Benjamin was going out on a little stroll around Ponyville. He really loved the smell of the fresh air of Equestria, even better than his home's atmosphere. His favorite thing about it was that there was no scent of blood in any way anywhere, like the executions of the four pigs and other animals accused of being in league with Snowball. He would definitely wished that Boxer would be there with him to look at the view of this beautiful landscape. His happiness sudde lyrics turned into a frown again, as if he became a cynical jackass all over again.
Then, something just happened. He saw a really large figure on the end of the lake and it looked like a.... Clydesdale horse. Benjamin's eyes widened, and could hardly believe what he was seeing. However, when he blinked, 5 he figure was gone in an instant. "Boxer?" He said. He rain to the shores of the lake, and ran faster than his usual speed. "Boxer! Are you there?" Benjamin called. He really believed that it was his dead comrade.
He looked around his surroundings, but nothing replied to him. Benjamin kept calling his name in the distanve, but all he got back were echoes of his shouting, along with a flock of egrets flying out of the lake because Benjamin startled them from his louder shout. Did he really see Boxer, or was his mind playing a cruel sick joke on him? He looked around and shouted "Boxer!" One more time, but once again, it was no avail. He bowed his head in sadness and ran out of hope and luck.
"Hello Benjamin." Said a voice that Benjamin recognized in an instant.
The donkey looked to his left, and there was his fallen best friend. For good measure, he blinked a couple of times so that his mind was not playing anyore tricks on him. "Boxer. Is that you?" He said, with a voice mixed with happiness surprise and a little bit of fear all at once. He was happy to see his dead best comrade, ut surprised because Bkxer just came out of nowhere like.... an apparition or a phantom, or even a figment if Benjamin's imagination from his perception.
"Benjamin, do you not recognize me? It is me, Boxer." The gentle giant said to him.
"I... i see that, comrade, but... how? I thought.... i thought you were-"
"Slaughtered by the horse slaughterer, yes." Boxer finished the sentence for him. "I thought that I would be dead too. But.... Snowball came, with a small human family with him, and freed me from my demise." He bent his head on sadness, like he was feeling pretty guilty about something really troubling him.
"Snowball helped you out of here, but didn't tell us?" Benjamin said. He was both happy with Snowball for helping his closest comrade escape his hell, but a little angry at him for not telling him. However, he was more happy for Snowball to help Boxer. Now, the stallion bent his head on guilt like something was deeply troubling him.
"What's wrong, Boxer?"
"Well, I did want to see you again, but.... I didn't.... Really want to." Boxer admitted
"Why not?" Said Benjamin with concern.
Boxer was silent for a second, but he finally replied "I am such a fool." Then he turned away with so-called shame. "I was a fool for believing in Napoleon, and believing that he was always right. I did not want to come back because you would all hate me for getting myself being sent to hell by dying a painful death."
"Oh Boxer." Said Benjamin, walking beside his giant friend for comfort. "It was not your fault. Napoleon and Squealer are both manipulative and conniving. You were just trying to do what was right for all of us, to improve our lives. If anyone is to blame, it is those two treacherous bastards for trying to kill you off for money and whiskey."
"Yes, but I just didn't want you to think I am one of those two, either." Boxer added
"Boxer." The donkey went in front of Boxer to make eye contact with him. "You are one of the most beloved animals me, Muriel, Jessie, and Snowball have met in our lives. Old Major really liked you a great deal for your kindness and devotion, remember?"
"I do." Was all he replied.
"And you are my closest comrade. You were one that could bring an old donkey like me hope in his life. Do you not remember us eating together in the pastures back home?"
"I do remember."
"And when you fought bravely at the battle of the Cowshed when you won Animal Hero first class along with Snowball for your bravery?"
Boxer nodded at that.
"We would never hate you, Boxer. Me, Jessie, Snowball, Spook, we would all think about you, and how we missed you so much." Said Benjamin
"Thank you, Ben." Boxer replied. "I am just so glad to see you again."
The donkey nuzzled himself on Boxer's side. "I am glad to see you too." He replied. "I thought I would never have seen you again. Then, they both hugged one another, reunited as best friends once more. Then Benjamin remembered something. "Oh my god, the others!" He exclaimed. "They would be more than happy to see you."
"I was about to ask you where they were." Said Boxer.
