My Son, My Soldier, My Hero

by That_Random_Pony


Talking to Himself


Draco ran. 

Out of Ponyville.

And into the Everfree.

He was an animal. A monster. Monsters belonged in the Everfree.

Ten years… all pointless. He lost control… not partial… that thing came to face. 

He wasn't strong enough to contain it.

He was weak. 

That's why he was running. Because he was weak.

He had relied on that animal's power… everything. 

The griffons… Ember… Grypho… the thing that attacked them. 

It was stronger than his mother, stronger than his aunt, and stronger than him.

Draco came to a stop as his legs buckled and he kneeled while crying. Like a damn infant. He wasn't tough, he wasn't strong. If Ember remembered, she would just brush him off as what he was. 

A child.

Weak.

Useless.

And stupid.

"Why can't I be strong?" He whispered. "I'm… tired of this. Why can't I just stand and fight?"

He reached for the handle of the blue sword, then placed the tip at his throat. A coward like him didn't deserve to live. He didn't deserve any of the kindness he had gotten. He was a monster. And monster's were meant to die.

Reku'un

Draco threw the sword at a tree, burying it to the hilt.

"WHY DO YOU CALL ME THAT?! WHO ARE YOU?!"

The voice was… laughing. Not condescendingly… but playfully.

Ah yes, you were too young to know.

Draco felt his body go limp, and in another second he was in a white void. Figures began to appear… but no faces.

You say you're weak? Then how did you defeat the Govek?

Because that animal killed it, not me.

You mean you killed it.

THAT. DAMN. THING. KILLED IT!

Hm… just as I was. You succumb too easily to your temper.

Just like you… who are you?

I am you. And you are me. Well… sort of. Kind of. Not really. THE POINT, is that I am with you. We are all with you.

Who? 

Your family. Ichima, or Celestia, is a wonderful mother. But… know that your family is always within your heart… and most of the male side is in the Ashla. The beast you so loathe.

That thing makes me weak. I have to rely on it or I'll die. I don't have strength like it. I'm not as powerful as it. I'm just. WEAK.

Weak? The Doshu'um? HAHAHAHA! You're of nine and a half cycles! Of course you're… well, you're still more powerful than the others.

What others? What are you talking about? WHO ARE YOU?

Me? As I've said… I am you. And you are me.

Reku'un?

YES! My name! But you are among family, so titles and names will not matter. Please, boy, listen and listen well. You are NOT weak. You are just like those before you. Vast reserves of power. You need only have someone guide you, help train you. Do not fear, your teachers will come for you. When that day comes, you'll see the power and the responsibility that you carry. Promise me, Draco, that you will never give up. Promise those before you that you will rise to this challenge, rise from your woes and hold your head proudly yet modestly. That you will do your very best to succeed, and when you fail you will know you have done your best. For you are an Alamonshuor. Please… promise us this.

I promise.

Thank you. Now… I believe it is time for you to wake up.

I can't face them. Not like this.

Of course you can. You have a loving mother, loving friends… and a female you will need to choose. The other two will always love you, but there is only one that can be with you during the troubles you face. Whoever it is… make sure you have no regrets for.

Fine. 

Good. Now wake up. Please… please wake up."

Draco opened his eyes just a little and saw his mother crying over him with her eyes clenched shut.

"I promised I'd keep you safe," she whispered. "I need you, Draco. I don't know what I'm facing… but you do. Please… wake up, sweetie."

Draco wiped a tear from her cheek before it could fall on him, surprising her. "Mama."

Celestia smiled as her son looked up to her. "Yes?"

"That really, really sucked."

Celestia laughed softly and nuzzled him gingerly. "Yes. It sucked pretty badly."

Draco smelled his friends, his aunt and Ember approaching fast, and they soon burst through the treeline and ran over to them. Twilight and Rainbow hugged him, the former crying while the latter did her best not to. Luna placed a hoof on his shoulder, and Ember put her claw on the other. He looked to the other four ponies, smiling with a nod at their warm and relieved smiles.

He wasn't alone. He wasn't weak.

He was strong.

Why?

Because he wasn't being strong for himself. 

He was being strong for them

His mother, his aunt, his cousin who he considered a brother, Twilight, Rainbow…

…and even Ember.

He was strong because he had no choice but to be. Not that he minded. There were things that neither of them understood, but he was connected to all of it somehow. And if Reku'un or whoever was telling the truth, he would be able to protect them all. For Twilight, Rainbow, Moon, Ember, his aunt and even the most powerful alicorn.

He would one day be able to protect his mother.