"Why.... why did everything have to happen?" said a grey pegasus, between the size of a colt and a stallion, tearing up while looking down at his adoptive parents' graves. “I…I’m so sorry mom, dad.”
“It’s not your fault,” chimed in the familiar voice of another colt.
The pegasus then turned around, and saw a slightly larger red earth pony colt with a light orange mane and tan trimmed hooves, as well as a piece of wheat sticking out of his mouth standing just a few feet behind him, looking down at the distraught pegasus.
“It is, Big Mac...I could have saved them,” the pegasus replied, choking up.
“You and I did everything we could, Thunder. We just weren’t strong enough,” Big Macintosh said back to the pegasus, laying a hoof on his shoulder from behind.
“I know…But why did it have to happen?” said the pegasus in a broken voice, shedding a couple of tears at the same time.
“Ah just don’t know… Things happen,” Big Macintosh replied.
“I don’t understand though.. Why does this keep happening to me? Am I just bad luck?” The pegasus asked, wiping the tears from his eyes.
“Hey, ya are anything but bad luck. It was just a tragic accident. I miss ma and pa too, but we gotta move on. If we continue to think about it, it won’t get us anywhere in life,” Big Mac comforted the pegasus. “Come on, let’s head back home. Applejack and Granny Smith are probably wondering where we are.”
“Okay. You head on back, I’ll catch up in a few,” the pegasus said back as he watched the bigger colt walk into the sea of apple trees, before turning his attention back to the graves. “I miss you guys. I wish you could come back,” he said, before sitting up straight and walking back towards a barn.
Not long later, the pegasus made it to the barn, climbing up a water chute to a window, quietly opening it, then sneaking in, leaving the window open behind him before crawling into a bed and snuggling into the sheets.
The pegasus groaned as he rolled around in bed for the next 10 minutes, before finally turning to face the window, getting a perfect view of the large white planet in the sky, the moon, before shutting his eyes and falling asleep.
The next morning, the colt woke to the sounds of rain quickly coming in through the window, realizing he had left it open all night.
"Ugh..." He groaned as he slowly rolled out of bed, only to land face down onto the wood floor. He then slowly got up and shut the window, before stretching like he does every morning. The sounds of his bones cracking from the stretch was the only sound that filled the air, other than the rain of course.
After stretching, he went downstairs to make an easy breakfast, Apple oats, not remembering today was the day he left his home town for Canterlot, the capitol of Equestria.
When coming downstairs, a filly’s voice rang out, startling the young colt.
“Thunderblast!!” said the voice, soon followed by galloping, and an orange filly, around the same size as the pegasus, with freckles and long blonde hair tackle-hugged the pegasus.
“GAAH!” squealed the pegasus, now pinned down by the filly. “Applejack! Get off of me!” He ordered, giggling a little.
The filly continued to hug him, also giggling. “I can’t believe my brother is leaving for Canterlot today! I’m going to miss you so much!” she said, sounding excited but sad at the same time.
“Leaving for Canterlot? For what?” The pegasus asked, seeming puzzled.
“You don’t remember? You’re going to sign up for the Royal Guard today!” The filly squeaked out, getting off of the pegasus.
“Oh gosh. That’s right. I forgot that was today.” The pegasus said, getting up off of the floor. “Do you think they’ll accept me?” He asked nervously.
“Oh, of course they will. I’m sure you’ll do good anyways.” She answered, smiling at the colt.
“Thanks, AJ. Where’s Granny Smith and Big Macintosh?” he asked.
“They’re in town right now getting a few things, they’ll be back just in time for you to leave though.” Applejack said back.
“Oh, alright.” The pegasus said, before trotting into the kitchen and making himself breakfast, while the filly went upstairs to check on the new puppy, Winona.
Thunderblast was just a young colt, who still unfortunately not figured out how to fly. He also still didn’t have his cutie mark, although he didn’t care much about it. He was planning on taking a train to Canterlot today so he could join the Royal Guard, his dream job. Thunder, however, was just 14 years old, which made him wonder if they’d accept him, despite his age.
Silence filled the air for just a few minutes after Thunder had eaten, before the front door was unlocked and opened, and an old green mare with a pale-white mane, and a red colt, Big Macintosh, entered the house.
“We’re home Thunder, Applejack!” Rang out the voice of Granny Smith, carrying a paper bag on her back, then setting it on the kitchen counter.
“Thunder? Applejack?” Big Macintosh called out as he searched around the living room and kitchen, worrying him when Thunder nor Applejack answered.
