Desert Storm

by Some Person

Baggage

The next day, Braeburn and Soarin' walked alongside the strip of buildings in the heart of Appleloosa, the summer sun hanging overhead.

"Thanks for agreein' to come along with me," Braeburn stated with a hint of hesitance. He had a couple of saddlebags fastened onto his midsection.

Say it. "No problem," Soarin' replied, wearing his disguise once more. "So anywhere else after we get to the bank?”

"Ah gotta stop at the market, then we go to the homeless shelter."

Soarin’ turned to Braeburn. “Shelter?”

“Yep,” Braeburn said while nodding. “Ah drop off a donation every once in a while.”

Say it. "I see."

Braeburn and Soarin' silently traveled to their destination. Along the way, Soarin' spotted a few glares from the locals here and there, but didn’t pay them much attention. The bank soon came into view. It was also made of wood, but it was nearly the tallest structure, being one and a half times taller than any building around. Both stallions walked underneath the shade from the bank's balcony, towards its doors.

Say it! "You go on ahead," Soarin stated. "I'll wait here." The Wonderbolt sat himself near the edge of the shade, resting against the front wall.

"Okay," Braeburn replied. "I'll be back in a minute."

Hurry up and say it already! "I gotcha."

Braeburn slowly turned towards the entrance and headed inside.

After a moment, Soarin' sighed heavily and rested his head in his hooves. I'm sorry. That's all I have to say, and I can’t even do that. Not yesterday, not today, what's wrong with me? He sighed again, studying the ponies that passed by. Does he even notice how some of these ponies look at him? It's like he was Discord or something. He shifted his sight towards the sky. I doubt those two jerks at the orchard are the only ones who hate Braeburn.

Keeping his gaze on the sky, he couldn't help but get lost in his thoughts. How does he do it? He can't not see the glares they give him. Does he just not care? He slouched against the wall, staring at the balcony above. Guess that would explain that. Somepony as carefree as him just got used to it, I bet. He sighed again, staring blankly at the ceiling. “Be back in a minute, he says…”

"Come on, it'll be just for a few minutes!"

Soarin's eyes shot open.

"I... I don't like this! I wanna go home!"

He could feel his heart pound against his chest and his breathing became quicker.

"It won't be long, you can trust me."

Just as his body started to feel cold, he quickly held his forelegs close to his body and clenched his teeth and eyes tightly.

Calm down, calm down! I can’t afford a scene here!

He curled up, counting backwards through the trembling.

20... 19... 18…

Soarin' began rubbing the sides of his head.

14... 13... 12…

He then held his forelegs to his chest and began slightly rocking back and forth.

8... 7... 6…

Finally he let all of his muscles shut down, starting from his hindlegs and working upwards until he was slumped against the wall.

3... 2... 1

Soarin's breathing started slowing down, but he could still feel numbness in his body. He started to imagined himself flying through the sky. He saw himself completely alone as he fell through the air before pulling back up with extreme precision and grace. He'd spiral through the air, allowing his mane to fly freely. Finally he'd come to rest on a cloud, setting himself down easily as he loosened his goggles and blew a portion of hair that hung before his eyes.

Soarin' slowly brought himself back into reality, shaking his limbs awake. He wiped a strand of drool on the side of his chin.

“You okay, mister?”

He quickly looked to his right and saw a young yellow colt with magenta colored hair looking at him with worry in his grey eyes.

Soarin’ quickly got onto his hooves. “Y-yeah. Don’t worry about me, kid.”

The colt’s hooves shuffled slightly. “Y’ sure? Ah can go git somepony is ya need ‘em!”

“No, really, it’s fine” Soarin’ began explaining as he held up a hoof. “I just… got… a little under the weather, that’s all.” His explanation didn’t ease the colt’s worry. “I promise, I’m fine. Just… run along, okay? I’m a big colt, I can take care of myself.”

The colt swallowed. “Well… uh… okay then, mister.” He turned and walked away, taking occasional glances back at the Wonderbolt.

Soarin’ relaxed his tense posture. He then looked around and noticing that nopony seemed to pay much heed to his previous display. The Wonderbolt's gaze drifted to the left. Out of all these ponies, only a colt bothers to check out what happened. He slightly grimaced while shaking his head. Suddenly he gasped, holding a hoof to his mouth. Horseapples! I forgot the accent! If that colt blabs about it, then I’d… He paused to rest his head in his hooves. Calm down, he’s just a foal. No one would ever take a foal’s word as the truth anyway. Besides, he’s too far gone now. He shook his head. You just had to go and mess me up like that, huh?

