Home On The Range

by Bluecatcinema

Good Eclipse Hunting

Many years ago...

Big Red, Cherry, Marshall, White and Black were all gathered by Dodge Junction's train station. White and Black's enlistment in the Royal Defense Legion had been successful, and they were ready to go to Canterlot, and from there, after training, Saddle Arabia.

"Ah can't believe yer really leavin'." Big Red sighed. "This place ain't gonna be the same without ya."

"I hate to leave, but in the RDL, we'll be making a real difference." White declared. "Protecting our country, helping the innocent, that sort of thing. Just like Pa."

"And we're all proud of you for doing it." Cherry sniffed.

"Try not to get beat up too bad out there." Marshall lightly chided Black.

"Yeah, right." Black smirked. "Anypony who messes with me is gonna regret it."

"Good luck out there, White." Big Red hugged his old friend, some tears in his eyes.

"Thanks, pal." White smiled.

"An' Black?" Big Red turned to Black.

"Yeah?" Black asked.

Big Red was torn for a moment. He had wanted to confront Black over the change in behavior he had seen over the years. It had started with that griffin Black had beaten up. As time went by, Big Red had noticed Black getting steadily worse. For example, the time when he crossed paths with two stubborn buffalo had ended well. He'd actually snapped off one of their horns in the ensuing skirmish. And then there was the incident with a Pegasus stallion Black who Black claimed had "looked at him funny." Black broke one of his wings, then made a joke about "just wingin' him." Black's temper and callousness had increased to an intolerable level.

The farmer stallion wanted to talk to Black about it before he left, out of fear Black might unleash his wrath on some poor unsuspecting Saddle Arabian or worse. But at the same time, he was worried about marring the special occasion with groundless worries. Finally, he made his decision.

"...Just take care a' White, will ya?" Big Red sighed.

"Will do." Black saluted. "You can count on that."

"Ah sure hope so..." Big Red said half-heartedly.

As Big Red mentally cursed himself, the train to Canterlot pulled into the station.

"Welp, here we go." White declared. "This is it."

"No matter what happens, we'll always be the Cherry Cavalry." Cherry smiled. "We'll always be together, no matter how far apart we are."

"That's the spirit, Cherry." Marshall grinned.

The friends came together in a group hug.

"Alright, that's enough sappiness." Black chortled. "Come on, White. We're gonna miss our train."

"Coming." White grinned.

The two new soldiers boarded the train, which departed the station soon after. As Cherry and Marshall waved at the train, Big Red couldn't help feeling like he'd made a big mistake...

The present...

Eclipse woke up one morning to find Globe and Huckleberry were already out of the bedroom. This suited him fine. Ever since the incident with Ruff Stuff, Eclipse had preferred to keep his distance from the others.

Downstairs, Big Red was going over some bills, while Cherry was clearing out the kitchen cupboard. At the same time, Globe and Huckleberry were finishing their breakfasts.

"Need some help there?" Huckleberry asked Cherry.

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of tearing you away from your breakfast." Cherry smiled.

"Oh, we're done." Globe declared, shovelling the last of his pancakes down his throat. "We'd be happy to help."

"Well, if you insist." Cherry chuckled.

As the two colts helped her out, Big Red looked over from his work, and smiled.

A short while later, Eclipse came downstairs. He noticed Globe and Huckleberry still helping Cherry. Rolling his eyes in disgust, he turned and started back up the stairs.

"I really appreciate your help, boys." Cherry smiled. "You're so good to help me out like this."

"No problem." Huckleberry grinned.

"Yeah, we're happy to help." Globe smiled.

"Such good boys." Cherry beamed. "We're lucky to have you here. I'll make sure to put some extra horseradish in your lunch today."

"Thanks, mom." Globe replied. A split-second later, he froze, having realized what he'd just said.

He wasn't the only one; Huckleberry's jaw had dropped, and Eclipse had stopped on the stairs. Big Red, still working on the bills, smiled widely.

"S-sorry." Globe blushed. "I... I didn't mean..."

"That's okay, dear." Cherry patted him on the head. "I don't mind. You can call me 'mom' if you like." She looked over to Huckleberry and Eclipse. "You all can."

