Love and Protect
“GAH! Just get out T! Before you ruin anything else!” Claire angrily shouted. The next moment the large hybrid dragon-pony came barreling out his sisters shop, Hearthfire Jewelery, and onto the now empty Canterlot street.
“I'm sorry Claire! I didn't mean to-” T tried to apologize before the smaller hybrid dragon-pony came blazing out of her store.
“I don't care! Just get out! It's going to take me all day to clean up this mess you made! Honestly, you and your stupid fear of ponies touching your tail is getting old!” she began to roar as her temper rose. “It's no wonder you got bullied when you were small! Why if it wasn't for me protecting you then you might of never been with Anthea!” she finished up with one last roar before she started to take calming breaths.
But the second she calmed down enough she let out a horrified gasp at what she just said to her little brother. T was equally shocked and more at her hurtful words and took a few steps back to distance himself from her. She saw this and was taken back by everything that happened in just a fraction of a few seconds and grew a sad expression.
“I.... I have to get back to work” Claire said halfheartedly as she retreated back into her shop and began to clean up the small mess T had accidentally made. Once the commotion had settled down the once busy streets of Canterlot resumed their normal activity and most ponies simply ignored the large hybrid while they shopped and mingled.
Suddenly T took to the air and began to fly in a random direction while his mind was lost in the clouds, but while he was sad as to what his dear sister had just said he could never be angry or upset with her. But that still did not mean that his heart began to grow heavy with guilt and the tiniest bit of despair. So with his heavy body soaring threw the empty skies of Canterlot, he began his trip to an unknown destination.
Meanwhile in the streets below, there walked side by side three great friends who were talking to each other about their day today. In the middle was the Norhegian stallion Fletcher who had just gotten done with today’s guard training, while on his right was the small but over-whelming fierce Princess Starburst who was going over the training regime with Fletcher. Their other companion was the small filly Pixel who was currently visiting Canterlot with her mom Sweetie Bell.
“It was really amazing to see you hold your own against all the other guards-in-training today Fletcher! How did you do that that one move where you kicked up that shield to block one while attacking the other?” Starburst asked with excitement.
“To be honest it was a spur of the moment idea, I simply saw the shield and kicked it up while I focused on the other who was charging me. I was just lucky that it worked was all” Fletcher humbly said.
“Well I think it was amazing and if you keep up those kinda moves and quick thinking you could be one of the very best!” Starburst complimented.
“Thank you Princess, your encouraging words mean a lot to me” he replied back.
“How many times have I asked you to just call me Starburst?” she slightly grunted.
“O-oh! My apologies Pri-..... Starburst” he corrected himself.
“SO! When are you two gonna go out?!” Pixel suddenly interjected and caught the two by utter surprise.
“Pixel! We are not dating!” Starburst defended.
“Yes, it would be most inappropriate for a guard-in-training to court a Princess!” Fletcher added in. Though it was what she wanted him to say, Starburst felt her heart skip one beat at the slightly disappointing answer.
“Yeah, yeah. Like we have not seen weirder couples. Unicorn and dragon, Prince and half dragon-pony, any girl who puts up with Prism” Pixel boldly declared. Starburst found herself snickering at the jab taken against Prism while Fletcher seemed to contemplate the fact that the first two were true. But before their argument could continue they saw a shadow flash across the ground in front of them.
Looking up to the sky they saw the fading image of T flying away into the distance with quite a bit of speed. “Was that T?” Fletcher asked.
“Yeah, that was. He kinda looked distressed and he usually never flies while in Canterlot” Starburst said.
“Oh no! Did something happen to T?!” Pixel asked with worry in her voice. Ever since he first foal-sat her Pixel has always loved T and hates to see her favorite cousin upset.
“I do not know, but I suggest that we follow him and find out” Fletcher replied.
“Good idea, lets hurry” Starburst agreed and the trio began to run through the crowd after their friend.
>~~~~~~~~~~ 10 Minutes Later ~~~~~~~~~~<
T had finally given up on flight when he found himself on the outskirts of Canterlot and had found shelter under a small groupings of trees that provided a dark and cooling shade from the sun. He dragged his feet over to these trees and lied down in the soft, green grass, allowing himself to get comfortable as he mulled over his recent actions and his sisters words.
“T!...... T!” he heard his name being called out by three different voices that seemed to be getting closer and closer. When he finally lifted his head up he saw Fletcher, Starburst, and Pixel searching for him while calling his name.
“Over here” he yelled out. The three heard him and instantly ran over to meet him underneath the shade of the trees.
