Emerald's Struggle

by The Zebra Hybrid

Chapter 12

Ponyville
Present Day

Emerald followed Starlight around the town as she pointed out all the point of interests. It was nice to have a guide showing him the ins an outs of the town. He was going to do that himself when he first arrived here but of course he was in the hospital. While walking the zebra hybrid would get the occasional glances but they weren't negative in appearance like the ones he would get in Canterlot. These were more curious and fascinated than anything else.

Too be honest he was getting kind of embarrassed from all the attention he was getting and couldn't help but blush. It was a good thing Starlight was too busy everything to notice. He was able to listen to her just fine, she showed him the market place, restaurants, grocery stories, the furniture shop, hospital, and where a place called Sweet Apple Acres was. He had to assume that Starlight must've noticed the looks that he was getting due to the fact that she lead him into the community park where there were less ponies, and found a nearby table to sit at.

"So, what do you think of Ponyville so far?" Starlight asked.

"Too be honest, it seems okay form what you showed me so far, but I've only been here for two days." he answered.

"I guess your right, but I will warn you that most of the....weird stuff...happens here."

Emerald smiled and shrugged, "What's so wrong about that? That means my stay here won't be so boring all the time. Although I am working in the Everfree with Zecora."

"That reminds me, if you don't mind me asking that is."

"Don't worry about. I can handle it."

"Well, urhm. Did you have any other friends after Sunburst and Sunset left? I know if that might come off as insensitive."

"No, No, its fine. Me and Sunburst would still send each other letters from time to time. However I have a best friend named Moon Dancer."

"Moon Dancer? The mare you worked for?"

"Yeah, her and I close when I lived in Canterlot. Probably because most of the ponies there are high class jerks,, but I didn't really care for them and neither did she. As long as we had each other everything was ok."

Starlight smiled and she couldn't help but feel a little jealous at how strong his friendships were, "From what I hear you two were almost more than just friends?" she teased as emerald face went slightly red as he held his hooves up in defense.

"O-Oh! W-We weren't like that at all! Yeah we were close but we never had those kinds of feelings you know? If anything she's like the sister I never had."

Starlight giggled and lightly nudged him snapping out the frantic stallion, "I was just teasing Emerald," she said, "I'm sure she probably thinks the same about you."

Emerald gave a sigh in relief that the situation was only a joke. Don't get him wrong, Moon Dancer is a cute mare especially with her hair down. However like he said they were just friends and at least the bestest friends. He had never had thought anything romantically about her not even while he was working. Probably because he was to busy thinking about Sunset at the time but even after she left he hadn't developed any feelings and if he knew Moonie as much as he did then he was not her type in the slightest.

He gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head, "O-Oh yeah. Sorry about that. I guess I over reacted there. Too be honest though the only ever crush I actually had was Sunset but you know how that turned out. After her I just...stopped looking."

Starlight gave him a curious look, "So you haven't had a special somepony? Or even tried getting one?"

The zebra shook his head, "No not really. Why try when almost every mare hated your guts? The three mares that actually cared for me in Canterlot was my mom, Moonie, and...temporarily...Sunset."

Starlight couldn't believe what she was hearing. Judging form what he has been telling her about his time in Canterlot it seemed to be way worse than her when she was a filly. Even if he did have a few friends, but he seemed to be unaffected by it all and it kind of worried for him. Either he was really optimistic or all the abuse and neglect hes had in Canterlot had happened so much that he doesn't even care anymore.

"You don't think that you might get married someday? And have fillies and colts of your own?" she asked.

He nodded, "Yeah, of course. I'm just not expecting it to happen anytime soon."

There was a short pause before Emerald's eyes widened, "Oh crab-apples! I'm supposed to meet Zecora by the Everfree! I had a great time Starlight! I hope we can do this again some time!"

Before Starlight could answer however his horn glowed a bright gold before he disappeared from her vision using a teleportation spell. She had a blank look on her face before smiling and letting out a small laugh, he sure was interesting that was for sure. She stood form her seat and walked back to the the castle. She couldn't wait to meet her new friend again.

---

Canterlot
17 years ago

A young Emerald ran through the streets of Canterlot as Blueblood and his two lackeys were hot on his tail. Sunset and Sunburst didn't show up for school today so he was any easy target for him in class. He was fine during lunch since he hung out with Twilight but after school was a different story. While making his way home he was cornered by the three bullies and was told to pour all his things on the ground. When he refused the two colts that were following Blueblood had pinned him to the wall in a nearby alley where no pony could see them.

