Chapter 8: Behind the WHAT?!
As the first week of school came to a close, things could not have gone any better for Breezy Kite. Despite a rocky start, she had made the first step to making a friend in Sweetie Belle, who seemed equally interested in friendship. Their time together in school was brief, but when they were together they made the most of it. Most of their conversations revolved around music and singing, which made Breezy feel more comfortable.
Through Sweetie, Breezy even met a blonde hair girl, named Dinky Hooves, and a redhead named Apple Bloom, who both had older sisters in their senior years. They both were very nice and accommodating, but Breezy wanted to handle one friend at a time. That being said, it was shocking when Breezy found out they were also nudists. Still, they were nice and friendly, so she had no regrets meeting them.
As the weekend came around, Breezy began to feel more and more confident being around Sweetie Belle, despite her doubts. Finally, once Friday came, Breezy worked up the courage to invite Sweetie over to her house on Saturday; something her Aunt and Uncle were all too happy about. When Breezy first told them about Sweetie Belle, they wouldn’t allow her to have any peace until she told them everything, like eager school children awaiting the latest gossip.
So, undaunted, Breezy told them. By the time Saturday dawned, Breezy was relieved just to have her guardians meet her. Sweetie arrived just after one in the afternoon and Breezy was there to greet her at the door.
“Sorry I’m late,” Sweetie sighed as she walked in, “Rarity had me help with a dress she’s been working on all morning. I’m glad you invited me over.”
“Nothing to it,” Breezy smiled behind her white mask, “I hope you don’t mind the chilly air, Auntie likes to keep the house a little cold.”
Sweetie shook her head, “Nah, I’m good we generally have the A/C blasting at home anyway, so I’m kinda used to this. Where are your Aunt and Uncle anyway?”
“Oh, they’re out at a local bowling club trying out for the town’s team.” Breezy chuckled, “Uncle Skyrocket did always like bowling, and they’ll be back within two hours… I hope…”
“That’s fine; perhaps you can show me around?” Sweetie asked sweetly.
At first Breezy took a step back, unsure of what to say or do next. But quickly she rallied her thoughts together and replied, “Sure follow me.”
First there was the main floor; Breezy took Sweetie through the living room and into the kitchen. Much like Sweeties house, everything was connected; however the paint scheme and layout were dramatically different.
Rarity had always been a fan of cool color schemes, going for shades of purple and pink whenever possible. Breezy’s home had a mixture of dark greens with bright wood furnishings, in contrast to the kitchen, which was white with tan furnishings.
The differences did put off Sweetie for a bit, but she quickly stashed the thought. She was far from the person to be commenting on home decor. As they walked through the hallway leading to the kitchen, Sweetie noticed something on the wall.
“Hey, cool,” Sweetie commented, forcing Breezy to turn around and notice.
There were two masquerade masks hanging on the wall, not large enough to be worn, but large enough to be great decorative pieces.
“Oh yeah, Auntie Whistler collects those.” Breezy smiled.
“I’m sure Rarity has this set hanging around somewhere,” Sweetie added. “I think these are supposed to be good luck charms or something like that.”
Breezy shook her head, “Nah those are for entertainment.”
Sweetie raised an eyebrow, but declined to say anything as they resumed their tour. After the main floor was properly presented, Breezy took Sweetie upstairs towards her room.
“You’ll be okay?” Sweetie asked as they reached the stairs.
Breezy nodded, “Stairs aren’t much of a problem for me anymore.”
“Okay then,” Sweetie smiled.
True to her word, Breezy climbed up the steps with little effort, in spite of her cane. Once up on the second floor, Breezy opened the door to her room and held it for Sweetie to enter.
“Oh my,” Sweetie commented, looking around, “You weren’t kidding about liking ballads.”
She was referring to the countless music posters that were plastered all over Breezy’s walls, many of which depicted balladic singles that bands or singers had released over the years. But what she also saw were tons and tons of classical music posters and vinyl records strung about the place.
Sweetie picked one of them up, “Millie Warner, I never heard of her before.”
“I wouldn’t blame you. She’s relatively new into the genre, but the way she handles a piano is amazing.” Breezy gushed as she walked over and slumped onto her bed.
