Brushed Away

by TheVClaw

Chapter Fourteen: Working it Out

Ponyville was usually a fairly quiet place when it got dark. But if there was anything exciting going on after the sun went down, chances were pretty high that Pinkie Pie was somehow involved. While her wild and loud antics could easily irritate or bother most unsuspecting ponies, the citizens of Ponyville had come to accept―or, at least, stopped trying to avoid―her bubbly attitude, as well as her extravagant celebrations for any and every occasion she saw fit to throw a party for.

Since Ponyville could get boring without her parties, most of the town just let Pinkie Pie do what she wanted to give the community some well-needed excitement―not to mention she would probably do it regardless. Noise complaints were beneath her, and Mayor Mare didn’t want to try leashing her lest she find herself dragged along by it through the party pony’s high-octane revelry (the politician’s job was stressful enough, she didn’t need split ends on top of everything else). And, once again, the pink mare was giving the town another reason to have a good time as Canvas’ surprise party went down at Sugar Cube Corner.

Canvas didn't think of himself as the partying type, but he managed to loosen up pretty well after overcoming the initial shock from having a party just for him. As he chatted with the various ponies there, the stallion felt a lot calmer as he came to understand how friendly and approachable they really were.

There were a few moments where Canvas felt a little uncomfortable, mostly when ponies asked about the storm or the bandage over his eye, but he was able to keep most of those conversations simple and short, moving on to more positive things before they could notice or care. When Canvas could finally take a break from talking and drink some punch, he furrowed his brows when his art bag was held up by a light-blue aura.

Canvas looked to his side to find a white unicorn readjusting the pins holding the bottom of his bag. The beautiful mare looked over Canvas' bag with a mix of curiosity and strange admiration. Her flawlessly done face showed nothing but inquisitiveness. Her meticulously styled purple mane bounced lightly as she nodded and shook her head, muttering to herself. Her blue eyes shined with the attentive gleam of a surgeon in the midst of an operation.

"Um…” Canvas didn’t feel comfortable with how this mare was handling his bag, and he didn’t want anything to damage it any more than it already was. “Excuse me?”

"Oh!" The unicorn looked up at Canvas before letting go of the bag, letting it rest back on his shoulder. "Forgive me if I'm intruding, darling,” said the mare with a surprisingly posh accent that sounded like something straight from the upper crust of Canterlot, "but I couldn't help but notice your supply bag. I actually recognize the style, even if its state is a touch… well, ‘ghastly’ is a strong word, no?”

"Umm… thanks?” Unsure of whether or not the mare was insulting him, Canvas decided to let it slide.

"Where did you acquire it? Because from what I can see, this is a positively sterling brand. In fact, many would call it vintage." Lifting up the top flap of it with her magic, the unicorn showed the inside tag that Canvas never took notice of: HT Goods. "I've been a long-time admirer of Hoity Toity's work, and I'm quite surprised to see something as rare as this being worn so roughly."

Canvas recognized the name. Hoity Toity was a high-end fashion pony of sorts. While fashion never did catch his interest, he was surprised to find out his art bag was associated with him. Canvas also knew how expensive his stuff was, and he wondered how much the bag would've been worth if it wasn't ripped up and covered with years worth of random drawings and etchings. He wouldn't dare think of giving it up, of course, but he couldn’t help but see his bag with a newfound sense of appreciation.

"Hoity Toity made this bag?" Canvas blinked a few times as he looked at the tag. "I never knew she went to so much trouble..."

"Hm?"

Not realizing he muttered that out loud, Canvas looked back at the mare who was watching him curiously. "Oh, um…” Canvas held the bag closer to himself. "I… I got this from my mom back when I was a colt. It was a gift for me after I discovered my talent in art. I knew it was a big thing for her to do, but…”

The stallion's ears slumped down as he looked down at the sorry state of the bag, thinking about what Troy said earlier. "I should really get this repaired."

"Well, worry not!" Canvas looked back up at the unicorn, who now wore an enthusiastic smile. "My name is Rarity, of Rarity's Carousel Boutique! I've been told of your skills, and considering your current predicament, why don’t we help one another? I could use your assistance."

