[Chapter 3]
[Wake]
In the safety of Dale's bedroom, Andrew took comfort on the bed, critically analyzing every fine and foul thought that came to him. He hadn't said a single word since arriving other than hello. After several minutes, he opened his backpack and took out his journal.
Dale sat casually on his work desk beside the bed, surfing the internet on his laptop without cause. So bored and so tired, he yawned several times during the awkward silence the two shared. He could hear the scratching of a pen across the rough texture of aging paper.
“What are you doing?” he asked, looking over to see his best friend writing something down in what looked to be a vintage notebook.
“Writing in a journal,” Andrew replied, keeping his focus downward.
“You don't have a journal.”
Andrew got more annoyed by the second.
“I do now,” he said condescendingly.
This clicked in Dale's mind. One more thing he didn't know about his closest friend. “Why did you decide to get one now all of a sudden?”
“Because today is—“
“I get it, I get it.” Dale grunted hard. “You don't have to keep reminding me. I mean, today of all days, who would have thunk?” He mild interest stemmed from the constant trip down memory lane. Andrew just wouldn't stop bringing it up, as if it's still relevant. He needs to move on.
“You inspired me to make one for myself.”
“Me?” It was then that Dale remembered why. “Oh. So you waited all this time to start. Why?”
“I just wanted it to be special.”
The continuous dribble of black ink shaping into words as Andrew responded was simultaneously amazing and disturbing. Dale still wondered if his friend had indeed lost his mind to the increasing abyss of self-pity and past torments.
“You're weird, you know that.”
“I'm not weird,” the teen defended.
“Yes you are, you should listen to yourself sometime. You're obsessed with what happened in the past. Can't you just, I dunno, get over it?” Dale twirled his palms in the air to emphasize his point. He then leaned back and hunkered up for the incoming backlash.
Andrew immediately stopped writing, his pen halfway through a sentence. He rotated his head threateningly slow. The infectious glare he shot—if given the right dosage—could stop a beating heart in seconds. As horrible as that sounds, Dale developed the immunity needed to fight the needle. He expected as such.
That stare. That angry stare that his distraught friend had tried so hard to conceal beneath the mask of neutral expressions for so long, only to wear out the optimism.
All he did was stare back.
“What is wrong with you?” Andrew finally said.
“What is wrong with YOU?” Dale shot back. “You really have gone to the deep end, haven't you?”
This just wasn't Andrew's night. His stress got the best of him and now Dale had to get roped into it. Although he hated pinning his woe up for all to see, Dale was hardly going to let it go too far.
“Chill out man, just tell me what's wrong,” Dale said as if he hadn't repeated himself many times before in many different ways.
“How about no.”
“How about yes. What, are you afraid to tell me?” It was time to use a different tactic on Andrew. If he wanted to be that way, so be it, but Dale was not about to give in. Fight fire with fire.
“What are you scared of?” Dale teased. “Do you lie awake at night thinking about it? Do you want it to eat from the inside Well guess what, bro, I won't let it. So wake up and move on.”
Little did he know, it was closer to the truth than he thought, except for the last part. Andrew had built up rage after hearing that. What he did next was no less than surprising. He lifted his leg and kicked Dale right in the gut.
“OW, what the hell!” He yakked, clenching his stomach and pushing away.
All Dale got was a scowl. Andrew didn't even look like he was sorry, but exhibited a genuine anger that he had only encountered few times before. Apparently it set him off more that he wanted.
“Sorry dude, but it's true.” With his full attention on Andrew, there's no way he'd be caught off guard again. “I know it. Steven knows it. And Peter is... just Peter. Just don't take this too personal, we're not trying to hurt you. We just want to help.”
The red on Andrew's face paled a bit, but he still wasn't convinced. Dale could almost see pockets of steam radiate from the skin on his face.
The greatest relief since this whole mess had started was the next gesture by his distraught friend. Andrew buried his face in shame and blew a heavy sigh. It was about time he sizzled down a notch.
“Fine, you win,” he said under his violent breath. “What to you want from me.”
Dale cracked a tiny smile.
“I want you to tell me the truth. What is really going on? Why are you hiding your feelings? Why are you so stressed out?”
“I'm not stressed, I just got a lot on my mind.” Andrew continued to rub his forehead to illustrate his point. He'd have to do better than that to get through to Dale of how troubled he actually is. Maybe an friendly argument will do the trick.
