//------------------------------//
// A Bittersweet Celebration 
// Story: The Secret of Sheldon Clopper. 
// by theanonymousbrony 
//------------------------------//

We were all on top of a stage, as we had on our blue suits and caps and patiently waited for our names to be announced.  "Apple Bloom."  She got her diploma and went to her family.  "Button Mash."  He received his diploma and went to his family.  "Rumble."  He took his diploma and went to his family and foalsitters.  "Scootaloo."  She was given her diploma and went to her "sister", Rainbow Dash, along with her overly supportive parents and her two aunts.  "Sweetie Belle."  She'd taken her diploma and went to her family as well.  "Sheldon Clopper." I finally claimed my diploma and went to be congratulated by my parents, grandparents, and therapist.

My dad: "Good job, son!"

My mom: "I'm so proud of you!"

My grandpa: "I knew that you wouldn't fail!"

My grandma: "You've done your grandmother proud, Sheldon!"

Dr. Egghead: "You're taking a big step, Sheldon!"



When it was finally over, my family and I were heading back home to prepare myself for the after graduation party over at Sugarcube Corner.  But as we entered the house, we failed to notice the royal guards who were watching us from a distance.  One was a white unicorn, with long blue hair and purple armor.  The other was a white earth pony with a black mustache and gold armor, while the other was just a black earth pony with gold armor.

The white earth pony said, "Is that him?"

The unicorn told him, "Yep, that's our target."

"So when do we arrest him?" the black earth pony asked.

"As soon as Flash Sentry comes back."

"It's amazing how much time that guy wastes when we're about to arrest somepony."

An orange pegasus then flew by and said, "Hey bros, what did I miss?"

The black earth pony told him, "Well, you almost made us lose our target again."

"Come on bro, you're still not mad at me for being late that one time, are ya?"

"It was a dragon that was robbing a bank, and we couldn't stop him because you weren't around!"

"I was fixing my hair; it's hard to keep your swag going when you have to wear a helmet."

The white earth pony asked the unicorn, "Remind me again why we need Hotshot here to be with us on every mission?"

The unicorn then said, "Because as brash and obnoxious Flash Sentry may be, he happens to be one of the most skilled soldiers to ever enter the royal guard...and he's also bucking my sister."

"Hay yeah I am!" Flash raised his hoof for a hoofbump, but instead received this.

"Why is it that every time you speak, I just want to punch you in the muzzle?"

"Come on bro, you're not really gonna hit your future brother-in-law, are ya?"

"No, but if you don't focus on the mission, then I might be able to make an exception."

"Oh relax, it's just another criminal that Celestia wants us to apprehend; how bad could he be?"

The unicorn took out the order and read it out loud, "Wanted: Sheldon Clopper.  Crime: suspected Mindbender.  Arrest with caution.  Does that answer your question, Flash?"

"Well come on then, ladies! let's go arrest somepony!" as he was moving forward, the unicorn thought to himself, what does Twily see in him?

Before they were about to enter, my parents, grandparents, and therapist, were all downstairs, having a celebration of their own.  "I never would've thought that Sheldon would live long enough to graduate high school."  My dad said.

"Now all that's left is university."  My grandpa said.

"Yep, after all these years of hiding, I think the worst is finally behind Sheldon."  As soon as Dr. Egghead said that, that's when the door knocked.  The second the door opened, my parents had dropped their glasses when they saw the royal guards.  "Why Prince Shining Armor," my dad exclaimed, "what brings you all the way from the Crystal Empire?!"

The unicorn known as Shining Armor said, "Are you the parents of Sheldon Clopper?"

"Yes."

"We received orders from Princess Celestia to bring him to her at once."

"But what did our son do?!" my mom cried.

"Your son is suspected of being a Mindbender; we're going to take him straight to Princess Celestia where he'll be interrogated.  And if he's not what she suspects he is, then he's got nothing to worry about."

Dr.  Egghead tried to hide the truth, "Well as his therapist, I've been observing him for years and not once did I ever see him do anything Mindbending related."

"Well that's for the princess to decide.  Now will you kindly call him down?"

Seeing that they have no choice, my mom had reluctantly called me down.  As soon as I came down, all my nightmares were about to come true.  "Sheldon, sweetie, these guards are going to take you to Celestia."  But how could it be?! I never made my powers look that noticeable or told anypony, so how could Celestia have found out?! "Don't worry sweetie, they're just gonna take you to talk with her and then they'll bring you back."

As Shining Armor was taking out some cuffs, Flash Sentry took them and said, "Please bro, let me handle this."  He then slowly walked towards me and said, "Come on kiddo, just let me put these cuffs on ya and we'll take you to Celestia."

I can't believe this was happening; those years I spent in public school, my friends, even the mare of my dreams were finally coming to an end.  No! I wasn't going to let the life I wanted be taken from me! so before he could even snap those cuffs on me, I quickly made my mind turn the beeping noise back on.

As he stood there, my inner voice told him, "Drop the cuffs."  And so he dropped them.

The white earth pony walked to them and said, "What's wrong Hotshot, the cuffs are too heavy for ya?"

"Kill him!"

As he leaned down to pick up the cuffs, Flash took his sword out and decapitated him!

"Flash, what're you doing?!"

"Kill the others!"

He then lunged his sword deep into the black earth pony's skull and then he and Shining Armor were both clashing swords!  While this was happening, Dr. Egghead's inner voice was saying, "Sweet Celestia, he's Mindbreaking!" he rushed towards me and shouted, "Sheldon, get out of here! don't drain anymore of your energy, just run!"

As soon as I ran out of the house, Shining Armor had disarmed Flash and then shoved his blade through his throat.  As he regained his composure, Shining Armor started to question everyone.  "Where is he?! where's Sheldon?!"

"He's gone," said my dad.  "He's somewhere where you and Celestia can never find him!"

"For assisting the escape of a suspect, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you all into custody."



I was hiding behind some bushes when I saw my parents, grandparents, and therapist being dragged in chains.  It hurt me to see the ones I love being taken from me, but not as much as it's gonna hurt Shining Armor when I free them.  But before I could perform the beeping again, some strange inner voice told me, "Don't.  You've lost a lot of energy, and are in no condition for Mindbreaking.  You might not know who I am, but I've known you since the day you were born.  If you want to learn more, then remain hidden and head east to the Mind-Temple."