The doors to the bank opened and Braeburn stepped out, his left saddle pouch noticeably bigger. "Ah'm all done here."

"S-sounds good," Soarin' stammered as he straightened himself out.

Braeburn raised an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to follow his suspicions, but then stopped and slowly faced the road. "We should get goin'."

"Where to?"

"The market."

"Right." Soarin' stood back up, moving along Braeburn's right as the cowpony walked to his next destination. As the stallions kept on the path, Soarin' would notice Braeburn shoot a worried glance his way every once in a while. I hope he didn’t notice what happened back there, the Wonderbolt pondered. Take it easy, Soarin’. Hopefully he's just thinking about yesterday. His head bowed slightly. Something I still should apologize for…

"Hey."

Soarin' looked up and saw Braeburn staring back at him, his gaze locked on the Wonderbolt.

"Ah'm sorry for trying to get mah snout in your business again, but ah need to know. Are you okay? You really don't look it."

Soarin' took a deep breath. This is your chance. Tell him now! "Yeah, I'm... I'm fine." His eyes darted away. "I'll tell you another time... okay?"

Braeburn stared at Soarin' for a good while before giving a huff himself. "Alright, if you're sure."

Coward…

Braeburn and Soarin' eventually made it to the market, a quaint white establishment with the word 'MARKET' appropriately painted on a plank of wood above the doorway in black paint. Just like the trip to the bank, Braeburn went inside and finished his business while Soarin' patiently waited outside. Luckily, Soarin's experience was much calmer this time, and Braeburn was out of the store relatively quickly, a bountiful bag of various vegetables, fruits, and grains in his mouth. He placed the bag into his right saddle pouch. "Now we hit the shelter, and then it’s back home."

"Lead the way," the Wonderbolt remarked with a shrug.

Both stallions walked to the back end of Appleloosa until a small blue building came into view. There seemed to be several ragged ponies walking in and out by the time Soarin' and Braeburn arrived.

A purple earth pony mare with magenta hair caught sight of them and ran towards them. "Braeburn!" she yelled before slowing down. "It's so good to see ya again!"

Braeburn nodded his head. "Likewise, Sugar Song."

"Well, come on in! Peach Blossom's waitin' inside!"

The mare led both stallions into the shelter. Once inside, Braeburn and Sugar struck up a conversation while Soarin' began studying the area. Many ponies were huddled together, sitting on the assorted beds and benches. Some sat with styrofoam cups with various drinks within. Others milled about the area, talking to whoever would return a conversation starter. As the three ponies passed by, Soarin' would notice a select few ponies look up as they heard the subtle chime of clashing bits in Braeburn's bag. Smiles would surface on these ponies' faces as they stared at the saddlebag presumably full of bits. They'd also notice Soarin' staring at them and immediately turn away.

Soarin' and Braeburn were taken to a room in the back where an old orange earth pony mare with a turquoise-colored mane sat behind a desk. "Oh, Braeburn! Is it that time again?" she asked as she moved an abacus and papers full of numbers and scribbles away.

"Ah figured it was the right time," Braeburn replied. "How've ya been, Peach?"

"Oh, same ol’ same ol’, sweetie!"

Braeburn pulled a rather sizeable bag of bits from his left pouch and placed it on Peach's desk. Soarin' couldn't hide his surprise at how big the bag was and the loud noise it made when placed on the surface. "Here."

Peach looked at the bag and back at Braeburn with a small smile on her face. "You don't have to do this, Braeburn. Really."

"It's no problem at all," the cowpony stated as he shook his head. "Ah figure ah'm not gonna need it anytime soon."

"Well... so long as you're sure," Peach sighed.

Sugar nuzzled Braeburn. "Thanks for doin' this, Braeburn!"

"Like ah said before, it ain't a problem," Braeburn replied with a chuckle.

With his business complete, Braeburn led Soarin’ out of the shelter and headed for home. During the trek back, Soarin' couldn't help but think back to what he’d previously seen and learned about Braeburn. "Hey," he finally spoke up, ending the silence between them.

Braeburn turned around, stopping in his tracks. "What's up?"

Soarin’ looked Braeburn in the eye. "How often do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Give money to that shelter? You said 'before' back there. How often do you give them money?"

Braeburn put a hoof to his chin. "Ah 'spose it's every coupl'a weeks. Been doin' it fer a few months now."

Soarin' tensed up. "And how often do you get paid for your work at the apple orchard?"

"Every coupl'a weeks there too."

"And... how much did you give those ponies at the shelter?"

Braeburn looked to the sky as he seemed to do mental calculations. "Oh... a couple hundred or so?"

