Ten years later.

“Braveheart!” a small filly called out into the forest, “Braveheart! Mommy says that dinner is ready!” and again there was no response, but she continued to walk into the forest, unafraid and determined in her quest to find the elusive colt.

Several minutes past and the filly continued farther into the forest. The darkness around her continued to grow with every step she took, but it didn’t scare her, because her daddy was the bravest pony in Equestria and she wanted to be as much like him as possible. She continued her journey deeper until she saw something move in a bush out of the corner of her eye.

“Braveheart?” she asked the bush, walking to it, “is that you in there?” the bush only moved again, but this time more violently, “It’s… it’s NOT funny Braveheart!” she yelled frightfully, “Stop that!”

Then something popped it’s head out of the bush, the filly jumped back in fright and ran to a nearby rock to hide. She quickly poked her head out from behind her cover to see the head of a chicken sticking out of the bush. The small filly let out a sigh of relief and giggled to herself.

“I can’t believe that I got scared of one of mommy’s chickens…” she giggled to herself stepping out from behind the rock. “But when I came in here, all the chickens were already in the coup… I guess it’s a new chicken!”

The filly’s eyes doubled in size along with her smile, “Mommy will be so happy when she finds out I went into the Everfree Forest all by myself and got Braveheart AND a new chicken!”

Carefully making her way back to the bush she began to do her best to emulate he mother’s way of coaxing the bird. “Come on, little chicken,” she said trying to lure it out, “I’m going to take you to your nice new home.”

Then what the filly thought was a chicken walked out of the bush, revealing the rest of its reptilian body and bat like wings. The filly became frozen in fear, the creature was nothing like what she thought it was, instead it was one of the deadliest animals her mommy warned her about, a cockatrice.

The filly screamed at the top of her lungs running as fast as she could to get away from the monster, but in the end she wasn’t fast enough. The cockatrice grabbed her by her back hoof and threw her into the air only to catch her by her mane. The filly kicked and screamed as loud and hard as she could, but the beast was far too strong. It turned to go deeper into the forest and enjoy its meal.

The beast’s journey was halted however, by a sudden pain in his stomach. Causing him to arch into itself, dropping the filly in the process. She flew through the air, expecting to feel the pain of landing squarely on the ground, but instead she felt the tight grip of forelegs embracing her and the sound of heavy panting and the beating of wings.

“Do you have her?!” Somepony yelled franticly.

“YES!” The other replied convaying the same sense of urgency, “Now let’s get the heck outa here!”

They ran as fast as they could from the animal, the filly still in the forelegs of her rescuer. The cockatrice was close behind; it didn’t want to be denied such an easy meal. They grew closer and closer to the edge of the forest, but with only feet to spare the beast grabbed hold of the largest one’s leg. The young pony struggled to free himself while the beast drug him back into the forest, but with a swift kick from his free leg, the Cockatrice released him screeching in pain. The colt used the distraction to find the other two filly’s in their mother’s back yard. When the smallest saw the he had returned, she rushed into his embrace, tears streaming down her face.

“I’M SORRY BRAVEHEART!” she cried, “I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU AND-“

“It’s alright Posy…” Braveheart said gently patting her on the head, “Angel Wing and I are just happy that you’re ok.”

“Sis,” Angel Wing began, “mom AND dad said that none of us should go into the forest alone, especially you,” she looked back into the direction the cockatrice ran off in. “you could’ve been bird food.”

“I don’t think she needs to hear that Angel…” Braveheart said, “She’s only four.”

“I know, but still it coulda happened…” Angel replied, “She’s lucky we were outside when she started screaming.”

“Angel, can you go back and stall for us while we walk back?” Braveheart asked, “I think she needs a little more time.”

“Ok,” Angel said taking flight, “but I’m not promising anything over five minutes!” and just like that she was gone.

Braveheart looked back down to Posy, his stern look made her want to hide again, “Why did you come out here all alone?” he asked her, “You know how dangerous it is.”

“I-I was trying to be brave…” she said between tears, “like… like daddy… like you…”

“I’m only brave when I have to be, Posy…” Braveheart said, “When Angel and I heard you scream I was never so scared in my whole life.”

“YOU were scared?” Posy asked shocked, “but your never scared…”

“I was today.” Braveheart replied, looking into the forest. “I was scared of losing you…” he drew her closer to him in a protective fashion

“That cockatrice sure was scared of you wasn’t he?” Posy asked smiling, looking up to him.

“That’s because nopony messes with your big brother!” he said, smiling giving Posy a small noogie. The two laughed as Posy did her best in a failing attempt to escape her big brother’s grip. Then the moon began to shine through the trees and they paused to look at the stars.

“Could you promise me something Braveheart?” Posy asked looking to the stars.

“Of course Posy,” Braveheart replied looking down to her.

“Do you promise to keep the promise?” she asked looking him square in the eyes.

“You know me, Posy…” Braveheart said rubbing the top of her head, “When I make a promise, I keep it.”

“Ok…” Posy said looking back to the stars, “could you promise me to always protect me?” she looked back to him, “To always be there for me?”

“I promise, Posy…” Braveheart said, “I will always protect you and be there for you.”

“Thank you, Braveheart.” Posy said doing her best to wrap her hooves around him.

“It’s my pleasure, Posy.” Braveheart said returning the hug, “Now come on, I’m sure Angel is running out of things to stall mom.”

The two laughed and rose to go back inside. Once he opened the door he saw his mother and Angel in the middle of a tense conversation, he cleared his throat to get both their attention. When Fluttershy saw the two she darted to them, embracing them tightly. When asked where they were Braveheart told his mother word for word Angel’s story, adding that he got cut when he tripped over a stray branch on their sidewalk. Intially, she was scpetical, but she noticed how tired Posy looked and decided to leave the conversation for the morning. A few minutes later, the two older foals were reading themselves for what they hoped would be a good night’s rest.

