//------------------------------// // Bad News? // Story: Don't Feel Guilty My Little Pony // by midnight-chaser //------------------------------// Bad News? "...and that's when I started feeling guilt again. It was my fault this 'Winter Ace' was there to begin with," I said. I was in a music studio which I never excepted to be in again. The place was run by a unicorn I knew called 'Note Scratch.' He was a brown stallion who had been studying music production, he was a legend at his job. He scratched his head with a hoof unsure of what to say to me. "So you've told me about your parents back when we first met, now you're talking of a stallion working at a hospital that could've died because of you? Dude, you didn't know this Winter Ace was gonna be there, let alone hurt anypony. Just snap out of your guilt trips and work on your ideas like we both agreed upon," he said. He was right. I was sitting on a chair in a soundproofed room with a microphone and a pop-filter in front of the mic. We were trying to record some lyrics I thought up for the verse but I kept messing up. "Alright, come out get some water and let's see if we can figure something out about your buck ups," he said and opened the door with his magic. I'd gotten out of the hospital after a week but I had to walk around with crutches and I really didn't like it. I couldn't complain in the slightest though, unless I wanted to stay in a bed all day long. I grabbed my crutches and got out of the room to get some water. "Sorry about your leg." I chuckled at Note's comment. "I'll live," I replied. I mean someone had to pay the price of the crazy unicorn. I got into the couch he had in his control room for the massive control panel he had --he could mess with the songs themselves--, as he levitated a glass of water over to me. "So your throats acting a bit up but it's nothing we can't fix within a minute or so," he said as I took a sip of water. "We're just gonna have to be careful it doesn't 'break' and make you start sounding hoarse." I agreed, my throat acting up wasn't a good thing. Note levitated my notes of lyrics over. "So far we have half of the first verse," he started. "If you agree upon it, could I make some suggestions?" I nodded, I was always open for ideas. "For the first part of the verse it goes 'Follow your bliss, it reads on my chest, I know I got it tattooed for a reason, why can't I just hold it true?' at that last part maybe instead of having one voice maybe two?" I thought it over. One voice could be played out the right side while the other out the left. "Anyway I'm ready again when you are," he finished and got back to his mixer. I grabbed my crutches and headed back to the other room to start recording again. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I rubbed my head a bit and groaned a bit. "You okay Rasmus?" Note asked me after recording the chorus. "I'm fine I just got a little light-headed after the last one" I told him through the microphone. We had taken at least a dozen attempts at the chorus. "So that's the chorus and the first verse done Rasmus. Wanna take a break or continue?" I could definitely use a break with my throat feeling dry. I got into the control room and sat in the couch again. "So you and Cloud Wing are together?" Note asked me. "I always thought you two were meant for each other." He chuckled a bit and gave me a glass of what seemed to be some light booze. "Yeah we're a thing now, never expected it to happen though," I said and sipped from the glass. "She's a real kinky one too. She got me in to try an attempt of fun three days ago with my broken leg." I took another sip of my booze. "Turns out her weight was too much for my leg and she told me she'd wait til it had healed." Note chuckled a small bit and smiled. "At least someone's having fun, I have trouble trying to get my mare in the mood. It's mostly because of our daughter, but I can live without sex knowing I have those two." He said and used his magic to start the music track we had so far. It sounded decent, some parts needed another take but overall it would work. It just sounded like something was missing. "Hmm... It sounds good but I think something's missing" I said to Note. "I think it needs a bridge somewhere after the second chorus." I sighed at that. That would mean I had to go play drums again. I groaned at that. "That means I gotta get some drums going again. Sometimes I hate my own ideas." It could've been worse. I'm a right handed and right legged person and I was lucky my left leg was the broken one. Drumming with a broken leg even if you're not using the broken one can be a bit annoying. At least I wasn't using double bass pedals on the drums. "A bridge? That's gonna be interesting," Note said and went over some of the notes we had written down today. "You haven't really done bridges in the first album you made and now you're gonna try? Good luck pal," Note said and chuckled a bit. Damn why do most ponies that know me enjoy teasing me? Note plugged a jack cable into the control panel and then into my les paul I had brought with me. "I'll throw in a loop for the end of the second chorus and let it go onto some empty parts of the guitar track for ya". I knew a bit of music production myself but I was happy I was dealing with a pro. "Start jammin' whenever you're ready Rasmus," Note said. I started to strum different chords to find something that would fit as a bridge. