Emerald's Struggle

by The Zebra Hybrid

Chapter 11

"What do you mean you got sent to the hospital!" exclaimed a shocked Twilight, "So you were the stallion Pinkie met yesterday!"

Emerald gave a slight blush in embarrassment. Twilight hadn't changed a bit since they were in school, "Yeah, but it's all good now, Nurse Redheart patched me up good. Now I don't even feel like I ever got hurt."

"Well that's good," replied Twilight as she looked over to Starlight, "So I'm guessing you met Emerald while accompanying Pinkie?"

The pink unicorn nodded, "Yeah, to be honest I didn't really want to go in the first place but...I'm glad I went anyway. Now I know what it's like to make a friend on my own."

This brought a smile to Emerald, after hearing her back story and how she became Twilight's pupil. It makes sense why she would be nervous on making friends on her won. Yeah she had Twilight's friends as well but it wasn't actually the same of making them yourself. It kind of reminded him of how he became friends with Sunset and Sunburst, how he was nervous and the two brought him out of his shell and stood by him during tough times.

"So Emerald, where do you work at?" asked Twilight snapping the zebra hybrid from his thoughts.

"I actually work with Zecora. I'm basically her assistant when she does her practices. I haven't started yet but she told me that she'll pay me well."

"But doesn't she live in the Everfree?" asked Starlight, "Isn't it kind of dangerous to walk there by yourself?"

Emerald nods, "Yeah, but that's why she is going to meet me at my house for the first few weeks to show me the safest route to her place."

"I guess that's alright," said Twilight, "So tell me Emerald. How have you been?"

For the next hour or two Emerald tells Twilight, and Starlight again, about my time in Canterlot. He told them about his time with Sunset and Sunburst, which apparently Sunset is in another world and is doing great. he couldn't help but feel a little depressed at hearing that. Don't get him wrong, he was glad that she was doing ok, but if she really changed her ways why didn't she call? Well their last encounter didn't really end on the best of terms. Anyways he continued on how he got a job form Moondancer at the Canterlot library, leaving out his argument with Sunset, and how he made enough money to move to Ponyville to work with Zecora.

"Wow, it seems you've been through a lot." said Twilight.

Emerald gave a light chuckle, "Not as much as you. How many times have you saved Equestria?"

Twilight could only blush and wave her hoof at him, "Oh stop it!"

Emerald stood form his seat and gave the purple alicorn a quick hug, "Well it was nice seeing you again Twilight."

"You too, just remember your always welcomed back here. I would love you to meet my others friends."

"Let's just hope they don't put you back in the hospital like Pinkie."joked Starlight.

"Oh haha," sarcastically laughed Emerald, "Say Starlight, I was going to look around the town for a bit. Want to show me around for a bit?"

Starlight hesitantly looked toward Twilight for approval who smiled and nodded. Starlight smile back and looked at Emerald who's yellow eyes were staring at her with a curious expression, "Sure" she said, "I-I would love to. We'll see you later Twilight."

"Take care you two!" she replied as she watched them leave the room, "Don't have too much fun!"

---

Canterlot Library

Moondancer placed another book on the shelves of the library as she let out a small sigh. It had been two days since Emerald left and she couldn't help but noticed how quiet it was around here. Was it always this silent when she was working alone? She couldn't remember, but she did miss the zebra hybrid and his time working with her. Even though the two were the only ones working in the library they manged to get through it no problem. She remembered when he first started, they would have a little small talk here and there but at the most part kept to their business.

"Has it really been that long?" Moondancer says to herself.

However as time progressed, the two got more comfortable with each other and became the bestest friends. Moondancer giggled to herself as she thought of all the times the two would go out at night. They weren't one of the rich ponies living here so they went to the more middle class district of the city where the fast food and the average bowling alley was. Bowling....now that was something her and Emerald would do every Friday after work. She and him weren't good at it....as a matter of fact they were terrible but the fact they they were enjoying themselves was all that mattered. Except for the experiments she would put him through....she still felt kind of guilty for turning him into a mare that one time.

She still remembered the day he and Susnet had their big fight and how depressed he was. To be honest she didn't know what would have happened if she hadn't of seen him that night.

