The world can sometimes be a cruel face to those that were born different from others that they like. Greymane a child of a noble earth pony family was born different from others. His unsightly form scared his mother until she passed out which startled the doctors.. Greymane was green pony with brown spots near his flank with amazing grey colored mane that almost seemed unearthly. Sadly he was borne with a ghostly colored eye on his left and a normal brown one on his right. The dis figuration continues with his hindquarters were smaller than his forelegs make it nearly impossible to walk. Greymane was smaller than others in this respect compared to other stallions his age, thus he was shunned, oftenly kept at home in locked rooms so others wouldn't see him. This child could bare it for he had a hero that he looked up to his older brother Bronze Tail. His older brother would spend time with him reading him adventures stories of far off places that would brighten his day every time.

His mother would avoid him most days only to yell at him to have proper manners like Bronze Tail. His father would bring home trinkets to appease young Greymane but the look of disgust in his eyes always confused the foaling for he could understand the emotion at the time. Greymane would practice brushing and braiding his mane in the noble fashion of a warrior that was read to from his heroic brother. He would hear his parents arguing over what to do with him whether in be next to him or in the bedroom above. These arguments would cause him to fall asleep with tears down his cheeks as the night fell over their home. Bronze Tail brought him wonderful and yet terrifying news he was going to join the Royal guard to protect princess Luna. This made Greymane very proud but afraid this meant he would never see his brother he felt with his childish understanding.

"Brother why do have to go miss you badly" he spoke with feeling but horrible language for a foal his age.

"Don't worry buddy I am gonna protect a princess who watches over everyone's dreams surely she will help equestria" said the thoughtless brother as he only consider his dream.

"but brother what about our visits and story time" asked the lonely foaling pleading his brother.

"Don't be so selfish brother the princess needs to be protected and besides I shall write you letters about my adventures" he spoke sternly.

"Sorry brother for making you mad me sorry I will be better soon mom has a plan to help me" Greymane spoke with a hint of hope in his eye's.

"See brother I told you they would come around without me around surely they will pay your more attention now I must go prepare" he hugged his younger brother gently before he left.

The day rolled on as his brother gathered his items to leave the family so he could continue on with his dream. Greymane would lay against the corner in his room staring at a blank wall attempting to wander what his life will be like without his hero. His mother came into the room with present's as she smiled laying them around the room. Greymane would crawl towards them attempting to walk as his eye's lit up with glee like any foaling would when presented gifts. She stood at the doorway smiling down as he opened each present each one a new toy that distracted him for a moment. Sadly these gifts would end as his father slipped into the room making a racket about how big of a mess he was making. Greymane grew afraid at first but finally had it with being bullied after such good fortune.

"Da I am a good foal I can clean this" said Greymane defiantly.

"Son you make this mess and dare to argue with me I should take your special trip away" his father scolded with anger in eye's.

"No da I am sorry I am bad foal I will do better promise" said the crying foal at his father.

"Fine you can keep your trip go to dinner your mother and I will clean this mess up" Both parents stared him as he attempted to slide down the stairs falling every few steps making thud sounds.

This brought a delight to the parents face every time they would never raise a hoof to the child but this brought them tormented joy. They sat around the table as he was placed in a special chair that would keep him from falling locking his body in place. The father would place the plates around the table slowly as his mother would brag about Bronze Tail. His mother got up to bring a fresh salad on each plate this brought a smile to Greymane's face he never gets to eat at the table. He always ate in his bedroom away from everypony let alone get tasty fresh salad. His mother would smile hollowly at her son as she added a special seasoning to his salad the foaling never noticed as he chomped on his meal. Both parents lectured him on manners as he was loudly eating his meal feeling very sleepy strange he thought I took a late nap. The duo stared as their child fell asleep face first in the salad a wicked grin plastered on their face's.

"Finally we can finish the deal Sacrifice the youngest foal at Lonely castle in the Everfree forest" spoke the father a wicked gleam in his eye's.

"Yes we can finally get rid of this pest and better yet it will benefit our darling Bronze Tail all the more with the blessing of Tirek" the mother chuckled.

"But dear how will we explain this to Bronze Tail he loves his brother most dearly oddly enough" mother said sadly.

"obviously dear an accident happened when go to Everfree a terrible accident" father laughed cruelly.

Both parents nodded at each other as they loaded Greymane on a small cart to be hauled off in the direction of the forest. It was turning night as they entered Everfree forest the stars sparkled a little extra bright as if they were winking upon the sleeping foal. Both parents got lost in the forest as they attempted to find Lonely castle when they heard howling in the distance coming ever closer. They ran pulling the cart as they hit some ancient stones sticking out of the ground they panic letting go of the cart.

"This is probably Lonely castle dear we should hurry up we didn't bring the guard this time" said the father as he looked wildly about.

"Yes dear I am sure it is but I don't have the courage to slay my own child what should we do my love" spoke the conniving mother.

They both heard the howling of Timber Maws and then with a smile " Let the Maws sacrifice our foaling"

"Ma where are we is this our trip" spoke a foaling awaking from a stupor.