Then something in Eclipse's mind snapped.

"That is IT!!" Eclipse roared, as he raced down the stairs. "Who do you think you are, you old bag?"

"Excuse me?" Cherry frowned.

"You heard me." Eclipse growled. "A couple weeks here, and you think we'll act like you're our mom? Fat chance! I don't want you as a mother. In fact, I don't want a mother, period! I don't need one! I never needed one! So step off, you old witch!"

"Now see here." Cherry retorted, full of silent anger. "I won't allow that kind of behavior in this house."

"Oh, yeah?" Eclipse sneered. "What are ya gonna do about it, hag?"

"That's enough, Eek!" Huckleberry stepped forward.

"Yeah, leave her alone!" Globe added. "You're acting like a total jerk!"

"No surprise you'd back her up." Eclipse glared. "You've been brainwashed by their fake niceness. The two guys I thought I could count on, turning their back on me, after everything I did for you!"

Globe and Huckleberry faltered, Eclipse's words instilling feelings of guilt in them.

"Now, Eclipse..." Cherry tried to console the irate young griffin.

"You know what, Cherry? You can keep them!" Eclipse snarled. "I don't need them, I don't need you, I don't need anypony!"

Eclipse raced back upstairs, and back into the guest room, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh, my." Cherry sighed. "That didn't go very well, did it?"

"Ya know what?" Big Red stood up. "Enough is enough. Ah'm goin' up there, an' Ah'm gonna have it out with that kid once an' fer all. An' Ah ain't leavin' 'til Ah get ta the bottom of things."

Huckleberry and Globe shared worried looks as Big Red ascended the stairs.

Big Red knocked on the guest room door, as Eclipse was fuming on the bed, curled up. Receiving no answer, Big Red entered of his own accord.

"Hey." Big Red said pleasantly.

"What do you want?" Eclipse snarled.

"Ah couldn't help but notice ya snappin' at mah wife back there." Big Red pointed out.

"Yeah, so?" Eclipse frowned.

"Wanna talk about it, champ?" Big Red offered.

"No." Eclipse said firmly. "Now get lost."

"Not this time." Big Red declared.

"What?" Eclipse glared.

Big Red closed and locked the guest room door.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Eclipse asked.

"Ah'm done humouring yer moody li'l 'lone wolf' act." Big Red announced. "Neither one a' us is leavin' 'til ya start openin' up an' talkin' ta me."

"You can't do that!" Eclipse tried to reach the door. "Let me out!"

"Nuh-uh." Big Red picked up Eclipse by the scruff of the neck and plopped him on the bed. "Now, either ya start talkin', or we're gonna be here a while."

"Some choice." Eclipse glared.

"C'mon, kid." Big Red urged. "Ya'll feel better in the long run."

"Yeah, right." Eclipse snorted.

"Ya can start with why ya blew up at Cherry jest now." Big Red suggested.

"Well, she had no business-" Eclipse was about to reply, only to suddenly clam up. "Ah, forget it."

"Oh no ya don't." Big Red frowned. "Cherry had no right to what?"

"...It's just stupid." Eclipse cringed. "All I wanted was for us to get out of here and back to finding pa and things to go back to normal. Then Globe had to go and be a blockhead and called Cherry that word... 'mom'..."

"So ya got mad at Cherry 'cuz Globe accidentally called her 'mom'?" Big Red clarified. "...Forgive me, but Ah'm having trouble making sense of that.

"Oh, you don't get it... neither of you do..." Eclipse muttered.

"Try me." Big Red challenged.

"...Fine." Eclipse spat. "It's cruel what you and Cherry are doing to Globe and Huckleberry."

"Lookin' after 'em and helping 'em become better ponies is cruel?" Big Red asked. "How ya figure that?"

"Because you're giving both of them false hopes... making them believe like... like they actually have a home here." Eclipse declared.

"But they do have a home here." Big Red insisted. "All a' ya do... even you."

"No we don't." Eclipse growled. "We're just three delinquents that you took pity on and let work community service here. Sooner or later, you two are going to get sick of us and throw us out on the streets... and I can't bear to see Globe or Huckleberry be put through that. Not again…"

"Eclipse... Ah don't know where you got these dark thoughts in yer head, but they're all wrong." Big Red sighed. "Me an' Cherry would never do that to you three..."

