“Do you want to be friends now?”
Lightning closed his eyes in exasperation as he stood outside CHS, trying to ignore the pink tornado that was constantly spouting the same lines into his face. It had been his mistake to look happier when he walked towards school today, excited for what was to come after school. Pinkie Pie must’ve taken it as finally moving on from his predicament and she was on him in a flash.
“Do you want to be friends now?” Pinkie repeated, bouncing around him like a rabbit. “I’m friends with everyone in school, but you haven’t accepted my friend request yet! So do ya? Do ya?”
“No, I do not,” Lightning said curtly. “Please leave me alone.”
Pinkie stood still and went silent for five seconds. Then she said, “How about now?”
“No.”
“Now?”
“No.”
“What happened to your cast?”
“I already said no- wait, what?”
She pointed to his arm. “Your cast. Are you completely healed now? That was fast!”
“Yeah, dude. It still had the cast on Friday, last we saw you.” Swift Justice showed up and clapped Pinkie on the back. “Your arm’s all better?”
“Yes, it is,” Lightning said, unconsciously rubbing his left forearm. “The doctor said I don’t need the cast any more, so he took it off.”
“Real fast, don’t you think?” He ran a hand along his chin. “Are you sure it was even broken?”
“Trust me, it was,” Lightning told Swift, remembering how the surgery to set it had gone. “But it’s all better now, so I don’t see what the problem is.”
“Well, the problem is you not wanting to be friends with anyone. You can’t just be by yourself like this, you know,” Pinkie said.
“I’ve already got friends back at Crystal Prep,” Lightning said defensively. “I’m not by myself.”
“There’s no rule that says you can’t have more friends than you already have,” Pinkie pointed her finger at Lightning’s nose. “Come on, open up a little! It’s good for your health!”
Lightning pushed Pinkie’s finger out of his face. “I’ll open up when I’m good and ready, and not a moment before,” he sniffed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, the bell’s about to ring.”
He then pushed himself off the wall and quickly walked into the CHS building just as the bell rang for classes to begin.
“Dang,” Swift said, patting Pinkie on the shoulder. “Turned down again. Don’t worry, Pinkie. I’m sure you’ll get through to him eventually. Or someone will.”
Lightning sat by the side of the gym, twiddling his thumbs. On the court, an epic game of dodgeball was taking place. He would have liked to join in, but his mother had insisted that he take the rest of the week easy, just in case his arm still had any problems.
The youth unclasped his hands and stared at his left arm. He was certain that there were no imperfections in Merlina’s healing, but he wasn’t about to tell anyone that. As far as he was concerned, his new job was something private. He didn’t know anyone well enough here to talk to anyway.
Lightning wished that he could speak to Indigo Zap. She had always been one of the more athletic girls at Crystal Prep and he had never quite managed to keep up with her in any sport, but their shared love of motocross had forged a strong friendship between the two that had led to a close set of friends on the bike club. Glancing at the clock that hung above the doors to the gym, he found himself disappointed to see that there were still at least three and a half hours before school ended and he could go to his new job, whatever that entailed.
He was so lost in thought that he almost failed to hear the warnings of his classmates as a dodgeball came hurling towards his face.
Pakk!
Lightning fell over backwards as the ball hit him square in the front of his face. His nose stung and he hit his head on the floor behind himself.
“Ow! What-!” He spat out as he shook the stars out of his eyes.
“Hey, you didn’t dodge it. You’re supposed to dodge the ball.” Zero Gravity came running over. “You okay?”
Lightning got up and touched his nose. It wasn’t bleeding, but it still felt sore. “What did you do that for?” he snapped.
Zero Gravity shrugged. “Hey, don’t look at me, I wasn’t the one who hit it, it was Rivet. But it’s called dodgeball. The ball flies, you dodge it.”
“I wasn’t even playing, so don’t act like I have to follow the rules of the game,” Lightning growled.
“Why are you always in such a bad mood?” Zero challenged. “Maybe you should stop being such a stick in the mud. You’re not at Crystal Prep anymore; you need to loosen up.”
“You think I want to be here?” Lightning hissed back. “I don’t want-” He cut himself off with a shake of his head and stalked off to the changing rooms.
The rest of the class watched him leave.
“Man… that guy has issues,” Rivet came up next to Zero and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Well, you sent the ball his way,” Zero said.
“Do they just not have a sense of fun or anything at CPA?” Rainbow asked, coming to join the two boys.
“All right, let’s keep the game going now!” Coach Spitfire shouted, blowing her whistle. “Back to your respective sides of the court. Hustle, people!”
“We’ll talk about the new kid later,” Rivet decided. “If we all come together, I’m sure we’ll be able to get through to him somehow. We just need to find the chink in his armor.”
“Hey, you three!” Coach Spitfire bellowed. “Back on the court or it’s twenty push ups from each of you!”