“I would imagine, though I never pegged you as a pianist.” Sweetie gave a silly smile.
Breezy smiled in return under her mask, “Actually I am not. I like the violin… though I can’t play it…”
Sweetie raised an eyebrow, “Why not?”
Breezy didn’t answer, instead just pointing to her neck, which was covered by a turtleneck shirt. Then again, Breezy really didn’t need to point; Sweetie could clearly see the scars on her hands.
But then Breezy added, “But I do have an instrument I can play.”
“Oh really,” Sweetie asked perking up, “Where is it?”
Breezy picked herself up off the bed and headed to the doorway, “Follow me.”
She then led Sweetie Belle down from the second floor, through the main floor, and towards the stairwell leading to the basement. As they walked down the stairs, Sweetie noticed a gentle color change. Unlike the rest of the house, the basement had a mixture of blues and blacks as its color scheme, giving it a darker feel while still being welcoming and hospitable.
But when she got to the third step from the bottom, she saw the entire basement. On the wall furthest from the stairwell was a giant television that still wasn’t fully connected. Slightly in front of it, there was a large, black couch that evidently had seen better days. Yet the real centerpiece within the room was a wooden piano.
“Oh wow, a Piano!” Sweetie exclaimed, walking down to look more carefully, “With 49 keys… um aren’t we missing a whole range?”
Breezy chuckled, “That’s cuz it isn’t a piano.” She walked over to Sweetie’s right, bent down under the keys, and flipped a switch. Sweetie then heard the gentle hum of a motor running, while spotting several wheels spin inside the thing, tugging on its strings. Breezy then got back up and offered Sweetie to press some of the keys.
As she did, much to her surprise, the odd instrument sounded quite different than what she expected. The sound was very organ like, if the organ replaced its steam power with strings of a viola’s bow. Playing some more keys, Sweetie found this piano to be very elegant and smooth in its transition from key to key.
Breezy seemed to enjoy the sight, despite Sweetie not being able to see the smile under her mask. Stopping her playing, Sweetie reached under the table and turned off the electric motor, before turning back to Breezy.
“So what exactly is this?” she asked.
“It's a Viola Organista; basically a piano with viola strings.” Breezy explained.
“And why the motor?”
Breezy chuckled, “Well, usually a foot pedal is there to turn the wheels that play the strings. But since I’ve got… well, you know… my uncle put a motor in there as a supplement.”
“Ah, so you play this for fun?”
Breezy nodded, “And when I want to write my own music.”
Sweetie’s eyes perked up, “You’ve written your own music? That’s awesome.”
Breezy nodded gingerly, “I… I mean, it’s not great but…”
Surprisingly, her mind remained quiet as Sweetie gave Breezy a reassuring nod. At first, she still wasn’t sure, feeling her self-doubt creeping back within her mind.
What good will it do anyway? Her mind told her. She’s only humoring you, nothing more.
Despite this, Breezy remembered Sweetie’s reassurance back when she sang, so she proceeded on in spite of her anxieties. Switching the motor back on, Breezy waited for a moment before she began to play a beautiful, yet mournful tune.
♫Like a song through the trees♫
♫You came to love me.♫
♫You’d always have a smile♫
♫To greet the day.♫
Instantly, Sweetie recognized the song as the same from when she heard Breezy sing in the gym. However, at the time of initially hearing it, it had only one vocal to it. Now that she heard the full backing of this… Viola Organista, Sweetie felt touched down to her soul. The pain behind it was greater and the loss more heartfelt than before.
♫But when the flames came♫
♫To torment me♫
♫Like a leaf on a breeze♫
♫You flew away! ♫
♫I always wondered♫
♫What you’d come to be ♫
♫Yet behind this mask♫
♫I am blind to see♫
As Breezy transitioned to the chorus, she could feel the bottom of the mask beginning to restrict her chin. For a moment, she contemplated taking her mask off.
♫Behind the mask, so far away.♫
♫Behind the mask, so safely encased♫
♫Behind the mask, I serve my sentence♫
♫Behind the mask, I am locked away♫
A few more keys played as Breezy switched to the part of the song Sweetie hadn’t heard before.