Canvas raised his brows curiously. "Assistance?"

---

As the party was getting into full swing, and Pinkie Pie was running another round of Pin the Tail on the Pony, Troy was perched near one of the snack tables. He was drinking yet another bottle of grape soda, watching the ponies around him and narrowing his eyes at any who strayed too close. It was his first time at this kind of party, but the experience wasn’t nearly as harrowing as the gryphon would have pictured.

At first, most of the ponies kept their distance from Troy, since Gilda’s boorish actions at one of Pinkie’s previous parties had soured the image of gryphons everywhere in their minds. However, as more of them conversed with the gryphon, they realized that while he was a bit quiet, he was a lot nicer than expected. Before he knew it, several ponies were clamoring to speak with Troy, crowding the poor introvert, and he had to excuse himself just to catch his breath. Crowds were exhausting, and to him, if there were more than two ponies, it was a crowd. Go figure he had to entertain a dozen. Well, nothing a little more sugar couldn’t fix. He wasn’t sure how well Equestria’s healthcare system paid out, but hopefully they had some cheap insulin.

After tossing his fifth empty bottle into a nearby trash bin, Troy felt a nudge on his side. Turning around with a haunted look in his eye at the prospect of having to weather another torrent of asinine questions, his weariness subsided when he found Rainbow Dash standing next to him wearing a grin. "Jeez, thirsty much? At this rate, you’re gonna whiz purple, dude."

Troy scoffed. "Hey, it's a party. And you can’t blame me, these things are heaven for the taste buds." Rainbow shrugged as he grabbed a clawful of lemon drops and popped one into his mouth. "Besides, lemon drops make me thirsty."

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "Man, I remember Gilda was a huge fan of lemon drops, too. I'm starting to think that's a gryphon thing."

Troy shrugged. "Maybe. I just happen to enjoy sour stuff." He kept talking as he crunched on the candies in his beak. "So Rainbow, did they say anything about the, y’know, thing?"

Rainbow looked at him sympathetically. "Yeah… They said they'd think about it."

Troy sighed, knowing that usually meant ‘no.’ The more he thought about getting a job in the Weather Patrol, the more he began hating the idea of going back to that stupid ice room in the morning. It might’ve paid well, and it was certainly easy enough for him, but after spending all this time with Canvas and the other ponies, Troy really didn't want to be cooped up like that every day. The Weather Patrol would be a much-needed breath of fresh air.

"Although…” Troy looked back up at Rainbow. "If you do get a transfer, and that’s a big if, I'll see to getting you on the team real snappy-like. But you didn’t hear that from me."

The gryphon smiled and nodded. "That's great to know, Rainbow." Though he'd heard things from other ponies around Cloudsdale about how hot-headed she could be when it came to work or training, even seeing it himself when they’d first met, it was hard for him to catch anything of the sort in whom he saw standing next to him at that moment. "You know, you didn’t have to stick your neck out for me like this, but… I really do appreciate it. I owe you big."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes at Troy. "It's just a job, dude!" Looking down at the ground, the mare sighed before speaking again, now in a more sullen tone. "But um… there is something I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

Troy cocked his head to the side. "Careful, Rainbow, you might make somepony think you feel guilty just for being a decent pony. I know you’ve got this whole hard-as-steel persona going on, but past that? You’re alright," he said with a slight chuckle. When she didn’t respond, Troy furrowed his brows, the smile on his beak fading. “Hey, you okay?” Rainbow looked back up at him, her ears flat against her skull.

"It's just…” Rainbow clenched her eyes shut, afraid of seeing his reaction. “I was the one who made that lightning strike!"

Though the party was still loud around them, the space between the two suddenly fell silent. Shame, awful shame, pressed down on Rainbow, keeping her from looking Troy in the eye.

"I should've made sure to check the list, but I didn't, and I was the reason you couldn't just fly up to get help! And I…” The mare bit her lip, mostly to keep it from quivering. "...I'm really, really sorry, Troy."

