The rain had just subsided, and a light mist began to rise from the asphalt on this warm summer night. Puddles littered the streets of the urban jungle of the college community, and I happened to slip on one and fall flat on my face. Behind me, I heard the sirens of police cars coming nearer and nearer with each passing moment. Ahead of me, I heard a rhythmic tapping that turned into a scraping followed by a quiet, almost whispering voice. “Come on! They’re catching up to us!”
I stumbled to my feet and broke into a sprint beside the frantic tap dancer. They’ll keep chasing us so long as they hear that damn noise, I thought to myself.
In one swift motion, I stooped down, extended my right arm, and snatched the source of the tapping. For how filthy and unkempt she looked, her coat was still smooth as silk, but the bright color was a dead giveaway, even in the poor incandescent lighting. I slipped off my hoodie half way and wrapped it as best I could around my unlikely companion. She squirmed and gave out a timid shriek before I had her safely nestled into my arm. “Shhh! Just trust me,” I whispered hoarsely, “Just close your eyes and keep quiet.”
I didn’t check to see if she closed her eyes, but she kept quiet as I instructed. Taking every shortcut and narrow ally I could find, we eventually lost the cops. But I never stopped running; not until we got back to my apartment. I fumbled with my keys in one hand, looking in every direction my neck could point me to. Don’t look so guilty! Just play it smooth. What are you doing? You’re casually coming home from some late studying and your backpack broke open. Yeah! That’s it! And you wanted to keep your books dry, so you wrapped it in you hoodie.
I finally found the key, and after some finagling with the lock, I was able to get the two of us inside the hallway. Trying to keep my steps silent, I made my way past the two rows of doors to the stairwell in the back.
“Um…is it safe to—“
“What did I say about staying quiet?!”
I gave my “backpack” a slight squeeze that made it squeal. Up two flights of stairs, down the hallway, and we arrived at the fourth door on the left. I fought with my keys and the lock again and shoved my way inside. The lights were off, but before turning them on, I closed the curtains on the window and frantically locked the door. I set my parcel gently down on my bed and let out a huge sigh of relief. Huh, Luke isn’t back yet. He must still be at his girlfriend’s. maybe he won’t be back ‘til morning. That’ll give me some time to figure all of this out.
I sat down on the nearby chair and ran my fingers through my hair, moaning. What the hell are you doing? Why are you risking so much for this thing? I looked up at the yellow coated, pink maned pony shaking where she sat on my bed. She was looking back at me with much fear in her eyes, but beneath that was a feeling of genuine appreciation.
“Um…thank you for taking me…”
She diverted her gaze and half hid herself behind her long mane. It was those damn eyes! Regular animals are adorable enough, but this one has an impossible quality of cuteness to her! Ugh, what am I gonna do now? “Uh, sure…don’t mention it.”
Her head snapped up and she leapt down under the bed. At first, I only watched her confusedly, but then I heard it too. the sirens were back. Shit! Shit! Shit! Oh man, what do I do?! Should I leave the lights on? No, it’s almost midnight. I would be in bed by now.
I dove for the lights and waited for the sirens to pass. Once they did, I let out another sigh and went over to my bed. “Listen…uh,”
She whispered something so quietly I could hardly make it out as a name. “Flutters? Uh, I’m gonna go to bed now…you can have the bed if you want. I’ll just crash on the couch. I’ll figure out what to do with you in the morning.”
All I got in a response was a squeak that I vaguely made out as an “ok” and went over to the couch. I kicked off my shoes, grabbed the blanket, and collapsed onto the soft cushions. What am I gonna do? Damn ponies. We should’ve never have put them to work. We should’ve never found them.
My name is Eric Cornell, and this is my story. My story about ponies and their slavery.