By the end of the day, Lightning Strike had never been happier to hear the bell ring. He had gotten a stern talking to from Coach Spitfire about wandering around during class, but to be honest, he didn’t really care. He quickly grabbed his bag and stuffed his books into it, then scurried out of the front doors ahead of the pack. He had a sinking feeling that someone might be waiting to ambush him on his way out, so he made sure to not listen to anyone and make a break for the road.
Thankfully, he managed to get away unscathed and made his way towards the bus stop. He snagged a seat on the bus to the other end of the city and put on his headphones to pass the time while the bus traveled.
The sky was overcast with grey clouds when Lightning Strike got off the bus and walked toward the art supplies shop, wondering what might be in store for him there today.
“Can’t be worse than having to spend the day at CHS,” he said to himself as the store came into sight.
He pushed the bead curtain aside and entered the art shop. This time, there was nobody behind the counter, so Lightning went and rang the bell.
“Coming!” Merlina’s voice reverberated from the back of the shop. The voice’s owner made herself seen. Gone was the white cloak and hood. This time, she was dressed in some ornate and embroidered white robes, with dark blue and pink stitchwork. In place of the hood was a head of slightly tousled alabaster hair, some locks of which hung down over Merlina’s face, covering her right eye. Her left eye was a vivid pink and seemed to almost glow as she approached. She was, Lighting thought, quite pretty for a slightly older woman.
“You’re here!” Merlina said, stepping behind the counter. “And sooner than I expected.”
“Yeah, uh, school was a bore. I actually couldn’t wait to be back here.” Lightning scratched the back of his head. “So uh, what can I do?”
Merlina opened a drawer in the countertop and took out a box. “This crate has your work equipment in it,” she said. Her hands brought out a large black messenger satchel. “This is your delivery bag. You put the packages inside it and only take it out in the presence of the addressee. This,” she took out a small clipboard. “Is where you ask the addressee to sign, as proof of delivery. You get the signature, then you hand over the package. Are you with me so far?”
“Sounds easy enough.” He shrugged. It was pretty straightforward.
“And we can’t forget this,” Merlina reached into the depths of her robe and took out a most peculiar item. It was a necklace on a thin silver chain, but what drew Lightning’s attention the most was what was hanging on the chain. It was a jewel-like eye, but not a human looking one. It was the exact same shade as Merlina’s eye, but it had a slit pupil instead of a round one. She held it out for Lightning to take. “This is a gazing eye. My gazing eye as a matter of fact. It will help to keep you safe while on the job and off it, and has a few other useful little features. Keep it close and don’t remove it unless you absolutely have to.”
“This is cool and all, but your… eye?” He looked up at her face. “Do you… have more than two eyes?”
“It’s standard procedure,” Merlina shrugged. Her hair stayed in place over the right side of her face. “If you were a permanent employee here, I would have a link to you in another way, but seeing as you are only working here temporarily for now, my gazing eye will have to do. Try it on, I think it would look good on you.”
Lightning did as he was asked and placed it around his neck. The eye was bulky and felt cool against his chest, but if he didn’t think about it, it didn’t bother him as much.
Merlina then reached under the countertop and brought out a small package, about half the size of a shoe box and wrapped neatly with brown paper and string. There was a paper tag tied to the top of the box. She placed it on the countertop and tapped it with one slim finger.
“Now, this is the first package we need delivered. It’s due to be taken to one Spoiled Rich at 15 Gallopway Lane, Canterlot. Do you know where that is?”
“Roughly. But I’m sure I can find it.” Lightning accepted the box from Merlina and felt its weight. It was heavier than he had expected, and it shifted around a bit. “It’s not fragile, is it?”
“Not at all,” Merlina smiled, her exposed eye shining in the lamplight. “Just stash it into your bag there, and don’t take it out until you get to the addressee. Then you get the signature, hand over the box, and come back for payment. Any other questions?”
Lightning Strike slipped it into his bag and swung it on his back. “Nope. I’ll be right back when I’m done. I guess it helps that you can see when I deliver it.”
“That’s not all the gazing eye can do, but I won’t burden you with unnecessary information. Do you need a form of transport? I can arrange for one.”
“Oh uh, sure. That would work.” He nodded. He thought he would have to walk there, but it seemed to be turning out easier.
“It’ll be in the garage,” Merlina pointed to a door at the side of the shop, which Lightning was quite certain he hadn’t seen before.
“But this shop doesn’t have… a… garage…” Lightning followed Merlina through the door and into a clean, mostly empty space. There was only one thing in here, and it was something that made the boy’s heart almost skip a beat. “Is that a bike?”
“You know how to ride one of these motorcycles, yes?” Merlina picked up a shiny black helmet with a clear visor off a shelf and held it out for Lightning to take. “This should make it easier for you.”
Lightning nodded dumbly and took the helmet. He walked over to the bike, almost afraid to touch it. It was one of the latest models, just like the ones he had seen at the dealership but couldn’t hope to afford. One of the most powerful engines available to the market and a new, streamlined design that made the vehicle ooze with style. He hadn’t ridden one of these since his accident and he never thought he would get to ride one again so soon. This day just kept getting better.