“That's the very definition of stressed,” said Dale after a quick laugh. “At least in my book.”
“Call it whatever you want, but things are heavy on me as it is without all these distractions.” Andrew leaned back and crossed his arms defensively.
“Oh yeah, like what?”
The teen shrugged. “Like school for one thing.”
“It's school you're worrying about? That's a surprise.” Dale couldn't be more sarcastic. Instead he pondered for second, stealing a glace at the pencil on next to his cellphone. “How about this, you tell me what's really bothering you, and in return, I let you in on a little secret. Deal?”
Andrew looked up at him, doubt sparkling in his eyes. Somehow, Dale found his weakness. “A secret?” he questioned. “What kind of secret?”
“Do we have a deal?” Dale repeated, refusing to accept denial.
“Is it personal? Or disturbing? Or both?”
“I guess you'll have to find that out when you agree.”
“Fine whatever just tell me.”
“No no no, say it like you mean it.” Dale jabbed his finger in his eager friend's face, right up to the nose.
With what little courage he had left to overcome his reluctance, Andrew held out his hand. Dale smiled wide and shook it. The deal was set.
“So what don't I know that you do?”
“First tell me what's wrong?”
“Wha- hey wait a minute! Your said you'd give me your secret.”
“No no, you agreed to tell me what's really bothering you, and then I tell you my secret.”
“I didn't—“
“Yes you did.”
Arguing wasn't going to work anymore now that Dale deceived him for a secret, twisting the words in his favor. He sighed with one swift brush of his hair.
“You're right, I'll admit it.” Might as well say it and get it over with. “You know how I told you what happened in my room that night? Well I—,” He paused to regain confidence. “I was half expecting another loud noise to scare me again. You know... right before I turned into a pony.”
Dale was almost surprised to hear that. Almost.
“Why would you want something like that to happen twice?” He said. “On a day like this no less.”
“I can't help it. It's all I've been thinking about.” Andrew played with his fingers with every word. He was now a little nervous for a mixture of reasons.
“See what I mean,” Dale grunted. “I told you not to let it go to your head. Seems like you didn't take my advice.”
“I didn't choose to be turned into a unicorn. It sounds weird even saying it like that. But still, it's like a permanent scar that I'm not sure I want to heal just yet.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Dale leaned in further.
Andrew grabbed his bag and dug through it to find his digital camera.
“Do you still believe me that I went to a land of nice sentient ponies?”
“No.”
“Then take a look at this.”
Andrew flipped through several of the old images stored on the camera to find the right one. As soon as he found the picture he was looking for, the one of only two photos that remained the only evidence of his visit to the town of Ponyville, an brief smile appeared on his face. He then handed it over to his friend.
Dale was almost ecstatic to have finally milked Andrew of his fears, but after coming so close, he is still so far away. Dale felt like he didn't even know his best friend anymore. Still the same man on the outside, but a new person on the inside.
Dale took the camera and looked at the screen.
“What's this?”
“That's my proof I'm not crazy, or lying!” Andrew replied happily. “I didn't make it all up, I was there. I saw a whole world so different from ours with ponies everywhere living in houses and high on sugar. It was so unreal, but it's true.”
Dale continued to study the image on the camera closely as Andrew spill over with that fantasy of his. Sure the unicorn thing was insane on its own, but the pony world thing was a bit too much.
The photo was something else. It was definitely a picture of another unicorn, like Andrew, but not Andrew. Its mane was a pale blue and paper white, styled in a much more feminine look. Andrew could have photoshopped it, but later time he checked, he didn't have photoshop, and even if he did, he sucks at it anyway. Maybe it's a puppet, or a costume. Maybe he'd ask.
“Is this real?”
“Real how? Like that fact that it's the pony I told you about that helped he get home real, then YES! How many times do have to tell you. She saved my life, along with a nice group of ponies along the way, including a princess.”
Impressive story, Dale mused as he stroked his chin. As if Andrew hadn't said many times before following that fateful day, he remembered every detail. Although he didn't believe the whole story, he did keep track of each part. Better make sure Andrew is consistent with his recollection of his otherworldly visit.
“Okay, then what's her name?
“Lyra.”
“What does she do?”
“She plays music, the lyre actually. It sort like a small harp with—”
“Yeah yeah I know what a lyre is.” Dale mumbled. “And where exactly did you say she lives?”
“You don't believe me, don't you.”
