//------------------------------// // Memories of the Past (Edited) // Story: AAE Seasonal Holidays // by Animatorsnake //------------------------------// Today’s the day… that one fateful day, the day I fear of my whole life… I don’t know why but, this day just makes me, hate myself… I don’t know why, yet I do want to know… I never truly knew my parents or my heritage, my whole bloodline has been a confusing road of left and rights, yes and no and even defying what is logical and illogical… but every year I put up a smile, I hate to lie but I’m not lying when I put a smile, it shows that something is bothering me and I don’t like or wish to talk about it… today is my birthday, and it’ll be my last. Ponyville, Golden Oaks Library; 7:25am Like every other day I wake up, look out the window and see the view from my bed, today’s weather isn’t so bad, the weather patrol that Rainbow Dash works at placed a few clouds with Celestia’s sun shining brightly but not too blindingly. I get off my bed and open the door and head to the kitchen, I look inside and the room is quiet and empty, it seems everyone is still asleep from the incident from yesterday, if I remember Pinkie found some kind of pool of water that if you say a specific chant, you can make another you from the portal, everyone was exhausted that day, I wonder how it would be if there was another me. As I gather some ingredients to make a simple breakfast – well simple for me – I prepared myself a bowl of hay cereal, a cup of orange juice, an apple and a cup of yogourt, I like to eat big to distract myself on days like this. As I was busy enjoying my meal, I heard a knock on the door, I cleaned my muzzle from the milk with a piece of cloth, I answered the door with my magic and knocking on the door was none other than Rainbow Dash herself. “Rainbow, now what brings you here?” asked Anim. “Oh Anim, well I needed to speak to Twilight, is she here?” asked Rainbow, responding to Anim’s question. “I believe she’s here, but she’s still sleeping but if you want I could wake her up right now,” said Anim, as he was about to head to Twilight’s room. “WHAT- uh no that’s fine, just tell her when she’s awake that I need to speak to her, tell her to meet me at Sugarcube Corner,” said Rainbow, as she was shuffling her hoof where she stood. I notice her hooves moving when you see somebody who’s anxious or needs to go and take a number two badly; me being me I curiously ask her or attempt to ask her what’s bothering her that she needs Twilight, one of the most logical ponies I know to speak to Rainbow Dash, the most awesome and tom-boyish pony I know about to be freaking out this badly... must be that bad a question if it’s the two of them. “Wait, you aren’t going to ask Twilight about mare related problems are you?” asked Anim, as he pointed a hoof at Rainbow. Smooth move me smooth move, well this is going to end badly… is what I thought. “ANIM!” shouted Rainbow, as she started making faces which showed her disgust. “Just because I’m a mare doesn’t mean I think like one and also it’s not your business for you to know what I need to tell Twilight!” “Sorry, I’m kind of in one of my moods, that and I just woke up,” said Anim, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. “Well, just tell Twilight what I told you, okay,” said Rainbow, “well anyway I got to go, see yeah.” “You too,” said Anim, as he hoof bumped Rainbow. As Rainbow spread her wings, she flew straight upwards headed to the direction of Sugarcube Corner, as I closed the door I felt something behind me. “Who was that?” asked Spike, rubbing one of his eyes. “It was Rainbow, Spike. Anyway is Twilight up and awake?” asked Anim. “Yeah, actually she was awake a long time ago, I think 6:00am I think why?” asked Spike, wanting to know. “Rainbow came by, she needs to ask Twilight something,” said Anim. “Well okay, anyway is there anything to eat?” asked Spike. “Oh right, well I left my breakfast and didn’t eat the rest, so you can have my yogourt and apple, I need to speak to Twilight,” said Anim, as he headed up the stairs. As I headed up and entered Twilight’s room, she was busy writing something on a piece of paper, I’m guessing it was to Celestia, as she finished she placed her pen down and outstretched her hoofs from sitting on that seat for a whole hour of writing, she notices me and gets off the chair. “Good morning Anim, is there something wrong?” asked Twilight. “No not really... well actually Rainbow came her just a while ago and looked worried or upset, she said she needed to speak to you at Sugarcube Corner,” said Anim. “Oh really, I wonder why, well anyway I’m pretty famished I might as well head there to eat, you want to come?” asked Twilight. “Nah, I ate already, I think I’ll take a walk,” said Anim. “Okay, well you have a good day,” said Twilight as she left the room. As Twilight leaves, I look at Twilight’s letter but leave it alone, I decide to hang near the Everfree Forest but not too close to not attract any Timber Wolves nearby, today of all days makes me think a lot about myself. Who am I and what is my goal in life, my purpose in living and no I don’t mean by me being a realm guardian I mean my life in general, do I really have a family or am I simply a regeneration of many future regenerations to come, I have always thought of this whenever it’s my birthday but today felt different because… nobody knew it was my birthday. “I need some food, maybe going to Sugarcube Corner might of helped my mood,” said Anim, as he sighed and headed to Sugarcube Corner. As I reached Sugarcube Corner, there