1999:
"Mommy, where's daddy? He's not home! I'm scared! *cries*"
"Don't worry, he's just working late. He'll be back as soon as you wake up!"
This is how most nights were when I was growing up, or a variation of it. Sometimes, it'd just be me(5), my brothers(8 and 16), my sister(11), and my grandmother(??) because mother and father would be far to engrossed in the 'family business'. There would be days where I wouldn't even recognize my own parents. My grandmother was usually the one to take care of me and my siblings. She didn't speak English fluently, so communication was difficult (we weren't taught any other language).
It wasn't all bad. I lived in a fairly large house, and I got any toy I had asked for. That's all a kid (I) needed to keep himself entertained.
2002:
"Aaron, you won't understand this yet, but we're doing this because we love you," mother would always state. "We have to work extra hard, so you don't have to face the same hardships that your father and I faced!"
"Yeah, yeah, I already know. You and dad grew up in poverty, and struggled every day to put food on the table. Now that dad's got his own business, we never go hungry. I'm thankful, yes, but you've never been home, just to spend time with us..."
*THUD*
"Wh-what was that?" I asked, turning in the direction of the noise.
"It sounded like it came from the restroom!" Mother hurried down the hall. I followed suit.
(several seconds later)
"GRANDMA!" I sort of yelped and cried at the same time.
My grandmother was on the floor in front of the restroom door. She appeared to have collapsed, for reasons I still don't know.
Mother screamed "CALL 9-1-1!!!"
2003:
"It's been a year since the funeral. But still, grandma was my caretaker. Not you!" My face was flustered, as I yelled at my mother.
"But, Aaron, you're my baby! I stopped working, so I could take care of you!"
"Why couldn't you have taken care of me earlier? Dad's already working, so you didn't have to!"
"I've already told you. We did it becaus-" *SLAM* I had gone to my room, and slammed the door in her face.
2009:
Freshman year of senior high. By this time, I had already run away from home (on multiple occasions), I had my heart ripped out of my chest by my 'first love', and I was in desperate need of something to make me smile for once.
2nd period:
"Hey Aaron, you've been sadder than normal, lately. What's up?" asked the girl I would call my 'best friend', at the time.
"Nothing much. I've just been bummed out about family problems. *sigh* I wish there was something that could make me happy..."
"Happy, huh? I know something that'll do the trick. I could hook you up, if you want!" I liked where this was going.
"What do you mean, hook me up?"
"Oh, nothing. Just gimme five bucks, and I'll give you something that'll make you happy!"
"Eh... sure, why not?" I peek into my wallet. "Wait a second... I don't have any small bills. Do you have change for a ten?"
"Oh.. um... I'll just give you 2 then!" Erm...
*shrug* "Fine, whatever" I hand her the ten dollar bill, in exchange for a tiny plastic 2x1 inch zip-lock bag. "Wait... what even is this?"
"Just pop it. It'll make you feel way better. Trust me!"
"Pop? Explosion?" I ask, giving her a quizzical look.
She just giggled and said, "put one in your mouth, and swallow."
I don't really remember anything else after that. The only thing I distinctly remember is the fact that my gums were cut up from biting my lips too hard, I was dehydrated, I was exhausted but couldn't sleep, but I couldn't help but feel that I had spent those 8 hours very VERY well.
2011:
I've been classified as an addict.
I've been in/out of chemical rehabilitation clinics on a monthly basis.
I've been in/out of the psych ward for hallucinations.
"I need to end this. Now."
I went online to say my 'farewells' to my friends, when I noticed something AMAZING.
(Author's note: Ponies will be added in the upcoming chapter. Sorry for the non-pony-ness, but I had to give my character a backstory.)
One of my childhood friends had posted a video of the first episode of My Little Pony:Friendship is Magic. The thumbnail was a picture of a lavender pony. I thought it was cute, and it somehow brought a smile to my almost never-smiling face. At that moment, I was filled with a feeling I couldn't even describe! I was so compelled; I just HAD to watch the video!
(22 minutes later)
I’m so glad I decided to go online today! I thought to myself. This show is amazing! It’s so happy and cute, I feel like the happiness is starting to rub off! I was grinning like a madman.
I HAVE TO WATCH MORE. Youtube is my best friend.
