//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: What Makes It Stop // by Bass Drop //------------------------------// (Scorchers dream) Under the city that floats, sits a hill with two big oaks that stand majesticlly parallel to eachother. Under one, lays a young stallion and mare. The mare has her muzzel buried in his mane crying, while the stallion holds her trying to comfort her the best way he knows how. "Shhh-shh-sh. It's okay Echo. Shh-sh." Scorcher said trying to comfort her."I'm here Echo. Shh. I'm here." Scorcher wanted nothing more than to see her smile, for her to stop crying, but this days events had broken her to pieces. Then he could hear her say something in his mane."Come again?" he asked. She lifted her head to reveal bruises and cuts over diferent parts of her face and kneck. When Scorcher had first seen it all he wanted to do was kill the fuckers who had done this to her. However he knew that he needed to be there for Echo."I asked, why is it that they this to me?" she chocked out between sobs."I haven't done anything to them, and they think just because that I'm smaller that they're supirior. That they can do this to me." she motioned to her face. "You really want to know why they do this to you?" Scorcher asked. Echo nodded her head."It's because of me." Echo looked up at him with a look of confusion on her tear stained face." That whore, Emrald Wing, she's jealous of the time you get to spend with me."he started to explain. "Wait, *sniff* you're saying she's jealous of our friendship?" Echo asked. "Sure is. She's jealous because she's had a huge crush on me for a long time. I however told her no, because I knew that all she wanted was for me to shove my dick up her ass. She knew I knew too." Scorcher answered. "What did you say when she asked you out?" Echo asked. Scorcher reponded by looking at Echo with a look of disgust on his face. This made Echo and Scorcher both burst out into laughter."I know what I wanted to say though." he said. "And what may I ask, was that?" she asked. "I wanted to say, bitch, maybe if you really paid attention to me, you'd know that I'm not a colt that wants a filly that lets every other colt shove their rod up your pussy. That maybe I want a MARE that has enough selfrespect to deny colts that privalage. Maybe, just maybe, I'm not a colt thats ready for a sexual relationship. Oh yeah, reverand Scorch's preaching to you now." This made Echo chuckle. "What did you actually say?" Echo asked. "I went with the more... polite version. I told her, thank you kindly miss, but I've got my eye on another filly."Scorcher told her. Echo grew extremly curious."Oh, have a crush do we?" she teased. "Well yeah. When it comes to this filly why wouldn't I?" he replied. "Somepony really special huh?" she pushed, no more sign of sadness in her voice. "Very special." "How special is she?" "Lets just say I'd do anything for her." he replied nuzzeling Echo which made her blush deep red. Scorcher looked down at her and chuckled,"I think that she knows now though." He didn't think her face could get anymore red, he was wrong."M-me?" Echo stutterd."Scorcher you have a c-cr-crush on me?" Scorcher repilied by nodding his head. She noticed his face get a lttle darker shade of red. "I've had feelings for you for awhile now Echo, but I chose not to put them out there." Scorcher told her. "Why?" "I guess because I'm afraid of rejection. Of our friendship coming to an end, because of an awkward situation. Echo without you, my world has no color, it's nothing but cold and barren. I would do anything for you to just grin. Echo I'd go as far to tell you... I'd give my wings for you." This made Echo's heart leap. That term was rarely used, even the ponies that are in the deepest of love."Echo, don't you know how much you mean to me?" he asked. "I didn't, untill you just told me." she nuzzeld him and sighed."But Scorcher, I'm not ready for any type of relationship. With anypony. Even as much as I want to, not even with you." Scorchers heart broke a little at this." I want you to know though, I'll keep my half of the promise we made if you keep yours." she said. "Which promise was that?" Scorcher asked. "The one where no matter what happens we'd always find a way to be best friends." she replied. "You know I'll always keep that promise and nothing will make me break it." "Good. However this doesn't mean I don't want you to hold me like this all the time." she said hugging him closer. "I think I can live with that." They sat there for what seemed like for eternity, just enjoying each others company. Both however longed to be together, one afraid to show feelings, the other wanting nothing more than security. However they both knew that no matter what, they'd be friends forever. Just as the sun started to make its descent, Echo asked the young, light red stallion,"Hey Scorcher?" "Yeah Echo?" "Can you sing to me?" "What do you want me to sing?" "Something soothing, something that lets me know I'm not alone." Scorcher thought for a moment, then he asked," Is it okay if it's one I wrote for you?" "Yes." Echo answerd. Then Scorcher proceeded to