weren’t a lot of ponies inside, I saw Twilight and Rainbow with Applejack with them too and before I headed to them I decided to go buy a muffin. “Hello, welcome to… oh Anim it’s you,” said Pinkie, “is there something in specific you want?” “No not really, I could go with a muffin, with blueberries please,” said Anim. “One blueberry muffin coming right up!” said Pinkie as she dashed to the kitchen and returned in mere seconds. “Here you go, Anim.” As I take my muffin, curiosity hits me about what Rainbow needs to tell Twilight, I ask Pinkie if she could hear or ask them what they are talking about. “Sure Anim, but could you watch the lineup?” asked Pinkie. “Sure,” responded Anim, as he took Pinkie’s position. I watched Pinkie as she spooked her friends from whatever conversation they were talking about, but they tell Pinkie what they were talking about and from the expression on her face, whatever she heard was big, big enough to surprise Pinkie, the pony of secrets. She returned taking her spot, I wait for her to tell me but she doesn’t respond. “Uh Pinkie, what were they talking about?” asked Anim. “Oh well, you know how you hate lying and all but they told me not to tell you, so sorry,” said Pinkie, as sweat starts dripping from her face in terror. “It’s okay Pinkie, I won’t get mad I’ll just ask them what their talking about,” said Anim, “speaking of asking.” I notice Twilight and Rainbow have left but Applejack is still seated eating, I decide to sit across from her on the same table she’s on; it takes her ten seconds to realize I was sitting from across her. “Oh Anim, I didn’t see you there,” said Applejack. “It’s good to see you too Applejack, are you working on the stand today?” asked Anim. “Sure as my bucking, just taking a small break, Applebloom and her friends are watching it for now,” said Applejack, proceeding to eat her muffin. “Is it safe to leave them alone, giving the CMC a job is like trusting Discord to be good for a whole day,” said Anim, trying to make a joke. “Don’t worry, my sister has helped with the stand before I’m sure she and her friends can handle it,” said Applejack, “also good joke there, Discord being good is the last thing that would happen in Ponyville or even in Equestria.” “Well enough about jokes, may I ask what it was that Twilight and Rainbow were talking about?” asked Anim. Applejack stopped eating, and darted her eyes left to right trying her best like she knows nothing, even though Applejack is the element of honesty lying to me is like convincing a dragon to not be greedy. She’s sweating so hard, I could see her breath, I calm her down and ask a different question related to my original question. “What was the subject that Rainbow and Twilight were talking about?” asked Anim. Applejack looked at me for a good second and took a deep breath and answered my question as honest as she can. “Well sugarcube, they spoke about… birthdays,” said Applejack, hiding her eyes with her hat. What I heard was both surprising and worrying… for me, I tell Applejack to calm down that she told me everything she needed to tell me, I asked her again where they went and told me they were going to tell Rarity and Fluttershy about their opinion on… birthdays. Rainbow went to Fluttershy’s cottage while Twilight went to Rarity’s boutique, since Fluttershy’s cottage was too far a distance even when running, I decided to head to Rarity’s boutique first. Ponyville, Carousal Boutique; 8:00am I was standing at the front of Carousal Boutique, wondering what Twilight could be telling Rarity on the subject on birthdays, they probably couldn’t be talking about my birthday since I never showed zero signs about my birthday to be mentioned, but I was too afraid to be sure of what their really talking about and I didn’t need my new friends to celebrate the one day I fear of, I open the door and enter the boutique. Inside I find the room empty which means they’re both upstairs talking, I head upstairs trying to watch my hooves from stepping on any loose boards that could make any noise, as I reach Rarity’s room I hear two voices talk, one Rarity’s the other is Twilight’s, I listen through the door to hear their conversation. “Rarity, you too would be interested on something like this too,” said Twilight. “I would dear but, it’s Anim he would have told of his birthday himself, if he didn’t tell us maybe he doesn’t want his birthday celebrated,” said Rarity. “But it’s Anim of all ponies, you think he wouldn’t want his birthday celebrated, is the one pony other than Pinkie who’d want a birthday!” said Twilight almost shouting. “I guess so, but how do we tell it’s his birthday today or not?” asked Rarity. “Well even though Pinkie doesn’t know his birthday, we have other ways of knowing, I could ask Anim to do a few tests, I’ll tell him it’s for my research on realm guardians and I’ll use that data to pinpoint his birthday and then we could celebrate his birthday,” said Twilight. I nearly wanted to burst into the room, but I slink away from the door and head downstairs, as I reached the bottom of the stairs I reach for the door, but as I was about to open the door Rainbow and Fluttershy enter inside. “So that’s what you wanted to tell me?” asked Fluttershy. “Yes that’s what I needed to tell you, now let’s meet up with- Anim, what are you doing here?” asked Rainbow, looking pale from seeing Anim. “Just… wanted to- I got to go,” said Anim, as he dashed by Rainbow and Fluttershy outside. The two ponies see me run by, I thought they chase me but they don’t, I reach a park in Ponyville and think about what I heard