Soarin's jaw nearly dropped. "A-a couple hundred?! But—" Soarin' stopped and looked away. After a moment, he turned back to Braeburn. "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"What?" Braeburn replied, taken aback.

"You're donating too much of your own money. Don’t you have bills or something? How do you even have enough to keep up with those?"

Braeburn's gaze shifted away. "Ah... ah'm doin' fine."

Soarin' raised an eyebrow. "Going off how your house looks, I'd say you're anything but fine!" He shook his head. "Now it all makes sense..."

"What makes sense?"

"Your house is so empty and run-down. I've been wondering why a pony that works as hard as you has a place like that, and now it's clear to me. You're giving up your earnings to others who can leech off of them."

Braeburn's head shot back. "Now hang on a sec! Those ponies ain't leechin’ off me! What in Equestria gave you that idea?"

Soarin' sighed. "I got a look at those ponies at the shelter. The moment your bits began ringing, they had this smile on their faces—"

"'Cause they were happy to see me!" Braeburn retorted.

"Take it from me, Braeburn. I know what 'happy' looks like. And those ponies? They had the sort of smile that says, 'Sweet! My meal ticket just walked in.'"

"That ain't true!" Braeburn snapped. "Those ponies are down on their luck, and they need some help!"

Soarin's brow furrowed. "So you're going to help them until you are one of them."

"If ah don't help 'em, who will?"

"I don't know!" the Wonderbolt fumed, throwing his right foreleg in the air. "Don't they have chairty programs and bailouts for this sort of thing? Let them worry about it!"

Braeburn huffed, "What then? What are ya sayin' ah should do?"

"I'm saying stop trying to fix everypony's problems!"

Both stallions paused at that moment. Braeburn's mouth hung open, trying to work out a reply, but nothing came out.

Soarin' took a deep breath. "Look, trust me on this... You start out with wanting to help somepony, and you think you're doing a great thing. You think, 'Hey, so-and-so just needs some extra bits here and there. They need a place to stay for a while. They need me to explain why they skipped work that day. They need me to go pick them up in the dead of night when they can't fly straight. But it's all temporary, right?' And next thing you know they chew you up and spit you out when a better host comes along. It's not worth it, Braeburn."

The cowpony stared long and hard at his companion. Finally, he swallowed the lump in his throat and queried, "Why did ya find me?"

Soarin' blinked his eyes. "What?"

"You came to my house, and ya needed a place to stay. So why did ya find me? Did ya plan on 'chewin' me up an' spittin' me out?'" Braeburn replied.

"It's not like that!" Soarin' spat back.

"It's exactly like that! So what's your answer? Why did ya find me?"

Soarin' gritted his teeth before looking away. "...I needed help," he murmured.

Braeburn sighed. "Now look, ah dunno what you've been through, and ah ain’t lookin’ to find out, but ya can't just assume everypony askin' for help is only doin' it 'cause they want a free ride. Some ponies need help, and ya gotta take a chance and hope the ponies yer helpin' are genuine." A gust of wind passed by both stallions, causing the cowpony to grab his hat before it could fly away. With this distraction, he noticed the sun beginning to set. "We've been talkin' long enough, let's head home." He turned back around and began walking, only stopping momentarily to look back as he saw Soarin' silently following behind.

----------

Braeburn unlocked the front door to his house and walked inside. "Now, ah dunno what ya want for dinner," he said as he took the bag of food out of his saddlebag, "but we got a few options to choose from." He started placing the food on his table. "Feel free to look through what ah've got and gimme a holler when you kno-"

"I'm sorry..." Soarin' mumbled.

Braeburn turned around. "What was that?"

"For yelling at you yesterday, I mean. I was tense and I took it out on you. I have a lot of things on my mind, but that's no excuse for lashing out. I'm sorry, and I hope you can forgive me." The Wonderbolt lowered his head.

Braeburn's stared at his friend for a moment. "Soarin', you don't..." He drifted off before a chipper smile appeared on his face. "Apology accepted!"

Soarin' hesitated before bringing his head back up. "R-really?”

“You betcha!”

“Well... great! Thanks, Braeburn," he stated, growing his own smile as well.

"So, uh, whaddya wanna do for dinner then?"

Soarin' walked to the table and looked at the spread of food upon it. After a moment's thought, he looked at Braeburn. "I could go for some sandwiches."

With a nod of his head, Braeburn replied, "Comin' right up!"

Once the sandwiches were prepared, both ponies sat at the table. For the next hour, Braeburn and Soarin' began striking up various conversations about their recent experiences in their respective towns, plans for the future, and various other topics.

