Erf / untitled thingy part 3

The morning came, Sunday, one more day until school. Mono awoke, slowly opening his right eye
and peering about before yawning. [Another morning, one more to go.]. Mono Slowly got out of bed
and stretched his legs, and went to his bathroom to brush his teeth. After doing so, Mono vacated from
his room to the kitchen, which doubled as a dining room. He saw his father, reading the sunday paper.
But his mother was nowehere to be seen.
"Good morning dad, where's mom?.....And breakfast?"
Train lowered his paper onto the dining room table, his face was filled with uncertainty.
Something was up, Mono just took a quick examining of his face, and sat at the table. [Wonder
what's up with dad?]
>"ahh, good morning champ. Yer mom went to pick us up something special. It being the day before the big day"
"huh? oh you mean school right?"
>"yep, though..."
Train sighed, he had to have this talk sooner or later with Mono, but he can't think of how to put his words into a way that doesn't seem like drilling into his son.
>"yer mom wanted me to have a talk with you, about.....a few things."
"a few things? Like what?" Mono was actually curious, he actually had no idea what these things could be, his only guess being most likely his morning outburst from yesterday.
>Well, first. heh, ummm....you know how you seem to know alot more than a colt your age is supposed to know?"
"ummmm, no?" [Great.....so that's what it is] Mono felt abit on edge from those words, he beleived he may have played things up abit too much yesterday. And now was thinking of a way to downplay it.
>"well you know, now that yer mom mentioned it to me. You seem to know alot more than other colts your age. I mean, heh, you went through the "Little Colt's Gifted Learner's Kit" in no time. And yesterday, with the mention...well...hmm..son, do you even know what strategy actually means?"
Mono looked blankly into his father's eyes, how could he give the correct answer without giving himself away. But then a lightbulb went off in his head. How and why would it be giving anything away? He did indeed come out of his mother, there is no evidence other than his own memory that even refers to his former life, and he's never read about any kind of pony,especially earth pony, who could read minds. Mono right then and there, came to realise that there is no way anyone could put the pieces together. Or so he thought anyway. Mono happily smiled "Basically to make a plot that will beat out the other pony's plot. A carefully crafted plan.....right?"
Train looked at Mono, he didn't know what to say. He only felt proud of his son. He didn't really fully agree with Spirit. While Spirit was worried that her son might be into something unusual. Train thought that he couldn't be, considering Mono usually stays home. He only wondered how his son managed it at all.
>"yep, that's right son. Now umm, where'd you learn about strategy anyway?"
Mono lowered his head, now this was a challenge. While he could lie, as his father wasn't perceptive as his mother. He would still tell her and knew this could be an issue if he didn't think of a reasonable explanation. He then thought of Max, and his war stories....as short as that war was anyway.
"Well dad, Mr.Velocity does tell me alot of old war stories. Strategy this, Diamond Dogs that. And I do like to read the papers sometimes. And books from the bookcase"
Train thought, he had seen Mono read the papers sometimes. Though he originally thought it was for the funnies. But he, nor Spirit had ever seen him read a book.
>"ahm ok, but. What books have ya read then?"
Mono felt a chill go down his back [WHAT?!?! COME ON DAD! WHEN WERE YOU THIS SNOOPY!? shit...shit....] Mono slowly looked left and right, he started to shiver [O-o-only one move, oh please...please let this work]
"Well um, I read "Of Mice and Stallions" and erm "Equinstein", eheh.."
>"Didn't know you had an interest in the classics, son. Though if your reading books off our shelves, you are putting em back in the same condition right? Yer mom can be abit ornary about that"
Mono felt like collapsing, not only because it worked, but because of how absurd it all sounded,[What?! Those books do exist?! and WE HAVE THEM?!]  Mono could feel every nerve in his body pop, seems Equestria and Earth were alittle more parralel then he thought.
>"Son? you ok?"