“T! Are you alright?! We saw you flying in Canterlot and we got worried! Did something happen?” Pixel worryingly asked as her eyes swelled up. Seeing this T pulled Pixel into a hug with his foreleg and nuzzled her head with a smile.
“Yeah, I'll be ok. Just a bit in shock is all” T somberly said while Pixel tried her best to hug him.
“What happened?” Fletcher asked while he and Starburst looked on.
T looked away for a few moments while he collected his thoughts while he stroked Pixels mane with his claws. After he took a deep breath he looked back up at them “Well, I came to visit my sister Claire in her shop cause I had collected a fair amount of gems for her to use and wanted to give them to her right away. So once I got there I had to wait till she was done dealing with a few customers who were placing some custom orders”
“While I waited for her I began to browse around the shop and look at all the new pieces she created using her fire. After some time and more aimless browsing the last customer finally left, but I had not noticed so Claire had quietly snuck up behind me and tugged on my tail. She knows that I don't like it when anyone touches my tail and I usually jump in surprise”
“Well I did jump but due to my big size my body bumped and hit a few shelves which broke and sent her jewelery flying everywhere and I think one or two might of broke. The moment I heard the first glass shatter I stopped moving and lied still on the ground while everything happened. When it had stopped I tried to apologize and wanted to offer my help..... but she was not in the mood to listen”
T let out a long sigh as he remembered what happened next “She began to yell at me in full dragon mode about everything, how it was my fault and how long it would take to clean up my mess and how my tail fear was immature. Then she finally ended up talking about something very sensitive to me and how I was bullied when I was small and that if it was not for her I might of never been with Anthea”
Pixel let out a surprised gasp while Fletcher adopted a sad expression once they heard the bit about bullying. But Starburst had a furious look on her face that could almost rival Claire earlier that day. “Why that disrespectful, uptight, self-centered, stubborn donkey face! She should know better than to play dirty and insult you by bringing up something personal! I am going to give her a piece of my mind!” she bellowed out with a surprisingly loud and booming voice.
She unfurled her unusually large wings that gave her a very intimidating stance and appearance when fully erect and within a few short flaps she was airborne and heading back to Canterlot in the directions of Claires shop. T would of said something to stop her but he knows her far too well and knows that she is quite stubborn herself and that it is sometimes best to stay out of her way.
“T! That is horrible! Why does Claire always have to be so mean! She always yells at me whenever I go into her shop with mom and aunt Rarity! Even though I have never done anything bad after the first time I went in and accidentally busted the front door!” Pixel pouted as she remembered the incident.
“T, though I do not know the fine details of your family and Claire especially, I do have to agree with the unusually harsh treatment your sister has dealt to you” Fletcher voiced out.
“Yeah! And what are you going to do! You should totally be mad and upset with her!” Pixel quickly added. But after she said that T simply shook his head and smiled.
“No, I could never be mad and upset with Claire. And besides, she was right to be angry at me. I shouldn't be so weirded out when somepony touches my tail and due to that I caused all her hard work and efforts to be wasted. How would you feel if someone came in and destroyed something you worked hard to make, accident or not?” T asked.
Pixel looked away for a moment cause she know exactly how that felt on a couple of her school projects “Well, I suppose but still! Lashing out and bringing up something personal was a low blow! Even for her!” Pixel pointed out.
Fletcher nodded at that notion. “While we are on the subject, I hope you do not mind me asking but I find it hard to believe that somepony like yourself was bullied as a youth. You look pretty intimidating and I bet you could scare anypony if you tried” he said.
“Well, I look like this now but when I was younger I did not have my...... scaryness. I simply looked like a weird and bizarre foal with bat wings and claws. So I was always teased and bullied for a long time” T informed them. When he thought back to those days his face grew sad and he let out a depressed sigh.
“Oh! I am terribly sorry if I brought up something personal as well” he apologized but T simply shook his head.
“It's alright and I think it is the perfect time to tell the two of you a story which will explain why I am not upset with Claire” T said.
“Are you sure T?” Pixel asked.
“Yeah and besides, I think it could help you see your other cousin in a better light. So it all began during my first year at school when we had just moved back to Ponyville and for most of the year I was teased and bullied for my looks. Especially by a group of three who always made sure to insult me at least three times a day” T began to re-tell his story from his past while Pixel and Fletcher made themselves comfy.
>~~~~~~~~~~ Many years ago, Ponyville School Yard ~~~~~~~~~~<
“Hey! Freaky scales! Hey! Hey! I'm talking to you freaky scales!” said a male foal who had been calling out to T for the past minute. T had been trying to ignore him in hopes he and his friends would leave him alone today but so far no luck. His name was Johnny Hoof.
“I wonder if he can't hear us due to his freaky ears!” said the other colt who was named Billy Mane.
