//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12: Separation 
// Story: A New Life 
// by Trivium 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 12: Separation

I hung upside-down, distorted and helpless. I couldn't keep track of time, because I continually passed out, and couldn't see anything. Several times I broke into tears, in fear that I would be dying there.

I quickly learned that I could move my arms and head in a way to lift my head for a bit. It strained my muscles to do, but it was the only thing keeping me alive. My hind legs were feeling a mixture of numbness, tingling, and pain. On and off, I would do this. It hurt, but like I said, it was keeping me alive.

***

I heard a distant sobbing. Echoing through the forest I must've been in. The voice sounded all to familiar. I heard the sobbing growing slightly closer, then staying.

"MMMMMPHPHHPHPHPH" I cried out into the gag. The sobbing continued, with no pause or acknowledgement of the sound I'd made.

"MMMMMMMMMFFFFF!". I heard a pause. A gasp.

"Trivium! Trivium where are you?!?!"

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMFFFFF!"

I heard a series of branches breaking and twigs snapping, as hoofsteps grew closer and closer to where I was.

"Help..." I tried to say, hearing the steps stopping right below me.

I felt arms wrapping around me, lifting me upright. The blindfold on my eyes got torn off. The sunlight blinded me temporarily. The gag was quickly removed aswell.

"Rainbow... Dash?"

"Sh... You're safe now."

All the blood suddenly leveling, along with a wave of shock and relief, caused a sudden wave of darkness to invade my vision and brain.

***

My body ached all over. I was on a soft bed. I was in a house. I felt a cold bag of... Ice? There was ice over one of my eyes. I felt a hoof resting on mine. Rainbow Dash's. 

I groaned in pain, slowly opening my eyes. Rainbow Dash sat in a chair at the side of the bed.

"Dash....." I started slowly. I paused, seeing tears in her eyes. It was evident she'd been crying.

"You're safe...." She said. "They can't hurt you now..."

I had nothing to say, the pain was overwhelming. I must've been covered in bruises. 

"They've probably skipped over 3 towns by now..."

I sighed. "Thank you....." I slowly said.

"No reason to thank me." Rainbow Dash's voice wavered.

"Please don't cry..."

Rainbow Dash sniffed. "You don't know what they did to you...."

I felt my face heat up, to a point where it felt like it was on fire. "But... I'm okay now..."

Rainbow Dash said nothing. She just massaged my arm gently. 

Judging by all the pain... I must've been beaten worse then I thought. A black eye, no doubt. Bruises, yep. Nothing felt broken, though. Fractions, probably not. I felt another oncoming wave of sleepiness.

***

I slowly woke, but didn't open my eyes. The pain was much less. I was snuggled up against Rainbow Dash's chest, like I'd normally sleep. Rainbow Dash was gently stroking my mane, humming softly. I was comfortable, warm, and happy.

"Dash....?" I asked, my voice sounding higher-pitched then normal. (probably just the fact that I'd just woken up.)

"Yeah?"

"Did I get.... Beaten and tied..... And hung...?" I slowly asked.

Rainbow Dash paused. "I'm so sorry....." She said. "It was no dream."

I sighed sadly, stretching.

"You were out for a good two days after I saved you." Rainbow Dash said, her voice sounding softer then anything I'd ever heard. 

"The pain is nearly gone..." I said, my voice returning to it's normal pitch slowly. 

"That's good. You have work tomorrow."

"Work?!" I gasped, not knowing how many days had passed.

"Work.". Rainbow Dash rolled onto her side, patting her pillow. I slid up next to her, instantly reaching my arms around her into a hug. Rainbow Dash massaged my back slowly. "Get some sleep....." She cooed. It was like she had some sort of power, and almost instantly after she said that, I began to feel drowsy, and soon, was asleep.

***

"Triv... Wake up, sweetie...." Rainbow Dash gently shook me awake. "You have work..."

I groaned, dragging myself into a sitting position in the bed. I rubbed my eyes, stretching at the same time. "Mornin'" I said, after rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Sleep well?" Rainbow Dash asked, already sounding wide-awake. "You didn't tremble or anything last night, so I'm assuming so?"