“Maybe a little now that you have some sort of evidence.” Without warning, he tossed the camera, back and his friend. “I can't think of any way you could have faked this.”
“That's because I didn't, and I'm not done...” Andrew sat up and held out the camera again. “Look, I have a picture of me too. The first one is of Lyra, and the second one she took of me.” He went to the next photo, clearly showing the pony that was Andrew. “Look at the date, February twenty fourth, seven thirty six. About four hours after I teleported away.”
The more Dale thought about it, the more he didn't want to believe. But the facts kept piling up, and before he knew it, he was on the verge believing Andrew really did get sent to some magical place of princesses and ponies.
If only he had more proof, then he'd give sincere apology for not believing him sooner. But for now, he was on the edge of his seat.
“So?”
Dale broke away from a thought bubble and snapped his head to the side. “So... what?”
“Ugh never mind. Why do I even bother trying? You're never truly convinced.”
“Hey,” Dale shot back, but with less doubt. “I'm starting to think you're not completely crazy, you got me there. But this is just a photograph, you'll have to show me this world, or better yet, why meet one of these nice sentient ponies on day, then I'll believe you. Tangible evidence, science, and all that jazz. I also don't like the way you thought of me as a distraction.”
It appears he got the message through to Andrew. Both messages. He fell completely still and stoic the moment to word hit him. He also looked to have lost hope in his efforts to persuade his best friend that his head was screwed on right. The two began to linger a bit with a long awaited silence.
Andrew hugged his knees and rocked back and forth. Dale just leaned his head against his armrest and rolled his eyes tot the ceiling.
“So what's your secret?” Andrew finally croaked.
“Hm? OH!” Dale snapped up and coughed. “You're not going to believe what I'm about to show you.”
Andrew rolled his eyes, waiting to be either extremely disappointed, or incredibly shocked. There was no in between.
“Remember what you said when you tried to do magic?” Dale noted. “When you were a unicorn.”
Andrew's smile vanished immediately and turned upside down while he narrowed his eyes. “You're pulling my leg here?”
In retrospect, he might as well have been doing it literally.
“Yeah, I mean we tried a bunch of times to get you to do it with your horn and all when your were a unicorn, and I finally figured out how to do it myself.”
Now this secret sounded more like a joke. The only person who had a sense of humor was Steven, but this was just ridiculous.
“What do you mean 'figured out'?”
“I know how to do it?
“Do what?”
“Magic.”
“You're—“ Lyra choke on her words. “But you— how— Andrew? Brother?” Her face melted from overwhelming joy and undertaken daze. Her mind was still trying to process it all. For Alex's perspective, she looked like she just won the lottery.
“Andrew?” Luna repeated aloud to herself. “The alicorn Lyra has been looking for?
“That's right, my name is Alex by the way.” He raised his hand awkwardly. “I don't know what you're talking about, but my brother is not the... um... unicorn you think he is.” Alex cringed.
He tried to keep his cool and composure, only to find himself smiling and clenching his chest constantly. The initial shock must have taken his will to move along with his breath.
“Is he here!?” Lyra chirped as her limbs buzzed of excitement. “Can I see him!? Can I talk to him? Come to think of it, I've never actually seen Andrew as a human. Or even a human altogether. What does he look like?”
“Whoa slow down, calm yourself!” Alex held his hands in place to stop the elated pony from coming any closer. “Why are you so excited? It's actually creeping me out.”
“Aren't you surprised to see us standing before you in your world?” Princess Luna cut in.
“Very,” Alex stated sarcastically, the sighed. “The last time something surprising happened, I nearly lost a brother. Even worse, I nearly my life.”
“WHAT!?” Both equines gasped, unbelieving of what the human said.
“Yeah, well you, the 'magic' that turned my big brother in a blue unicorn's body made him disappear for half a day and almost killed me at the same time. So yes I'm surprised, and no, I was not expecting for you to even exist. I mean, we through Andrew was making it all up.”
As Alex finished, he was startled by the sudden intimate contact by a warm, fuzzy mass. Lyra had thrown her forelegs around the young human without a second thought and hugged him tight. Before he could realize what just happened, she spoke close to his ear.
“I'm sorry.”
“That's quite enough,” Alex quickly pushed her away, a bit more shaken up now that situation took a dramatic turn too far. “I-I appreciate it and all, but never do that again.