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I dunno what time it is but it was late. It was dark outside, the only thing lighting the city up was the street lights. I was home, sitting in the couch with a hand lazily laying on Cloudy while her head rested on my right leg. It was what we did most of the time when we relaxed together, it was soothingly quiet. The only thing that broke the silence was the TV in front of us going on with the news. There was the weather forecast, the sport, even some news about 'Whammer' the guitar company. There was nothing special and I grabbed the remote to turn the device in front of us off. The only thing stopping me from doing so was the last part of the news. Winter Ace. He was sentenced to court sure but why were they showing news about that? He should be in jail by now. I turned up the volume to make sure I could hear it. "The known unicorn known as 'Winter Ace,' was a few days ago caught attacking a human known as 'Rasmus Erik Hansen.' He claimed that he attacked the human in self defense." I clenched my fist after hearing that. That prick! "Now as most ponies might know, Winter Ace is part of an organization that turns humans into ponies, had they agreed upon changing." I kept listening to hear more on the report to hear his punishment. There was none. He had to go through trial in 3 days and anyone who had something related to his situation was advised to arrive. Oh I was gonna make sure that motherfucker didn't get out of a courthouse without having been proven guilty. I felt a hoof caress my cheek, then looked at Cloudy who was looking at me. "Easy big boy. If you're planning on going to court I'm going with you to keep your anger down," she said as she was calming me down. "If your anger gets hold of you, you'll most likely get in trouble." She was right. Sure Cloudy was a bit reckless from time to time but she was wise enough to know when to tone that bashful side of hers down. I sighed and ran a hand over my face as if I was feeling stupid which I actually did. The news report ended with it's normal silly jingle and I turned the TV off. I smiled at Cloudy and stole a kiss from her. She likes being the dominant one in our relationship and I like being her rebel by stealing kisses from her. "If you're able to steal some kisses from me, maybe I should steal something else from you," She said as she took a hoof and trailed it down my body. I know what she was going for and I just let her tease me as she went along with it. "You're kinda lucky your leg is broken, otherwise you'd be in our bed tied down for me to play with." Oh baby, she's a kinky mare, but who doesn't like a kinky mare every now and then eh? I chuckled at her and stroked her cheek while giving her a warm smile. She gave me a peck on the lips and headed off to our bedroom, probably because she needed sleep. I just sat in the couch in silence while thinking about my current life. I had lost my parents, I attempted suicide, I am a wanted man to Winter Ace if not the organization he's in and I have a marefriend. I was wondering if life itself was having a laugh at me. I grabbed my crutches and headed over to a dresser we had standing in the corner with some keys and pictures. There was a picture of me in a tuxedo and Cloudy in a dress. It was taken at a small gala party at my school two years ago. We were supposed to find a 'date' for the gala if possible, but my luck with girls were not very high, so I asked Cloudy and she agreed. It feels like we had been on a real date looking back at it now. Another picture were of me playing on my acoustic guitar in front of a small crowd of fillies and colts. I remembered that day, it was at Cloudy's workplace. She and some other mares and stallions taking care of small foals, while their parents worked at their jobs til they would arrive and take their kids back home. I always would forget the word such a place was called, since English wasn't my native language. Last picture on the dresser was of me and my parents. I felt sadness take hold of me. I almost forgot what happened 3 years again now that I'm together with Cloudy, Winter Ace's attempt of making me a pony and just everything in general. I felt myself at the verge of tears but they never came. As much as I wanted to cry it never came, why? The answer was simple I've been living in grief of their death thinking it was my fault for too long, I needed to let the fact go that they were gone and move along. I'm not moving on and forgetting what happened to them, there's no way to erase that. I suddenly just smiled and started to speak as if my parents were alive in front of me. "Hey, it's me. Yes I know I'm speaking English but can you blame me? I got better grades in English than Danish anyway. I just wanted to say I miss