♫You may never come♫
♫You may never see♫
♫How hard to run♫
♫How hard to flee♫
♫Yet rest assured♫
♫I will endure♫
♫For the memory♫
♫Will always be pure. ♫
♫Behind the mask, so far away.♫
♫Behind the mask, so safely encased♫
♫Behind the mask, I serve my sentence♫
♫Behind the mask, I am locked away♫
A tear formed within Sweetie’s eye as she stood next to Breezy, listening intently to the song. Her mind thought back to what she had heard about the girl, having lost her parents and her home within the inferno. How hard was life for her? And what happened to leave her still trapped within that mask?
♫Someday may come for me♫
♫Where I might finally see you♫
♫Yet behind this mask♫
♫I’ll just have to do! ♫
♫Behind the mask, so far away.♫
♫Behind the mask, so safely encased♫
♫Behind the mask, I serve my sentence♫
♫Behind the mask, I am locked away♫
With that, Breezy brought her song to an end. Sweetie wiped her eyes and looked down at Breezy.
“That was beautiful, Breezy,” She said.
Breezy smiled underneath her mask, though internally she wasn’t sure. But before she could further think on those ideas, the house’s front door opened. Breezy’s guardians were home.
“Breezy!” Her aunt called.
“Down in the basement!” Breezy replied, “Sweetie’s over!”
“Are those your guardians?” Sweetie asked, to which Breezy nodded.
“Head up there and say hello, I’ll be up in a bit. I just have to straighten up down here so we can hang out.” Breezy said.
Sweetie nodded and headed upstairs, leaving Breezy alone at the Viola Organista. She slowly began to take some deep breaths as she contemplated everything that had just happened.
“Beautiful,” she whispered, “She thought it was beautiful.”
Insolent girl that slave of fashion! Her mind snapped. She’s playing on your emotions and over-hyping your skill.
“But, she was crying...” Breezy whimpered.
A lie, like so many before she has fooled you into thinking she’s a… her mind began.
But Breezy shook her head, “She’s different, I know it.”
And if you’re wrong? Her mind asked.
“Then I will apologize.” She responded, “But I’m not wrong.”
That being said, Breezy still had doubts. She had been down this road before with some people, only to be devastated in the end. The possibility of Sweetie doing the same thing was indeed very prevalent, even with Sweetie’s…. unique lifestyle quirk. And that made Breezy think for a moment. She never really had a friend who was a nudist, let alone anyone who remotely came within lightyears distance of that lifestyle.
Breezy certainly had ideas about what Nudism was like, but she wasn’t sure. Certainly she could look it up on the internet, but then again she didn’t want to run into the plethora of porn sites that could easily dissuade her from getting to the truth. Still Breezy wondered what would drive a person to take up that lifestyle. To put themselves on display like that, without shame or fear, that was simply amazing.
Slowly rising to her feet, Breezy could feel the weight of the mask upon her face for the first time since she started wearing it. She marveled at Sweetie’s bravery and boldness, two qualities she herself did not possess. Breezy wondered if she’d be able to even attempt something like that.
Meanwhile, Sweetie had walked up stairs to meet the guardians of Breezy Kite. When she reached the kitchen, she saw Uncle Skyrocket and Aunt Whistler unloading shopping bags filled with food and drinks.
“Hello, I’m Sweetie Belle.” she greeted.
“Oh hello, you’re Breezy’s new friend right? I’m Whistler Kite and this is my husband, Skyrocket.” Whistler introduced.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Sweetie smiled, “Would you two like some help?”
“Oh, such a sweetheart,” Skyrocket smiled, “But no thank you.”
“Okay, Breezy said she’ll be up in a moment.” Sweetie nodded.
“That’s okay; we’re used to her being delayed.” Skyrocket smiled, “Still, welcome to our home.”
Sweetie blushed a little, “Aww thanks, and it’s nice to be welcomed.”
“Did Breezy have ya downstairs looking at that organ she’s so proud of?” Skyrocket grinned as he began unloading the contents of one of the bags.
Sweetie nodded, “Oh yes, it’s sound cool by the way.”
“It should, put that doggone thing together myself.” Skyrocket said proudly.
“And you did a fine job, Uncle.” Breezy said as she reached the top step.
