//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: The First Journey: Feelings of Etherealism // by Kaille //------------------------------// ~Chapter 13: A Step Further~ I walked to Sweet Apple Acres and went hunting for the orange mare who ran the farmstead. She wasn't at the barn or main house, nor were any of the family, so I took to the air to scan the trees for signs of apple bucking. I did not see any shaking leaves, but I picked up laughter and splashing. I flew to the lake that Rainbow Dash and I played around in and found the Apple family enjoying the day at the lake. Day off I guess. I flew down a little way in the trees and walked the rest of the way to the lake, appearing in line of sight of those relaxing on the shore. Applejack and Applebloom were playing in the water, and Big Mac was lying on the shore sunbathing, a piece of wheat hanging from his mouth. Granny Smith was off to the side, passed out on a foldable lawn chair. Applebloom noticed me first, and called out. "Hey there, Ink! How are yah'?" I grinned as Applejack and Big Mac turned to me, also calling out in greeting. I continued over to them, stopping a few feet from Big Mac. Applebloom and Applejack swam to the shore next to us and shook the water out of their fur a little. I greeted them in return on the way. "I'm pretty good! Thanks for asking. Although, I have to apologize Applejack. I needed to replace your bag you lent me." When I reached that part she cocked her head to the side, a confused look clearly displayed on her face. "What was that now, sugarcube? Why in tarnation didja' need tah' replace the saddlebag Ah lent yah'? That was a strong old thang." I grimaced a little. "I had to shred it for bandages to help a pony last night." All of their faces showed shock at this, even Big Mac. Applebloom was the first to speak up. "Are they alright? It wasn't too bad, Ah hope?" I nodded in assent. "Yes, she's fine. I got her to the hospital. She will take a while to recover though. Here." I pulled the bag for Applejack and gave it to her, and then proceeded to explain the situation, leaving out Chroma's name. I was unsure what she would think about me spreading the event around town and giving out her name. I would find it embarrassing if it happened to me. When I finished the story they were all shocked, but then Applebloom glomped my neck, surprising me. "Ah knew yah' were a good pony! Ahm' glad yah' helped her out!" I laughed and hugged her back. "I would never have forgiven myself and been sick of me if I had simply walked past. I refuse to let any pony go without help." Applejack walked over and gave me a hug as well now. "Ahm' glad there are ponies like yourself in the world, darlin'. It makes things look a lil' brighter." I smiled and now hugged her back. "Thank you. I appreciate it. But if anyone is to be thanked, it's my mom. It's the way she raised me." Big Mac walked over and raised a hoof. I lifted mine and we brohoofed, us nodding to each other in respect. "Now, I didn't want to spoil your day at the lake. I'll take my leave, then." Applebloom clung to my leg. "Why don'tcha stay n' swim with us? It'll be fun!" She said beaming. Applejack nodded with a smile, and the corner of Big Mac's mouth lifted as well. I grinned. "Well, I don't see why not. So. . ." I launched into the air with Applebloom still latched onto my leg, her screaming. I spun over and shot for the surface of the water, tucking my leg in to make me hit the water first and have her follow me in. I surfaced again and lifted my leg out of the water, her still on it. She was laughing like mad, her hair slick to the sides of her head and neck. Applejack was laughing on the shore as well, and Big Mac was chuckling. ~ We swam for a couple hours, reaching supper time. We returned to the Apple residence and I split off for town, letting them know that I was going to see the mare of the night before in the hospital. AJ nodded in understanding, wishing me a good night. I lifted off, deciding to take a nice and relaxing flight over. I stopped at the same restaurant I had earlier and picked up some salad and milk. I arrived at the hospital, greeting the nurse at the main desk quickly and asking if it would be alright if I visited Chroma. After getting the green light to do so, I walked down the hall and knocked on her door. "Enter!" She called back out. I stepped in and she turned to me, smiling. "Hello, Ink! Nice to see you." I smiled in return. "Likewise, Chroma. I brought more food!" I said, pulling the bag of food out of my saddlebag with my wing, and the bottle of milk with a couple of cups over the cap with my other. She grinned. "I hope you are keeping a tab; I will have racked up quite the bill with you by the time I get released. Wait, scratch that, I actually hope you AREN'T keeping one. Means I don't have to pay you back." She said with a wink, and I laughed. I walked over sat in the chair next to her bed and laid out our meal. We began to eat, and after a couple of bites Chroma turned to me. "I am curious; you already took me to the hospital and helped me begin my recovery. Why are you still helping me, and feeding me as well?" After she voiced the question, I actually stopped for a few seconds, thinking. I honestly didn't know why. "I. . . don't know, actually. I think I feel slightly responsible for helping you recover, and. . . I seem to feel a connection with you. Maybe