as I sit on one of the benches. “Celebrate… my birthday,” said Anim, “today’s going to be one heck of a day.” “Anim, you okay?” I look behind the bench and see the CMC behind the bench, I ask them why their behind me, they tell me they saw me running and were curious why I was running so they followed me. “Is something wrong Anim?” asked Applebloom. “If there is, you can tell us, the CMC!” said Scootaloo reassuring me. “Yeah, we’ll help with whatever problem you have,” said Sweetie Belle. “No, just… actually there is something wrong, you see… do you know what today is?” asked Anim. “No why, is today special?” asked the CMC in sync. “Well today is… my birthday,” said Anim. The CMC have their jaws wide open from the surprise they begin jumping in joyful hops around me, but I tell them their sisters didn’t know and are planning on finding out when is my birthday and I tell them I’m uncomfortable of my birthday. “Why wouldn’t you want to celebrate your birthday!?” asked Applebloom, shocked. “Yeah, there’s like cake, presents, games and lots of cool stuff!” said Scootaloo. “Did something happen on your birthday when you were a colt?” asked Sweetie Belle. “No it’s just… I really never knew my parents and I want to know who I am but how can you find yourself if you have no map to follow,” said Anim. “So your upset because, you feel like you don’t know yourself because you never knew your family or parents and because of this it makes you feel like you have no one close to you to celebrate with like family and stuff,” said Sweetie Belle. Everypony was surprised from Sweetie Belle’s response, I tell her that’s exactly how I feel and that I’m lost, that maybe I don’t deserve a birthday, but the CMC give out one last try to convince me to have a birthday. “Anim, celebrating a birthday doesn’t mean you have to be with family, you have us and you make you, you decide whether to change not somepony else, we’re not saying to go have a birthday but to live life to the fullest whether you don’t know you yet, in time you… will,” said Applebloom as she’s joined by Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle as they give Anim a hug. I look at these fillies no, friends who are so lost to find their cutie marks convincing a being of pure energy to celebrate my birthday not for them or others or myself, but to live for those who gave me life and… it’s working. I hug back and decide to go talk to the Mane 6, but before I do that I make a plan with the CMC to bring them all in one spot to tell them how I feel. Sometime later – Outskirts of Ponyville; 12:00pm “Okay girls, what is it that you wanted to show us?” asked Twilight. “Yeah Scoots, why are we here?” asked Rainbow. “Well we brought you all here because, somepony has something to tell you all,” said Applebloom as she and her friends step away. I walk away from my hiding spot and as the Mane 6 see me they realize they were led here by the CMC straight to me, before they could speak I speak first why I brought them here in the first place. “I know what you were all talking about, you want to know when is my birthday don’t you,” said Anim, as he turned his head towards the Mane 6. “Well… yes, we all wanted to celebrate your birthday for being there for all of us and for being such a great friend for us all, but if you’re upset with celebrating your birthday we can forget the subject,” said Twilight. “I would like that but…. I had a change of heart and decided we could celebrate my birthday,” said Anim, “REALLY!” shouted Pinkie, as she pulled out her party cannon. “LET’S PARTY!” “Pinkie darling, we don’t know when Anim’s birthday is,” said Rarity. “Well actually, today is my birthday,” said Anim as he smiled from telling them. ‘WHAT!?” shouted the Mane 6. “Yep, coincidence right,” said Anim. “Why didn’t you wanted to celebrate your birthday originally, Anim?” asked Applejack. “Well because my birthday reminded me, my old me the one that wasn’t Anim of Equestria or Anim the Creator, but the Anim who knew… himself; I never knew my parents it made me upset that I had no memory of them, but I think they would wanted me to live for their sake,” said Anim, “sometimes the past needs to be remembered, but the future is my goal now, so I’ll live for their sake… for her sake.” I place my hoof on the wooden cross, I could imagine them, my friends, family, even my parents watching me from home; everypony headed to Golden Oaks Library, the Mane 6, the CMC and Spike were there for my birthday it was small but that didn’t effect me, I was happy to be with those who care for me, I was so happy to have friends like this and someday I’ll repay that very kindness… someday, but for now I live for a better future. After the party I have a dream, but this one was odd, I was standing in Ponyville I was with everyone, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Luna, Celestia, Derpy Whooves, Doctor Whooves, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Discord and Spike… but there was somepony else, she was a blue unicorn… she was crying… she stood in front of me… but I looked different in my dream, I was… black no not black, I had a dark aura around me, the sky was burning as the very sky was falling and near the end of the dream I heard a voice that said. You must save her from her emptiness, go to the town of bison and apples! I wake up, it’s the middle of the night, I repeat those words in my mind. ‘You must save her from her emptiness, go to the town of bison and apples’, was the dream referring to that blue unicorn, who was she? Better question; what the heck are bison!?”