//------------------------------// // Chapter 43, Prune the Garden // Story: An Unexpected Life // by alejin //------------------------------// Bright woke up early the next morning. After getting dressed, he proceeded to have a nice breakfast. Now that he was ready for today, he heard somepony outside his house; it was the mail mare. More specifically, it was Ditzy. She was kinda clumsy, but in the end, she was still cute. He exited his house to greet her. “Morning, Ditzy!” “Hi, Prince Br...” “Please, Ditzy, just call me 'Bright'.” “Oh, Sorry. Hi, Bright, how are you?” “I’m fine, thanks. So you're Ponyville's local mailmare, huh?” “Yep! It’s my job and I like doing it.” “That’s good to hear. So, any mail for me today?” “Uhhh, yes! Yes, there is! Directly from Princess Celestia and Luna.” Ditzy reached into her saddlebag and handed over a letter that she took out to Bright. He looked at it for a moment and sighed. “Thanks, Ditzy.” “You're welcome Bright! See you later!” Ditzy waved to Bright and flew off. Once the grey Pegasus was gone, Bright entered his home to read the letter his family sent. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “Dear Bright How are you? I hope you are fine, my dear nephew. We are all doing fine up here. The reason for this letter is to remind you that the Summer Sun Celebration is tomorrow and your mother and I would like very much to have you here for the ceremony. I'm sure you and I are the most excited of all since it will be our first Summer Sun Celebration since our return. If you decline, we will understand but please, think about it. We miss you so much and the palace feels so empty without you here. I can only wish for your return to come sooner and the end of this situation with your mother. She also wanted me to tell you that she loves you so much and how sorry she is and whenever you decide to talk to her, you can come anytime, any day. No matter if she is busy, you are her first priority. Please remember that. With so much love, Luna and Celestia.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bright read the letter several times over and a sad expression appeared in his face. He had no problem admitting to himself he misses his family, but still... every time he was thinking about returning to Canterlot, the memories of his mother lying to him crushed his desires. “I guess I will have to pass this event.” After throwing the letter in the nearby trash can, he proceeded to go fishing. After a few hours of fishing, he'll return to Ponyville with a bucket full of fish. What he saw on the way to the stream was really strange; there were tons of dark spiked roots and vines rapidly growing out of the ground. Everypony present was trying to cut them out but these roots looked like they were alive. Some of them were even binding and attacking ponies. He immediately dropped his bucket and fishing gear and summoned his axe. Using his speed, he managed to cut the roots and free the ponies. He commanded them to return to their homes and not to come out while he was fighting with them. Although all of them were amazed to see their Prince fighting with that strange axe, they all nodded and proceeded to hide. Bright sighed, knowing that after this, he would have to answer many questions. After several minutes of cutting and slicing, it was clear he was fighting a lost battle. No matter how many roots he cut down, more and more kept coming. He backed off and fled to think of a better plan. Once he was at Ponyville’s entrance, he found the Mane 6, Discord and Zecora talking. He immediately flew to them and noticed Twilight in some kind of trance and her eyes were shining. “Wow. They had just returned and Twilight is, once again, doing something crazy... I wonder if I should involve this time.” With a sigh and knowing the answer to his own question, he approached the group and asked: “Twilight? Are you okay?” “Prince Bright!” Everypony and Zebra exclaimed before bowing. He grunted at that, after hearing an explanation from them, he finally understood what was going on, but didn’t like the idea of knowing that his mother and aunt were missing. After waiting for a moment, Twilight woke up from her trance and said she knew where to look for a solution. “So you need to find a... tree?” “Yes, Bright. I think it’s the key to putting a stop to this incident.” “Okay. In the meantime, I'll go back to Canterlot and see if I can find Celestia and Luna.” “Your mother and Aunt Luna you mean?” “Please, Twilight! Not now! Just go and save the day or whatever. Discord, can you please protect Ponyville from these weird plants?” “As you command, General.” Discord said not sounding very honest. “You're going to do it, right?” “I'll do it, okay? Please, Bright, you can count on me. We're friends, right?” “...” “Right?” “Okay okay, we're friends! Just please take this seriously for once!” Bright said that and flew top speed to Canterlot. The Girls proceeded to go into the Everfree Forest to find the tree Twilight mentioned and Discord... proceeded to being Discord. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay!” Bright kept repeating those words in his head. He knew his family was strong but he couldn’t help but feel a little worried about them. When he arrived at Canterlot City, everypony was screaming and running away from the same roots that infested Ponyville. He also noticed the sun and moon were in the sky at the same time, forming some kind of mix between day and night. It was kinda impressive. “How did I not notice that before?” At the palace, the royal guards were fighting the roots with spears and swords. The unicorns, however, weren’t using their magic. It seemed these roots had some kind of effect over the magic around them. They made it... erratic. Not thinking twice, he started to help the guards fight the menace and save the civilians. After a while, they finally repelled the threat. It seemed the roots here weren’t as strong as they were in Ponyville. He wondered why. Maybe because the source of the problem was closer there. With the roots gone, he approached the captain. “Captain!” “My prince!”, he bowed, “Thank you so much for you help, but you should be hiding in the palace. What would your mother do if something happens to you?” “It’s okay, Captain. I will not hide while my mother’s people are in danger. By the way... any sign of her or... my aunt Luna?" “I'm afraid not, my prince. But we are still searching for them.. We will find them, I’m sure of that.” “Good to hear. I will join the search too. I’ll start in the pal...” At that moment, in the center of