“He is probably just trying to ignore us since he thinks he is better than us” said the only filly in their group, she was called Karen Tails.
“Yeah! Is she right scales? You think your better than us cause you are freaky looking?” said the first colt.
“Hey, what is going on over here?” said Miss Cheerilee who was slowly coming over.
“Nothing Miss Cheerilee! Just playing around! Right?” Johnny quickly said.
“Right!” the other two said before they all ran off laughing. By the time Cheerilee was by T's side the three bullies were long gone.
“Are you alright Turquoise?” she asked the young hybrid.
“Ye-yeah” he nervously replied while he looked away. She saw this and grew a worried look.
“Are you sure? You can trust me and talk to me about anything you know” she offered with a friendly smile.
“I.... I know. Thanks Miss Cheerilee” T quietly responded. She wanted him to open up more but decided to trust in T and believe that he would talk when he was ready.
“Alright, well why don't you come inside and eat then?” she offered but he shook his head.
“I already made plans to eat with Anthea” he told her.
“Oh, I see. Well sorry to keep you waiting then” she replied with a smile as he quickly joined his only friend in school. But after he left Cheerilee went back inside and grabbed a piece of paper along with her quill in order to write a letter intended for his family. It was to express her concerns about the potential bully problem, a problem she had gotten better at recognizing when Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had gotten out of line years ago.
Once she had finished writing the letter she went outside and saw the local mail mare Derpy flying around and was able to flag her down. She politely asked her to give the letter to Rarity as soon as possible and tipped her a few bits in advance. Derpy accepted, saluted and took off in the direction of Carousel Boutique.
Back outside, the young dragon-pony had joined Anthea out back and the two were happily eating their lunches. “Did those three bully you again T?” Anthea asked out of concern.
“Yeah, but I am getting used to ignoring them” he informed her.
“Still doesn't mean you should just accept it! I don't like it when Johnny, Billy, and Karen always make fun of you day after day” she said with sadness in her voice.
“But they are right though, I mean I am kinda freaky looking” he sadly said.
Anthea shook her head and smiled “I think you look cool” she said.
“But you can't see, remember?” he said back.
“I know, but you told me what you looked like and I trust you. So with what you told me, I think you look very cool. I am just sorry that the others can't see you as I see you” Anthea reassured him with a sweet voice and a loving smile that made the young colt insanely blush. But a small smile crept onto his face nonetheless.
“Eww! Gross! Why in the world would you give this thing a compliment?” Billy said as the troublesome trio came up on the two.
“Well that is to be expected, a stupid blind orphan can only lie to keep her only friend” Karen snidely said.
“Yeah, only freaks can be friends with other freaks after all” Johnny added.
“Yeah! Freaky scales and the poor blind orphan! You two are perfect for each other, smooch smooch smooch! Hahahaha!” he cruelly jested.
“Hey! Leave her alone!” T bravely said as he stood in front of her but once the three surrounded him he lost his new confidance and shrunk back.
“Shut up scales! You and your ugly freaky self should just leave town with the rest of your freaky family! I mean, how weird of a family!” Johnny retorted.
“Yeah! I mean, a unicorn falling in love with a dumb dragon? Laaaaaame! And then they had you and your ugly sister!” Billy joined in.
“Oh don't even get me started on your useless sister! I mean, she can't even make fire right! At least you and your dad can blow fire but your sister can't even make a teeny, tiny flame! Such a reject!” Karen said last.
“HEY! Don't talk about Claire that way!” T tried to fight back but once the three closed in on him he backed up almost into Anthea.
“We can talk any way we want freak! We are normal and we will go somewhere in life and earn our cutie marks! Heck, even blindy over there might even get her own! Something useless but still better then not being able to get one at all!” Johnny took over as the lead talker.
“The only cutie mark you all will get are bully and jerk cutie marks!” Anthea bravely spoke up behind T.
“I said shut up freak!” Johnny yelled while he raised his front hoof and attempted to smack Anthea but T jumped in front and took the full force. This action even made Billy and Karen look at Johnny with concern. The smack left a red mark on T's face and a bit of blood fell from him biting his lip. The next few moments were held in utter silence and it felt like time itself stood still....... until they heard the roar.
“HOW DARE YOU HURT HIM!” were the only words they all heard after the tremendous dragon roar that had erupted. T looked around and was expecting his father Spike to be the one responsible but was met with the utterly ferocious and scary form of his angered big sister who now stood between him and the three bullies.