"Dear you have been a bad pony so me and your father decided it was time you moved out" with that she started running away from the howling that was getting very loud.

"Son I will not see you again" shouted the father while following the mother into the night.

"ma please I will be good foal please dad I be better" Yelled the foaling as he fell out of the cart staring into the dark.

"Da where you go I am sorry ma please please I be good" sobbed the foaling as the wolf paws were heard thumping around the ruins.

Greymane was drained emotionally life got him and it was only getting worse as the Timber Maws surrounded the easy prey. Greymane stared at them feeling nothing in his chest but a faint heart. They stood their as if mocking his inability to walk properly rage was making its way to his legs as he made a his own stand in an awkward angle. He glared at them shouting at them, they parted as a large brackish colored Timber Maw came forth to stare at the foaling. His own mind sped up in moments as adrenaline rushed to his entire body. He ran into the ruins or rather half hopped as he grabbed a broken sword with his mouth. He spun around to see the large Timber Maw face closing in on his own, he barely dodged with lucky hairs breath. The creature walked around the earth pony making it very difficult for him to keep up. Sweat was stinging his eye's and he realized he was crying at the same time anger burned in his heart as it wildly thump so loud he knew the Maw could hear it too.

The brackish Timber Maw leapt at him from behind giving the foaling a hairy moment to turn as he felt the branch teeth sink into his should and the claws digging into his flank. His eye's grew heavy but before he went under he saw his broken sword stuck into the heart of the beast slaying it upon his body. The blood pooled around the wounded pony he fell into the darkness with the sounds of howling his finally words "did ya proud brothe... He felt itchy so he scratched his flank slowly opening eye's he was surrounded by the awe inspiring beautiful forest that was in full bloom with the sounds of many beast's. The itching lessened he turned to look at his injury to see a fully healed scar of a beast slash where his blank flank was.

"Is cutie mark maybe" he said suspiciously while eyeing it.

Upon closer inspection it was a scar, no magic empowering destiny he felt sadness but refused to cry. Then a delicious smell hit his nose it was peaches his favorite fruit he could feel drool welling up around his lips. He stood up on all fours evenly, time stopped for a minute as he realized what he did. It was the impossible as he stared his at legs that matched evenly for a foal his size. Then his thoughts appeared like a different voice in his head must eat now. This startled him but his stomach growled telling him to get those delectably fruits. He took a few tentative steps which went smoothly then he was walking like it was normal every day thing to do. Tears were welling up in eye's but he refused to shed them his thoughts spoke again Faster danger eat quickly. He ran as fast as his hooves could carry him zipping across the forest this terrified him he never ran before. He felt a bubbling emotion that built up to his mouth bursting out in a loud laugh. The laughing stopped as he saw his prize a peach tree that was covered in hairy delicious treats that made his mouth water. Then fear hit his nostrils before it hit is brain he could smell rotting wood that reminded him of last night events Timber Maws. This was a different pack he could this was the truth but they stared at him and then the howling started. Greymane felt the his own fur curling outwards as his fear grew his thoughts returned grab peaches run faster to castle. The foaling reacted before the wolves as he snatched a mouth full of fruit dashing in a magnificent run back to the Lonely castle.

"problem head voice where is castle" he yelled at the surroundings.

Turn here and go behind that tree castle safe his thoughts spoke to him. This startled him but the howling was gaining on him he followed the voice directions which lead to him seeing the castle in the distance. Timber Maws were closing in on his hooves he felt more fear causing his heart to beat rapidly. More speed I give bearer vines began wrapping around his body turning into wood giving him a larger boost leaving the Timber Maws in the mud. His mind raced magic it has to be magic that give him such power he was confused and full of joy. He jumped off a ledge landing in ruins whipping around to see the pack stopping at the borders of the castle. They howled before leaving the area giving the pony a chance to breathe before he fell laughing on the ground.

"thank you mr. voice in my head I had the best day in my life..." he mind trailed off to realizing he was by himself now.

" Was I a bad pony mr. voice my parents said I was bad and thats why I was left here" he spoke solemnly.

There was no response from his thoughts as he stood there waiting. The weather changed in a minute from a sunny day to a stormy sky, as the rain pelted his body he moved underneath the damaged structure. He began thinking about his home life his parents left him because he they said he was a bad foal so I need to be a pony he thought. His memories brought him back to the many times his mother screamed at him to use his manners and be polite like his brother. Another memory surfaced his father watching Bronze Tail sparring with other earth ponies he was smiling as he looked him. His childish mind brought him to one conclusion they will return to get him if he became a well mannered pony with his brothers warrior skill. The voice thought in his head eat more foal eat, Greymane turned to look into a pool of water that was swelling nearby. He was startled he look like a the Timber Maw he had accidentally killed like a pony version of it his thoughts raced. He yelled at the water as he it he felt his body loosening as the vines fell off disappearing into the ether.

"Ah monster am now" he growled at water watching his disheveled appearance.