Troy didn’t know what to feel: there was disbelief, denial, even a distant, dark feeling that howled calamitously at the mare that could have ended his career, if not his life, through stupid negligence just so she could punch the clock a few minutes early. He tightened his fist, the lemon drops in his palm cracking and grinding to dust.

But as much as he felt betrayed, the thing that stood out the most in this maelstrom of emotions swirling in his core was an overwhelming confusion. He’d never hated somepony, he’d never loved somepony. Tartarus, until he arrived in Equestria, his every interaction was merely surface-level, so these feelings were still very new to him. But if he knew one thing about Rainbow Dash, it was that she didn’t have a single malicious bone in her body. The fact that the mare had the mettle to forego her pride―something incredibly important to her―and show him, a gryphon, a predator, the softest part of her neck in deference, helped to prove that. If anything, Troy actually felt a strange kind of respect for her.

Biting back something poisonous, Troy took a deep breath and placed a claw on her shoulder. "Hey, it's alright. I mean, that strike just grazed me and―”

"But what if it didn't?!" Moving his head back from her sudden shout, he could only stand silent in front of her. She tapped her hoof against the side of her head, a baleful sneer twisting her visage. "Celestia, you can’t be this clueless. That could have seriously hurt you, or worse! And what about that guy in the bush, huh? What then!” Troy flinched as if struck; he hadn’t even considered Canvas in all this! Rainbow shook her head, her gaze desperate. “I just… I can’t just let that slide!"

Now looking like she really was going to tear up, Troy grabbed the pegasus by the shoulders. His talons dug into her coat, but only enough to be discomforting. "Rainbow, listen to me!" Rainbow looked up at Troy, startled at his intensity. "You didn't know I was there. It may have been a mistake, but that's all it was! A mistake! I'm not mad about it, okay? I took that risk, and the danger was not lost on me when I did."

At Rainbow’s shock, Troy sighed before letting her go. He raised his trembling claws to his face, studying them. "I won’t lie, Rainbow, I… I’m not sure if I want to laugh, or punch something, or―” He held his breath for a moment, releasing a frustrated growl and massaging the space between his eyes. “I don’t know. It’s a lot to take in. Still though… major props to you for telling me.” He clapped a claw on her shoulder, and she looked at him in utter bafflement. Rubbing the back of his neck, he continued. “But, uh, don’t let it happen again. I’ll deck you in the schnoz next time, and I’ll only feel a little bad about it afterward." The mare snorted at that, looking far less tense. She eyed him up and down as though she was seeing him for the first time.

He considered giving her a hug, but then he figured doing something like that with this mare could end up with him getting his beak broken. He liked his face just the way it was, thank you. So instead, the gryphon proffered a clenched fist, which she promptly bumped with her hoof, a smile growing back on her face.

Determination shined in Rainbow Dash’s eyes. "I'm gonna make sure you get that job, alright?" Troy nodded at Rainbow's promise, now seeing why she got the title of Element of Loyalty. Her relieved smile quickly dropped as she stepped nearer, her expression severe. "But don't think I'll let you slack off under my watch, got it? If you're working for me, you're gonna work!"

Aaaand there was the Rainbow Dash everypony knew and loved. Troy quickly nodded, understanding her condition. Rainbow then sighed, looking happy to have gotten all that off her chest. “That kinda spunk’ll get you far, Troy; you oughta show it more often.” She then turned and walked off, disappearing into the sea of ponies at the party, some of whom had quieted down during her altercation with Troy. A few wary glances were passed between the eavesdroppers, but conversation once again picked up when it was clear no trouble would come of it.

Troy was too preoccupied to take notice of this. He didn’t know when he had grabbed another bottle of grape soda, but he found himself staring into his warped reflection in the inky, beckoning liquid. Golden eyes stared back. “You say that like it’s so simple,” he muttered to himself, frowning.

---

"I must say, Canvas, your paintings are simply dazzling!"