sing the most beautiful song she had ever heard in her young life. It’s like a storm That cuts a path It breaks your will It feels like that You think you're lost But you're not lost On your own You're not alone I will stand by you I will help you through When you’ve done all you can do And you can’t cope I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight And I won't let go It hurts my heart To see you cry I know it’s dark This part of life Oh, it finds us all But we’re too small To stop the rain Oh, but when it rains I will stand by you I will help you through When you’ve done all you can do And you can’t cope I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight And I won't let you fall Don’t be afraid to fall I’m right here to catch you I won't let you down It won't get you down You're gonna make it Yeah, I know you can make it Cause I will stand by you I will help you through When you’ve done all you can do And you can’t cope And I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight I will hold you tight And I won't let go Oh I’m gonna hold you And I won't let go Won't let you go No, I won't Scorcher finished his song and he felt tears dampening his coat."Echo are you okay? Did I do something wrong?" He was answerd by her laughter muffled by his coat. Echo revealed herself with a huge smile on her face," You've done nothing wrong, you did everything right!" she praticaly screamed. She hugged Scorcher tighter as she continued to let tears of joy run down her face. She then proceded to do something he'd never forget. She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Then backed up just a bit, both blushing furiously."Scorcher?" Echo asked. "Yes Echo?" "Do you mind spending the night with me tonight? It's wednesday, so my dads going to-" Echo was silienced by a hoof pressed gentley on her lips and by Scorcher looking her at her with a soft expression."You don't ever need to ask me that, you already know the answer." he told her. They both then began to start the journey home. Later that night, Echo was asleep, lightly snoring in his forearms, with a smile on her face. Scorcher on the other hand was still awake. He always loved to watch her sleep. He thought she always looked so peacful and innocent. He then said something that was just below a whisper," Echo Fleetfoot, you already know this I hope, but I love you. I always will. I'll make sure you'll never be alone. That you know that you've always have a friend you can come to in any time of need. Echo I'll make sure... I'll make sure you know that somepony loves you." Echo turned over and nuzzled underneath his kneck and sighed dreamily. He thought his mind was playing tricks on him, but he thought he saw her with a big smile on her face. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He awoke to the annoying buzzing of his alarm clock, which let him know that it was seven-thirty a.m. Dissapointed to find out Echo was not there in his forearms. It had just been a dream."I still remember that day." Scorcher thought outloud. He then grogingly got up and proceeded to get ready for this days events. "I guess its just as I said. Its just too little too late." he said to himself in the mirror. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Echo's dream) Behind two buildings, two pegasi foals play. One a small, pale, dull blue filly. The other, a larger, light red colt. They both have huge smiles on their faces as they play to what appears to be tag. the colt chasing the filly who due to her small size, is able to dodge him easy."Awww, come on Echo!" the colt yelled to her out of breath. She stoped and turned around to see a winded colt laying on the ground."Scorcher when will you learn?" she giggled. "Learn *cough* what?" he heaved out. "That you can never catch me ofcourse!" she continued to giggle as he had failed at an attempt to pick himself. "Getting a little high and mighty are we?" he asked sarcasticaly, slowly getting his breath back. "Sure are buddy." "Well, I'll let you have that." "Let me? We both know you can't catch me no matter how hard you try." "I didn't mean it like that Echo." "Then how did you mean it Scorch?" "What I meant was that, well I really can't catch you. Thats why I groan everytime you suggest we play tag I groan." "Well maybe someday you will find a way to catch me." She trotted over victoriously to help him up. As soon as he was up he said,"Hey Echo, guess what." "What?" he then tapped her shoulder."Tag your it." he shot off like a bolt of lightining before she could say anything. "Wait untill I get my hooves on him!" she said to herself. Then she had a brilliant idea. She hid behind on of the walls and waited for his sense of curiosity to get the better of him. She waited maybe three minutes when he appeared. He was taking his time, like a deer unsure of any danger in a clearing. She waited another minute before her prey finally passed the corner she was hiding at. Then she made her move. She literaly pounced on him and pinned him on his back and looked at him with a sense of victory."Tag your it, again." she giggled. Ears drooped in defeat he