“I can’t believe you came up with the same story as I did!” Angel said, grabbing her favorite teddy. “How did you do that?”

“You always tell one of three stories Angel…” Braveheart said looking over his bed, “I was bound to get it right eventually.”

“Oh…I guess I need to become more imaginative” the two stood at the foot of their bunk bed then Angel spoke again. “What took you two so long? Mom was actually yelling at me…” she giggled a bit at the thought, “If you count that as yelling.”

“She just wanted me to make a promise, Angel,” Braveheart said climbing under the covers, “that’s all.”

“Oh, well next time don’t take so long to promise her something ok?” Angel said flying to the top bunk. “Especially since dad’s coming back soon.”

“Alright,” he said thinking about what was said in the forest and just now, “I promise.” He closed his eyes and drifted off into peaceful sleep, ready for the next day to come.

One year later.

“Do I have to go daddy?” Posy asked Greatsword as he adjusted her saddlebags, “I wanna stay here with you and mommy.”

“I know you want to stay with us Posy.” Greatsword said making the final adjustments, “But today is the day that you start becoming a big mare.”

“But Braveheart and Angel Wing say school is bad…” Posy said looking to the door.

“It’s bad if you don’t know how to make it fun…” Greatsword said looking to his older foals. “And you’ll make a lot of friends; don’t you want to meet new ponies?”

“I like the ponies I know…” Posy replied, “I don’t wanna meet new ponies…”

A single tear ran down her face, only to be whipped away by the steady hoof of her father. “I know you don’t want to… unfortunately you get that from both sides, but I need you to be brave.” He lifted her chin so she would look at him, “can my little Posy be brave for daddy?”

“I guess I can…” Posy said.

“That’s my girl…” Greatsword said patting her on the head, “come on let’s get you with the others so we can all walk to school together, I’m sure you’ll like that.”

Posy nodded as her father escorted her to her older siblings. The four of them all nodded and with Fluttershy close behind they all walked to school. After a few minutes of walking they were finally there. Greatsword and Fluttershy looked them over one last time, much to the older ones embarrassment. Then Fluttershy gave Posy one last look.

“Posy, you be good for Cheerilee now…” she said, “She’s an excellent teacher.”

“I will mommy…” Posy said looking to all the other foals, “there are SO many…”

“It’s for foal’s age’s five to twelve, Posy…” Greatsword explained, “Your big brother has only one year left here, but he’ll show you the ropes by then and Angel Wing will be here for another couple years, but by the time she’s gone you’ll be able to handle yourself.” He looked to his foals one last time, “your mother and I have to be going now, we’ve got about a year of catching up to do.” He and Fluttershy waved as the bell rang and they walked inside, “Be good, love you!”

“THAT was excruciating…” Angel said placing her hoof over her face, “I thought that would never end.”

“Spelling word?” Braveheart asked.

“Spelling word…” Angel replied, the two older ones walked to the desks in the middle of the building, but Posy stood there motionless.

“Where do I sit?” she asked timidly, but the others were too far off to hear her. She continued to walk aimlessly hoping to find them but instead she ran into another, bigger pony. “Oh I’m sorry.” She said backing away “I didn’t mean to-“

“Who are you kid?” the bigger pony said, “and why did…” he looked over the shaking filly thoroughly seeing if she had anything worth taking, “Nice saddlebags… hoof ‘em over.”

“Wha-what?” Posy stuttered looking to her saddlebags, “my saddlebags?”

“Yeah…” he said, “give me your saddlebags.”

“But I don’t want to…” Posy said trying to back away.

“If you don’t want to give them I’ll just-” he began but he was cut off by the voice of another.

“Hey Posy!” Braveheart said, walking to them, “We’re over here.” He looked to the scene taking place between his sister and the others. Stepping in front of Posy like a mother lion and her cub he stared down the leader, “Is there a problem here?”

“No.” the leader said, “she just bumped into me, that’s all.”

“Alright,” Braveheart said as they walked off, he turned to Posy with a smile, “Come on, I’ll show you where Angel and I sit.” Posy eagerly followed her older brother to his seat, where she saw Angel and another filly sitting next to her. Angel and the other filly motioned her to sit next to them and after looking to her brother for reassurance she made her way to them.

“And who might this adorable little ting be Braveheart?” the filly asked as he sat next to her and Posy.

“She’s my little sister, Posy,” Braveheart explained, “she’ll be sitting with us until she becomes more comfortable around this place.”

“Posy huh?” she said looking the timid filly over, “nice to meet you, my name is Wildfire.”

“H-he-hello…” Posy said hiding behind her mane.

“Braveheart, she is just too cute!” Wildfire said still looking at her. “I wish I had one.”

“She’s never been around anypony but us, Wildfire,” Braveheart said, “the only unicorns she knows is our aunt, uncle and cousin. She’ll warm up to everything around here in time.”

“Well as long as she stays this adorable.” Wildfire said, turning her attention to Braveheart, “she’ll have a new friend.”

“Here that Posy?” Braveheart said rubbing her head, “Only ten minutes in school and you’ve already made a friend.”

“What about that mean one?” Posy asked looking around, “I don’t wanna give him my saddlebags…”

“Remember Posy…” Braveheart said, “I made you a promise, and I assure you that he won’t be bothering you ever again.”

Posy nodded and looked forward to the chalkboard. Though she was still nervous about how everything would turn out she knew that with Barveheart to watch over her, there was nothing she couldn't do.