It’s a complimentary breakfast the hotel manager gave to us. Eat up; we have a long journey ahead of us.” My father told me.
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Over the course of the next 4 days, we made it back to Ponyville where we left. My Meemaw insisted we stay at her house until things got situated. We did. My dad went to go talk to his boss and ask for his job back. He said explained the situation to him and he gave him back his job. That was the first step. And the next step was to find a place to live so we didn’t take up our Meemaw’s living room. My mother went to go talk to the owner of the apartment complex to see if we could get our apartment back. She would be glad to if we paid few months deposit. My Meemaw happened to do that for us. We were so eternally grateful for what she has done for us. She took us in her home for few weeks, fed us, and helped us look for another place to live. We couldn’t be happier.
Few weeks later we were all situated in our new apartment. My brothers and I went back to school in which all of our friends gave us a warm welcome. At the end of the day we went home, had dinner, and went to bed. I laid there on my bed thinking how lucky we were to have people help us get back on our hooves. I went to bed smiling that night. And it was that day, I decided I was going to give back to society what they have given us.
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12 years later
I stood in line at attention. This was the biggest day a pony could ask for. Today was the Equestrian Marine Corps graduation. My platoon and I went through 12 weeks of hell to get where we were today.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, I want to take a few moments and tell you about these young Marines standing before you. Over the course of 3 months, these young ponies turned from an average citizen into a respectable Marine. From here on out, they will defend Equestria against all odds. Fillies and Gentlecolts, I am proud to announce to you, the newest and finest Equestrian Marines.” The announcer said over a speaker.
“Platoon!” I shouted. “Dismissed!” We saluted and went on cheering and giving each other hugs and congratulating each other for making it.
“Congratulations Private Breeze.” My Drill Instructor said. “You made me proud son.”
“Thank you sir!” I said and saluted.
He replied with a salute, “Carry on son. Your family’s waiting for you.”
“Families you may now enter the air space in a calm and ordinary fashion.” Said the stallion on the intercom.
We turned to see everpony from the stands rushing to see their fillies and colts. I saw my family as my mother ran full speed towards me. She ran into my arms with tears flowing down her face. “You have no idea how proud I am of you. You came a long way for this.”
“No ma I think I do.” I replied smiling. My younger brothers were around me too asking me questions as was my father, but I didn’t hear those as I looked in the distance, I saw my two elder brothers, one who was an Equestrian Marine and the other an Equestrian Airpony. I walked toward them with tears forming in my eyes. I haven’t seen both of them since Buzz went to Air basic training over a year and a half ago. I held them both in my arms for and everlasting embrace. They returned the favor as I wiped my eyes. “You two inspired me to do my best. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here right before you in this uniform.”
“I believe you would.” Replied Buzz. “It was your promise that led you here.”
I couldn’t help but smile. The three of us walked back to the rest of our family. My mom stopped us, “Stop. This would make an amazing picture.” She reached in her saddlebag and pulled out her camera and took the picture. “There you all are. My three military colts together again.”
We walked back to them and hugged each of them for a long time. Until my Drill Instructor interrupted, “Ma’am I would like to say that I am damn proud to tell you that your son was the greatest colt I’ve had the opportunity to turn into a Marine. He led his fellow recruits to accomplish all obstacles. And for that, he earned the title of platoon leader. I can proudly say I’m in the presence of a perfect young soldier. You should be proud ma’am.”
“I already am” She replied smiling.
I wrapped my hooves around my older brothers. They were most proud. They watched their little brother grow into a strong young stallion. They turned to me and both saluted. I returned the favor and shook both of their hoofs. We laughed as we finished.
Wrapping my hooves around their shoulders for a second time, I sighed, smiling and said, “My brothers, this is the end…..of a new beginning.”
Author’s Note: I’d like to thank you all who took the time to read this story. I know it’s a little short but it is based upon an actual event that happened in my life. Ever since that day, I knew I had to give back to the world what they have given me: hope. The chance to rebuild, the chance to grow and achieve greatly. My family has since gotten stronger. We’re doing perfectly well living in a stable home that we’re proud to call home. The moral of this story is even though those that don’t have much have everything taken away from them, they can get it all back and even more with the help of others. So please, if you know someone who is in need of help, help them. For all you know, you could make a difference in someone’s life just by reaching out to them with a helping hand. Again, thank you for reading. It means a whole lot.
-Rainbowdash218