sighed."Alright Echo, you got me again. You can get off me now." Scorcher said plainly. "Oh I don't know." she said teasingly."You are kinda comfy." she finished by laying on top of him still smilling at him. He did the only thing he could think of to get her off him. He gave her a wet kiss on the cheek."Ewwww!" she screamed and rolled off him rubbing her check. Somehow she thought that she could just rub it off."Don't do that again Scorch, that was just nasty!" The colt couldn't pick himself up, he was on the ground rolling laughing too hard to even speak. "Awww Echo, now don't be like that." Scorch said finally pulling himself up and sitting on his haunches." Echo finally finished her dramatic performance and also sat her self on her haunches and looked at him with a plain face."You know I'm going to get you back for that." she warned. "If you wanna kiss ME, then go ahead." He turned his cheek to face her. This made her chuckle to herself. "Ew. No. There is no way you're getting me to kiss you. EVER!" she said with a look af amusement on her face. "Oh by the way, Echo that was technicaly tagging you, ssoooooo... CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!!" he again shot off like a bolt. But Echo was ready for this, as she was already right behind him. However he unexpectantly made a u-turn and she ran smack dab into the brick wall ahead of her. She sat there dazzed and tried not to cry. She held her snout and she knew it was bleeding. Immediatley, Scorcher was right at her side. "Let me see it Echo." he said, concern in his voice. She revealed her snout, it was bleeding, but not that bad."Well you'll live, but we might wanna clean this up. Okay?" he asked her and she nodded her head."Okay, wait right here, be back in a sec. He was back in a flash with a small box with a little red cross on it in his mouth. He opend it and took out a small gauze pad and put some sort of spray on it."Alright let me see it." he instructed. She did as she was told and he gently placed it up the nostril that was bleeding."Oh, thats cold!" she exclaimed. 'It's supposed to be. I learned the cold helps stop blood flow." he explained. "Where'd you learn that?" she asked, bewilderd by his medical knowledge. "Oh, the orphanage nurse. My room is right over her office. Sometimes I can hear here explain to the other foals what the stuff she's using is and how it helps them." he explained further. "Wow Scorch thats pretty cool." she said still kind of suprised by his knowledge. "I'd like to think so. Now let me see it again." She did as instructed. He pulled out the blood covered guaze and looked at her nostril to see that it had stopped bleeding."Alright, it's stopped bleeding, but lets do something a little less wild instead that way it wont start again." he said closing his little first aid kit. "What, no lollipop?" Echo asked sarcasticly. "How bout this. How about later I can go get some bits I've saved up and I'll treat you to an ice cream?" Scorcher asked. She responded with a tight hug."That'd be awsome Scorcher." she said a bit excited. Later They headed over to "The Ponycicle" and bought two banana splits with everything to go with it. Behind the counter Echo heard the vender say,"Ahhh, young love." Echo tried her best not to blush as she looked at Scorcher who seemed not to have heard him. When they went and sat down Echo told him what she had heard. "He really said that?" Scorcher chuckled as he stuffed his face with the delicious treat that was the banana split. "Yeah, could you imagine, us, in love." They immediatley stared at each other. Then at the same time busted out laughing. Scorcher started coughing."Dang it Echo. You're making me choke." he coughed out. "I'm sorry, but its just too funny." she said trying to calm down. They both finished their treats and started the trot home. Scorcher walked Echo to the entrance to her building. He then proceeded to say something she wouldn't take to heart untill years later."See you tomorow Echo. Love you." he said givin her a suprise hug. "Ha, love you too lover colt. See you tomorow as soon as I wake up." she said returning the hug. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echo sighed in her bed still asleep. Then a moment later, her pretty green eyes flutterd opend and she groaned."Why is it that I have to wake up at the best parts?" She looked over at her alarm clock and it read seven-twenty nine. A second later it turned to seven-thirty and the alarm buzzed. She immediatly turned off the infernal machine that usualy robs her of her peacful dreams. She got up and the first thing she did was turning on the coffe machine. The wonderbolt could not live without her coffe in the mornings. Every wonderbolt knew if she didn't get her coffe the day would be miserable for everypony else. "That musician better bring their all if they want to impress me." she said to herself."No other has immpressed me since I've listned to Scorcher." She continued to prepare herself for the day that unknown to her, would change many things. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Rights go to Rascal Flatts "I Wont Let Go"