Mono snapped back to reality "oh...oh umm yeah, just" Mono gave a fake yawn "just woke up, tired and all. And yeah, I'm putting em back in the same way I got em. I promise"
>" ahh good, ehehe. I'm proud of ya son, never thought my son would be such a super smarty"
Mono felt a warming feel in his heart from such words. For all his arrogance, wanting of greatness, and being abit of a schemer. He truly did care about his parents, and he always valued what they thought of him. But he couldn't shake a feeling of shame, praise for what was essentially a lucky lie. Even if he is well learned, that's no way to earn praise.
"yeah, heheh...super smarty, hey uh Dad. Can I ask ya something?"
>"Sure son, anything"
Train indeed felt proud, he never thought he'd have such an intelligent child, one who was well read. But as proud as he was, he was still his father. And had a job to do. Mono felt uncertain of a few things all of a sudden. "Well, it's just. And this is just a hypothetical....What if I was so well learned that I well....was recognized as the smartest colt in Equestria, recognized by even Princess Celestia and everyone she knows...and so...I'd be like, seen as a world treasure or something? Would, you be proud of me?"
Train almost laughed, to him. It just seemed like his son's smarts went abit to his head.
>"Course I would champ, but you are already a world treasure to me and yer mom. You don't need to set your goals that high. We'll always be proud of ya"
Train thought to himself, was that the kind of goals his son wanted?
Mono smiled abit, and sighed [I guess I should have expected that, but...dad, even if you think it's some boyish dream. It's something I want to make into a reality...no matter what...still...heh.] "Thanks dad"
>"no problem champ, now...How do you feel about school? About making friends?"
"aww, come on dad. It's not that important"
>"Apparantly it is Mono, ya had abit of a breakdown yesterday I hear."
Mono looked down sadly "Oh, mom told you about that huh?"
>"she did, and there is no shame in being anxious about it all. No matter how smart ya may be, friendship can be a difficult thing to get, but trust me son. It's a great thing to have."
"So I've heard" Mono sighed "Dad, it's just Mr.Velocity said the other ponies think i'm wierd and stuff, and I dunno. Friends would be nice, but I don't think anyone my age could keep up with me"
>"Ahh come on Mono"
Train got up and nudged his son lightly
>"Don't be so stiff, it's just some like to make stuff up. It'll pass, I promise."
"yeah but..."
>"And don't think like that Mono. Friends come in lots of varieties, they don't need to be super smart to be special to you, and you to be special to them. For example, me and  Doctor Bones are good friends, and I ain't good at doctorin' at all. It's just we are friends because we onnect well, and like alot of the same things, And all that good stuff."
[But you're both adults dad,,,,]
"I guess..." Mono frowned
Train couldn't  figure out why Mono frowned, he thought he did a good job of explaining it. He shook his head, and tried to be abit firmer.
>" hey son, come on now. There's more to life than just being super smart. It's about being a good stallion, helping others in need, being selfless, being courageous. Smarts alone won't get you too far. And with friends, you can form an unbreakable bond and an unbeatable team. Life's challenges will be nothen with a good heart, clean life, and great friends."
Mono started to feel annoyed, he looked at his father, still frowning "Dad, it's not that. I just don't want to have friends who will hold me back, you already said I'm super smart. Why should I have to deal with anything less? And even then, why bother if they already judged me?" a foolish sentiment from Mono's part, but that's how it is with him. Trying to use his former life as an advantage and focus point without realising that in all actual circumstances, he should be just a normal happy colt.
Train sighed and frowned, he felt sadness within his heart that his boy didn't seem to grasp a point that any colt his age should grasp. He felt confused because he doesn't know what he did to have raised him to have those kinds of notions.
>"son...please listen to me. kids will be kids. and that's what you are, a kid. Every pony is different, and some kids can be abit cruel sometimes. But trust me, it's just a stupid thing. Something that you yourself can fix by showing them the best you can be. But this....this thinking your better than everyone. That's not a way ya want to go. Everyone is special in their own way. It's not just them seeing the good in you son, it's the way you see the good in them."