"You say that now... but it will happen..." Eclipse declared, his anger turning to deep sadness.

"Eclipse..." Big Red whispered.

"I just want to be alone." Eclipse curled up on the bed, flaring his wings in an effort to get comfortable.

Big Red was about to leave... but then he glanced at Eclipse's feathers.

"Say, Eclipse..." He started

"What?" Eclipse snarled, his anger returning.

"Ah noticed that your wings are a big ruffled mess..." Big Red pointed out.

"Well, I haven't gotten around to preening them." Eclipse shrugged. "I've been busy."

"Busy, huh?" Big Red raised an eyebrow. "Well, if it's alright with you, Ah could preen 'em for ya."

"...What? You?" Eclipse frowned. "A full-grown stallion, preen a young adolescent griffin? Isn't that considered a red flag or something?"

"Hey, fer yer information, ah used to do it all the time fer Shine whenever he was upset or tired... heck, ah did it fer White, Shine's old man." Big Red revealed.

"You and White?" Eclipse snorted.

"Not like that." Big Red grimaced. "Please, Eclipse? Ah promise it'll feel great..."

"...Fine." Eclipse sighed, spreading his wings.

Big Red started preening Eclipse's feathers. It had been some time since he had done so, but he remembered the skill well.

"So... how often do ya preen these wings yerself, anyway?" Big Red asked, attempting to make conversation.

"Does it matter?" Eclipse asked.

"'Course it does." Big Red nodded. "Hygiene's important ya know."

"Not when you're living on the streets." Eclipse retorted.

"'Course it does." Big Red declared. "When ya look good, ya feel good."

"...Why do you even care?" Eclipse asked.

"Beg pardon?" Big Red replied.

"Why do you care about us?" Eclipse asked. "I mean, you could've easily let us be shipped off to juvie. You could've saved yourself the headache and burden of dealing with us."

"Hey now, Ah admit, the first couple of days were rough, and you three didn't make it easy on me... but even so, Ah knew Ah couldn't let three young boys who hadn't gotten the chance ta have a great childhood be taken ta a place where innocence goes ta die." Big Red said firmly. "Ah wouldn't've bin able to sleep at night."

"Was that why you took Shine and Mist in?" Eclipse inquired.

"What?" Big Red asked.

"Because Shine and Mist were just two foals who lost their parents." Eclipse pointed out. "You didn't have to help them. Sure, you were friends with their parents, but aside that, you had no obligation. You could had easily walked away and left them to fend for themselves, and no pony would think less of you for it. Why did you bother with them?"

Big Red paused for a few seconds, before chuckling lightly.

"Did I say something funny?" Eclipse said indignantly.

"Naw, naw..." Big Red composed himself. "But forgive me if Ah answer yer question with a question of mah own... why do ya bother with Globe and Huckleberry?"

"What?" Eclipse's eyes widened.

"Come on, Eclipse." Big Red smirked. "Ya expect me to believe that ya willingly took those two under your wings? Ah love 'em, but ya gotta admit, they could be a hoofful. Globe an' his eating habits, Huckleberry an' his slouching an' tail-chasing... Heck, if Ah were in yer... talons, Ah would be rather foolhardy to look out for those two."

"Don't you ever say that!" Eclipse got right into Big Red's face. "I love those two! Maybe Huckle's a perv and Globe's a pig, but I will always be there for them, 'cause they're my brothers and I'm all they got! They aren't and never will be a burden to me, and I oughta claw your eyes for thinking otherwise!"

Eclipse panted from his outburst, as Big Red smiled.

"Well, Eclipse, looks like ya jest answered yer own question." Big Red said smugly.

"Huh?" Eclipse gaped.

"The way ya stood up for both Globe and Huckleberry just now." Big Red pointed out. "Ya bother with 'em 'cuz no one else would." He let out a sigh and took off his hat. "Ah admit, Ah did think that Shine and Mist would be better off with some nice foster family... but then Ah realised: Ah needed them as much as they needed me."

"Say what?" Eclipse asked.

"They needed somepony ta look after them, an' I needed somepony to share mah life with." Big Red declared. "That wuz before Ah really got the courage ta tell Cherry Ah loved her..."

