//------------------------------// // Chapter 7, Promise // Story: An Unexpected Life // by alejin //------------------------------// Celestia’s sun iluminated Bright’s room to announce a new day, the little human opened his eyes and smiled knowing what day it was. No matter how many times it happened, Bright always liked to start this special day by jumping on his bed and chanting. “It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here! He jumped down his bed with a somersault, Shinning’s teachings were really paying off, he ran directly to the shower, put on his clothes, he looked himself in the mirror, his t- shirt’s chest was still blank, he and his mother were starting to believe his species don’t get cutie marks so they decided the day he’d discover his talent, they’d design him a cool cutie mark and add it to all his T-shirts, he proceded to exit the room but before opening the door he remembered his previous birthdays. An evil yet inocent grin crossed his face, he carefully counted to three and opened the door and made a quick jump back inside the room. “Got you Mommy!” he said knowing she’d be there waiting with a crushing hug ready. But there was nopony there, it was strange, it had been the same the last nine birthdays what. . . suddendly he felt a presense behind him but before he could act. “Got you!” He felt the crushing hug he loved so much given by her favorite pony in all Equestria “Mommy? But how?” (giggle) “A mother is always a step ahead sweetie” “Yes, I can see that now” Bright said and returned the hug. “Sooo, how is my birthday boy today?” “I’m better than ever mommy, I’m finally ten years old, you know what that means, don’t you?” (sigh) “Yes Sweetie I know, I promise we will discuss about that with all the family members present but for now. . . COME HERE!” They hugged again and stayed that way for minutes, they loved each other so much and didn’t mind if time would stop in that very moment, both in their hearts knew neither of them could live without each other anymore. “I. . .know I say this a lot but, I love you mommy!” “You can say it all the times you want sweetie, the more the better, I love you too” After the tender moment, they made their way to the dinning room to have breakfast, Celestia happily walking with her son on her barrel, as always, many guards and servants congratulated the boy, exactly one second after opening the door, Bright was pulled inside by a warm aura, two hooves were already waiting for him, he as well extended his arms to hug back the owner of that aura. “Happy Birthday my cute little cousin, Ohhh you are growing too fast, I can't let that happen! as the Princess of Love, I order you to stop doing it” “hehehehe, I love you too Cadence” Cadence kept nuzzling his cousin until they heard another voice. “Bright!!! It’s so good you to see you again!” Bright’s eyes widened when he heard that voice, he already knew who it was, he turned around and saw her. “Flying Hope? He said as Cadence released him to let him hug his older filly friend and her mom. “Oh my, you really have grown up young colt” Sweet Rose said as she returned the hug, he meant those words, by this moment Bright was almos as tall as her, she and everypony started to believe someday, he may be as tall as his mother, Bright’s happy moment didn’t end there for he heard another cute voice. “Happy Birthday Bright!” He turned around again and say his dear friend Twilight and her family coming, Twilight was already in front of him hugging him, none of them noticed Flying Hope glaring at them “And who is she? Flying asked while she pointed Twilight with her hoof. “Oh yeah, sorry I forgot, ahem. Flying Hope, this is Twilight Sparkle, my mom’s most Faithfull student and Twilight, this is Flying Hope, my very first Pony friend” “HIS BEST FRIEND!” she added and gaining some giggles from the adults, she was so cute when she was jealous. Bright was a little confused by his friend weird attitude but he let it go when he noticed something on Twilight’s barrel. “Oh yeah! You brought Spike!” He said and raised the dragon with his hands. “Yes, he’s been behaving very good lately so I thought in bringing him here today” “Cool” Bright loved so much to play with Spike, since he was given to Twilight, she liked to bringing him to the palace for the three of them could play together, he loved those moments so much. Even though the dragon was still so little, it was obvious he liked Bright so much. While playing with the dragon, Bright felt something landing in his head, it was his best pet friend Philomena, she was looking at him with a frown, he smiled at her and said: “Easy pretty, you will always be my favorite, you know that” Philomena eyes’ shine after she heard that and nuzzled her owner’s head, Bright welcomed Twilight’s family too, Twilight Velvet also gave him a tight hug (figures) she already considered him part of the Sparkle Family, like a second brother to Twilight and who knew? maybe something more, Shinning Armor and Night hugged him too but not so tight, in his mind he was really thankfull for that. With all introductions done, all of them proceded to have a nice breakfast, Bright was so happy, all his family were with him in this very special day. When all of them finished eating, as Promised. Princess Celestia stood up and levitated her son next to him and everypony turned to see what she wanted to say. “My little ponies, we are very happy to see you all together here today in the 10th birthday of my son, I promise you, we will have a good time this afternoon in his birthday party” Everypony cheered. “But now, I want to take this time to make an announcement, one some of you knew already since long ago, I promised that after his 10th Birthday, I would think about showing my precious son to the rest of Equestria” Everypony who knew about that promise only noded, Celestia turned to his son and gave him the mother of smiles. “Bright. . . my son, my life, for ten years, I had you all to myself, since the day I found you, I loved you and protected you and you can be sure I will keep doing it forever. . .” Everypony, including the guards and maids started to share some tears. “You know I will always be there for you, and you will be safe inside this palace and by my side, but we both know I can’t keep you inside four walls forever, you need to know and see what is beyond this place, to be honest with you, I’m still afraid of seeing you hurt by anypony who will not see you as we do. . .as I do, but