"Good! Come with me, comrade." He and Boxer walked through the snowy ground to Ponyville so that he can introduce him to his new friends, and reunite them with his old comrades.
Snowball was reading a fascinating book about Nightmare Moon, and how Equestria was born from a long time ago. So far, he was really enjoying it. He was so fascinated that he did not keep his eyes off the book in anyway what so ever, and not a noise could make him stop.
He Never Knew That Princess Luna was actually evil one time, and tried to dethrone her older sister to take Equestria for herself. He so had sympathy for her since she was locked in her own creation as her holding cell for a millennium. Of course, the history of Equestria's formation was quite interesting too. He heard of the word wendigos, but they were not like the type in North America That Looked Like An Undead deer/human hybrid. No, these wendigos were quite different than their real world counterparts. "This is quite fast fascinating." He said to himself. Then, he heard a crash, that finally snapped him out of lala land. He saw Spike hopping while covering his foot that hurt somehow.
"Ow ow ow. That hurts." He exclaimed
"Spike! What is it? Said Snowball.
"A large book fell on my foot while I was cleaning the shelf." The baby dragon answered.
"Spike what's wrong?" Cried a voice. It was Twilight, rushing into the center terms of the library with concern on her face as well. "What happened?"
"The book fell on m6 foot." Spike said still hopping
"Oh my goodness. Are you hurt?" Twilight said with concern.
Spike looked up with annoyance and replied "of course I'm hurt. Why don't you clean your.own dam bookshelf for a change in your lazy life?! Ow!"
Twilight hardly believed what Spike just said to her. Her mouth went open in complete shock. "Spike. What'a the matter?" She asked even more concerned
"You! That's what." Spike replied rudely. "I am sick of you always making me slave away like this while you have fun all the time. You don't even care about if I get hurt. You just treat me like a goddamn servant! Even a mediocre princess like you doesn't think about her number one assisstant, does she?"
Twilight began to tear up from his mean hurtful words. Now she wanted to sob from all of this. "Spike. I... i am sorry if you feel this way. I would never treat you like a slave." Now she felt a tear escape her eye. "You are my friend and you ways will be."
"Then why don't you treat me like one instead of an employee and appreciate me for once you.... Heifer!"
Twilight couldn't hold anymore tears any longer. "I have always appreciated you, Spike. Think about that." She sobbed. Then she went outside, running with tears streaming down her face.
Now Spike looked shocked, and realized What he just did. Snowball, Muriel, and Owlicious were equally surprised by Spike's little..... outburst.
"Spike, what was that all about?" Snowball asked with concern.
"Yes, you really hurt Twilight's feelings." Muriel added.
"That wasn't like you!" Said Owlicious in an angry voice to him.
"I.... i don't know." Said the baby dragon. "What.... what have I done?" Now the baby dragon realized what he just did. Ow he wish that he can just take it back and go back in time. "I.... i didn't mean to say those things gs." He said with extreme guilt. "I just hurt my foot. That's all." He looked at the three and said "you... you all understand what just happened, do you?"
"Of course Spike." Said Snowball, touching the baby dragon's shoulder. "You were just angry, and in pain."
"But.. i hurt Twilight's feelings." Said Spike. "She probably hates me now."
"Comrade." Said Snowball. "We all do things that we regret and do wish that we can take it all back. Even I of Major, Jessie, every animal and pony alike. She could never hate you. Yes, you may have hurt her feelings, but she will always love you anyway."
"He is right, Spike." Muriel added. "Twilight has told me a really great deal about you and how much of a large help you can be. She says that she was always proud of you, and always wants you to be happy fo your well being."
"I know." Spike replied in a sad voice. "I better look for her, and tell her I'm sorry."
"That's exactly what we wanted to hear." Said Muriel proudly.
"Go to her, Spike." Snowball encourage
Spike ran out the door, and looked around the town for Twilight, until finally, he saw her crying in the frozen stream on the bridge above it. "Twilight?" He said to her, walking up to her. "Are you.... Alright?"
Twilight looked at him with tears streaming down her face like a waterfall. "No." She sobbed.
Spike felt even more guilty now, and he said "Twi, I am so sorry. I... I didn't know what just happened to me. I was just mad I.... I.... I didn't know what I was thinking when the large book fell on my foot." He looked the other way with his back on her "now you hate me."