"That so?" Eclipse asked. "That's something I've been wondering about: If you guys love each other so much, why don't you have any kids of your own?"

"Oh, well, Ah..." Big Red muttered.

"Hey, I was honest with you." Eclipse pointed out. "Now be honest with me."

"Okay, fine." Big Red sighed. "'Bout fifteen years ago, Ah went in fer a doctor's appointment, an' the doc told me Ah was infertile. Ah couldn't produce no offspring."

"Seriously?" Eclipse gaped.

"Yep." Big Red nodded. "That's the main reason it took me so long ta propose. Ah didn't want Cherry ta live her life not knowing what it wuz like ta be a mother."

"Bad luck, pal." Eclipse remarked, genuinely sympathetic, "It must had been hard."

"Tell me about it." Big Red sighed, "Ever since Ah saw Shine as a newborn foal, Ah knew Ah wanted to have a few foals with the mare Ah love…Ah was crushed that Ah would never be able to have that with Cherry. But when Ah took Shine and Mist in…well, life seem to had completed itself then…"

"…That must had been nice." Eclipse whispered.

"Speakin' a' mothers, Ah couldn't help but notice what ya said back there." Big Red declared. "All that stuff about not wantin' or needin' a mother. What's up with that?"

"Well, I..." Eclipse stuttered.

"Had a bad experience with yer own ma?" Big Red asked.

"I wouldn't know." Eclipse sighed. "She left when I was just an egg. I never even knew her."

"Aw, kid." Big Red bowed his head.

"She probably never even loved me." Eclipse assumed. "Why else would she leave?"

"Ah can't say fer sure, kid." Big Red admitted. "But she must've had a mighty fine reason ta do it."

"If she did, pa never mentioned it." Eclipse frowned. "I tried asking him so many times... not once did I ever get an answer."

"That's a cryin' shame." Big Red sighed. "All kids need a mother."

"I got along just fine." Eclipse said proudly. "All I needed was my pa."

"If ya say so..." Big Red shrugged, returning to preening.

"And I do." Eclipse declared.

At that moment, Big Red noticed a number of bruises and scars on Eclipse's back.

"What the... Eclipse... what is this?" Big Red asked.

"It's... it's nothing." Eclipse shrugged, trying not to look at where Red was looking.

"Nothing?" Big Red frowned. "Eclipse, it looks like somepony's been using ya as a scratchin' post... not to mention a punchin' bag."

"Red, please, don't make a big deal about it." Eclipse urged. "It's nothing, really."

"...Eclipse... did... did yer pa do that to you?" Big Red asked.

Eclipse remained silent.

"Come on, Eclipse, don't clam up on me now." Big Red declared. "If there's something wrong between you two, Ah want ta know."

"There isn't anything wrong, Red." Eclipse claimed. "It's just..." He turned away, sighing. "In Pa's line of work, he gets stressed a lot... and when he gets stressed, he need to let out a little aggression..."

"So he takes it out on you, his own kid?" Big Red frowned.

"Hey, better it's me rather than Huckleberry or Globe." Eclipse admitted. "They wouldn't survive past the first beating. Every time they'd mess up, I would take the fall, so that Pa would leave them alone."

"Still, it must have been... Faust..." Big Red realized.

"It was at first, but after a bit, it stopped hurting." Eclipse shrugged. "And Pa usually calms down after a couple swipes and punches."

"Did he do anything else?" Big Red asked. "Starve you? Lock ya outta the house? Stuff ya in a crate?"

"What?! No!" Eclipse shook his head. "Red, Pa loves me. He just wants to toughen me up."

"By beatin' the stuffin' outta ya?" Big Red remarked. "That ain't right! Not ta mention all the other lousy things I heard tell about him from Globe and Huckleberry."

"What do they know?" Eclipse declared. "None of you know pa like I do."

"Oh, really?" Big Red frowned. "What kinda pa beats his own kid?"

"I already told you, to toughen me up!" Eclipse growled.

"What kinda pa brings home a different floozy every night?" Big Red asked.

"So what?" Eclipse shrugged. "We all need a little companionship now and then!"