I’m also sure, with the help of everypony here present today and your kind personality, Equestria will be able to see how special you are, therefore. . .” Bright was so excited, there they were, the words he was waiting since long ago. “Tomorrow, I will oficially introduce you to all Equestria and everypony will know who Bright Sunny is, Their Prince and my son!” “Yay” Bright cheered and hugged his mom like he never did before, Cadence was so proud of her aunt but she was also prepared, in her heart, she said to herself: "Ohh Celestia protects anypony who dares to hurt my cousin" Much to her grief, Celestia left to attend her royal duties as soon as posible with Cadence by her side, when they reached the Throne room, they found BlueBlood, Celestia with an stoick face said: “Where were you BlueBlood? you missed your cousin’s birthday breakfast” “I had better things to do” “Is that so? ok, then I believe we will not see you in his birthday party?” “Have I ever gone to one?” (Sigh) “No, No you haven’t, but the invitation is always open, see you later BlueBlood” Both alicorns resumed their way, Cadence decided to not say anything, this was a special day and she didn’t want to ruin it but before they entered the room, Blueblood said: “Are you really serious? About showing that thing to all Equestria tomorrow?” Cadence was the one who answered: “That “thing” has a name, it’s Prince Bright Sunny, our dear cousin remember? I’m warning you, choose your words wisely or you will end in the dungeon for another two days like the last time you made him cry” “You wouldn’t dare” “Try me!” “Why am I the bad pony here? I’m just thinking in what is best for the royal family! What do you think everypony will think when they see him? When they see you raised that. . . creature as your son, this will bring shame to our family!” Celestia, fighting her wishes to imprison her nephew, only said: “We have diferent opinions about what brings shame to the family Blueblood, but know this, I will not turn back now, my son deserves a better future than been hidden inside here, tomorrow everypony will have the blessing to know him and that’s final!” Celestia proceded to enter to the throne room and try to forget this conversation, before Cadence entered, she whispered something to her brother: “BlueBlood, I know you better than anypony so let me be very clear with you, if you do anything, ANYTHING! To ruin my sweet cousin's big day tomorrow, you will have to start to practice how to be a MARE” Cadence then entered to the throne room too, BlueBlood remained there, he was angrier than ever “Damn, why are they so stubborn? I am the only one here with brains?” He immediately proceded to leave the palace to one destination and whispered to himself: “I need a drink” - - - - - - - - - - As always, the party was amazing, there were games, lot of foods, some pegasus guards even made a incredible flying rutine, Bright was speechlees, they weren’t the wonderbolts but still that was amazing, every adult was charmed seeing how Twilight and Flying were fighting to see who would dance with Bright, in the end he danced with both of them, but still, that didn’t leave them satisfied, the party ended and Celestia invited everypony to stay in the palace that night, after all, the next day was the DAY, everypony said their good nights and went to sleep. Bright tried his best but he just couldn’t sleep, he was too excited, he decided to get up and go to the balcony to watch the night, it was beautifull, his mommy really outdone herself as always, he watched the moon, beautiufull too, he always liked that pony form on it, the mare in the moon, he giggled to himself, he was to focused watching it that he didn’t noticed her mommy already by his side. “Beautifull, isn’t it?” “Yes mommy, it’s beautifull. . . . MOMMY!” (giggle) “You need to pay more attention to your suroundings sweetie, can’t sleep?” “No, I can’t, I’m just too excited, tomorrow I will finally meet everypony, but I’m also a little. . . scared” Celestia smiled to her son and crouch to his level. “Get on, I think I can give you a little spoiler tonight” Bright got on his mom’s barrel and she started to fly, he loved those moments but this one was diferent, their tours were always around the castle, this one however, his mother was flying above the city, above Canterlot, Bright was speechlees, it was so huge, those houses, some ponies and guards walking on the. . . he believed they were called streets, she made sure to fly a little too high for nopony down notice her, Celestia noticed her son marveled eyes and said: “What you think sweetie, it’s a beautifull city isn’t it?” “Yes, it’s way better than what I ever imagened” “I’m glad to hear that, I don’t want to see you dissapointed” “Mom, any city you rule has to be awesome, after all, you are an awesome ruler” “Thanks dear, now let me tell you something, all those ponies you are looking now, I know many of them, I know they are good ponies, I can’t negate there are greedy nobles, lot of them, but almost every citizen in Canterlot is nice, you don’t need to worry, they will accept you and love you, but remember, the one who love you the most it’s me” “hehehe, thanks mommy and you don’t need to remind me that, I always know” Celestia nuzzled her son’s cheek, then without thinking she said: “Please, don’t go anywhere away from me” “Uh?. . . Ok mommy, I wont, I will always be with you” Celestia was happy but she didn’t know why she said that, she knew Bright will always be with her, maybe it was for the mood, she shacked the feeling and returned with her son to the palace, she placed him back in the bed. “Ok, now rest, you need to be on your best tomorrow” “Yeah mommy” Before she exited the room, she turned around and said “Good night Sweetie” “Good bye Mommy” She smiled and closed the door and walked to her own room, but after some steps, she noticed something. “Did he said. . . good bye instead of good night? (giggle) it must be my imagination, I must be really be tired” She then remembered what she told him some minutes ago, she started to feel scary and even shared a single tear, she managed to shake the feeling again. “Cmon Celestia, snap out of it! He is here with you in the palace, nothing bad can happen to him” She resumed her way to her room for a good sleep, but she didn’t noticed, nopony noticed, outside the palace walls, a group of shadows were preparing to do something that night. “Ok everypony, Operation “Retrieve the Golden Monkey” starts now!”