T had never seen her like this, usually she was always properly composed and put thought before action while looking regal and refined like a proper lady. But now she looked feral as her whole body was arched in a way that made it look like she would pounce on them at any second with claws and fire. Every fiber of hair and mane stood on edge as she continued to growl and snarl at the now terrified foals, yet amazingly Johnny found his voice and spoke up “Wh-wh-what do you think yo-you'r doing freak?”
But instead of answering with words or a witty retort she replied by sucking in as much air as she her lungs could hold before unleashing another roar that was even louder and scarier then the first. At this point Anthea was slightly trembling at the sheer force and volume and had grabbed T's leg in fear, when he turned around he saw her eyes closed and was shaking. So he turned around and took one more look at his sister before turning back to Anthea and held her close to him with a hug, for in truth he was also a little afraid.
Yet even though he was slightly scared, he felt a warmth inside of him at the sight of his sister protecting him and going against everything that she stood for just for him. He had been worried recently due to his sisters distance she appeared to be taking from him when she started to act more formal and lady like. So while he held Anthea in his small legs he watched his sister and every single movement she made.
“Claire! Enough!” shouted his father in a very mature and mighty dragon voice that he only used whenever we would get in trouble or when he wanted to talk to us seriously. But this time he used it to snap Claire out of her defensive trance she had gotten herself into. The moment she did T saw her body start to calm down and slowly return to her normal form. Though once she calmed down she turned around and ran to T with tears in her eyes.
“T! Are you alright? How much did they hurt you? Please tell me if you are alright?!” Claire asked over and over again if he was alright while she inspected his cheek and the rest of his body. T took a quick moment to look over her shoulder and saw the three bullies had passed out due to fright and were lying on top of each other in a pile with eyes of white.
Around this time Rarity and Spike had made their way over to their children and Anthea who was still shaking in T's embrace. Rarity had also began to worry about T and asked him multiple questions concerning his well being as well though the two concerned voices overlapped and became an incoherent babble.
“T!” Claire yelled out at the top of her lungs and finally caught his attention. When he turned and looked at her, he saw that Claire was flowing with tears in her eyes as she stared at him. “Please, tell me if you are alright”
He took a moment to look around and saw that his whole family was looking at him with concern and worry. So he took one last look at the three passed out foals before looking back at his sister and smiled with his own tears swelling in his eyes “I am now that your here big sister” he said with all sincerity. At these words Claire lunged and hugged him as much as she could while ignoring Anthea.
“I am so happy that you are alright” Claire squeaked out as she nuzzled his head.
“I am happy that you were the one who saved me sis” T replied and was met with a confused looking Claire. “F-for a while I thought I had done something to you. I thought you were ignoring me and was leaving me alone. I-I thought you didn't like me anymore”
With another loud sniffle Claire hugged him again and gave him a kiss on the cheek “I will always love you T, no matter what you do now or in the future I will always love you. Even when I don't say it and don't appear like I do, I promise you that in my heart I will always love my one and only little brother”
T felt his cheeks blush a bit but the only thing he was thinking was how happy he was to hear her say that and his smile grew even more “I love you too big sister” he meekly said while the two awkwardly hugged while he continued to hold Anthea in his other leg. Around this time Cheerilee and a few other adults had come upon the scene and had started asking questions about what and who happened.
Rarity, Spike, and Claire did most of the talking while T and Anthea rested and calmed down from the ordeal. T continued to hug her until she stopped shaking and looked up to where she thought his head was “Te-te-T?” was all she could asked.
“I'm sorry Anthea, I tried my best to protect you but I don't think I did too good of a job” he sadly stated but she shook her head and smiled.
“No, I thought you were very brave and did your best. But I heard a loud smack, did he hit you?” she asked more clearly.
“Yeah, he was going to hit you and I felt something inside me move me and I ended up taking it instead. Though I also bit my lip a bit, I don't really feel it sting so much anymore” he told her.
“Oh T. T?” she briefly said.
“Yes?” I replied.
“Can you lead my hoof to your injured cheek please?” she kindly asked.
“S-sure, I guess” he responded and guided her hoof to his slightly swollen cheek. She gently rubbed it a few times before she brought up her other hoof to his face and quicker than he could anticipate she leaned up and gave his red cheek a quick kiss.
“Thank you for being my brave knight T” she sweetly said. After that she slowly stood up on her own while keeping close to him. Though T was now stiff as a board while his head warmed up so much steam could be seen rising from his head and standing next to him was a giggling filly who was smiling.
>~~~~~~~~~~ Present Day, Outside Canterlot ~~~~~~~~~~<
“Awwwww, you two are so meant for each other!” Pixel chimed in while she giggled madly at the lovey dovey part of the story. T could feel his blush return but hid it behind a nervous laugh.
“Yeah, though Claire did most of the work I ended up with most of her thanks” he explained.
