Name: Roulette
Gender: Male
Age: older foal
Species: Unicorn
Pelt Color: Dark brown/bay
Mane/Tail Color & Style: Roulette’s mane is short, with a forelock that reaches to about eye level. His tail is docked, or cut short permanently, and at current, is a small tuft of hair. Both his mane and tail are a considerably dark gray, with a few darker highlights.
Eye Color: Gold
Cutie Mark: None yet!
Residence: Canterlot
Occupation: Student/Patient
Talents, Skills: Holding his breath, Swimming/diving down
Likes: The ocean, Hippocampi, walking without braces, water, finishing a spell, going to school, his brother, the Royal guard, his parents, compliments, being congratulated, praise, Maverick the whale(Plushie), daytime, helping his mother, training with his father, Belly rubs, jingle bells(Put a bell around his neck and he will be the happiest little colt), Father-son days, sunrise, wildlife, mint chocolate
Dislikes: His sister, thieves, his braces, failing a spell, not being able to read, being laughed at, teasing, insults, the dark, heights, being belittled, put downs, sudden noises, failure, public humiliation, his classmates, being fussed over, being underestimated, being coddled, ‘baby talk,’ salted caramel, stairs, blueberry pancakes, public restrooms, public speaking, falling
Character Personality: Roulette is naturally shy around ponies his age. Because of the limited experience he has with his peer group, he tends to be rather awkward or fearful with foals, especially mares. Roulette doesn't keep a very broad circle of friends, the only three being his brother and two colts he met in the hospital. In fact, he doesn't like too many people around him, and in a crowd, makes sure to stay close to his parents' or Starboard's sides. The only time he won't mind a crowd is at celebrations- The excitement of seeing the Princess, Guards, or Wonderbolts outweighs his anxiety.
Once a pony has befriended Roulette, they will find that he is very knowledgeable, despite his learning difficulties. Roulette was never taught to read, and is only learning recently. Though he can't read words, he loves to hear snippets of information. Roulette knows many random facts from Thespian, an old stallion who works in his mother's shop. While these facts are usually his fallback for awkward situations, he will voice his concerns about his family or Equestria openly, a skill that often gets him in trouble.
Roulette's dream is to become a Royal Guard. He tries his best to keep up with his brother, and practices his magic daily. However, his mind is much more developed than his body. Roulette is a weak magic user, and an even weaker fighter. He isn't afraid to try, though, and will put everything he has into the task at hand. He doesn't like to believe he is worthless, but after a day of failure, or if he can't keep an object suspended with magic, may retreat to his room for the night. His depression never lasts more than a day, and he stands up to whatever he fails until he perfects it. He admires the guard and considers it the highest honor. Roulette will not stand to have anyone say otherwise.
Bio (optional): Roulette comes from a modest family, with a long line of Royal Guards on his father’s side, and mixed professions on his mother’s side. Born Prematurely in the settler town of Appleoosa(It wasn’t really a choice, a vacation ended up turning into a birthday), Roulette was easily the ‘runt’ of his siblings. His newborn years were difficult, with many visits to the hospital and many medications. Due to his early birth, Roulette had, and still has, trouble with his legs. He didn’t crawl or walk on his own, but rather laid on his stomach or side to play. Due to how early he came, he had some development issues with his legs. Since he was two years of age, Roulette has been wearing special braces to correct this issue.
The braces were not fun. Not fun at all. The minute he had the hard plastic tightened around his legs and forcing them into the correct position was the minute he started hating them. They were uncomfortable, scratchy, and most of all, painful. He tried his best not to whine or complain, as he knew his parents were giving up any and all recreational activities to pay for his braces. Starboard, his older brother of five years, acted as a caretaker most of the time. Roulette and Starboard were very close, almost inseparable. When Roulette was able to walk, however wobbly, the two would venture out into Canterlot and see the sights. Soon, Roulette’s skill with walking began to grow, and he was able to go longer distances without falling. It was two years after he first got braces that he was introduced to water.
Water was even worse than braces. Roulette immediately had a distaste for it as his father lifted him and set him in the pool. It was cold, and wet, and cold, and, oh, it was horrid. The nurse didn’t make it any better when she told him to start walking. The ground beneath him was moving- he was going backwards. Roulette didn’t understand until he fell off the moving strip what he had to do. It was forcing him to walk.
There was one good thing about water. It felt like there was no gravity. He mastered walking on the strip within a month, though as soon as he accomplished it, the nurse switched him to swimming. He didn’t understand swimming too well. This water was deeper- he couldn’t touch the bottom. The first time Stronghold placed him in the deep end, he panicked, and chose to cling to his father instead. Despite the scene he caused, Stronghold finally convinced him to swim on his own.
Water and braces were the two banes of Roulette’s existence until Silver Belle arrived. She wasn’t related to any of them, no, but rather a pretty filly who was adopted into the family. What she had in beauty, she lacked in manners. Silver Belle was jealous of her half-brothers, especially Roulette’s ability to use magic. When she found out he had never completed a spell, every day turned into a nightmare. Starboard was training with their father daily for the guard, and Willow Wisp running her shop. Roulette’s babysitting job was what drove him into depression. Silver Belle would tease him, calling him a failure, insulting him, questioning why he used his hooves or mouth instead of levitation. He had never even been in magic kindergarten! Roulette had to say, though, he was a bit jealous of her as well. As the youngest, she was spoiled. He missed having free spider gummis at their shop, and getting to lick the excess batter with Orion, and the bedtime stories. Because of the ‘no pet’ rule in their house, Starboard gave him a plush whale, whom he named Maverick, to keep him company.
When Silver Belle’s antics were finally revealed, and she got a good scolding and punishment from Stronghold, he was already seven years of age. By now, his braces were reduced to joint pads, and his water excersises turned into trips to the lake, or ocean. Roulette was fascinated by the waters and fish, often telling his family stories and facts about them at dinner.
With recent events, Roulette tends to stay close to his mother, and prefers to run the shop rather than go outside. He is deeply concerned for his father and Starboard. Whenever a patrol passes, he peeks out to see if he can find the two in the ranks.