---

Canterlot
5 Years Ago

Moondancer quickly knocked on the door to Emerald's and Lemon's house with a worried expression. She had tried to work the rest of the day without Emerald but her thought s would always drift back to the zebra hybrid. The librarian had to close down early to make sure he was alright. It was all Sunset's fault, if she hadn't have come to library complaining as usual Emerald wouldn't be like this. She bet that the orange unicorn didn't even know that Emerald had a crush on her. Moondancer shook those thoughts away, she can't be thinking about her now. Emerald was her top priority right now.

She was snapped from her thoughts as the door opened revealing Emerald's mother, "Hello Mrs. Crescent, is it ok if I see Emerald?" Moondancer asked as the yellow mare nodded and led her her inside.

"Of course dear," Lemon replied in her motherly tone, "Emerald told me everything that happened. I'm glad your here. He could really use a friend right now."
,"
Lemon led Moondancer to Emerald's room and slowly opened the door, "Emmy" Lemon calls in the room, "You have a visitor." Moondancer walked in the room as the door closed behind with a soft click. The first thing she saw was her best friend looking at an old picture on his bed, From what she saw Emerald when he was just a colt with a filly and another colt which she concluded to be Sunburst and Sunset.

The zebra hybrid looked toward Moondancer and quickly wiped his face form tears and sat up on his bed next to him, "H-hey Moon" he greeted with a cracked voice, "What brings you here?"

"I came to check on you," she answered, "Are you doing ok?"

"I....I could be better."

"Look...about today-"

"Don't worry about it," said Emerald cutting her off, "I...kind of knew this would happen if Sunset kept acting like this. But I didn't know it would hurt this bad."

"You really liked her did you?"

Emerald gave a light blush and nodded, "Other than Sunburst, she is one of my first friends and have been by me ever since I started magic school. It eventually progressed for me feeling more for her, but I couldn't let her know that. Not only was she too focused in her lesson's with Celestia to even care, I didn't want it to ruin the friendship that we already had."

"Em..." started Moondancer, "I know this is tough for you and I just want you to know that....I'll be with you no matter what as your best friend."

Emerald smiled at Moondancer as the mare smiled back. It was nice knowing that he still had ponies who cared about him. He was certain Sunburst would've done the same for him if he was still here in Canterlot and not in the Crystal Empire. Which reminded the zebra that he had to write him a letter on what happened between him a Sunset. Emerald also knew deep down that Sunset didn't mean what she said, but she knew how much his dad meant to him and she crossed the line.

Emerald gave Moon a tight embrace making the mare lightly blush before returning the affection, "Thank you Moon," Emerald thanked as he tried to stop the tears form resurfacing, "You're the greatest."

"W-well," started Moondancer, "That what friends are for right? Hey....it is Friday. How about we go to our usual bowling spot?"

Emerald breaks the embrace, "Only if you're paying."he said with a teasing grin.

Moondancer gave one back, "Oh, I'm sorry. Who was the one that paid last time?"

"Good point, but I am in sooo much pain."

Moondancer only smiles at Emerald slowly coming back to his old self. She rolled her eyes and hopped off the bed, "Let's just go before they close."

"Right behind you."

---

Canterlot Library
Present

Moondancer sighed as she thought back to the memory. She placed the last book on the shelf and smiled not noticing the blush that crept on her cheeks.

"I'm not really developing feelings for him am I? No...we're just good friends...that's all."

It was then she thought about what Lemon said when she went to visit, "That's perfectly fine dear," replied Lemon, "Just remember that if you like a stallion, don't wait too long.". Too be honest she was still confused on what she actually felt for Emerald did she really have a crush on him or was she just giving pity for all that has happened to the zebra hybrid? She made her way to the front noticing the line of ponies wanting to check out books. Usually Emerald would take care of them no problem leaving him and her with a little more time together.

"I should probably go back to Mrs. Pine for advice."

Author's Note:

Hello guys another chapter in the books! Just as a reminder this is just a little side project for my OC so chapters won't be as frequent like my other stories. But I hope you all are enjoying it so far!

I'll see you next time!

Comments

[HolyCross9]

So it looks like Emerald will be paired with Moondancer...how very intriguing.

[RexDraconum]

Well, wasn't that surprising?