you, both of you." I put a hand on the picture and chuckled nervously. "I got a girlfriend now, sure she's not a human but you won't judge me right? As long as I'm happy you're happy, that's what you've told me when I doubted myself." I rubbed my eyes to make the watery feeling less annoying. "I'll come visit again soon I just need my leg to heal." I sniffled a bit but then headed into the bedroom where Cloudy was sitting tearing a bit up as I walked in. She must've heard me. I walked over to her and she hugged me instantly which I returned to her. "I'm glad you got to terms with yourself," Cloudy said. I got in the bed and stroked her mane and smiled a bit. "I don't think I've been enjoying life to it's full potential," I said with a shaky voice. I wanted to ask her about something, something important but I decided it could wait til trial for Winter Ace was done. Right now I wanted to snuggle with my mare and enjoy it, then tomorrow head for the hospital for another dose of their healing magic. Been working so far, pain's been eased over the course of a few days because of it and it makes the bone heal faster itself. Better than having to wait about half a year or something like that. I laid down in the bed with Cloudy snuggling against my chest as we tried to fall asleep. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Hey! You gonna answer me or not? I'm sure whoever's on the other end of me will be pissed if you don't do it! PICK ME UP YA FILTHY APE!! I groaned and grabbed my phone, knowing my ringtone clearly and regretfully. I answered the phone with a yawn. "Rasmus Hansen here, who am I speaking with?" I rubbed my eyes and stretched a bit. "Ah mister Hansen! We've been trying to call you for a few days now, we'd almost given up hope. My name is High Stakes and I'm calling to invite you to a music ceremony for this year's honorable music albums and from our statistics you've been nominated my good sir. It will take place in the royal arena next month. We will send you a letter with the information in a week, we hope to see you there." And with that this High Stakes guy hung up. As much as I wanted to feel surprised I didn't feel it. I grabbed a small note and pencil from my nightstand, wrote what I just heard down and put the note on my nightstand. I took a look at the clock to see it was somewhere past 12pm. I noticed I didn't bother to ditch my clothes last night, I just shrugged at that and felt a hoof stroke my stomach. I chuckled a bit and decided that I would let Cloudy sleep some more. I began my daily routine with me, getting some breakfast, taking a shower --it was harder now that my leg was broken-- like what humans do. I was probably gonna be heading for the studio later on after having a call with Note Scratch of course. having showered, eaten and such I went to check on Cloudy to find her snuggling a pillow. I chuckled at the sight and got over to her side of the bed then gave her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled in her sleep and hugged her pillow tighter. I'm surprised she didn't wake up from my phone going off like that earlier but she is a heavy sleeper. I decided to leave her a note for Cloudy saying I was going out to get some air and headed outside. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I had grabbed my coat in case I should get cold but I regretted it as soon as I got out of my house. It was summer and it was hot as all hell. I don't believe in the weather forecast about Denmark, it's so unpredictable all year round. I walked by a few ponies here and there, some looked at me in awe while others looked at me in what I assumed was disgust. It was generally upper class ponies that looked at me with disgust, thinking I didn't belong. I didn't give a crap since all they probably did were counting their bits all day long and having some sort of butler or something wipe their asshole when needed. "Daddy look! There he is!" I heard a high pitched voice call out. I turned my head towards the voice and went wide eyed at what I saw. I saw that one filly that disappeared from my side a few weeks earlier. Green fur with a mane and tail color of red. She wasn't alone though, a somewhat bulky stallion with a mustache stood beside her wearing a police hat. Was I in trouble? God I hope not. They walked over to me and the stallion spoke up. "Mister Hansen I presume?" I nodded at that still unsure what was gonna happen. "Now listen here boy, I only have a few minutes to tell you this before I get behind schedule." He cleared his throat. "I want you to meet up at the Glostrup courthouse in 2 days at 4:00pm as a witness. I want you there in case Winter Ace has something up his sleeve." He took a small bottle and gave it to me. "This is from a stallion from Glostrup hospital. He wanted me to give this to you and tell you that this bottle will fix your leg right up. Some potion is all I know." I nodded. He and his daughter started to walk away. "Take care mister Hansen," the filly said as she walked with her father. Interesting start of the day. At least I was gonna be able to walk soon enough.