"What kinda pa is never around?" Big Red asked.

"The busy kind!" Eclipse yelled.

"An' what kinda pa leaves his sons to fend fer themselves out in the open?" Big Red demanded. "Ta the point where they gotta steal ta survive?"

"I, I..." Eclipse spluttered, faltering.

"Lots a' questions, but not many answers." Big Red declared.

"So, what are you saying?" Eclipse asked, trying to keep a level head, but failing miserably. "That I'm in denial? That Pa just up and left me and my brothers to die out there? Because that's bullcrud! I love my Pa and Pa loves me! He does!"

"Eclipse..." Big Red began.

"No!" Eclipse cut him off. "He raised me from a small chick! He taught me how to fly, how to fight, how to take care of myself! We had all sorts of fun times together. We'd fly together, go fishing... Sure, he got a little distant toward me and the others over the years, but still... he wouldn't leave us... He wouldn't leave me... he wouldn't..."

Eclipse felt some tears come to his eyes, and tried wiping them.

"I always looked up to him." Eclipse declared, trying his best not to break down. "Always tried to be a good son...""

"Hey, Eclipse, I don't know a lot... but you want to know something?" Big Red asked. "Something important?" He looked at Eclipse solemnly. "It ain't yer fault."

"Yeah, I know that..." Eclipse shrugged, before averting his eyes to the bed.

"Look at me, son..." He urged. Eclipse locked eyes with him. "It ain't yer fault."

"I know." Eclipse nodded.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red repeated.

"I know." Eclipse echoed.

"No, no, ya don't. It ain't yer fault." Big Red inched closer to Eclipse. "Hmm?"

"I know." Eclipse tried to get up and back away.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red recited.

"Alright." Eclipse said, faltering.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red repeated.

Eclipse closed his eyes, trying to not lose it.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red said quietly.

"Don't flap with me." Eclipse growled.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red said again.

"Don't flap with me, alright?!" Eclipse shoved Big Red back. "Don't flap with me, Red, not you!"

Eclipse's anger finally gave way to sorrow, and he burst into tears.

"It ain't yer fault." Big Red whispered.

Eclipse hugged Big Red, sobbing heavily into his shoulder.

"Oh, Faust..." He wept.

"It's alright, Eclipse, let it all out..." Big Red patted him on the back.

"What did I do wrong?!" Eclipse cried. "I tried to be a good son! I tried so hard! Why didn't he want me?!"

"Ya did nuthin' wrong, Eclipse... yer a good boy..." Big Red told him.

"Then why?" Eclipse sniffed. "Why did he leave me? I was an idiot..."

"No, son." Big Red countered. "Yer pa's the real idiot... ta not see a brilliant young griffon who put everypony he loved before himself... if he doesn't see that in you, then buck him, okay?"

"Okay." Eclipse nodded, still whimpering.

"Ah know ya have a hard time believin' this, but me an' Cherry love havin' you kids here." Big Red smiled. "This ol' house hasn't been so lively in a long time. The last thing we'd do is throw you three out. Trust me."

"I'd... like to." Eclipse shuddered. "But I've never trusted anypony but my pa and brothers…"

"Then it's time ta change that." Big Red patted Eclipse on the back (carefully avoiding the scars). "As far as me an' Cherry are concerned, you kids are family, an' there ain't no stronger trust than the one shared by family."

"I guess... I could try." Eclipse smiled weakly.

"That's the spirit." Big Red nodded. "Now, let's go back downstairs. There's some folks ya need ta apologise to."

"Oh, right." Eclipse sighed. "Something else I'm not good at..."

Big Red and Eclipse went downstairs. Cherry and the colts had finished their work, and were having lunch.

"Everypony, Ah believe Eclipse has somethin' he wants to say ta y'all." Big Red declared.

Eclipse stepped forward.

"I... I'm sorry." He said hesitantly. "To all of you. I had no right to act the way I did. Not to you, Cherry, and definitely not to my own brothers. I've been a total jerk this entire time, and I'm sorry."

"That's alright, dear." Cherry smiled. "It's all water under the bridge."

"You have been kind of a pill lately." Huckleberry admitted. "But I guess we can let it swing this one time."

