Where There's A Will There's A Way

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Summary: Anon came to Equestria before P0nyville became a thing and had helped the Apple's settle in. A few years later Anon left to travel the world with his little bundle of joy. Eventually Anon came back alone an old man. Many years have passed since then and Iron Will just happened to be in town.

Wrote during the Scruffining in a thread that ended up deleted
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>You are Iron Will
>The one and only Minotaur of Motivation
>It’s been a few years and you were now back in P0nyville for another show
>and a family visit
>All work and no play makes Iron Will a dull bull
>Since you only just arrived there was a lot of work left to be done
>The stage had to be set up; permits had to shown to the Mayor, word had to be spread around town
>Little things that you could leave to your stage crew
>Since there would not be a show for a few days you had the free time
>and so you headed towards Sweet Apple Acres
>You have not visited as much as you should have, a fact you feel a little guilty for
>Who knows how many Apple’s there are now
>and you’re not talking about the fruit
>You reach the house and knock
>There’s a clack of hooves then a clack of metal in an offset pattern
>It’s obvious to you who is going to be answering the door
“Aunt Smith!”
>Your jubilant voice booms with arms open wide as the elderly green mare takes in your opposing form
>“Why stick me in mud and call me a pig, if it aint lil’ Iron.”
>Despite her age the old gal still gives a mean hug
“Except I’m little no more! Took that scrawny body and showed it the door!”
>“Now you know you’ll always be lil Iron in this house.”
>You’re pretty sure you had this very conversation last year
>and had a safe bet on where it was heading next
>“Come in for a spell and rest yer hooves.”
>Blackjack
“Sorry Aunt Smith, but I want to visit Ma and Pa before dark, but I’ll be in town so don’t you frown!”
>“Alright, be sure ta visit sometime when the youngin’s are around. Maybe tomorrow at supper?”
“I’ll make it a plan; to my #1 fan.”
>She always teased you about your work, but not in any sort of negative way
>Your mom and her were really close, sisters not by blood but sisters all the same
>Returning the smile she gave you, you headed away from the Apple orchards and towards the open fields


>The herd of cows just slightly out in the distance were casually moseying along
>Not too long ago you could find your mom near the front leading the herd with her age old wisdom
>but now you could see her withering body near the back
>Age had not been kind to her muscles and bones, but her features remained healthy and wistful
>She took notice of you right away and left the herd to meet you halfway
>“Hey, there’s my big bull.”
“Hey Ma!”
>Your Mom’s hugs could never match the otherworldly strength of Aunt Smith, but her wider frame made them more satisfying
>You could give each other a nice solid hug without ending up holding yourself
>and she always smelled like fresh grass
“How have you been? Has the money been coming?”
>“Oh I’ve been fine, and I told you to stop sending the money. Your father gave all I needed dontchaknow.”
“I know.”
>“Except having you around. You should visit more often.”
“I know Ma, I will.”
>“So what brings you into town?”
“I came to visit”
>“and….”
“…and to do a show.”
>Mother’s always know
>“Oh, still travelling around the world doing shows like your father eh?”
“Yeah. Speaking of Pa, I have to make this short and go visit. I want to get back before it gets too dark. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
>“Promise?”
“Promise! And a promise from Iron Will, will pay any bill!”
>Your Mom chuckled in her hoof at that
>She always did enjoy your little phrases even though she mostly fond them silly
>“Well get going if you want to get back from the Everfree before dark.”
“Cya tomorrow Ma!”
>It was a shorter visit than you liked, but you would be back tomorrow
>Right now you had to start making ground towards the Everfree, which was thankfully nearby


>You were making good time since you were familiar with the route
>but today was turning out to be a ‘meet everyone’ kind of day
>“Ah what is this my eyes do see? Has lil’ Iron come to visit me?”
>You’d know that rhyming anywhere
“Aunt Zecora!”
>It was always a little unsettling how she always found you first
>and that she always looked so young
“Looking good. That anti-aging cream must be working like a dream.”
>She chuckles and there’s a light blush on her face
>“Oh you’re such a charmer. And look at you so massive and vast. It hardly resembles the lil’ Iron of past.”
“Where there’s a will there’s a way, as Pa would always say.”
>Okay that one was unintentional
>Aunt Zecora was a bigger impact on your childhood than you realized
>Normally you could keep such rhyming in check
>but talking with her really brought it out of you
>It certainly came in handy with making those catch phrases
“Sorry Aunt Zecora, but I’m off to visit Pa.”
>“Ah, but of course. Do not let me stand in the way. Go and visit your Father without delay.”
“I’ll be sure to visit sometime soon, “
>Don’t rhyme, don’t rhyme, don’t rhyme
“before the end of Jun…iper berries.”
>Damn it
>Aunt Zecora just gives you a knowing smile
>You return to your travels
>Pa was just a little ways away now
>You’re not entirely sure why he liked it here so much
>There’s a lot you don’t really know about him
>but also a lot you do
>and you finally arrived
“Hey Pa.”
>Although the wilds of the forest have started to lay claim to the little marble monument you could still make out most of the words
>‘Here lies Anonymous. Loving Father and Husband. Now selling light to the Heavens.’


>The last bit was a sort of joke Ma added
>She always called Pa a smooth talker, able to sell anyone anything
>and driven by money
“Long time no see. Doing a show out here in P0nyville again. I’d love for you to have been able to see it. The illegal’s are doing good too.”
>You still were not sure what Pa meant when he used the term ‘illegals’
>When you asked him he just said ‘They do menial labor for very little pay and come with 30 kids’
>He liked hiring illegals
>and so you did the same
>It’s why your crew is entirely goats
>They never really had 30 kids
>and you treated them with the same affection Pa treated you
>Stern yet honest
>A few tears were making themselves known
>Last time you visited you had kept it short
“I’m using the lessons you taught me; applying them to my work. I’m teaching people to be proud of who they are. And making money off it too.”
>Pa always said to work smarter not harder
>Get people invested in your message and let them take over the hard work
“I know you’d be proud.”
>Your job was very rewarding
>Every time you saw a weak, frail, insecure mess do a complete 180 you felt how you imagine your father did
>Like the time a Gryphon tried to take your lunch and Pa told you to give him a knuckle sandwich
“I never really thanked you”
>or the time some Bison’s made fun of your upright posture and Pa told you they were jealous of the clear advantage it gave you
“for all you did”
>or the time some p0nies called you a monster and Pa told you not to worry what they said
>and that they could ‘go buck themselves’
“even though it kept you from Ma.”


>Pa had taken you across the World, getting the other races accustomed to you and spreading tales of the Minotaur Kingdom
>Sometimes he’d have to lie about being your Father, but he always made sure to tell you it was just a lie
>and that the only reason he would ever say such a thing is because he wanted you to not be judged by the World
>Neither for your heritage or your features
>You wipe away the few tears and crack a smile
“You know Pa, I think I’m going to come clean during this show.”
>Your smile grew wider, your stature that of the unfailing wall
“I’m going to tell the World the truth about my parents”
>It felt like sunshine was ready to burst from within you
“I’m damn proud of my Pa, and that goes double for my Ma!”
>Fuck Yeah!
“If someone wants to have a laugh, they’ll be taking a dirt bath!”
>You are Iron Will
>The One and Only Minotaur
>The One and Only Son of Anonymous and Daisy