Rarity couldn't stop raving as she sifted through his collection of paintings, shuffling through them as she levitated them in her blue aura. She was ooing and ahhing, looking absolutely mesmerized, her eyes sparkling like she’d unearthed diamonds. Canvas was happy to show his work, even if it was for a seamstress he had just met. That said, Canvas was careful to only pull out his undamaged pieces, keeping the others tucked away in his bag. When she found herself especially entranced by a blue-and-purple abstract piece, Rarity felt a lot more confident about what she was asking of Canvas.

"I know this is an odd request, but I simply can’t find the time to do it myself due to a plethora of clients this month."

Canvas thought about what Rarity wanted him to do for her. The job itself was a fairly simple one: painting a specific floral design for her bedroom. And yet, the mare was offering a really generous pay for his time. As he looked at her design idea on a piece of paper she gave him―a surprisingly intricate style, almost like some sort of Zebra tribal motif―Canvas was confident he could finish this in less than a day.

"And for your time on this project, my good stallion,” said Rarity, once again lifting his bag gently with her magic, "I'll also repair your art bag, free of charge.” She winked. “We’ll tally it as an ‘artistic exchange.’"

With a big smile on his face, Canvas shook Rarity's hoof, careful not to mess up her hooficure. "Miss Rarity, I would be happy to help with your design." The unicorn's face beamed with excitement. Canvas put a hoof to his bandage, remembering what he had to do tomorrow. "I may have to visit the hospital first to get my stitches removed, but after that I'll be right over. Is that okay with you?"

Rarity nodded, but kept a muzzle on her curiosity. Like most of the ponies at the party, she was aware of the basics: Canvas was found hurt before the storm last week and was recuperating at the hospital until yesterday. Even though she wanted to know more about what happened (as did a lot of ponies in town), she knew better than to ask such personal questions, especially with a tentative business partner. It was unprofessional. With a quick ‘thank you and congratulations’ to the stallion, Rarity went back off to the party, happy to finally get this idea off the ground.

Canvas readjusted his bag, glad to know it’d be repaired as soon as tomorrow, before heading back to the table Rarity placed his paintings on. Walking over, Canvas noticed two more ponies looking through the stack, carefully studying each painting with interest. One was a fairly tall and skinny yellow stallion with a short, orange mane and freckles lining his muzzle, while the other next to him was a light-blue mare who was rather short and pudgy.

The mare quickly placed the painting she was holding back on the pile when she noticed Canvas, and readjusted her poofy pink mane. "I'm sorry, sir, I couldn’t help myself. But these pieces are so eye-catching!"

"Oh, it's alright." After his interaction with Rarity, he was feeling a lot more comfortable with ponies seeing his work. "I think Pinkie introduced us earlier. You're Mr. and Mrs. Cake, right?"

The mare nodded, and the stallion looked up from the stack to talk with him. "Gotta say, I don’t have the chops to be a critic of these artsy things―I’m much more comfortable whipping up a nice pumpkin pecan cheesecake and keeping the ovens preheated, y’see―but in my humble opinion, young stallion, you oughta be doing a lot more than five-bit drawings on the street."

Canvas blushed slightly, but remained gracious as he smiled with a thankful nod. He remembered how unenthusiastic ponies were back in Gallop Creek, with the nicest compliments either being amused ‘huh’s’ or nods before they just walked past. To go from that to practically everypony saying how well done they were was quite a change for Canvas, who now wished he could've lived in a community this supportive growing up.

Mrs. Cake cleared her throat. "My husband and I were wondering. How would you feel about painting something for us?"

---

Troy walked out of the bathroom, relieved that the party was finally over. Looking over the bakery, now clear of most ponies, he saw Mr. and Mrs. Cake sweeping up the fallen confetti and streamers strewn about the floor. Meanwhile, Canvas was helping Pinkie Pie put paper plates into a trash bag; despite objections from both Pinkie and the Cakes, the stallion insisted he helped clean up before heading back to the hotel. Realizing he was the only one not doing anything, Troy looked around before flying up to the ceiling, and helped to take down the various streamers and balloons.