He was about to walk away but Twilight stopped him with her hoof on his shoulder. "Spike." She said "I could never hate you." There were less tears coming out of her eyes now, possibly because a Spike said that he was sorry to her. "Spike, I am sorry for letting that happening to you. I... I didn't know it would happen. I would never let you get hurt like that. Please, try to understand."
"I do. Do you forgive me?" Spike asked
"Of course I forgive you Spike." Twilight replied with a sad smile. "You are one of my best friends anypony can ever have, even though he is a dragon. I love you, Spike, like a brother."
"Really?" Spike said, really touched by her words
"Of course. I always wanted a little brother like you." Twilight replied. She gave him a hug and then he hugged her back in response.
"But what a out what I said?" Spike asked still a little worried.
"Of Spike. We all do or say things we regret, but we just got to let that go and not let that get the best of us."
Spike smiled. At was exactly what Snowball and Muriel said to him before he ran after her.
"Why don't you leave those kind of dangerous to me from now on, okay?" Twilight said after he broke her hug with Spike.
"Definitely." He and Twilight playfully laughed at his comment.
"Come on, let's make ourselves some lunch." Twilight suggested. They both walked back to the library to fetch themselves their food. When they opened the door, Snowball, Muriel, and Owlicious looked at the, with concern.
"Is everything alright, Twilight?" Asked Snowball
"Yep. We made up." Spike said
The three s lied at their response.
"That is wonderful." Said Muriel.
"Well, I am so glad you two made up, but I must be going now. Fluttershy might want me back in her cottage to help her, or Applejack would want some help with her farm."
"I understand." Said Twilight.
Snowball smiled, said bye to the four and went off into the town, to either Fluttershy's cottage or Applejack's home and talk to her about his ideas about making it better for her and her family
Snowball was back in the cottage and saw Fluttershy tending to an injured porcupine, giving it band aids on his stomach "Fluttershy, I'm back." Snowball said
Fluttershy smiled at him and asked him "how was Twilight's library?"
"It was extraordinary." The boar replied. "I read about Nightmare Moon, the Crystal Empire with the evil king Sombra, and unusually how Spike was their hero."
"Oh yes, he did save the crystal empire, twice that is."
"Twice?" Snowball was now even more surprise. "Incredible." Then he noticed the porcupine.
"Easy Oscar, easy." Fluttershy said to it
"What happened here?"
"Oh, Oscar accidentally fell on some small rocks while performing a stunt." Fluttershy answered. "Not to worry though. He'll be fine."
"That's good to hear. Is there any work I can assist you with?" Snowball offered
"Thank you so much for offering Snowball, but no thanks. I'm alright."
"Very well. Well, I might as well go to Sweet Apple Acres now. I want to talk to Applejack about my... Ideas. I k ow I shouldn't be too rash, but I was thinking about building at least something to improve her and her family's lives."
"That's very thoughtful. Just because you can't do it right away, doesn't mean you can talk to her about it. She might like that idea." Said Fluttershy
"Possibly. Well, I might as well see you later.... Again."
"See you later, Snowball."
Now he was just off to Sweet Apple Acres. When he was walking on a dirt road when he was nearly there. A voice startled him.
"Snowball." It said. It sounded an old and regal voice, like a king or something else. Snowball thought he recognized the voice, but thought his mind was playing tricks on him.
"Hello? Who's there?" The elderly voice didn't reply to him so Snowball decided to just ignore it and just keep walking.
"Snowball, my son." The voice finally replied. "I have been watching you ever since you helped the animals fight off against Jones til now."
Snowball finally recognized the voice and suddenly said with surprise. "Old... Old Major?"
Then, right in front of him, a glowing light appeared on the snowy road. After the light dimmed, their was a large middle white boar, bigger than Snowball and Napoleon. Now Snowball was right on who he predicted the voice belonged to."
"Old Major." A smile formed on Snowball's face. "It.... it is you." He walked to him to get a closer look at this.... spirit.
"Yes Snowball. It is me." Old Major said to him. "I may be dead, but I live in you and all the other animals from Animal Farm."
"It was called that, but, Napoleon. I should have told you his true nature when he was still alive. But I swear I didn't mean for those deaths that Napoleon ordered to happen, or Boxer."