"...So Rapidfire's flying really, really fast, alright?" Soarin' explained inbetween bites. "I'm talking a lot faster than he's supposed to be going. Our manager starts hollering, 'Rapidfire! You stop right now! We are not going to risk a performance in Manehattan because of your recklessness!' So he tries his best to stop when he suddenly goes smack right into the cloud wall!"

"He did?" Braeburn added.

"Yeah, and we were all freaking out, rushing on out to him. Next thing we know, he just stands up like nothing happened and says, 'That was amazing, let's do it again!' Man, Stormbreak was not happy and sentenced him to laundry duty every morning for a month!"

"Wow... and he was still allowed to fly with y'all?" Braeburn asked as he took another bite of his sandwich.

Soarin' nodded. "But after a while he started to get really worn out, so the rest of us agreed to cover him for laundry shifts while he got some extra rest."

"Well ah'll be. Y'all sound like a buncha brothers n' sisters."

"I'll say, they're more like my family." Soarin' ate the last of his sandwich and suddenly gazed out the window for a good moment. He turned to Braeburn. "Hey, uh... this is probably weird to ask, but have you kept in touch with your dad?"

Braeburn nodded before swallowing his food. "Yeah, talked to him a couple days before you arrived."

"That's good..." Soarin' moved away from the table and got himself a glass of water. He started to drink it, but stopped. "You know," he said as he turned to face Braeburn, "after my mom died... my dad just kinda... gave up."

The cowpony directed his full attention on the Wonderbolt. "Gave up?" he asked.

"He didn't... I don’t mean he killed himself or anything, he just... well... He stopped caring about much of anything." Soarin' took a deep breath. "If I mentioned mom in any way, he’d suddenly show signs of life, but that would be gone in the blink of an eye. He never really recovered from it.”

Braeburn frowned. “Did ya try talkin’ to him? Findin’ out what was wrong with him, or anythin’ like that?”

“Yeah, but… he just became this soulless pony. I'd say it was like talking to a brick wall, but at least a wall makes an echo. He just became this empty void, and... I realized that I stopped mattering to him."

Braeburn stared at his plate. “Is he still like that now?”

Soarin’ rubbed the back of his head. “I… I don’t know. After years of my life being completely disregarded, I just wanted nothing to do with that stallion. Haven’t spoken to him since I left for the Wonderbolts.” He glanced up to see Braeburn's dejected face. "H-hey now! Like I said, the Wonderbolts are my family now. They actually care about me. It's okay! Just, uh... just make sure you talk to your dad, okay? Not every parent deserves the silent treatment."

Braeburn hesitantly nodded in response. Suddenly, his attention was focused on the darkening sky outside. "Oh, we oughta get some shut-eye."

Soarin' looked outside as well. "Isn't it still pretty early, though?"

"It is, but there's somewhere ah wanna take ya tomorrow. Ah think you're really gonna like it, but we gotta get out there mighty early if we wanna make it in time. You can get on goin’, though. Ah'll take care of the dishes."

"Fine by me," Soarin' replied with a shrug. "Night, Braeburn."

"Good night to ya, Soarin'," the cowpony chirped.

The Wonderbolt walked away and trotted up the stairs, settling himself into bed. He heard the slight clattering of dishes for a time before all went quiet and the house went dark. Soarin' took a deep breath as he stared at the ceiling. I think Spitfire’s the only other pony I’ve talked to about my dad. Is is really okay to tell somepony like Braeburn about all this? After a brief contemplation, Soarin’ sighed. Either I’m becoming too trusting, or Braeburn’s the kind of pony you wanna vent to. He rolled to his side. I really did misjudge him, huh? Makes me almost wish I wasn't leaving this town. He finally closed his eyes. Guess I’d better enjoy these last few days. Soarin’ finally drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note:

This chapter went through quite a change, so apologies for this taking so long, but I'm gonna tryyyyy to get back on track with my stories!

Comments

[Knifecz]

Glad to hear that, plenty of stories that I am reading are also to be updated.

[SageBrony07]

Nice story. I would like to see how it ends.

[-Brutus]

Proceed...

[Tzee]

PLEEEEASE UPDATE SOON I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

[Humanarian]

Now this is some way to write a great tomance! Nothing too easy and "all about love", but also something about internal war and struggling. And getting to know each other. And themselves! Bravo!

Seriosuly, thank you so much for writing this. I hope you won't abandon it.

[Humanarian]

By the way, it's been a bit more than half a year... which is about time you usually need to post another chapter. No pressure

[blue-hart]

god dam it!!! it was getting good why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i rely hope fore more of this story it's the best ever
also can Soarin be bottom and Braeburn on top?

[InactiveAccount222346]

I really liked this!