Actuality Ch2
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Slowly, grudgingly, I got up to get ready for school. The past week was the worst one by far. With each new dream, I woke up feeling more and more tired. It was only a matter of time until I wouldn't be able to get up at all.
Ignoring my body’s screams, I stood up and began to walk downstairs. I arrived to find my brother eating breakfast.
“Hey, did you sleep well?” He asked.
I tried to look as awake as possible and failed. It was pretty obvious that I had not slept well. Anyway, I managed a small smile.
“Uh, sure I guess.” I could tell from the look on his face that he didn't believe me.
“More of those dreams again?” He asked.
“Of course, you know they don’t stop.”
Long ago, about a month after the dreams started, I told him about them. Somehow, he understood. I’m not sure why, but he didn't make fun of them or me. It wasn't because I was a brony. Hell, he was even the one that introduced me to the series and the interesting fandom behind it in the first place. It was because I thought it was rather odd to have dreams about some cartoon. For some reason, he thought it was alright and for a while, I didn't worry about them.
“What happened this time?” He asked, “Any new mind-blowing episodes?
“Um no… just an old one. Y’know, the one where the Crusaders try to find Cheerilee a ‘special somepony’” I lied. I always kept the special ones for myself.
He acted disappointed, “Aww, I always like to know the episodes before everyone else.”
I shrugged, “Well, that’s too bad.”
We lived in a small, rundown, apartment and could never afford extras. Basic needs like food and clothing were all we could ever get. It was hard to support two people with one minimum wage job. Even though we were both the same age, about two years ago my brother had forced me to continue with school while he got a job. He had not even let me argue.
I quickly got ready for the bus while he went to change into his uniform for the cheap fast food place down the street. With a quick goodbye, I was out the door and walked the few blocks to the school bus stop.
Standing there, I couldn't help but realize something.
The world that I lived in was so different from the utopian world of Equestria. The colors of their lands are so bright, so vibrant. Everypony always seems so eager to help their neighbors with anything. The city, in contrast, was so grey and so dull. Each tower or apartment building looked as if it was just there to exist. None looked as if they had a reason to be there. The people seemed to be the polar opposite as well and only looked after themselves.
With that happy insight, I stepped on the bus heading towards school.
With nobody to talk to or anyone to care for, I resorted to just looking out the window. I watched storefronts, cars, and people, whip by. Seeing this everyday, I quickly lost interest and turned my head toward the sky.
The dynamic clouds provided me entertainment for a small while. I watched as they all blew in the same direction and changed shape every once in awhile. Well, almost all of them. After some time, I noticed that one cloud did not move like the others. In fact, it was even moving in the opposite direction.
It was almost as if… No, that couldn't be possible. The moving cloud reminded me of one of the many episodes where pegasi could be seen rearranging clouds in the background. I tried to dismiss the thought, but it stuck with me.
When we arrived, I stepped off the bus, headed for my locker, and then off to my first class. Chemistry had always been one of my favorites, but when it was nothing but a day of lecturing, it became boring fast.
I sat there with my head propped on my arm and silently wished for the class to end and was slightly aware of my eyes closing, blotting out all the light. In the end, falling asleep was inevitable.
I looked around slowly as each blade of grass, each tree, each pebble on the path, appeared in a small shock of black smoke until the dream from last night reappeared. I took a quick look around, taking in the sudden change, and knew that soon I would no longer be myself and would take the consciousness of Freeze. I took a last look at the white clouds and noted that even here they looked different than at home, at Earth. The sun shined also more brightly.
When I saw the black pony- no, my brother, ahead of me, I rushed to catch up to him and flashed him a quick smile.
“What took you so long?” Flame asked with a slight amusement in his voice.
“Well, I…” I didn't know what to say, “I took a small break ‘s all.”
“Okay, but don’t take too many, we need to get there soon.” He warned. “It looks like we’re only a few more hours away. Let’s pick up the pace… if you can.”
“Hey! I can go plenty faster!” I retorted.
He mumbled something in response.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” I asked in the kindest accusatory voice I could muster.