Mono felt abit shocked, he never heard such wise words from his father. Nor has he ever heard his father actually lecture him in such a way. And at this point, what else could he think. Max, his mother, and now his father had each done in thier own way to try to explain that to him. And even when he considered it, he never took it serious enough or took it hard just on the opinions of him.
Mono put his hoof on his forehead, he felt uneasy. tears starting to fill his eyes. [Dad...mom... I...just don't know....you can't understand. My life hit a reset, but...it's in this place. I just don't want to go through it all again, I just want...I want...what I know I deserve..] Train put his hoof around Mono, and held him close
>"Son, what's wrong?"
[then why am I crying?...It can't be as something as simple as that] But it was, Mono started to slowly realise that having what he wants might, and only might, be pointless if he has no one to share it with. His parents would always be proud of him, and for his ambition. He needed more it seems, but the possibility of needing friends? even if they couldn't understand? He had friends before. In his old life. But they never understood....and yet. they were there when he needed them, and he felt warm in thier company. Atleast, for awhile before distance and life became more of a burden. But what about in this world? Do those problems even exist?
>"Son?"
"Dad...." Mono hugged into him. "a-a-re you sure? everything you just said. Do...do you honestly beleive in it? All of it. with n-no doubt?"
Train rubbed his hoof on his head, he didn't expect this.
>"Well son, I beleive it 200%. I mean, if I didn't. You wouldn't be here. It's what I live by, and it's by such beleif on how me and yer mom came to be. eheh."
[....I wouldn't be here? hmmmnnn...how stupid can I be?  if he didn't mean it, he'd be as lonely as I am...and I'd probably be floating in nothingness.] "...alright dad.." Mono sniffed, and hugged his father tightly. "I...I think I get it now" [...h..how could I not. Maybe I am racing too far ahead...maybe some things, are worth starting over.]
Train smiled, he finally got through to him. he stopped hugging his son and gave him a smile, and nudged him again.
>"now now Mono, don't ya worry. That's why me and yer mom is here. To help ya out whenever you got any trouble. Besides, I didn't get to tell ya a really big surprise."
Mono sniffed, and gave his dad an inquisitive look "a surprise? is it cookies?"
Train laughed
>"hahaha, no no. But if yer hypothetical wasn't a hypothetical. It might be a stepping stone"
Mono looked at him, enourmously puzzled. "What do you mean dad?"
>"Well, it turns out the train I fixed is for a quick roundtrip. a certain passenger will be coming to speak at yer school about somethin'...dunno what exactly."
"...ahh come on dad, you mean that train bound to Ponyville? what could possibly be so important from there"
>"Well, as I understand it. It's Princess Celes..."
Mono's eyes went wide. "PRINCESS CELESTIA?!? DAD...D..DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?!"
>"son"
"DAD! THIS IS MY CHANCE!" Mono jumped up, and around. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?!" Mono lost all self control.
>"Son"
"DAD! IT'S GONNA BLOW YOUR MIND! HAHA, YOU'LL BE SUPER PROUD"
>"ummm son, it's not her"
"AND THEN.....what?..." Mono stopped and stared "what? didn't you just.."
Train gave him a look, then laughed
>"gee son, hahaha. I guess it wasn't so hypothetical. What's that all about?"
Mono rubbed the back of his head and blushed embarassingly. "ehe,  hehe...nothen, just. I guess I have big dreams"
>"I can see that, haha. Relax son, ya gotta take even big dreams with little steps. Besides, you weren't gonna just try to get to the top without taking what we talked about into consideration were ya?"
Mono paused [was I?] he cringed abit [....come on Mono, obviously friendlessness is bothering you. And here you were, about to do just what he said] "ah...sorry dad,  got abit excited. hehe...n-no worries though, I  won't forget what we talked about. But...if the princess isn't coming. Then who?"
>"Well, apparantly it's the Princess's star pupil. Her name is Twilight Sparkle I think."