With everything done in the main room, Pinkie gave Canvas a particularly bone-crushing hug before letting him leave to get some rest. Paradoxically, the stallion came out of it feeling less sore than before. Before Pinkie could open her forelegs again to do the same for Troy, the gryphon put out his claw for her to shake, opting not to involve himself in whatever black magic the mare was indulging in. He could tell Pinkie wanted to give him a hug, but she still had a big smile while shaking his claw with her hoof.

Before leaving, Troy saw Canvas shaking the hooves of Mr. and Mrs. Cake, talking with them about something.

"Alright, I might not get here until sometime in the afternoon, but I'll be sure to get it done before the kids come back, alright?"

The two ponies nodded as Canvas thanked them once again for the party, feeling relieved that he could leave Sugar Cube Corner and get some sleep. Canvas and Troy stepped back outside, waving back at the ponies inside the bakery, and both were surprised how cool the night air had become.

"So, Canvas…” Canvas glanced over at Troy, who looked exhausted following that surprise party. "What was that whole thing about?"

"Oh, that." Canvas rubbed his uncovered eye with his hoof, hoping he’d stay awake long enough to get to the hotel. He didn’t put all those bits into getting a proper room just to pass out on the street. "The Cakes asked me to help paint their nursery. Their kids are at their grandparents’ or something, and they wanted to get it done as a surprise for when they get back."

"Oh." Troy turned away from Canvas to quietly yawn. "The more bits the merrier, as they say. Who’d’ve thought you’d get so popular!"

Canvas nodded before he yawned loudly. The gryphon sighed to himself, hoping he didn’t cause that. Canvas yawned a second time before continuing.

"I'm also gonna paint something for Rarity at her boutique. She makes clothing and stuff, and she said she would actually fix the bottom of my bag if I painted something for her bedroom."

Troy smiled a bit, and tried his hardest to hold back another yawn. The gryphon looked down at Canvas' bag, which was now stuffed with leftover sweets and candies wrapped in plastic to protect the artwork. "Well, thank the stars for that. Won’t have to fret over that torn up travesty for much longer."

"I’m just taking your advice, Troy. You were right when you said sentiments weren’t going to hold this thing together." Canvas sighed and touched his bandage, making sure it was still secure. "I'm getting the stitches out first thing in the morning, so hopefully I can start looking out of this eye again soon."

Troy nodded, trying not to look upset as he remembered how that eye looked before, all swollen and black. He was surprised to think Canvas would still be able to see anything from it. Troy then thought about what Canvas said the other night, feeling his anger build up at the idea that some pony actually did that to him.

"Canvas, don't you think you should talk to the police about what happened?" Looking at Canvas with concern, Troy could see the stallion tremble a little bit as they walked.

"I… um…” Canvas looked away from Troy. The stallion's mind started spinning with the memories from that night, growing increasingly troubled as he tried to keep his focus on walking. Canvas heard Troy’s voice again.

"Canvas, listen to me. If some ponies did that to you, especially for something like… that, you really should try to press charges or something! They shouldn't get away with that!"

"I know, it's just…” Canvas bit his lip, not wanting to think about that night anymore. The stallion stopped in the middle of the empty street, clenching his eye shut as he tried to keep himself calm. "I just…”

Canvas felt Troy's claws rest on his shoulder, feeling pleasantly surprised by how warm they felt on his coat. Breathing deeply, Canvas started feeling a lot easier with the gryphon by him.

"It's just that coming here and meeting everypony has made me feel… it made me feel happier than I felt in a really, really long time." Canvas kept breathing heavily in an effort to keep himself from tearing up. "I want to put that stuff behind me right now. A-And I… I just want to move on with my life."

Looking up, Canvas could see from the gryphon's grave stare that this wasn't what he wanted to hear. Canvas looked back down at his hooves, and sighed deeply before he continued, hoping to keep Troy from digging further into any topics he’d prefer to let lie. "I know I should talk to somepony… And I will,” he said, pursing his lips together as he wondered if he actually would. "I just... It really hurts to think about it all, okay?!"

