I had ten bits left, enough to get me to Slade and nothing more. That is how dawn found me at the station, waiting on my train. The teller looked at me funny when I spent ten minutes learning how to open my bag and to exchange bits for the ticket, watching as the coins and paper would slip out of my hoof. As I stood near the train loading station, I thought about what I was doing.
I felt that the sooner I got to Riches, the sooner she would be safe. I also wanted more time to build up my courage before seeing Stone again, as I still felt it was my fault for his death last time. I boarded the train when it arrived and took a seat by a window.
I need a plan. I have no money left and I need to get Riches to trust me. Last time, I had the bits available to feed her until that happened. Now? Well, as much as I live to react to situations, I think this one needs to be thought out. I hate to say it, but maybe it’s best if I caught those thugs messing with her. If I did... what? I’d fight? I just learned how to walk, how am I going to defend her?
I spent the rest of the trip practicing my movements: dodging, bucking, and punching. It was slow going, but I was learning how to balance properly. By the time I felt confident enough to hold my own against an opponent with a limp, I arrived at Slade’s train station.
As I stepped onto the platform, I glanced at the town hall's clock to find only six hours of sunlight left. The station attendant informed me of potential tourist spots as I walked past, not that he was talking to me specifically. Then, I came across a new problem: stairs.
In the hotel I stayed, my room was on the ground floor. The platform at Ponyville had a ramp to walk up. Slade had stairs. Alright, I’ve learned how to walk and sorta fight. I can lean forward and walk down some measly stairs, right? One step at a ti- “Wooah!”
Well, I made it down the stairs at least. Three steps, that was all I had to do, and I failed. I slipped on the first step down and tumbled to the bottom, but the short drop wasn’t bad enough to harm me.
“Ohmagosh, are you okay?” a voice said as I untangled my limbs. I didn’t respond immediately, waiting until I stood up and tested my weight on each leg. Pain from the fall was all I felt, but at least nothing was broken or bruised too badly.
“Yeah, looks like I’m fine.” I looked up to see a tan pegasus with green hair and saddlebags. She had a worried frown on as she spoke again.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, just a little tumble. Thanks for the concern.”
“What a relief. I was so worried when I saw you slip from my handkerchief.” After she said that, I looked back to see a white cloth still sitting on the steps like the demon it was.
“I see...”
“I’m so sorry! It fell out of my bags and-”
“No need to apologize; I’m alright and it was an accident.” I limped over and picked up her kerchief to save another passerby.
As I handed it to her, she said, “Oh, you really are hurt. You’re limping!”
“I’m just sore is all, no need to worry about it. I’ll be fine in a few minutes, really.”
“Oh, no, no, no. I must make it up to you.” She started digging through her saddlebags.
“No, please. Don’t worry about it.”
“Never,” she said as she removed a pouch from within the bags and set it down in front of me. When I didn’t make a move, she said, “Take it. I won’t take no for an answer.” She nudged the bag closer and I heard bits raddle within.
“Ma’am, I really...” I trailed off as she spread her wings and flew away. “...right.” With a sigh of acceptance, I picked up the bag with my mouth and nuzzled my shoulder bag open to place the coin purse within. Fall down, get money when I need it most. There’s just so much kindness around here, it’s like Canada!
I began walking aimlessly in search of Riches. Over time, the soreness left me just as I told the pegasus it would, but I was grateful for her kindness all the same. As I turned a corner, I spotted the colts that picked on Riches when I met her the first time... in the future... time... thing. With a sudden headache, I approached the two as they were walking and overheard their conversation.
“-fun.”
“Yeah, what do you want to do now?”
The first colt seemed to think it over for a bit. “How about messing with that orphan filly? It’s always good for a laugh.”
“Nah, we did that yesterday when we trashed her little alley home.”
“Right, right. I still have a laugh at remembering her face when she saw us.”
“Yeah, and when she ran off to that tavern across the street expecting some help?”
I left them as soon as I heard that. Now that I knew the place I saw her originally was actually her home, I didn’t need to keep listening. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t get into a fight with the young stallions with my current skills.
The tavern came into view after a few turns down other streets and I found myself looking towards a familiar alleyway. Trash was littered about and paint was thrown on the walls in crude designs. I heard rustling from the far end, near the brick wall with the largest amount of destruction. Cautiously, I entered the alley.
“Hello? Is anyone in here?” I said as I slowly made my way to the back. “I heard some noises and...” and what? Wanted to save a little filly scared of everyone? I’m way over my head here. A small glint of golden fur caught my eye and I turned to watch where it disappeared. “Whoever you are, I’m not here to hurt you.” Classic...