“Was nothing, why?” He snapped back, wings half-extended, and challenge on his face forcing me to recoil slightly.
“If you say so.”
The walk continued in silence after that.
I watched as the lake appeared in the distance. It wasn't long before I saw the pinpricks that were boats gliding along its surface. Because of its ideal location and many rivers, the lake was a major trade port for the region. This meant that there were many different boats coming and going at all times of the day. I could make out large shipping vessels, extravagant yachts, and even the small paddleboats for tourists. It was a wonder that they all navigated the lake without hitting each other.
We walked along the lake towards the docks. Before long my brother found the Fire and Ice. It was a very basic sailboat design with one difference. The entire front half of the hull was plated with iron. Flame gave a quick shout.
“Hey! Anypony home?”
We heard some activity inside.
“Glad you made it!” A large gray earth pony said. He appeared from behind the ships mast.
“Thanks, I wanted to see how the ship was coming along.” Flame said.
“Well, ‘s done if you ask me, bu’ Nancy don’t think so.” He replied, pointing a hoof to a light brown unicorn inspecting the bow. “She thinks we need more tests.”
“You do!” Nancy shouted from the boat, “The boom may not be setup correctly and the wheel doesn't feel right!”
“Bah! It’s fine. Ain't nothin’ gonna go wrong.” Drawled the large pony.
“Well, I’m going to be prepared anyway.” Nancy said, reaching for a life vest.
The gray pony then turned to me.
“Well, Hi! I don’t believe we've met before though I have heard lots about you.” He offered a hoof and I shook it. “Name’s Smith.”
“Hi Smith, I’m-”
“Freeze, yeah your brother told me ‘bout ya.”
“Oh really?” I looked at my brother and he replied with a grin. “What did he tell you?”
Smith smiled, “For a start, he said that you were the best brother that anypony could have.”
“Okay.”
“He also said you were kinda slow.” He still smiled.
“Did he now?” The smile on my brother’s face disappeared.
Nancy stepped in, “Why… don’t we all get on the boat and take it for its first trial run.”
“Uh… sure.” Smith began to saunter across the catwalk, “All aboard?”
With that, my brother and I walked onto the deck.
“Hey Smith, why is the hull metal?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Well, during the winter, the more north villages can’t get any blacksmith supplies. It means that all winter, nopony can get metal stuff. The hull ‘s metal to break the ice on the river n’ the sail is made extra thick to withstand the harsh winter winds. I thought that instead of just tryin’ to bring up metal supplies, I would make them there and use this as a smithy.”
“Neat, seems like an interesting business opportunity.” I said,
“I hope so; Celestia knows we could use the money.” He sighed.
“Business not going great?”
“Not really, few ponies need metal goods anymore, save for the few farmers in the area.” Smith answered, “Anyway, we best be off! Flame, would you mind untyin’ us?”
“Sure.” Flame moved towards the rope holding us to the dock. “We’re off!”
Calmly, skillfully, Smith navigated the large sailboat through the docks into the wide expanse of the lake. After a quick test of the wind, he opened the sail with the pull of a lever and started to whistle a tune I didn’t recognize. Nancy darted around the boat inspecting each part to make sure it held up. With a few checks on the list, she finally resolved to sitting down and enjoying herself.
Smith sailed the boat in gentle circles and took great care to stay away from other ships. Flame stood in the bow of the ship looking straight out with a faraway look in his eyes while I sat on the port side with my front hooves dangling in the water.
We were all so relaxed or so focused that not one of us saw the large gray clouds looming in the distance.
The wind came so quick, so suddenly, that nopony had time to adjust. With a pained cry, Smith was forced to let go of the wheel and let the boom swing free. Whether it was because of bad luck or circumstance, the boom was blown directly towards me. I tried to stand up, tried to get my hooves out of the water in time, but I couldn't and the boom hit me directly in the back of my head. I was hit to the edge of the ship and tried to get back on my hooves. I saw stars dancing around me and the edges of my vision were getting darker.
In the end, I barely felt myself fall into the water.