Canvas almost dropped to the ground, feeling like something punched him in the gut as he struggled not to cry. Troy instantly held onto him, not caring that he was outdoors or if somepony was watching. Canvas clung to Troy's shoulder for a few moments, not wanting to cause a scene in public, even though it was probably too late now. As he felt the gryphon's feathers brush against his fur, Canvas started to feel calmer and safer, and his sobs decreased.

Canvas breathed in deeply as he let go of Troy, making sure his bandage wasn't too wet from crying before they started walking again. By the time they were in front of the hotel, Canvas was the one who finally broke the silence.

"I will talk to somepony about it. I… I just need to rest first."

"Well, that's understandable." Looking up at the clock tower in the distance, Troy saw that it was already almost a quarter to one. He sniffed the air, making a face. "And take a shower while you’re at it. You smell like banana bread and wet tree bark."

Canvas scoffed and shot the gryphon a flat stare. “Wow. Seriously, dude?”

“H-Hey, I’m just trying to be more upfront, alright?” Troy raised his claws up in sincerity, not wanting his friend to think that remark was too insulting between them. “Seriously, blame Rainbow Dash. She was the one who told me to show more ‘spunk’ or whatever.”

Canvas immediately looked away and tried his hardest not to snicker. He wasn’t very successful. “Ummm… Maybe you should use a different term than that one? ‘Spunk’ is sorta… suggestive.”

Troy needed a couple seconds to process what he meant, but his brows rose after a moment before he gave an affirmative “Ohhhh.” After smiling more naturally, he shook his head while rolling his eyes. “Oh, I’m gonna need a shower after that one! Jeez, and here I thought you were supposed to be a prude,” he said, playfully shoving the stallion, who couldn’t fight down a growing smirk.

The two shared a quick hug and an exchange of goodbyes, and Troy waited until Canvas disappeared past the front doors of the hotel before he flew off. Unfortunately, even with how happy the gryphon felt about his friend’s progress, his mind was still plagued with images of the frail, unresponsive stallion hooked up to life-support back in that hospital. The stallion who could have been brushed away into the night without anyone knowing, without anyone caring, if everything had gone according to schedule on that fateful day. His friend.

You’d better not be stringing me along, Canvas...

Author's Note:

Just so any newer readers are aware, I've recently been undergoing a big project to turn the Brushed Away series into physical books for individual sale. Because of that, I just wanted to make a quick note for which chapters have been revised so far, including this one.

I want to give my deepest thanks, as well as some well-deserved credit to the editors helping me out with this process: SirReal, and Double R. Forrest. And if anyone is interested in helping out with making this project a reality, I highly recommend checking out my Official Ko-Fi page dedicated to it.

Comments

[Wireframe]

l figured it about time someone left you a comment, 14 chapters in. I've been enjoying your story so far and look forward to future chapters.

I like how you're taking your time with building the relationships within this story, as well as slowly but surely unveiling what happened to Canvas. Perhaps even more important is his realization that things are different in Ponyville. It's lovely to see him get more comfortable with himself and everyone around him.

I also appreciate how the introductions of more well known characters such as the mane six or background ponies and their interactions with Troy and Canvas feeling believable within your context instead of forcibly added.

Thank you for this lovely story

[Dramapony]

I'm finding it very hard to understand how my current story has a better rating, and more attention, than yours.

[-Brutus]

3347405 M/M shipping maybe; most of people are kinda of hypocrites without realizing it. They go GAGA over F/F ships but not the other way around. But seems like this have a good rating anyhow.

[Necrogen Lord]

5699388
I'm not gay, but I thoroughly enjoy and recommend this story.

[dawn seeker]

5699388 well its how the author writes a story that plays a big role in how it is received and i must say this author did an amazing job

[EpicFluffy]

I know I'm a kinda late but I'd thought I should point this out

he saw Mister and Mister Cake sweeping up most of the fallen confetti

or im just dense and you said what you meant. and oh god my name is cringy

[Violet Sky]

5750022
I was bi when I read this the first time. Now I just admit to it to certain people.