"How did things ever turn to this?" Nightsong asked himself. Now, two years after his sister had been born… and news of his father's death reached him, Nightsong sat in the woods late at night. He had been doing this for the past two years rather frequently… anything to get away from his drunkard of an uncle and his insufferable cousins. "Why did she ever let them in? He should have been made to shape up and fix his life, not take over our home… Oh… Dad… I miss you… Please… find your way home…" he plead to the sky, nay all of Equestria. He opened the book he bought when he was younger, Strange and Forgotten Magics, and set about reading from where he had last left off. He wouldn't consider himself a genious by any means, but he found strange and almost forgotten magic very interesting. This book was full of the spells. Nightsong brushed his long white mane out of his eyes. Recently, he had visited the doctor's, asking about his constantly changing eye color. His eyes had been blue one day, then a piercing white the next. They would change back and forth from time to time. Nightsong read the book and took a few notes. He didn't particularly enjoy school and studying but he did find magic interesting. His one teacher, miss Brightstream, had actually gone through notes he had taken on the book and agreed they were good, but why couldn't he take notes like these in class anymore? Nightsong cleared his mind of all the thoughts and read, taking notes. One spell caught his eye in particular, an illusion spell that would make ponies and creatures alike see what the caster wanted them to see. Nightsong read thoroughly and decided he'd try it. He saw an owl in one of the trees around him and began his attempt. He concentrated hard and did as he had read. He tried and he tried and he tried, but nothing seemed to work. He gave a sigh of submission, feeling the effects of trying such a spell. "Not good with magic… I'm a unicorn for the princesses' sakes…" he said, shaking his head. He sat there and put his head in his hooves, rubbing his face in frustration. He sniffed and blinked away a tear. He looked up at the position of the moon, now high in the sky. He knew he'd have to return soon and he began to pack his stuff up. He wished he didn't feel the way he did about returning home… his only reason was to help his mother, who had spent the last two years staying with his new sister, who was now a toddler and could speak a little bit. He sniffed his last sniffle and stood. *Who.* Nightsong looked down at where the noise had come from. He saw the owl sitting there, head cocked. He stared at it for a bit, then he shook it off and began to walk away. He kept walking, dreading the thought of going back to the house… it was no home… not anymore. Nightsong heard another *who* and he spun around. The owl was standing there, Nightsong's journal in his beak. Nightsong stared a little longer at it, watching as it hopped towards him, releasing the journal at his hooves. It spun around and took off. Nightsong stood there, wondering about the curious owl, then smiled… something he rarely did now. Nightsong arrived back in town a couple of minutes later. Not a single light was on in any home… except his. "Figures…" he thought. He stepped in and was almost immediately rushed by his uncle and his cousins. His uncle, surprisingly sober enough to get out sentences, yelling at him for coming home so late. His two twin cousins were sniggering behind him.

"And just where have you been?" he demanded. Nightsong immediately scowled and began to walk to his room. His uncle and cousins stood in front of him. "Don't you walk away from me!" he said loudly.

"Yea, he he." laughed Dee, his dirty, greasy mane bouncing around.

"Yea, where've you been?" asked the smarter of the two, Dum.

"It's none of your concern where I've been." Nightsong said calmly, pushing past them. He tried to go further, but the three just got in the way again. "Get out of my way." he said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought I was the one in charge around here!" said his uncle.

"No, you're sadly mistaken." Nightsong said flatly.

"You want to prove me wrong, boy?" he huffed, his face getting even more red than the years of drinking had made it. Even Nightsong's cousins looked at each other unsurely. Nightsong was beginning to become more and more angry, though he didn't let it show.

"You're not worth the effort. You're nothing but a sad excuse for a stallion." he said. His uncle became enraged and looked at his own two boys, boxing the less intelligent one's ears. Both nodded and grabbed Nightsong. Nightsong's mother had come out now, tired and worried.

"Please, leave him alone! He's sorry, he didn't mean it!" she said, trying to diffuse the situation. Nightsong hadn't struggled as the one twin grabbed him and the other removed his saddlebag.

"No, I meant every word of it." he said. He was tired of letting his mother allow his uncle to have free reign on the house. Nightsong's uncle put his head up to Nightsong's and glared at him.

"I think that it would be best if we stepped outside." he growled, his breath still heavy with the smell of hard liquor.

"No, I think it would be best if one of us left and never came back." Nightsong replied, his voice beginning to tremble with rage.

"Well, It's been a great two years. I'll be sure to send your things." he said. His son had gone and rifled through Nightsong's saddlebag and pulled out Nightsong's journal.

"Hey, what's this?" he asked, flipping through the pages. His more intelligent brother let go of Nightsong and began to read through it.

"It's like a diary! Ha! Listen to this! 'Couldn't stop thinking of things to sing. I think I'll take my instruments out here and play in peace.' What is this? I thought you already graduated?" he asked. Nightsong went to grab it, but Dum threw it to his brother who finally caught onto what they were doing. He threw it to his dad who laughed as Nightsong stood there looking angrier than anyone he had ever seen before.

"Give it back now!" threatened Nightsong, his voice sounded dangerous on its own. His uncle smirked and he threw it in the lit fireplace. Nightsong bounded for it but it was too late and it was nothing but a pile of ashes. Nightsong looked back and saw his uncles snaggle toothed smile. Nightsong easily knocked his uncle over and stood over top of him, barely able to control his anger. Despite cries from his mother, Nightsong was about to start mercilessly beating his uncle, who looked up in sheer terror. The twins ran up to him and tried to pull him off before he started but Nightsong shoved them which sent the two sprawling into furniture. Nightsong was just about to set upon his uncle when he heard a familiar voice crying. He looked up and he saw his little sister, crying into his mother's chest. Nightsong looked down at his uncle and he put his hooves down. He stood up and walked over to his sister. "Hey. Hey little missie." he said sweetly. She looked up and wiped away tears that were coursing down her face. "No tears. I love you and mommy. See, we were just playing. No one's going to get hurt. You should get to sleep, you need it." he said. She sniffed and smiled at him. He returned the smile and wiped her face. She gave a little laugh and walked back into her and her mother's room. Nightsong walked into his own and set about packing. He put some clothes, books and pictures into his bag and grabbed his guitar. He set it outside, facing a few neighbors he had awoken with his ruckus. "Hi… everyone." he said. He walked back into the house and went into his mother and sister's room. His mother was lying in her bed, crying, while his sister was trying to comfort her. "Mom. I'm leaving. I can't stay here with them. I love you two so much…" he said, tears forming and his voice cutting at the last words. He walked up and hugged them both for awhile, not wanting to let go, but knowing that he must for both of their sakes.

"Please, don't go… I don't think I could take it…" his mother whispered weakly.

"If I don't, I have a feeling I'll do something I'll regret. I'll send you guys money… but don't let him get any of it. I'll write you guys every chance I get. I love you both." he said.

"I love you too…" she said through stained cheeks. Nightsong released his hug and bent down to meet his sister eye to eye.

"Listen Rosie, I got to go. I'll make sure that I come to see you two as soon as I can. Stay strong and keep momma happy. Don't make her go too insane." he said with another rare smile. She laughed through her tears and put her forelegs around him, never wanting to let go. Nightsong returned the hug and reluctantly let it go. He gave a small pouch of bits to his mother and walked out of the door, grabbing his stuff and walking. Where he was going, he had no idea. All of his neighbors, most knowing the very day and time he was born, looked angrily at his uncle who stood in the door way.

"What are you all looking at?" he said, taking a swig from a bottle. They all shook their heads and returned to their homes. Nightsong's uncle slammed the door shut.