"Of course you didn't, Snowball." Said Old Major. "I am to blame. I should have seen him becoming like this. I wish I could have been there to exile him from the farm so that he and Squealer hadn't become like men." It was silent for a moment before Old Major continued. "When he exiled you with Jessie's puppies, and when you ran away to the new farm, I realized that... Not all humans are not like Jones and his men, like the way you. This is all my fault." He looked away in sadness and guilt. "I incorrectly told you and the others how evil humans are. I am to fully blame for all of this."
Snowball sympathized for his mentor and teacher. "It was not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it's Napoleon and Squealer. Besides I...... i did not really tell the others thia, but I helped Boxer escape his death and set him free. I offered him to come with us, but he didn't want to face us for his so called shame."
"I know. I am so proud of you for that. You give an old boar like me hope, Snowball. Perhaps Animalism wouldn't really worked in reality."
"I really hate to admit it, but you are not wrong, Major." Said Snowball. "It can give one specific animal too much power and power corrupts."
"Exactly. I was beginning to think the same thought as you were thinking. Perhaps kind-hearted humans could benefit animals."
"I concur." Said Snowball. "Come with ne, I want to show you something really bewutiful." The old ghost boar followed Snowball up a hill and there was Ponyville in a valley.
"Quite a beautiful sight." Said Old Major. "If I was still alive, I would definitely thank princess Celestia and Luna for helping you, and your new pony friends as well."
"You know about Fluttwrshu, Twilight, and the others?" Snowball asked
"Of course. I have been watching over you, remember?"
"Oh right."
"Now," Old Major blew a sad sigh. "I must go now, Snowball. Remember that I will always be there to guide you, Jessie, and the others." He began to fade to nothingness. Before he completely faded, he gave his last regard "no matter what you do, I have always been proud of you, even thought you have made mistakes, you can learn from them, Snowball." Then he was completely gone.
Snowball now felt more proud of himself but also wondered if that really was Old Major as an apparition. Nontheless, the wise old boar had spoke with him once again. He spoke to Snowball once again.
He continued onward to Applejack's home, and there was the farm after a short walk. He saw her, and her family just doing some winter chores around the farmyard. He went down the snow covered road and walked up to Applejack. "Applejack?"
She gave a small scream and jumped with a fright and saw him right beside him.
"Oh i am so sorry."
"Oh no it's alright, Snowball." Said Applejack. "It just kinda surprised me. So whatcha doin' here?" She said in a happy cheerful voice.
"Well, Applejack I wanted to talk to you about something, and with the other family members too. Oh, and do you know where Jessie is?" Snowball said
"Yeah, uhh.... she's right over there helping Applebloom with some crates."
"Brilliant. I would like to see you all inside the house so we can talk if that is alright with you."
"Sure, let me see if I can get them for you." She went over to the three to tell Snowball about what he wanted to talk to them about abd then woke up Granny Smith from her usual long naps.
Snowball worried that he was being a little too demanding. Then, to his surprise, Jessie, Big Mac, Applebloom, And Granny Smith, with Applejack in front of them, walked up to him with friendly looks.
"What is it, Snowball?" Asked Jessie
"I want to talk to you all in the house." He answered. They all followed him in the house and they all sat down around the table like they were in a council or the British Parliament.
"So, what did you want to talk to us about?" Asked Big Mac.
"Well, i jeep having these thoughts about how to improve Sweet Apple Acres. You remember the windmill I told you about after the battle of the Cowshed?"
"Yes." They all replied to him
"What about it?" Asked a Granny Smith.
"Well, i hope I am not being irrational, but I was thinking of building something like a windmill to help with winter or save more work for all of you"
"Really?" Said Applejack.
"Yes. I really hope I am not being irritating to all of you, but I really want to build something here to improve your lives somwhow. What do you say? "
"Well, that is mighty noble and kind of you Snowball." Said Applejack. "But you don't have to do that. We are happy just the way we are."
"Eeyup. We do thank you for trying to help but there's no need." Big Mac added.
"Yes, but you are more than welcome to help Applebloom and Jessie with some help." Said Granny Smith.
"Yeah, we can use all the help we can get." Said Applebloom in a cheerful voice
"I wouldn't mind so e extra help either, my old friend." Jessie added
Snowball smiled. "I would love to help you." They all exited the table and went back to their chores while Granny Smith continued to nap in her rocking chair.