When both of Breezy’s guardians caught sight of Breezy, they’re expression changed from relaxed enjoyment to muffled shock. As if feeling the change of tones deep within her bones, Sweetie shifted in her spot and rubbed her hands together uncomfortably. She was about to ask what was the cause of this change, when Uncle Skyrocket spoke up.
“Breezy, ya are still wearing your mask?” He spoke.
Breezy nodded but did not respond. Sweetie raised an eyebrow. If Breezy’s mask wasn’t for protection, then why was she wearing it?
Quickly, Uncle Skyrocket noticed Sweetie’s discomfort and stifled his shock, “Uh Dearie, we have some stuff that needs to head up to the bathroom. Can you bring it up for us, please?”
“Sure,” Breezy said evenly. She walked over and grabbed two bags her Uncle handed to her before departing towards the staircase. Seeing a moment, Sweetie slowly made her way over to the kitchen table and took a seat there.
“She still has her mask on,” Aunt Whistler whispered to Uncle Skyrocket.
Sweetie bit her lower lip and shifted her eyes. The comment was obviously between the two of them, but it wasn’t something Sweetie was going to ignore about her new friend.
“Um, excuse me,” Sweetie interrupted, “But is that a bad thing?”
Aunt Whistler realized she had been heard and stammered for a moment, unsure of whether or not she should answer. But a reassuring glance from Uncle Skyrocket rallied her, so she finished unpacking before walking over to the kitchen table to speak with Sweetie.
“Well, see Sweetie, I’m sure you know about Breezy’s…” she started. But a quick nod and understanding glance from Sweetie Belle finished Aunt Whistler’s question for her. So she simply switched gears. “Alrighty, well, Breezy’s road to recovery hasn’t been a smooth one for her. Especially since we’ve moved around a lot, both of us were in the Military after all. And that put a bigger strain on our niece that she wasn’t always ready for. However, the doctors have told us her skin has recovered enough so that she doesn’t need the protection of…”
And instantly Sweetie understood the problem. If she wasn’t in the presence of adults, she probably would have slammed her head on the table for not realizing it sooner. Especially with the line: “…People mocking you, calling you ugly or a hideous creature…” Sweetie felt her stomach twist into a knot. Her own struggles against Diamond Tiara now seemed trivial next to Breezy’s struggle.
The angel that was Breezy Kite did not wear a mask because she had to, but because she wanted too. And that was distressing her Guardians.
“I understand, thank you.” Sweetie said.
They wanted their niece to feel welcomed, to feel like she was going to be in an environment where she’d feel safe and secure. Essentially, they wanted what was best for her, as any true guardian should. And yet, the fact that Breezy had reached out to Sweetie Belle wasn’t enough. Breezy was still hiding in the darkness, secluding herself from the outside world in an unhealthy void of darkness.
A moment later, Breezy walked back into the kitchen. Sweetie quickly hid her emotions and put on a warm and welcoming smile.
“I see you met everyone?” Breezy asked.
“Sure did,” Sweetie answered, “They seem very nice.”
“I would hope so,” Uncle Skyrocket chuckled, “We do try our hardest to be good people.”
“Oh I don’t think you need to try,” Sweetie laughed. “So Breeze, what would you like to do?”
“Head back downstairs and play some video games?” Breezy asked. When Sweetie nodded the duo headed back downstairs.
It wasn’t until they reached the bottom step that Sweetie turned to her new friend, “They seem nice.”
“Yeah,” Breezy smiled, “They’ve always tried to have what’s best for me.”
Sweetie nodded, “I can see that. By the way how much do they know about me?”
“Oh everything,” Breezy blushed behind her mask as the duo moved towards the couch and sat down.
Sweetie’s eyes widened for a moment then returned to normal, “Really, I guess they took it well?”
“Well to be honest they didn’t care so much,” Breezy chuckled, “I mean they were kinda surprised but calmed down fast. Hell I didn’t even have to explain much to them.”
“I see,” Sweetie smiled.
Then there was a brief pause as Breezy pondered on what she was going to say next. Her mind told her not to peruse the topic, but her gut was curious and as such won out.
“…What’s it like?” Breezy asked meekly.