"We are family, after all." Globe smiled. "No matter what, we'll always be brothers."

"Thanks, guys." Eclipse smiled. "It's time for a change. I've been fighting us being here the whole time, but no more. This place is our home now, and I'm going to make the best of it."

"Nice speech, young 'un." Big Red smiled. "Now, let's get ya some lunch. Ya must be starvin'."

"No kidding." Eclipse nodded.

As Big Red rifled through the fridge, Cherry sidled over to him.

"Nice work, Red." She whispered.

"Told ya Ah'd get ta the bottom a' things." Big Red chuckled. "Ah knew Ah'd get through ta the kid eventually."

"So did I." Cherry added. "Never a doubt."

Big Red provided Eclipse with some nice buttered toast, and even some fish that he'd been saving for just such an occasion. Eclipse ate the food gratefully. For the first time since he had arrived at the house, he felt happy and content, his worries miles away.

Not so many years ago...

Big Red was up late one night, doing his bills. After finishing the last one, he glanced at the clock on the wall, which read close to 2:00.

"Best be gettin' ta bed..." He yawned.

Big Red walked upstairs, glancing into Mist's room, oblivious to the shady form in her room, then going to Shine's room... before coming to a chilling realization.

"Wait a minute..." He gasped.

Big Red rushed towards Mist's room, ready to fight the shady intruder, but as he charged in, he was tripped.

"Holy bu-" He started to curse, only to get his mouth covered by a hoof.

"Shh... you'll wake her..."

Big Red recognized the voice, and looked up to see none other than Black Knight, holding the sleeping filly in his hoof. His looks had drastically changed, though. His fur was ragged, his black mane starting to turn gray, and he had a eyepatch over his right eye. Black slowly took his other hoof off Big Red's mouth.

"...Black?" Big Red gaped. "What the...? How..."

"What?" Black smirked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Black... Ah can't believe it... it's actually you... yer alive." Big Red stuttered as he stood up.

"Ah yes." Black nodded. "I'm afraid details pertaining to my fate were greatly exaggerated..."

"Black, Ah have so many questions-" Big Red declared.

"Can we talk elsewhere?" Black suggested. "We wouldn't want to wake the little tyke."

Black tenderly placed Mist in her crib, tucking her in. He and Big Red then went downstairs. Black glanced at an old photo on the mantle. Big Red brought in two glasses of cherry wine form the kitchen, offering one to him.

"Cherry wine?" Big Red asked.

"Thank you." Black took the glass, and sipped the wine. "Ah, it's been a while since I drank your family's homemade wine... I missed it."

"Ah'm sure ya did..." Big Red chuckled lightly. "So... what happened ta you? All this time, Ah thought you were dead... all of us did..."

"Well, surely my 'brother' told you all that had happened... I couldn't really just come back home, now could I?" Black declared.

"So it's true... what happened back in Saddle Arabia..." Big Red sighed.

"It was a necessary measure that needed to be carried out." Black said, not a trace of emotion in his voice.

"Measure?" Big Red repeated. "Black... you done killed innocent ponies. A whole village of 'em."

"They were harboring Changelings, Red." Black retorted. "If we allowed those Changelings into our society, they would create cracks within our system, and devastate us from within, like a virus."

"But what about Rookie?" Big Red asked, causing Black to stiffen. "White cared deeply for that boy. He gave that necklace a' his to his own son, to carry on his spirit... and you, of all ponies, are the reason it came ta be."

"Speaking of sons, I saw that White did quite nicely for himself." Black glanced at the photo of White and the family. "A drop-dead gorgeous mare for a wife, two cute kids, a house on the plains..." He glanced deeply at Shine. "A real chip of the old block, that Shine."

"Yeah, Shine is really a good colt." Big Red agreed. "Takes after his old man in so many ways..." He suddenly frowned. "If only White and Silver were still here..."

"Well, surely if they were still here, White would have me sent off to prison... that traitorous bucker..." Black muttered.

"Black!" Big Red gasped. "He wuz doin' the right thing! You of all ponies oughta know that!"

"Oh come on, you're actually taking his side in this?" Black sneered. "He sold me out so he would feel better about himself! Weren't you the one who told us before we left for war to look out for each other?! I did my part! White was the one who turned his back on me!"

