//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Leftovers // Story: The Lost Changeling: Rolling Ends // by AizakkuHorooee //------------------------------// The rest of the day has nothing special going on, so I decide that since I have finally kept my mind off of... that one place... for a while, I could probably keep myself sleeping for quite a bit longer than last night. After a sunset supper, I head to my nest, ready to trust my dreams. It takes a little bit of time to get to sleep, but I do successfully. Then, I find myself in the place where Rusty, Pane and I spent the night in when we first met each other, which is across from Rolling Acres. It looks completely unchanged despite it being one hundred and sixty moons since I last visited this particular place. “Ooh, boy. This is going to be sad.” To my surprise, I walk through the locked door, and head to the south afterwards, towards Taco Bell. Nothing seems so bad at all, at least not as bad as last night. It’s like I’m actually there, even down to there being nothing unusual going on around me. With enough knowledge, there will be a light at the end of any tunnel if you do what you feel is the best to do. I start pondering what Princess Luna had said that one night. What have I done? Did I do what I felt was the best solution to my mental problem? Was taking my mind off of Rolling Acres all it really took to overcome the nightmares? So, this is possibly what Princess Luna meant when she told me to cast my doubts aside? To take my mind off of Rolling Acres? Somehow, my sudden gallop reflects my mind rate present. Taco Bell appears as normal, and so does the improbable academy, The Office Place, and Regency. However, across that street, I see nothing but lot expanse. Something is missing... Rolling Acres!!! Where’s Rolling Acres?!? Where is it?!? “Osia!!! Osia!!! Where the hell is it?!?” I turn around to hear a completely unfamiliar voice. Alright! It’s seven o’clock! Time to take it all down! Suddenly, I hear two sine waves, circling around three thousand hertz, which causes the scene to turn from a sunny day in Akron to just plain black. With the sine waves fading, I jump out of my nest, causing me to hit the nearby wall, and my heart to race, accompanied by my rapid breathing. Looking at the nearby analog clock, it looks to be around seven o’ five. From what I can see, the sun has already risen; it just hasn’t shown itself yet. I guess I did sleep longer than the other night. I sigh in relief that while my lack of fear isn’t quite present yet, I’m able to keep my sleep cycle from getting messed up. It’s a step in the right direction to say the least, so I’m happy to see some weight taken off my shoulders. Properly waking up, I proceed to stretch my forelegs out and yawn, smacking my lips afterwards. I recite A Great Deal More, get up, then head out of my room, into the living room to wait for Rusty, who enters shortly after me. “So, today’s your day yet again huh?” “Yeah... the day I visit Rolling Acres. I can’t say I’m enthused.” “I know you aren’t. Hopefully though, things will turn out just fine.” “I hope so too. But I have wonder.” “What is it, Carve?” “What was that sound near the end of my dream?” “What sound?” I buzz my wings in a way that always surpasses my laryngeal vocal range by perfectly imitating the two sine waves at the end of my dream. “Wait. The sound of a police whistle woke you up? What time did you get up?” “Seven?” “Oh, fifteen minutes ago? I guess I didn’t hear anything when I was trying to get my wings comfortable, since I slept on them wrong.” “So, was that it?” “Must’ve been. I did feel a tickle when I was correcting them, not to mention not many ponies are up by seven o’clock.” When Rusty flares out his left wing, it looks like it’s vibrating, causing me to hear the same sound from the end of my dream at a much quieter volume. Then it abruptly stops. “I guess that confirms it, Rusty.” “So, when do you plan on visiting Rolling Acres? I know it takes an hour and a half to get there from Ponyville, and let’s not forget the extra two hours between that and Las Pegasus.” “Well, definitely after breakfast. So, I take you also didn’t have any yet?” Rusty shakes his head, his stomach following suit. “Nope, but I will soon. Maybe some of those leftovers will do. What do you think?” I instantly start to drool over the thought of the pancakes Rusty and I had yesterday. “I thought that would be your response. They should be in the fridge before you take them out and heat ‘em up.” After putting the remaining fifteen pancakes, from yesterday, into the microwave, twice much less, Rusty and I spend the next half hour indulging in the reheated platter, covered in a fresh coat of syrup. In retrospect, Rusty should’ve known there’d be leftovers since he made thirty pancakes in one day. Speaking of leftovers, that sound of a “police whistle”, as Rusty calls it, must’ve been the remnants from the night before: my nightmares. In the back of my mind, I know something is wrong, but I can’t pinpoint it exactly, even though I know it’s relevant to Rolling Acres. I certainly hope my instincts are wrong, like Pane and Rusty imply. Only my visit will tell, I guess. Suddenly, there is a loud ring of the doorbell. “I’ll get it!!!” Rusty and I shout. Luckily for me, I levitate the door open. But to my surprise, it’s Pane. “Oh! Pane!!!” “Hey Carve. Sorry I couldn’t visit yesterday... exploration.” “Oh. Well, Rusty and I did some of our own. Do you know about a skating rink?” “Oh, Bundle Roller Rink! I use to love that place as a foal! I can’t believe it’s been so long since it closed.” “Fifteen years? That’s the amount Rusty said.” Pane nods at me. “Okay. It so happens I’m going to go somewhere abandoned today... that one place.” I get a smile now. “Well, if something comes up over there, just come back and let us know. We’ll be here if you do come back. I wish you the best of luck.” “Thanks, Pane.” And with that, I walk out of the house, then take to the skies.