Ruby red eyes peered out from a darkened spot of debris. They watched as I stared back at them and sat down. I really hope I can play this out right. I know her, but she doesn’t know me. What do I know about her? C’mon, think!
“W-who are you?” a small voice said from the trash. Her voice, though frightened, still held that beautiful sound I remembered.
“A friend.” Oh god, what is this, an afterschool special?
Her head peeked out. Even dirty as she was, the silver mane held a slight glimmer. “I don’t know you, and nopony is my friend.”
“I want to be. What’s your name?”
“I’m not telling.”
“I’ll give you a name, then.”
“What is it? I’ve heard them all: urchin, scum, waste, orphan. All of them!” This is not going well.
“Woah, woah. I would never call you such names. Why don’t we get something to eat?”
“No. You’re trying to gain my trust so you can do stuff to me.” What?! Oh god, I’m coming off creepy to her!
“NO!” She flinched when I shouted and buried herself into the mess again. “No, please. Come on out. I want to help you.”
“I d-don’t want your p-pity.” My yell seemed to have scared her back to when we started.
Alright, new approach. Using my knowledge against her. “I’m at your command. Just help me help you and I’ll do anything you want.”
“I don’t need your help!”
“Riches, you’re living in an alleyway, surrounded by trash,” I said, trying as hard as I could to keep the disapproving tone out of my voice.
“Riches?” Oh, yay... Let’s just repeat what happened last time.
“Yeah, cause you’re gold and silver with ruby eyes. Do you not like it?”
The filly huffed in the darkness of her sanctuary. “No, but I’m not telling you my name anyway.”
“Oh, look at me. Trying to get your name without supplying my own. My name’s Dex.” I raised a hoof out of habit before putting it back down a few moments later when she didn’t come out.
“...Numbers,” she mumbled.
“What was that?”
“Numbers, that’s your name.”
“Numbers?” I tilted my head to the side in mock curiosity.
“Because of your cutie mark,” she said arrogantly.
“My... cutie mark?” I turned to look at my flank, and sure enough, there was a cutie mark. As strange as it sounds, I didn’t notice it until now. Two brass cogs, one with sigma and the other with delta written in black on them, adorned my flanks. “Ah... I see.”
“What, you’ve never seen your cutie mark before?”
“Now that you mention it...”
“What kind of adult are you?”
“A... very imperceptive one, it seems.” I was still looking at my mark, surprised I even had one.
“How do you even grow up without knowing you got your cutie mark?” Her voice was louder than before. When I looked up, she was completely out of her ‘house’ and looking at me funny. She lacked a cutie mark of her own and I assumed her newfound boldness came from seeing a stallion at a loss for words over his own mark.
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m sure it is,” she said in a way that demanded I continue.
“Um...” I looked around the area for a few moments. “If you want to know, come with me. We’ll talk while we eat.” The talk of food made both of our stomachs growl.
Riches paused as she thought it over, looking between me, her home, and the alley entrance. “Fine, but just this once!” she said as she started off.
“I... um...” I was stunned at her sudden desire to talk and trotted after her in a daze. I should be used to this by now. Why am I surprised? I shook it off and caught up with her, leading her towards a very familiar tavern. Just to be sure I wasn’t repeating everything, I looked toward the town entrance to find no chariot or princess around.
The sound of train tracks thumping along the rails filled the cabin. Moonlight shone through the windows and landed on Riches sleeping form. We were on our way to Canterlot to meet with the other ponies I had grown to know, while I was sitting at the nearby table, ruminating over events that transpired earlier that led to the current situation.
After we made our way to the tavern and sat down at a table, I had pulled the coin purse out of my pouch to see what I could do. The pegasus had given me far more than I originally expected and I allowed ourselves a full course dinner. Over the course of the meal, I gathered information from the filly I already knew as she slowly opened up to me.
At the end of dinner, we spoke of the colts who had bullied her. I made the same promise as before when I repeated my want for revenge against them. Riches had me follow her to the bath house so she could get cleaned up and then we started looking around for somewhere to stay the night. Over the course of the day, she had opened up completely to me and I let her know more about my past.
As much as I wanted to tell her everything, I avoided mentioning the Titans, Discord, and the Shades. Riches let me talk and, surprisingly, didn’t think I was crazy at the end. As night fell, she asked if she could come with me and I reluctantly agreed as we made our way to the train station.
Why did she believe me so easily? How did I think bringing her along was a good idea? Then again, it’s not like this is dangerous, just crazy. I’m attempting to reconnect with people that don’t remember me. One out of three so far though, so maybe I have a knack for getting them to trust me? Whatever, it’s a night’s ride to Canterlot and I need to sleep.
I took the other bed across from her so I didn’t have to deal with the ladders. After all that had happened, I was tired enough to pass out almost instantly.