“Story. My office. Now.” Deadline barked at me as soon as I set hoof out of the elevator. I trotted to catch up to him and just barely made it inside behind him.
“What in tartarus are you doing at Delmaneco’s? Let alone skipping out on the bill? You’re just lucky Delmaneco didn’t press charges!”
“What? But Genuine said…” I started. He cut me off.
“Genuíne? As in Genuíne Article?” His tone was incredulous.
I nodded before I found my voice. “Yes.”
“Oh Celestia! That explains it. If I’d thought you’d ever end up in her shop…” He rubbed his temples with both hooves.
I had to ask. “What’s wrong with Genuíne Article?”
“Aside from the fact that her name is the biggest lie in Equestria? Well, we used to date, about a year after her husband passed. Now, she's using you to try and get to me. This is a game to her and she doesn't even care if it looks like she has to bribe her way into a good review in a popular magazine so long as it means one of my best writers is ruined.” It wasn't the best time to get a happy feeling about being called one of Deadline's best writers. I ended up feeling strange; I mean, he also mentioned my career being ruined.
Deadline sighed. “What about the two delivery's to your apartment? Are you really getting bought off to write an article?”
How had he already heard about that? I wondered. As if to answer my thoughts, Deadline spoke. “I heard about Delmaneco's from Erede's father. We're, well not exactly friends, but acquainted. He seemed it was strange that one of my writer's was shmoozing at his place. And he found it even stranger that your interviewee was paying the bill. He also mentioned overhearing something about a horn ring?" I slapped my face in instant regret. I'd forgotten about the damn ring. "Trouble is I'm not the first one he told. And I'm not the only publisher he knows. If we go forward with the article, your reputation is ruined. I went to your place this morning when I heard. You didn’t answer but as I turned to leave a pony came by with a large package from an antique book shop.”
Canterlot could be a very small world sometimes. “I spent last night at my parent’s house. I didn’t order it! It just showed up on my doorstep! As a matter of fact I have a friend working on returning it as we speak. And I'm returning the ring. I don't know how she got my address, but I'm not keeping her gifts."
Deadline scrutinized me from across his desk. I held firm; I was the wronged one here. My stomach roiled. I was certain I was shaking from nerves and anger. Yet, somehow, I returned his stare. Finally, he sighed and looked down. “I brought you in here ready to fire you, Story.”
That was it. The end of my journalistic career stared me right in the face. Everything I’d driven myself to accomplish all down the drain thanks to a dinner and a book. My rear legs gave out and a fuzzy noise buzzed in my ear. Next thing I know, I’m spluttering; Deadline must have thrown a cup of water in my face.
He turned back around after setting the cup back on his desk. “Sorry, you weren’t responding and you looked about ready to faint. Do me a favor and don’t die until I finish my thought. I was going to fire you, but there’s enough wiggle room here for your version to be true. I salvaged things with Delmaneco, told him you were pretty scatterbrained, and paid the bill plus some extra. Don’t worry, it’s coming out of your pay. Make sure your friend gets Genuíne herself to sign for the return. I want a copy of that receipt as well.”
“If Genuíne decides to go public with rumors about your ethics, it will be nearly impossible to salvage your reputation as a journalist. Needless to say, your interview with her is not going to publication, she would use that as proof she paid to get a good review. By not publishing it...well it's another headache for me but good for you. Until she decides to let rumors fly, I have a way to keep you employed but out of sight.”
I wasn't sure I liked the sound of that. “What do you mean ‘out of sight?’”
“There are a group of journalists doing a tour around Equestria for various magazines. It’s three months. You’ll use a fake name and a spell to alter your cutie mark.”
I waited as he paused. Belatedly, I realized he was done. “You’re serious? Won’t someone figure out that the writer from Celerity is the same disgraced sap just fired from Celerity?”
“Technically, you’ll be working for Gentlecolt’s Quarterly. I have a friend who owes me one.”
“Am I fired or not?” I asked, suddenly more brave than I had any right to be.
Deadline shrugged. “Officially, you’re on leave. Family business.”
At my stricken look, his expression softened. “Look, I know you have friends and family here. There’s no guarantee that any of this will save your career. It might be time to look into something else if you’d rather…”
I couldn't ask my parents or even Div for help again. It was time to pony up. “Promise me you won’t tell my parents anything about why I’m leaving.”
He nodded. “You have my word.”
I sat back, slumped. “What’s the new name?”
Deadline eyed me carefully. He threw a folder at me from his desk. “Blot Inkwell. How are you with illusion spells?”
“Not great.” I admitted.
“Didn’t you go to the School for Gifted Unicorns?” He asked.
I sighed. “I majored in levitation and writing spells.” I reminded him.
He grunted. “Oh, right. Well then here’s the address of a pony you’ll need to see before you go.”
***
I’d decided against telling anyone I was leaving face to face. Goodbyes were too stressful. Two letters, one to Div and the other to my parents, sat in my mailbox awaiting the mailpony’s arrival tomorrow. Of course, things don’t always go as planned.
"Life, what the hay is going on?" Div must've been angry. He never used his key to my place without permission. Not like I’d answered the door, but still.
"Good to see you too, Div, let yourself in. Make yourself at home.” I murmured as Div made his way through the mess of boxes, bags, and suitcases.
"You quit your job?" No mistaking, Div was livid. Normally, I would've shrank away, but I couldn't find the energy to care.
"Eeyup." I confirmed.
"What happened?" Div sat on the floor beside me.