Little known to the ponies, the trauma of such action set off warning bells screaming in his head, no matter how small. His psychological scars of the past took longer to heal than his physical wounds. Apparently his mind was far more sensitive to the fear of harm and taking on instant regressions of paranoia hurt more than pain itself.
Alex hugged himself tight, both from the cold and the aching tension from earlier.
“Are you cold, young human?” The blue alicorn asked. He nodded. “Then let us find you someplace warm. May we come in?” She pointed to the house.
“I'm not sure that's a good idea.” His reluctance stemmed from multiple reasons, disbelief still the dominant one.
“Why not?” Lyra chimed.
“Well for one, my parents are home, and two, you're... um...ponies.” He gulped hard. “Where do you normally live? Not in a house like this, but maybe something close to a stable?” Alex cringed. Of course they don't live in either, horses don't live in houses and these colored talking ponies are much too intelligent and sophisticated to be kept in a normal farm stable.
He could quite make out the expressions on their faces. Insulted and baffled were the two he immediately thought of. Hopefully he hadn't offended them too hard.
“Why wouldn't we live in houses?” Lyra chirped. “All ponies do. We're not cows. Although some cows live on the outskirts of Ponyville, but not many.”
This just gets better and better. Better as in a crazy knock to the head. Alex's jaw fell open.
“Whaaaa?”
He remained seated when the navy alicorn stepped forward.
“Perhaps we could sneak in unnoticed whilst your mother and father carry on their residential duties.” Luna suggested, smiling. Lyra looked up at her mentor.
“Are you sure we should do that, Princess?”
“Most certainly. We are most fortunate to not have caused a scene upon our arrival. We must remain in the shadows, the rest of his kind must not know we exist, for it will put both our races at risk. We do not know the customs and cultures of this world, we are not to interfere with the natural balance of this world.”
Makes perfect sense, Lyra laughed in her thoughts. Maybe she was right, maybe humans weren't ready to be made aware of the existence of a world different from their own. Or Luna was just making an excuse to leave this wonderful place out of unsound fear.
She nodded reluctantly.
“Would you allow Lyra to stay with you one night?” Luna said. “One night only. We will leave in peace by dawn.”
“Wait, just me? What about you? And why are we leaving?”
“Have you forgotten dear student, I am the keeper of the night. Night is my day, I am awake when ponies sleep I must also find a way back to our realm. It is of great importance that we return to Equestria as soon as possible.”
“But we just got here.” Lyra pouted. “Besides I don't think any of that applies here. We're not in Equestria anymore.”
“Exactly my point. This is not our world. We do not belong here. You are not exempt of your wrongdoings.”
“What did I do?” Lyra questioned where Luna was going with this.
“You hath stolen from Our private bedchambers and toyed forbidden magic!” Luna roared loudly. A little too loud, in fact. Her old style of speech made the scolding even worse, carrying far more weight than conventional speak. “Thou violated the oath to the terms of royal protege and therefore lied to Us.”
Oh... that where she was going with this. After several seconds of analyzing Luna's complexion, Lyra cowered shamefully. The Princess was dead serious. With the darkness still overshadowing the porch floodlight, she got away with the tears that now began to flow in her eyes. She looked away.
Alex watched the bickering end in such a way. He was terrified of the Princess now, as if being physically attacked by her wasn't enough. He tried his best to conceal his frightful gaze.
“Now human, will you comply to—“
“Alex!?” A voice echoed from somewhere in the house.
The boy quickly twirled his head to look through the sliding glass door. Alex saw his mother approaching from down the hall. The woman reach for the door and exited the house onto the porch to find her son scared to dead on a chair.
“Who are you talking to, honey?” His mother asked curiously.
“U—uh...” Alex looked back over to where the ponies were standing, only to find empty space. They weren't there anymore. Relief swept over. “Um...”
“I heard a loud voice out here, is Andrew out here with you too?”
“N-no, h-he's at Dale's house.”
“Then who were you talking to?”
“Myself. I was talking to myself.” Alex was quick to answer. It didn't take long for him to forget what happened moments earlier, thinking it really was all in his head. He quickly stood up out of his seat and ushered his mom back inside. “Lets not stay out here any longer, it's cold outside.”
As naïve and bubbly as a mother can be, she let her son playfully push her back inside. Alex swiftly slammed the door closed and turned out the light.
With one last peek outside, the darkness took over again. No ponies. Maybe his brain suffered more damage than he thought. Hopefully his mom caught on to the fact that Andrew wasn't home.