Canterlot, a giant root appeared out of the ground. It was easily at least 10 times the size of any large root he had seen so far and not only that, it was far more aggressive too. Bright nodded to the captain and he, alongside several guards, proceeded to repel this new threat. The root was putting up an amazing fight. It had smaller roots sticking out of it as if they were arms. With them, it manages to hit and catch many guards. Bright was at work dodging every hit and freeing the guards. They were contending the root but they were also getting tired. He needed to end this fight and fast. “I guess I have no choice” he thought. Then he approached the captain. “Captain! I need you to call off all the guards and flee the battlefield immediately!” “What?! But, my prince, if we do that... the root will...” “Don’t worry. It won't survive what I have in store for it.” The captain looked at Bright with curious eyes but decided to trust him in the end. He called off all the guards and they obeyed. Once every guard was at a good distance away from the root, Bright smiled and crouched to his knee. With his axe stood firm in his hand, he closed his eyes. Electricity started to came out from his whole body. He then opened his eyes. They were shining with a cyan light and his whole body started to shine too. Everypony there was looking at him with marvelled eyes... what was he planning to do? “Let’s see how you handle this, you overgrown weed.” Meanwhile, in the EverFree Forest, 6 ponies were giving up their most treasured items; the Elements of Harmony. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (2 minutes later) Everypony present in Canterlot were speechless; the huge root that was devastating the city minutes ago was gone. Sliced in literally thousands of burned pieces. Everything happened so fast. In the center of the death root, there was Bright, who was gasping hard. His eyes looked so tired and he was using his axe as a lever to remain standing. The captain immediately approached him to help him. Using his hoof, he eased him onto the floor. “My prince! Are you okay?” “Ah... ah... yeah... I’m okay, I guess... I’m still not used to it after all.” “My prince, permission to speak freely!” “Go on... you don’t need my permission, just talk.” “That was one of the most amazing things I have seen in my whole life! You are amazing!” “heheh, thanks... now if you excuse me... I think I'm gonna faint.” And he did, the captain immediately called for a medic guards. Fortunately, Bright had no serious injuries. He was just exhausted. It seems that doing what he did... used up all his energy. Not to mention he looked so cool, he thought. The second the prince fainted, the sun returned to the horizon, leaving the moon and the beautiful night in the sky. It seemed Princess Twilight and the Elements also did their part to save the day and hopefully they managed to find the Princesses. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Bright woke up in his room at the castle. It seemed the guards brought him over. He had to admit that it felt kinda nice being in his own room again. He still felt a little weak, but he seemed to have almost made a full recovery. Maybe a medical unicorn helped him with that. It didn’t seemed like he was unconscious for long. Maybe a couple of hours. He didn’t have much time to think about it for he heard the sound of hoofsteps heading towards his room. He wondered who it was until he heard a voice. “My son is in his room and unconscious!? Why didn’t you tell me that sooner!? I need to be there for him!” “I’m sorry, Princess Celestia, but he needed his rest and after all thats happened, I thought it would be better to let him rest.” “Even so, you should've told me sooner.” “Tia, calm down. the captain only did what he thought was for the best. You don’t need to be so hard on him.” “Okay... at least I know that he is here and safe. Now if you'll excuse me, there is a son I need to hug.” The guard smiled and nodded while Luna rolled her eyes. Celestia then entered the room. “Hello, my son! How are... huh? Where are you?” Celestia found Bright’s bed empty. It seemed it was left recently. The open window told her everything she needed to know. “...No...” Luna entered the room too and looked at the scene with sad eyes. She then started to stroke Celestia’s mane. “It seems... he still needs a little more time, Tia.” Celestia didn’t cry but bowed her head in sadness. “I... I think you're right. If... if you'll excuse me, I need to go prepare the Summer Sun Ceremony.” Luna and the captain nodded and proceeded to go with her to start the ceremony. Neither of them noticed it, but far away from the window, a human was floating in midair, watching the scene with sad eyes. “Am I still mad at her?” he thought. After a moment, he shook his head and flew away in the distance” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Celestia and Luna took their positions for the ceremony. Celestia still was in a low mood. Luna noticed this and said: “Cheer up, Tia. I know it’s hard, but remember what Twilight said. When everything was happening, his first priority was to come looking for us. He may be angry now, but it’s obvious you are still his cherished mother.” *sniff* "...you think so?” “I know so. He'll come around some day, I’m sure of it. In the meantime, let’s wait for him with happy faces.” “You... you're right, Luna. Okay, let’s do this!” “That’s the Tia I know.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The ceremony was going perfectly; Luna lower the moon while Celestia was raising the sun. Everypony was watching, marvelled. After the sun was in place, something new happened. Princess Twilight flew in the middle and with a magic push, she casted her cutie mark in the light, making an amazing finale. Hundreds of cyan sparks illuminated the sky. It was an amazingly true grand finale. Everypony wondered who did that, even the princesses. Celestia’s answer came when she saw something in the distance; the silhouette of a human... her human son, looking at her with his axe shining. A smile crossed her muzzle and the human disappeared from sight. “It was him, wasn’t it?”, Luna said. “Yes. He wanted to participate in the family ceremony. After all, he is my son.” “And my nephew, too. Come on, Tia, let’s go get breakfast. After our little adventure last night, I think we're gonna need it.” “Okay, Luna. Let’s go.” Both Alicorns proceeded to go the the castle, but Celestia gave a final glance to where her son was seconds ago. “Thank you, Bright. I love you so much. Please come back to me soon.”