I sighed. "Nothing. I finished the assignment and decided I was done working there. Got another offer."
"No notice? You just handed in your article and walked away?" Div asked disbelievingly.
"Eeyup." I placed the last wrapped figurine in the box and sealed it with tape.
“What happened to your cutie mark?” I felt a hoof on my flank. I turned my head to see Div staring intently at my rear. A slight shiver ran through me. Part of me wanted to buck him away. The other part…
“I’m going undercover. Thought the illusion would help.” Not exactly a lie. My ankh on a scroll had been replaced by a pot of ink and a rather unflattering splatter. I scooted away across the floor.
Seemingly unfazed, Div pressed on. "And what's with all the boxes?"
"I'm leaving Canterlot. There's a group of journalists traveling across Equestria for a few months."
Div shot up onto all fours. "What? You're just going to leave?"
"Eeyup." I replied flatly.
"Were you going to tell anyone?" Div asked, his volume rising.
I gestured at the mailbox. “In the mail.”
"Not in person? Not even to me?" My ears caught a change in Div's tone and I looked Div in the face for the first time since he came in. My friend looked more than angry; he looked hurt. "Were you even going to say goodbye to me, Ly?"
"Div...I...wait." A thought occurred to me. "Wait, how did you know about any of this?"
Div took a subconscious step back as I stood up. "Ly, don't change the..."
"No! I've answered a ton of questions already. Answer me. Who told you about me quitting?" I glared at him as he shrank away.
Sighing, Div looked down. "Your father."
Oh it was bad enough Div knew, but my parents? My tension shot up to the ceiling. "And how did my father know?"
Div gestured vaguely with one hoof. "Ly, you know Second Story and Hard Deadline..."
"Are friends? Yeah. That doesn't give Mr. Deadline the right to go tell my daddy on me.” Not to mention I had his word he wouldn’t…oh bother. I’d miscalculated; I’d sworn him to secret about why, but he was free to tell them just about anything else.
Div closed in to lay a hoof on my shoulder. "Life, they're just worried about you. I am too, this isn't like you."
"What the hell do you know about me?" I growled angrily. I hadn’t known ponies could growl.
Div's eyebrows shot up. "I know that's the first time I've ever heard you swear."
I looked down at the floor. My stomach fluttered. He really did know me too well. A large part of me wanted to fold and let him know the truth. What was going on? I thought. How could he have such an effect on me?
"Life, please, talk to me. This isn't the pony I know. You can tell me anything, I promise. But you're scaring me. Quitting your job, accepting an offer, and traipsing off to Celestia knows where with a bunch of strange ponies? Life Story just doesn’t do change that quickly.” My ears pivoted to focus on him. I was instantly offended. How could he think that of me?
"What?” I asked with deadly calm. Div put his hoof over his mouth, his eyes wide. My eyes narrowed. "Just what do you mean by that?"
Div tried placating me. “Sorry, Ly, that didn’t come out right. But you know what I mean. You stress over everything and now suddenly you can just uproot yourself and walk away?”
"You've no idea what...HELL I put myself through lately. If I stay I’ll only be an embarrassment to the people I love. This is my mistake; I’ll fix it my way.” I turned back to finish the last few box. It was getting harder and harder to argue with him. Everything in me seemed to want to reach out to him.
“How could I be embarrassed by you? What mistake? Why can’t I help you? Just talk to me!” In that moment, it was clear to me just why exactly I couldn’t face him. Why it would have hurt to say goodbye, why I needed to go before he probed any more, and why I needed to convince him I wasn’t worth it; I loved him.
I loved him more than just a friend. He was always there for me. His family accepted me better than my own had until recently.
Scarier still, I was pretty sure he felt the same way. Maybe he was just being a good friend, but then again he was always there. Brushing my mane, calming me down from an anxiety attack, and holding me till I felt better. If that didn’t show the depths of his feelings towards me, then I was a cockatrice. How had it taken me that long to realize it?
Now that I knew, how could I drive him away and keep him from digging deeper? I looked down and it was painfully clear. I found my energy and tore open the box of figurines I’d just packed. With my magic, I starting hurling them at my friend as I screamed angrily. "Get OUT, get the HELL out of here, Div. I'm leaving Canterlot and I don't care if I'm ever coming back!"
Div tried vainly to avoid the porcelain missiles. I really hoped these didn’t hurt too much. "Life, please stop!"
"Go to hell, Div! And tell that smart ass Deadline and my snooping old father to go with you!"
"Ly..." Div flinched as a figurine broke on contact with the wall next to his head. Tears streamed down from his face. "Ly, I can’t let you go, I..."
I couldn’t let him confess to me. Desperate, I actually rammed him, sending him through the door he hadn't bothered to close. Div landed sprawled out on the floor in the hallway. Before I could close the door, I saw the grief-stricken look on Div's face. With a will, I blocked out the look and slammed the door between us.
I turned around, but could only slide down the door into a sitting position. It was hard to breathe. My body shook as I couldn't believe I'd just pushed away the pony I loved. I guess there really is no point in staying in Canterlot, I thought.
Back inside the apartment, I packed one bag. For the last time, I looked around my cluttered apartment. All this stuff and yet the most important things are in this bag. The thought helped. I'd been worried about putting all this stuff in storage, but truthfully there wasn’t much. I’d made arrangements for the landlord to let the moving ponies take my things to storage, which I’d paid up for a year.
Without a backward glance I left my apartment, dropped the keys off in my landlord's drop box and headed for the train.