Ponyville is a town right on the outside of the capital of Equestria, also known as Canterlot, and has a reputation for attracting trouble. Recently due to an incident in the Silver and Rich families the entire town has become rather sober, however, that doesn't stop everyone from continuing with their daily routine. Especially for one mare....
"Um, Rarity? Why exactly am I carrying all of these bags?" Mako asked with a frown as Rarity strolled in front with a satisfied grin.
"Well usually I have my Spiky-Wiky carry them for me but he's in canterlot on business for Twilight. So as a gentleman it is your duty to help a fragile young maiden like me." Rarity exclaimed with a chuckle while Mako felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead.
"Jeez if this is what that Spike kid has to put up with I feel bad for him. AND FRAGILE MAIDEN!? Tell that to the lump you put on my head!" Mako thought as Rarity handed him another bag.
"Besides that, this is also for AppleJack. Ever since that dreadful trial, she hasn't spoken to anyone! We're all terribly worried about her so we decided to throw her a party to cheer her up."
Mako remained silent as he remembered the events of the previous week. Memories of the Silver family and Silver Cane came rushing back to him with a wave of sadness and depression, however, he kept a stern face.
"Listen Rarity I understand you want to help AJ, but maybe you should just let her handle this on her own." Mako explained as Rarity turned to him with a shocked expression.
"What?"
"When It comes to coping with something like this some space probably would do her some good. That way she can find her own answer." Mako explained as Rarity looked down with a solemn look.
"I-I understand, however, as her friend I can't just ignore that she's in pain!" Rarity exclaimed with a determined expression.
Mako grinned as he realized that theses girls had a specific bond that made them a lot closer than just friends, they almost felt like family.
Suddenly Mako felt a faint magical presence and looked around, however, what he found was a boy. However, this boy wasn't a pony but a human child which caught him off guard. As he watched the boy he noticed that he was walking past a few vendors.
The boy suddenly began to move a lot slower than normal, however, Mako realized that in actuality he was moving a lot faster than the normal eye could see.
"Thats magic...." Mako thought as the boy strolled by a vendor and picked up an apple and a loaf of bread.
As the boy started to leave with his stolen goods Mako took a deep breath and a thin line smoke came streaming from his mouth and towards the boy as he was about to take a bite out of his apple only to suddenly chomp into thin air. The boy quickly looked around only to see Mako staring at him with the apple in his hand.
The boy was young probably in his teens, he had brown hair and red eyes, plus he was also wearing some shotty clothes that had plenty of holes.
The boy sneered as he ran away with the bread while Mako watched as he ran away before pulling out his cigarette box.
"Well, Well, looks like I just found something to pass the time with." Mako thought as he picked up Rarities bags.
Meanwhile, the boy from before ran towards the outskirts of town to an older building with a sign on the front that read "Sister Margaret's Orphanage". As the boy opened the door he looked around for any danger then slowly, and sneakily, closed the door.
"ACEEEEEE!!!!" An angry-sounding woman shouted as she pounded her fist into the boy's head.
"OWWWW! WHAT THE HELL SISTER!?"
"I HEARD THAT YOU STOLE SOME FOOD AGAIN TODAY! HOW MANY TIMES MUST I TELL YOU! NEVER STEAL FROM THE VENDORS!!!!"
The boy suddenly froze as he suddenly saw Mako standing in the doorway to the dining room. The boy sneered only to get another bonk on the head.
"Your lucky that this man covered up for your foolishness! You had better thank him!"
Mako watched the Nun and the boy fight with one another for a moment and sighed before getting in between the two.
"Ok, I think that's enough. How about you go get something to eat kid." Mako exclaimed as Ace gave him a confused look.
Suddenly a few foals came running out to Ace and grabbing his hands.
"Big Bro you gotta try some of this food!"
"Yeah, it's delicious! Come on, Come On!"
Ace was dragged into the dining room only to suddenly see a table covered in food. All the children were stuffing their faces, some literally so, but Ace looked over to Mako who only nodded. As Ace and the rest of the kids ate Mako stood out in the hall with sister Margaret.
"So if you don't mind me asking sister, but what is a woman like you doing in Equestria? Not just anyone gets clearance to enter this world you know." Mako exclaimed as the Nun sighed and guided Mako to a separate room.
"Care for a drink Mr?" She asked as she opened a liquor cabinet.
"Mako, and no, I think drinking in an orphanage will probably give me bad luck." Mako explained as the nun closed the cabinet and walked over to him and took a seat.
"Well to put things simply......I'm one of the few pieces of the war that still exists." Sister Margaret explained as she pulled out a dog tag from her pocket.
"You were a soldier? I guess that makes since, however, why an orphanage of all things?"
Sister Margaret sighed as she looked down at her dog tag while memories of the past came flooding back to her. Blood soaked battlefields with the smell of gunpowder and rotten corpses littered the lands. She remembered the cries of poor children as they clung to their parent's bodies like their lives depended on it.
"That war was hell in every sense of the word. But in the end, those poor idiots who lost their lives left something behind. Whether it was family, friends, or even......children." She explained as she felt her hands tremble.
"I was one of the survivors, however, I couldn't ignore those poor kids who had lost their parents. So for those few children who lost everything I decided to help them in any way I can."
Mako looked around the room and saw pictures of the children plastered all over. He soon realized the real reason this place existed....Guilt.
"I see I won't ask you for the details."
"Thank you......Still I honestly wasn't expecting another human showing up in town. Especially two Judges!" She exclaimed with a grin only for it to turn back to a frown.
"Then again there was that incident. Ugh, it's almost like anywhere we go we cause trouble, isn't that right White Dragon?" Sister Margaret said as Mako sighed.
"Heh? Jeez, your no slouch! My guess is that you were a high ranked soldier to have this much information." Mako exclaimed as he took out another smoke and lit it.
"To protect my children I have to know plenty of information on everyone in town, and even those far beyond it." She exclaimed with a grin as she handed him a card.
The two laughed as Sister Margaret took a shot of whisky and Mako took a drag of is cigarette.
"Hey, Sister? I got a proposition for you."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
Meanwhile, the children had just finished their dinner and were beyond excited. However, Ace was waiting for Mako and Sister Margaret to finish their conversation.
Right on cue Mako and Sister Margaret walked out of the back room and into the hall where Ace could listen in on their conversation.
"So tomorrow at noon then?" Sister Margaret asked as Mako nodded and made his way out the door.
As soon as Mako left Ace walked out into the hall towards Margaret.
"What's happening at noon?" Ace asked with a cocky grin while Sister Margaret smiled down at him.
"Oh, I was just setting up your punishment, oh and don't worry it's a long one." Sister Margaret explained with an evil smile while Ace gulped.
"P-P-Punishment?"
TO BE CONTINUED!