it's just because of you being an artist as well, but. . . I don't think so." Both of us were a little taken aback by my response; for the response itself and how open I was about it. We sat silent for another second before Chroma smiled. "Thank you. Not many ponies would say something like that. Hay, not many ponies would even do what your doing." I smiled in response, and put my hooves out wide to the side. "Your very welcome, and thank you as well for the compliment. I was brought up to be good and caring." Chroma's smile widened, and she surprised me by leaning over and embracing me tightly, face pushed firmly into my neck. She then silently said into my ear. "Let me say it again. Thank you, Ink." My smile softened, and I hugged her back. Just as silently as her, "Your welcome, Chroma. Anytime." We sat for a minute before separating, still softly smiling at each and looking each other in the eyes. We only broke the gaze to return to eating in a companionable silence. ~ A couple of weeks passed uneventfully, me working for AJ and visiting Chroma every morning and night. I would bring her books if she asked, and bring food every time. We grew to have a very strong friendship from this, and now, she was cleared to leave the hospital. Her leg is going to be in a brace, preventing her from bending it, and her wing as well, tucked tight to her body. She was not allowed to fly for a few more weeks until the nurses were sure her body had recuperated enough. I asked AJ for the day off to help Chroma and got an okay, so I made my way to the hospital. I arrived and greeted the nurse at the counter like I have for the past couple of weeks. I have grown to be good friends with the entire staff of the building from my repeated visits. I walked to Chroma's room and rapped on the door, as has become habit. "Come on in, Ink! You know you don't need to knock." Chroma called out with a giggle. I smiled and walked in to find her and Nurse Redheart. The nurse was in the process of putting the brace on Chroma's wing, and now that she was up on her four legs, I realized the height difference between us a bit more. She was a few inches shorter than I, head roughly reaching the base of me eye when she stood up fully. She had a little bit of a shy air about her, but held herself confidently enough that she was definitely approachable, and would come across as a kind pony, even if you had never seen her before. I walked over to her on the opposite side of the nurse. "Anything I can help with miss Redheart?" The nurse smiled and nodded. "Please grab this strap, if you don't mind." I took it in my teeth and pulled it over to my side and used my wings to lift the clasp hanging under her, cinching it together. The nurse nodded to me in appreciation and we both walked in front of Chroma, turning to face each other in a small triangle. I looked to Chroma and smiled, her smiling back. We turned to the nurse, who was quickly checking over her clipboard, making sure all was well. "Well Chroma, everything seems to be fine. You are free to check out. I have some things to take care of around the clinic, so I will say farewell here." She gave us a quick nod which we returned gratefully. "Thank you for the help miss Redheart." Chroma said, shuffling over and hugging the nurse lightly. The nurse hugged back, smiling. I took my turn hugging her and thanking her now, and she left the room. Chroma and I looked at each other now. I spoke first. "Well, shall we?" The pale green mare smiled and nodded, and we made our way out of the room ourselves now. I kept a close eye on Chroma, keeping near until she figured out the best way to move with the cumbersome brace over her leg restricting her movement. We reached the front desk and checked out, giving a quick farewell to the nurses present and left the building. Chroma looked up to the sky the moment she was out the door and sighed, enjoying the sunlight. We began to walk down the street, and then I thought it would be good to ask. "Where are we going anyway? Your place or mine? Or, do you want to stop for a quick bite to eat?" Chroma looked at me, and the way the sunlight hit her face lit her up in just the right way, showing off the beautiful lines of her jaw and cheeks. "Lets eat first; I am a little famished." I nodded and we started down the street. I decided we would stop at the place I was frequenting recently to feed us both, thinking it might be nice to show her where the food was coming from for the past while and also thinking it would be better fresh. We reached it and walked in the door. The brown unicorn stallion tending the kitchen just inside turned to the door at the sound of the bell above it ringing and smiled when he saw me. "Ink! Nice to see you. I take it this lovely lady here is the one I have been feeding the for the last while?" Chroma blushed a little at this and I laughed lightly. "Yes, she is. She just got released from the hospital, so I took her here to meet you and have some of your food fresh." He smiled back. "Great! Go ahead and seat yourselves wherever you like; I will be over with menus shortly." We did as he said and grabbed a booth for two near a window, looking out at the main town square, seeing all the hustle and bustle of the little town go around. After a few seconds he appeared with two menus floating above him and a couple of glasses of water with lemon slices as well. "Here you