"Don't pin this all on White." Big Red countered. "Maybe if Ah had done more ta help ya when Ah first noticed what ya were turnin' inta, none a' this woulda happened."

"What are you talkin' about…" Black glanced at him warily.

"Black, ever since that day with the griffon, Ah started to see something different in you." Big Red whispered. "The happy, friendly colt Ah used to know slowly disappeared, and wuz replaced by a cold, cruel bully. Fer the first time, Ah was becoming afraid of mah own best friend…"

Black went silent for a moment.

"...I'm sorry I made you feel that way." Black whispered. "...It was never my intention to frighten you."

"It's not too late, Black." Big Red pressed forward. "Ya can go back to Canterlot and turn yerself in. Ah'm sure Celestia will take it easy on you if ya do."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that." Black muttered. "I have big plans, and none of them involves me being behind bars for the rest of my life."

"Come on, Black." Big Red urged. "What would White think?"

"Don't care." Black snorted.

"Then what about Shine and Mist?" Big Red glared. "Like it or not, Black, you're the only living Paladin they have left."

"I'm sorry, Red... I have to do this." Black said solemnly.

"Then don't do it! If not for White, and not for the kids, then don't do it fer me." Big Red pressed on, trying his best to not get teary-eyed, "Black... Ah don't want to lose any more of mah best friends..."

Black seemed to soften up upon hearing those words.

"Same ol' Red." He smiled. "Never change."

Big Red grinned, certain that Black was going to turn himself in. But the moment his guard was down, Black struck him with a hoof.

"Gah..." Big Red moaned, twisting from the blow. "Nerds." He fell to the ground, unconscious.

The next morning, Big Red woke up in bed, his head pounding.

"Ooh..." He groaned, rubbing his head, then instantly remembered what happened last night. "...Black!"

As Big Red leapt out of bed, he noticed a note on his bedside dresser. It simply said "Goodbye, Red…Look After Everypony for Me."

"Aw, Black..." Big Red sighed, sitting back on the bed. "If only Ah'd had the guts ta tell ya that day..."

Big Red felt as if he'd lost Black all over again. His once best friend was out there somewhere, doing who-knows-what. The only thing worse than Big Red's guilt was the fear over what Black could do.

"Goodbye, Black." Red sighed. "Ah hope one day ya see the light..."

Comments

[powerpony]

Love the Good Will Hunting reference.

[HolyCross9]

It's good to see that Eclipse is finally warming up to Big Red and his wife. I also find it sad that Red was born infantile.

[Rainboom H Harmonia]

New Prediction: Eclipse's father will come back for his kids.

[Bluecatcinema]

5565177 Thanks, but I think the word you're looking for is "infertile."

[dracone]

I noticed the movie reference. I also noticed a few minor mistakes, your stores have quite a few errors that can easily be fixed. Maybe you should take a break from updating existing stories and writing new ones and spend some time fixing the little mistakes you've made in existing stories on the site, both that you find yourself and are pointed out by your readers. There is at least one story of yours I really want to read, but since you have the plural and singular of pegasus mixed up and use the wrong term a lot I can't bring myself to read it. Just a reminder pegasus is the singualr as in "she was a pegasus with white fur and a neon green mane" and pegasi is the plural as in "the three pegasi guards waited for him at the door", little stuff can build up to being one big thing so you have to take a break from what you're doing every once and a while and go back to fix your little errors, I would also recommend finding someone you trust and have them proofread or edit what you are working on and have worked on.

Your stories are fun reads, but there are only so many errors a reader is willing to overlook per chapter before they can't bring themself to read it again (I call it the "reader tolerance threshold", the limit of errors and mistakes the reader can deal with before the mistake they notice make it so they just can't continue to read story, and every reader has a different one).

[dracone]

5568421 infertility is a funny thing sometimes, I mean"funny odd" not "funny haha", in that it is sometimes temporary for some who are told tehy have it, and by that I've heard of some cases where someone was told they were infertile by a doctor one year and told they could bear children a few year later. So in a sense there's still hope for Red and Cherry to actually conceive a little bundle of joy.

[Lord erigon]

5569338 there's a special pill for it now but it's really expensive