The small zebra colt tried calling for help but all he got was a mouth full off hoof as a colt struck him across the muzzle. He felt dazed as well as the taste of iron in his mouth. He felt a sudden tug and something becoming loose around his neck. Emerald's eyes widened as he knew that they were trying to take the golden collar off from around his neck. Thinking quickly he ignited his horn and a small yellow beam blasted Blueblood and the other two colts off of him.

Emerald not wanting to wait around to ask how he did that grabbed his saddle bags and ran form the alley with the three following close behind. And here he was running through crowds of ponies who were giving him the same looks as always as he was being chased down by the three bullies in his school. He didn't understand why these ponies were only watching him, couldn't they see he was in trouble?

"Help! Please!" he called out to the ponies around him as he ran only for them to point their noses up and turn away.

"You're so dead zebra!" shouted Blueblood form behind him.

Emerald was feeling his lungs tighten and his small legs start to slow down. He couldn't keep this up forever and the sounds of the three were gaining. He felt tears cloud his vision, why did he have to blast him! He could've just taken the beaten and went home! Now those three might actually kill him! Emerald was in such a panic he didn't see the mare in front of him a ran face first into her hind leg and falling on his back.

Standing before him was a slender white unicorn mare with a long pink mane and tail. She stared at him with curious purple eyes before they were filled with concern when she spotted the tears now flowing down his cheeks. Blueblood and the other two colts seemed to have noticed Emerald's predicament and turned around before running off deciding that they will deal with him another day. The mare wiped his tears as she spoke in calm tone, that was not over shadowed by her accent.

"Are you alright child?" she asked, "Why are you crying?"

"Th-They.." choked out Emerald, "Want to...hurt me..."

The mare looked around before looking back at the zebra child, "Are your parents around?" she asked as Emerald shook his head.

"M-My mom is working....i-in the castle today." he answered as the mare gave him a solemn look. She couldn't leave a colt crying alone by himself. And if there were ponies trying to hurt him then they would surely be back once she leaves.

"What's your name little one?" she asks with a warm smile.

"M-My name is Emerald." he sniffed before rubbing his eyes with his small hooves.

"That is a beautiful name," she says, "My name is Fleur De Lis, but you can call me Fleur."

"O-Okay..M-Mrs. Fluer."

She smiled at his nervousness as she felt a bit of anger well up inside of her. Most of the ponies in this city she couldn't understand. This colt was probably running for his life and calling for help and they all turned a blind eye to him. She could tell just by glance that this colt was no ordinary pony which made him an easy target. And from what he said about his mother working in the castle means that she is probably a maid or a chef.

"Emerald," she said to him as he looked at her with his big golden irises, "Would you like to come home with me? Just inn case those bad ponies come back?"

She slowly held her hoof out toward him no wanting to scare him off. No doubt that even though he seemed calm he was still probably scared out of his mind and didn't know who to trust. As her hoof got closer he gave a flinch which made her recoil a bit.

"It's ok," she assured, "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

Emerald looked at her for a good minute before taking her hoof with his which made Fleur smile. The small colt stuck close to the slender mare making Fluer giggle at how cute he was being. She could feel the disapproving glares from the ponies around her but she paid them no mind. All she cared about was making sure that the small colt known as Emerald was safe and sound in her home so she could have her fiance, Fancy Pants, make a call to the castle.

---

Outside the Everfree Forest;
Present Day

A bright flash of golden brought Zecora's attention as Emerald appeared form the flash and clearly out of breath, "I'm so sorry Zecora! Me and Starlight were meeting with Princess Twilight, and then she showed me around the town, and then we talked, I lost track of time-"

Zecora put a hoof over his muzzle cutting him off form his explanation, "Emerald, it is alright. Your tardiness is no plight." she says as she took her hoof away.

The zebra sighed in relief, "Whew thanks. Moonie would have my hide if I was late to the library back in Canterlot."

The zebra giggled and started walking toward the forest, "Shall we get started?" she asked as Emerald nodded and followed her inside the dark forest. Both of their figures disappearing behind the vegetation.

Comments

[Fluffy-Boi]

Fleur. What a kind pony she is.

[The Zebra Hybrid]

8882443
Great to see you back pal!

[HolyCross9]

You know, if I'm assuming correctly, I would think that Fleur was older than Twilight and her friends in this fanfic.

[The Zebra Hybrid]

8885326
Yes, Fleur is older.