go! Go ahead and call out for me when your ready, alright?" We nodded and he trotted off back to the kitchen. Chroma opened her menu and began to scan the contents of it. I followed suit and perused the document, looking for something that caught my eye. After we found what we wanted I hailed the proprietor of the establishment and delivered our order. He nodded and told us it would be ready shortly. We sat and talked back and forth, myself mentioning how work went the day before and Chroma connecting it to something that happened to her in the past, simply bantering a little more and enjoying each others company. The chef arrived after a while and we got into our food, enjoying the flavours and textures. He managed to make a dish that compared to one of my favourite Indian fish dishes back on Earth while not using real fish, and I savoured every last bite of it. Chroma and I tasted each others dishes and continued our banter as we ate. We finished and I payed for the meal, then we exited the building back onto the streets of Ponyville. "So, where to next Chroma?" She smiled and looked up to me. "Do you mind if we went to my place? I would like to show you around, and it would be good for me to check up on it after so long." I nodded in agreement and I let her take the lead. We wove around through the streets until we reached a nice house, big enough for a couple, next to the Founder's Park and Maple Park. I found myself wondering if she was with some pony, or just doing pretty well on her own, because I knew artists often didn't get paid very well, unless they were masters at what they did. We walked up the steps and Chroma stuck her head into the mail slot next to her door, pulling out a key and opening the door. She deposited the key on a small table just inside the door and proceeded into her house. I followed, and my jaw dropped. She didn't just do well; her place simply screamed class, and my style as well. Stark white walls with artwork hung everywhere, and nice black faux-leather sofas with one red love seat in the mix. There was a beautiful and simple cast iron table with a glass top in the centre of the circle of sofas, and the ceiling vaulted up to the second floor. On the left side past the living room and under the second floor was a nice open-concept kitchen that contrasted the modern minimalist living room wonderfully. It had and old-fashioned fire-engine red stove, dishwasher, and sink, an island across from them in the middle of the room with multi-coloured pastel tiles, and a cast iron rack attached to the chilling above it with pots and pans hanging from it. The cupboards looked to be made out of salvaged wood that had the paint scraped off, and the dining room table and chairs past the island were made of driftwood. Chroma wandered into the living room and flopped onto the red couch, sighing contentedly. "Oh, how I have missed this couch. . ." She looked at me over her shoulder smiling. "Well, do come in. Make yourself comfortable." I brushed my hooves on the mat just inside the front door and walked over to the couch across the table from her, under the window. The sun came in through the window and struck her on the couch across from me, once again displaying how beautiful she was. "Ink? You alright?" I snapped back to attention and shook my head. Apparently I zoned out staring at her. "Uhh, yeah. Sorry." She giggled and shifted position on the couch to better talk to me. "Well, how do you like my place?" I chuckled. "It's the house I always dreamed of for myself. To a T." She laughed. "Well, thats good then. Thank you." She thought for a second and then spoke again. "You know what. I have grown to really trust you over the last couple of weeks. Do you want to get out of that hotel and maybe use my guest bedroom?" I was floored at the proposition. "Oh, uh, thank you! I would love to! Are you sure I wouldn't be imposing?" She smiled and got off the couch. "Not at all! Here, let me show you around. You might want to know which room is yours, eh?" That little 'eh' at the end of her sentence I found oddly entertaining; my Canadian-ness was drawn to the little inflection. She lead me down a hall with bright red walls, matching the living room couch, and opened up a door in the hall to a bedroom. "Here it is!" The bed had electric blue sheets, and the carpet on the floor matched it perfectly. The walls were stark white like the living room and there was a black shelf next to the bed on one side, akin to the Expedit shelf from Ikea on Earth, and small vibrant yellow bedside table on the opposite side. The fan hanging from the white and flat ceiling- Thank god, no stucco!- was just as blue as the bed, leaving a very energetic feel to the room. The window was on the opposite side of the house as the living room window so that the sun would shine through in the morning, but had black drapes to pull across it. I turned to the mare with a grin from ear to ear. "This is perfect. You have taste." She laughed, a beautiful sound indeed. I was getting attracted to her more and more. "Thank you, Ink. We can go grab your things now, if you like." I smiled and nodded. "You are very welcome. And I would appreciate it." AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the delayed update. Been trying to figure out where to go with this chapter, but hopefully, updates should come a little smoother now, and more frequently. HOPEFULLY.