“T, what happened to those three after that?” Fletcher asked.
“Well after both me and Anthea and even some others who wanted to say something but were too scared at the time confessed the three were initially suspended from school for two weeks and were ordered from both Cheerilee and the mayor to take professional help classes. After that they were forced to take extra lessons after school in order to reduce our time together. Though it was only a year later that all three families decided to move and we never saw them again” T thoroughly explained.
“I see, well I am glad that everything appeared to work out in the end and I certainly think more highly of your sister as well” Fletcher commented.
“Yeah, I suppose she isn't all bad I guess” Pixel looked away with puffed cheeks as she tried to not look convinced at being all wrong. T simply laughed and pulled her in for another hug. “Well those three should count themselves lucky that I wasn't around! Cause I would of given them the old one two for making fun of you T!”
“Oh yes, thank goodness for that indeed” Fletcher said with a slightly humorous tone which got T to laugh again.
“You know I love you too T, right?” Pixel quietly asked.
“I always know and I love you too Pixel” T said before he gave her forehead a quick little kiss which made her giggle and hug him even more. The three of them remained in silence as they let the story soak in, so much so that they almost missed the sounds of hooves slowly approaching them. But due to T's heightened hearing he picked up the sounds and looked in their direction to see both Starburst and Claire approaching them.
Soon the other two saw them as well, leading to the three of them standing up and waiting for them to come up to them. Once Claire was close enough she took a seat in front of T with an embarrassed face “H-Hey T” she sighed.
“Hey Claire, how is the shop looking?” he asked her.
“Still cleaning, had not a lot of time to clean once Starburst came around and the two of us had a little......discussion” Claire took a moment to think of her last word. In reality, the two of them had quite the screaming match and many, unpleasant and undignified words not fit for a Princess or a lady for spoken and traded. “And I just wanted to say.... to say....”
“I'm sorry Claire, it was my fault” T finished her sentence which shocked both her and Starburst.
“Bu-but T!” she tried to say but T stepped up first.
“No, it was my fault. I should have been more careful in your shop Claire. I know that my tail touching peeve is childish and I should get over it. If I had I would not of destroyed all your hard work. So for that, I am sorry and I promise I will do whatever you ask to help make up for it” he said to her with a genuine smile.
“NO! No, no, no! I am sorry T! I should not have been so angry with you, I was at fault for trying to annoy and rile you up by purposely touching your tail, I should of known what your reaction would have been in a tight space like my shop and so the fault of everything smashing is mine and mine alone” Claire explained.
“And..... and I should never have said anything about the bullying and about Anthea. I let my own stupid anger take over and I crossed over that line. So for that, I truly am sorry and I hope you can forgive me and not hate me” she nervously added. She closed her eyes and waited for T's next words to her. She was greatly surprised when she felt a pair of hooves wrap around her and hug her.
“I will always love you Claire, no matter what you do now or in the future I will always love you. Even when I don't say it and don't appear like I do, I promise you that in my heart I will always love my one and only big sister” he mostly repeated the same words she once said to him all those years ago. It took Claire only a moment but she recognized the speech and she could not help but smile and hug him in return.
Fletcher, Starburst, and Pixel watched and heard the two siblings and could not help but smile as well. “I am glad they made up and thank you Princess for talking to Claire. Cause now I don't have to give her a talking to!” Pixel exclaimed with a proud smile which made Starburst roll her eyes.
“Speaking of which, what did you say to her to make her come here?” Fletcher asked.
She turned her head towards him and gave him a rather toothy grin “That is a Princesses secret” she informed him.
He smiled and bowed his head “As you command” he said.
Once the two got done hugging they split apart and walked over to the waiting three. “Alright, well if you three are not busy would you terribly mind if I asked for your assistance in helping me clean up my shop?” she asked.
“We would love to, right?” Starburst answered while the other two nodded. So the five of them set off on foot back to Canterlot and back to Hearthfire Jewelry to begin cleaning.
They were about halfway back when Claire said “But really though T, you should probably do something about that tail peeve of yours. How would it look if you and Antheas children tugged on your tail and you whip them across the room?” she finished with a teasing grin.
T had blossomed into a red strawberry at the mere thought of having children with Anthea “Well how would it be when you and Illusion have children and you become so tired you can't even breathe fire?!” he said back. Once he said that the two began to bicker back and forth and left the other three to watch them go and go.
Fletcher laughed though and had a smile on his face during their argument “They really are great siblings” he complimented.
Though Starburst had a dread look on her face along with a twitching eye “Yeah, they are just peachy”
Pixel joined in on the laughter and declared “I love my cousins!”