"Best I've slept in ages." I said, sliding out of bed. I looked in the mirror. I looked completely fine, except for a light black-eye. Rainbow Dash was pretty good at this medical stuff. I drowsily prepared for the day, before kissing Rainbow Dash goodbye and stepping out the door. The cold morning air greeted me, with all too much familiarity. I flew to work, not exactly feeling super-inspired to do anything. I made it there on-time, the boss not questioning anything. The day went as usual.

It was just after we'd closed. The last customer stepped out the door, to go live their story.

"Trivium!" I heard Radeon call my name from the back.

"Yes?" I asked, popping my head in the door. 

"Computer." He pointed at the computer, saying nothing else. This normally meant something'd gone wrong with the hunk of bolts and he didn't know what, or how to fix it. I trotted over and began to pound the keyboard, typing in things I didn't bother keeping track of.

"He's quite good." I heard an un-familiar voice.

"He really is, isn't he?" Radeon replied. "He's got a knack for computers."

I looked up from the monitor. There stood an average, light-brown coated pegasus with a fancy suit. Then it hit me. That was the new business partner Radeon had been looking into working with. I continued typing, saying nothing.

"Aaaaand..... There." I said, pressing the "ENTER" key. "Fixed."

"You work miracles!" Radeon over-dramatically cried out, wheeling his fancy office-chair back to the computer desk.

"Say..." The suited pegasus began. "You really do know your stuff, huh?"

"I guess you could say that, yeah." I said nervously.

"Oh! Trivium! This is Adam, he works for the Canterlot Institution of Technology."

"Nice to meet you," I said, lowering my head slightly, extending a hoof. 

Adam shook my hoof. "Why did you lower your head like that?" He asked. "I'm not superior to you."

I sighed. "I don't know, honestly. I just do it when I greet somepony."

"So, like earlier, you're pretty good with computers, aren't you?"

"Sort of..."

Radeon jumped in. "Sort of?! You blocked and back-hacked that one pony when they tried to crack our security! You hacked a hacker, in less then a minute!"

"Well.." I started slowly. "I guess you could say I'm good, then."

"Seems so, you interested in a degree in computer technology?"

I took a deep breath of shock. "Yes." I replied, trying to sound calm.

"I need some students that can specialize in that. Let's make a deal, I'll pay for your full computer technology education, dorm, and class supplies, and in exchange, you give my college a good review."

I stepped back in shock, gasping. This was the dream I'd always wanted, next to being with Rainbow Dash. Canterlot Institution of Technology, masters degree! "S... Sounds good." I said, my voice wavering slightly.

Little did I know this would change my life.

After lots of exciting, unbelievable dealing, it was arranged. I would be leaving for Canterlot in a week.

***

I burst through the door, panting. "Rainbow... Dash! You won't believe what just happened!" I spoke through heavy breaths.

Rainbow Dash calmly patted the couch. "Tell me all about it." She said, smiling warmly. I flopped down and told her the whole story.

"Trivium....", Rainbow Dash's voice sounded sad. 

"Yes...?"

"I... I can't some with you...."

Trivium.exe has stopped working.

"Y.... You....."

"I can't just leave this house, my job, and all my friends... I can't afford it..."

"But......"

"Don't let this stop you from chasing your dreams."

"But.... You're.... My dream....." I fought tears back.

"I know.... But you can go and live in Canterlot!"

"I can't.... Just leave you....". I fell onto Rainbow Dash's shoulder. I couldn't stand the though of just leaving her. But I didn't want to let my only chance at a computer education go, either.

***

I savored every moment I had with her. I went out and blew my savings on getting her a new computer, so we could be able to contact each-other. It was too soon that my last day came. I told my boss about my situation, and he gave me that day off. 

All my things were packed. Just 30 minutes until I had to leave. 

"You know how to contact me.." Rainbow Dash said. "Please... Get back in touch with me as soon as you can."

We hugged, for what felt like an endless amount of time. One last kiss.

I sniffed loudly.

"It's time for you to go...." 

I hugged her again, closing my eyes.

"You'll be fine..."

Another kiss.

"I'll miss you..."

...

I took into the air, feeling like I was fighting a gravitational pull backwards. I was jumping straight into A New Life. My life has changed, so much. Now, I move onwards, into my next chapter in life.