(several hours later)
I can’t believe I’ve watched all the episodes that have aired! I can’t wait for the next one to come out! I guess I’ll just look online to see what other people say about this show…
“Wait… there’s a fandom of MLP?” I thought aloud. “Bronies… Hmm… That has a nice ring to it! Guess I’m a Brony! I can’t believe I was going to commit suicide; that’s just stupid! *yawn* I really should go to sleep earlier…”
I drift off to sleep, with a smile on my face. I really hope I dream of ponies. *chuckle* I’m so lame.
“NO! He was supposed to die today! It looks like we’ll have to have a little intervention, then.”
“Where am I?” My vision began to clear, and I appeared to be in a dimly lit hallway.
“Hello, Aaron. It’s a good thing you’re here now. I don’t have to wait any longer!”
“Who’s there!?” I shout, while looking around intently.
As soon as those words left my mouth, a figure stepped out of the darkness. It was a unicorn pony! He had a jet black coat with what appeared to be a red mane and tail. I say ‘appeared to be’ because they weren’t like normal manes and tails; they were angular, like the shape of blades. He had topaz colored eyes, with pupils that looked more cat-like than pony. I couldn’t make out his cutie mark, because his flank was slightly discolored from what looked like burns.
“Oh, cool! I’m dreaming about ponies! But wait… I haven’t seen you in the show before… What’s your name? … and how do you know mine?”
“It amuses me that you think of us as merely a show. My name is Twisted Sorrow. I know your name because you were on the ‘suicide list’.” My right eye twitched, as I realized what was happening. “You were supposed to die last night. Do you realize how much sorrow you’ve prevented by living? You’ve prevented my feeding on the despair of your loved ones! If you’re not going to kill yourself, I shall just have to do it for you!” His horn started to glow a deep crimson.
“WUH…” I tried so desperately to run, but I was quickly caught in his magic. “COME ON, AARON, WAKE UP. WAKE UP. WAKE UP!!!”
“Pathetic human! It’s too late; you will never be able to wake up again!” He was wearing a wicked grin, which clearly displayed his killer intent.
Is this really how it’s going to end? Well, I’m glad I didn’t take the coward’s way out. I’m glad I at least got to discover these ponies. I’ve never been this happy before…
The magic, that I was being levitated by, started to constrict. Instead of being even around my body, it quickly converged at my neck. I was being hanged by a ‘magical noose’. I struggled for what seem to have been hours. I was choking and flailing about, but to no avail. Eventually, my vision faded to black.
“GAH!” I screamed, as I woke up in a pitch black space. I was sweating profusely, with tears streaming down my cheeks. I felt cold… so very cold… “Am I… dead?”
“Nay, thou art not. We hath brought thou here. Thou art safe, for now,” said a grayish blue mare. She had teal eyes, and a translucent light blue mane that seemed to flow. She was a winged unicorn.
Wait a second…
“P-princess Luna? What’s going on? All I remember is this dark unicorn who tried to kill me! I was being suffocated, but I can’t remember what happened afterwards…” I had placed my right hand on my neck, remembering what had recently occurred.
“We hath saved thou from the unicorn named Twisted Sorrow. He hath been a follower of our Dark Magic. He hath becometh mad with power! He preys on the sorrow and despair of thy race. Humans hath such strong emotions, and he harnesseth thy feelings, making him stronger!” She speaks really loudly…
“So… you’re saying that Twisted Sorrow is really good with your Dark Magic, and he’s taking the emotions of humans as power?”
“Indeed. He hath been following thou, for thy sorrow was great. Thy sudden change of emotions hath upset him greatly. Do not be afraideth. We hath an idea. Thou shalt becometh a pony, for ponies’ emotions are harder to senseth with Dark Magic. Thou shalt be safe for the time being. What art thou wishest to become: an earth pony, Pegasus, or unicorn?”
“Um.. Can I have a minute to think? This is a big decision to make…”
“Certainly.”
After contemplating the pros and cons of each, I finally come to a decision. “I think I’d like to be a Pegasus, please! “
“Alright. Holdeth still.” With that, she touched my forehead with her horn. It lit up immensely, until the whole place was bathed in light. The light was so bright, compared to the darkness we were previously in, I thought I was going to go blind! My vision went hazy, and I passed out.
(Author's note: Depicting Luna is kinda difficult... with all of her archaic terms and such. Nonetheless, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter!)