After trotting up the stairs, he gets pounced on by the filly and the colt, who then pin him down and tickle him.
“GAAAAAH!” Big Macintosh squealed, laughing from the tickles.
Thunderblast and Applejack soon joined in on the laughter, rolling off of Big Macintosh onto their backs.
Soon enough, the tickling was over, and the three played in Big Macintosh’s bedroom for an hour, knowing this would be the last time they ever play all together, ignoring the fact it was still raining sheets outside.
“Big Maaaaac? Applejaaaaack? Where are youuuuu?” Thunder searched slowly around the room, knowing at some point he will get caught by the two.
“BOO!” The two jumped out, startling Thunder.
“WAAH!” He screamed, leaping two feet in the air and backwards, before landing on his back.
“GET HIM!” Applejack yelled, giggling, before they ran over to Thunder and held him down, before rubbing his belly, one of Thunder’s ticklish spots.
“NOOOO, MY WEAKNESS!” Thunder squeaked, also giggling and trying to get away, only to be pinned down by Big Macintosh.
“Thunderblast? Big Mac? AJ?” rang out Granny Smith, standing at the bottom of the steps. “It’s almost time for Thunder’s train to leave!”
“Awww!” The three all said at once, knowing the fun is over, possibly forever.
“I’m not sure if I wanna go…” Thunder said, sounding nervous.
“Thunder, you already have your train ticket, you can’t just not go. They come after the ponies that don’t make it on the train.” Applejack said, carrying Thunder’s saddlebag before throwing it to him.
“Th-they do?!” Thunder said, now a bit scared.
“Nah, I’m joking Thunder. They don’t do that.” Applejack replied, giggling.
“Oh… Whew…” Thunder sighed for relief.
The three then came downstairs, Thunder putting on his rain coat, then they all gathered by the door.
“I’m gonna miss you so much, Thunder.” Big Macintosh said, wiping a tear from his eye.
“Me too.” Applejack said, eyes widening as if she’s about to cry.
“Come on you two, there’s no need to cry. I’ll still come and visit when I can. Besides, I’m just leaving for a couple of days.” Thunder comforted them.
“I’m so proud of you, Thunder. Taking on a big responsibility of protecting the princesses in the greatest city in Equestria!” Granny Smith exploited. “I’m sure your parents would be so proud of you.”
“Yeah.. I’m sure they would..” Thunder said, lowering his head, almost tearing up after hearing that.
“Don’t worry, big brother. You’ll do just fine.” Applejack said, trotting up to Thunder and hugging him, soon joined by Granny Smith and Big Macintosh, and even Winona, who was just a small puppy.
Not long later, Thunder trotted out into the rain and through town towards the train station. The rain soon died down slightly, but still came down.
Thunder arrived at the train station, gave the conductor his ticket, then boarded the train and sat down in a seat on the left side of the train, taking off his rain coat and settling in.
Less than a minute later, the car soon began to fill up with ponies of different colors, races, and sizes. A business pony then trotted up next to Thunder and asked. “Mind if I sit across from you?”
“No, go ahead. I don’t mind,” Thunder answered, moving his saddle bag under his seat.
“Thanks,” the business pony said, sitting down and putting his briefcase underneath his seat, then pulling out a laptop and typing up a storm on it, most likely not doing any work like he appears to be doing.
“So… Where ya headed?” The business pony asked, not taking his eyes off the screen.
“Hmm?” Thunder asked, not catching what he said.
“Where are you headed?” He asked again.
“Oh, uh. Canterlot,” Thunder answered.
“I know Canterlot, WHERE in Canterlot?” The pony asked.
“Uhh, I’m not sure if I want to tell you that,” Thunder replied.
The business pony looked up from his screen and looked at Thunder. “I’m not gonna follow your or anything, I have a meeting that I need to be to when I get off the train.”
“Promise?” Thunder asked.
“Does it look like I would lie to you?” The businesspony answered.
“Probably. We just met 5 minutes ago,” Thunder said back.
“Okay, fine, you got me,” he groaned, admitting defeat, then returning his attention to his computer screen.
A large jolt shook the train as it jerked forward as it departed Ponyville, and Thunder watched as his rainy home town slowly moved away from him.
“Goodbye, Ponyville.” Thunder sighed, putting his hoof on the window.
About 3 hours later, the train started entering more and more tunnels as it approached the capitol city, Canterlot. The rain also stopped and the sun was soon seen in a partly-cloudy sky. When the city became visible from the train, Thunder looked out the window at the massive city in the distance, passing a sign saying: “Welcome to Canterlot.”