//------------------------------// // Ch. 1, Don't look down. // Story: Citrus // by Hope //------------------------------// The orange tree had stood for a very long time. It did not notice when a young boy in a red sweater dodged around it, laughing with his father. It did not notice when the boy came back so many years later, alone. It did not notice as the land around it became neglected, and the city in the distance became not so distant. The city soon embraced it in its grasp as though a father holding a child while smoking. It was a slightly chilly day in November when the first businessmen sat under its branches to discuss the new mall, how much land would be needed and what to name it. One of them looked up to the ancient tree with a smile. “Orange Grove mall.” He proposed. It was a hit with the board, funding was found and the mall was built practically around the now towering giant, the mall grew and evolved as the tree towered up to the second, then third floor of the steel and concrete structure. The tree had survived harsh winters and scorching summers, now it was fed by a drip line and kept at ideal temperatures. Even its leaves were picked up after it dropped them. The day came when the mall received no more visitors, when the city around it froze, as though stopped in time. The tree did not notice, it carried on. The glass panes above broke and fell to the earth around the great orange, and it grew into the sky above the fading city, a dot of green on a grey skyline. One day, it received two visitors, and after so long being alone, it turned its attentions to the pair. An old man and a teenager. The elder of the two walked with a determination that many of his age would lack the strength to show, each footstep planted with the clear knowledge of where it would lead. His walking stick was barely noticed, until he lost hold of it. A mask of calm and strength let him survive in a world that had lost so much. His long platinum silver hair was tied back under a black fedora that had also seen better days, and his red sweater vest held back the biting air. “So Grandfather, why did you bring us out here?” The teen asked, as he stared at the aging orange tree. “To remind you of the past, son. To remind you of what matters. You damn well could have killed yourself yesterday.” He scolded quietly. His words had no real bite to them as he found a seat among the broken concrete blocks surrounding the tree’s massive roots. “I would have been fine had the rope held steady!” The teenager shot back. “Besides, its just a tree.” The old man just smiled and patted the stone next to him. “Sit, be calm. There is a great deal you have to learn about the value of stillness.” The teenager just laughed. “No offense gramps, but I can be still when I’m dead. There’s too much to do for me to just sit around.” The teenager said, idly pacing back and forth. His grandfather set his hat down and ran a hand through his silver hair. “Oh I understand, very well. I will speak to you, instead of with you.” He said with a glint in his eyes, his constant verbal tweaks and comparisons always driving the younger of his kin mad. “Once, such a very long time ago, there was a young girl who found no need to wait, to be patient, or to look before she lept. Her name was Radin. She was a brash and impulsive girl, and in her clan she was the only who was not willing to tend the fields or do the housework. She knew she was destined to great things. The clan of Washab was a small one, and it took every hand and every foot to make it through the winters. But Radin was too eager to find her great destiny.” ------ “Are you joking? Instead me being out there adventuring, trying to find my destiny, you want me to scrub floors. You’re out of your mind.” The young girl said back before taking off out the front door, leaving it wide open. The girl ran for no reason other than to run, her legs pumping wildly to push her over hills and streams until she came to a cliff looking over the valley of dreams. No one had ever been down into the valley, and the deep mists within hid everything from sight. The world below and beyond were the greatest mystery, and for all the times she had been forbidden from venturing downwards, it was her fondest desire. “This is it. Nobody’s going to stop from finding out whatever’s down in that valley. I bet it’s something amazing! They’ll make me a hero for it!” Radin said, excitedly. She was not an expert climber, but with a length of rope, she made her way down the cliff face, and descended into the mists. ------ “Gramps, are you making this up just to teach me a lesson? Because I get it, no rope climbing up giant trees, really I get it.” The teenager interrupted, crossing his arms impatiently. “Oh no.” The old man chuckled, shaking his head. “A minor coincidence, son. Notice she didn't fall.” He said with a small smile, getting an embarrassed blush out of his grandson. “Now... where was I?...” ------ Descending into the mists, Radin could barely see her hand in front of her face, much less the ground. The rock wall seemed to go on forever, and eventually she reached the end of her rope, hanging by the knot with a painful decision to make. Drop the last bit in hopes that it was not that far, or climb back up? “Just try and stop me.” She said with a grin as she let go, and luckily crashed into a large bush ten feet later. “Ha!” She shouted as she pulled herself out of the bush, brushing off the dirt. “More proof I’m destined for greatness. Although, getting out later might be an issue.” Pressing forward, Radin continued into the mists in search of whatever lay hidden in this valley. She came across what appeared to be the remains a horse of some sort, the bones bleached white and half buried in the soft earth. Onwards she pressed through the thick and unyielding fog. The world around her faded in and out of existence, as though constantly being redrawn at the whim of some great power. She made her way through the trees with what caution was due, but with the eager excitement of an explorer. ------ “I’m hungry.” The teenager chimed in. “Can’t we eat?” The old man kept his eyes closed, knowing the boy was now sitting next to him as he smiled. “Patience. Our Radin was growing hungry as well.” ------ Radin’s stomach growled, the minutes in the fog having turned into hours. She was now looking for any type of food at all, anything to sustain herself further on her journey which had become a confusing twist of maze-like branches and shrubs. With a burst of light, she stumbled into a clearing, the likes of which she had never seen. The fog stopped as a wall in a perfect circle around the spot, and in the center sat a solitary apple tree, leaning over a perfectly still pond. Radin rushed to the tree, trying to reach for an apple, but they all hung directly over that perfectly smooth surface of water, that she leaned further and further over in a desperate attempt to feed herself. With one last grasp, she took hold of the fruit, and only then did she look down. Upon looking into the pit, she found herself looking into the face of the most curious creature, a startlingly bright red, of the lightest shade, with a sad gaze. Shaken, Radin leaned too far over the water, but held tight to the apple. Finally it snapped from its branch, and Radin fell into the water. She awoke to a bright blue sky, with delicate white clouds dotting the sky. A groan, and she rolled to her side, a sudden jolt of pain shooting across her back. She squirmed to try and relieve the pain as her vision filled with a spray of colors. She was not seeing things, literally an array of bright colors had suddenly appeared in front of her eyes. “Ah!” She tried to stand and fell to her side, another jolt of pain causing her to wince. Suddenly the light red creature was in front of her. “Hi.” It said in the squeakiest voice she had ever heard, its voice devoid of emotion. “Ah!” Radin pushed herself away from it, flailing wildly as she lost her balance and landed hard on her butt, and leading to yet another jab of pain up her spine. “Ouch, that looked like it hurt.” The creature said solemnly, suddenly right in her face again. “How are you doing that?!” Radin shouted. “Why are we shouting?!” It replied in the same volume, it’s monotone voice and expression never wavering as it tilted its head sideways. “Because I don’t know what you are!” She said, throwing her suddenly stubby arms up into the air. She then looked to her own arms and screamed, “I don’t know what I am!” “I’m a pony. You are a pony too.” It said simply, raising a single eyebrow as if daring Radin to challenge her facts. She looked around at the small clearing she sat in, with a solitary gnarled tree overlooking a viewing pool. As she looked to the pool, her many colored hair slipped in front of her eyes again. “Why is my hair so bright? It was black this morning.” She asked, trying to keep her tone even. “You came from the rainbow pool, makes sense to me.” The thing said calmly. There was a moment of silence between them before Radin spoke again. “What is your name?” “Pinkie Pie.” She replied, bowing her head slightly. “A pleasure to meet your acquaintance.”