“Well, off you go then,” Merlina pressed a switch on the wall and the garage doors unfolded, showing the street beyond.
Lightning put his helmet on, then revved up the bike, feeling the power of its engine as it rumbled beneath him. It felt better than his old bike and that had already been expensive, seeing as Crystal Prep only used the best equipment.
The young man grinned inside his helmet and gunned the engine, speeding out onto the roads. The bike’s suspension was perfect, and he barely felt any of the bumps on the asphalt. It handled like a dream, turning with the lightest touch and remaining under flawless control even at the speed he was going. It was truly a magnificent machine, and he wished he could show it off to his old friends back at Crystal Prep.
All too soon, he arrived outside a mansion, with a long, flower-laden front drive and bushes in the shapes of animals. “Let’s see, 15 Gallopway Lane.” He dismounted the bike and took the key, then strode up the main approach and rang the doorbell.
It didn’t take long for someone to answer the door. A woman with pink skin, carefully coiffed purple hair, and a snooty look on her face eased the intricately carved wooden door aside and looked at Lightning Strike.
“A-Are you Spoiled Rich?” Lightning asked, taking the clipboard out from his bag. The woman nodded, a searching look on her face.
“Yes,” she said at last. “Do you have something for me?”
“Um, yes. A package for you,” Lightning took the parcel from his satchel as Spoiled Rich signed her name on the paper, then passed it to her once she was done. “Have a good day, ma’am.”
“Likewise…” Spoiled Rich said quickly, then shut the door on Lightning.
Lightning Strike blinked and then turned around to head back to his bike. “Well… that was easy,” he muttered to himself.
Lightning mounted the bike and drove away from the mansion, deciding to take a longer route just so he could enjoy the feel of his ride a bit longer. The bike just felt right beneath him, and he imagined this was how a knight felt when seated upon his charger. He zoomed through the streets, eventually arriving back at the art shop. Leaving the motorcycle and his helmet in the garage, he hefted the now-empty messenger bag and re-entered the building.
Merlina was there, leaning on the countertop and talking to a female in a black hood and cloak, presumably the same one that had brought Lightning his food on the first day he had come to this place. Both of them stopped talking once they heard the bead curtain being pushed aside.
“Ah, you’re back,” Merlina addressed Lightning Strike with a pleased expression. “How did it go?”
“It went easy enough,” Lightning said, taking out the clipboard. “I got the customer’s signature, just like you asked.”
Merlina took the clipboard and separated the paper from it, tucking the sheet neatly into a drawer and closing it with a snap. “You’ve done very well, Lightning Strike. Of course, I knew you would be a perfect fit for the job.” She then gestured at the other person in the room. “Let me introduce you to Sherry Spritz. She’s from Canterlot, just like you. Sherry is currently working here for me as a kind of trainee. I hope you get along well.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Sherry Spritz said quietly. From what Lightning could see, Sherry had pale, greyish skin that reminded him of marble, and there were two long locks of dark red hair that faded to a deep pink near the tips hanging down on either side of her face. Like Merlina before, the top of her face was concealed by the hood, and she stood just a bit taller than him. “You’ll like working here. Merlina is a fantastic manager and a good person all around.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Lightning said, taking Sherry’s hand and shaking it. It was slightly cold and the contact made Lightning’s skin buzz like he had touched something charged with static electricity. “You’re also from Canterlot?”
“Yes, but I haven’t been back here for a long time and the streets all look different. That’s why we needed a courier who knew the city layout, like you.” Sherry’s voice was calm and measured but still friendly, and it reminded Lightning of a warm, comforting summer’s breeze.
Merlina cleared her throat. “Now, there’s the matter of your pay,” she opened the cash register and took out a wad of bills. “I don’t know or care how other couriers in this city are paid, but I think maybe… a thousand dollars for this delivery job would be reasonable?”
Lightning almost choked on his own spit. “A-A-A thousand dollars?!” He nearly shouted, his eyes bulging at the suggestion. “For a job like that?”
Merlina noticed his outrage and counted out even more notes. “Yes, I understand completely. For a job like that? Better make it two thousand.”
Lightning fell back a step and raised one hand up as if to defend himself from the sheer amount of money. “Just for a delivery?”
“Well, yes,” Merlina held out the stack of notes for him to take. “You did a great job and you ought to be rewarded for it. Am I wrong?”
“I wouldn’t say no to so much money, but are you… really giving me this much?” Lightning wanted to be sure this wasn’t a dream. Everything was too good to be true today.
“Are you really haggling for less?” Merlina raised her eyebrow. “Look, here at this organization, we look after our own. Just take the money and try not to spend it all in one place, alright?”
Sherry was sporting an amused smile as Lightning slowly took the money, not even bothering to count it to make sure it was all there.
“Is… is there anything else that you need me to deliver?” Lightning asked slowly once his pay was secured inside his schoolbag.
“Not today,” Merlina told him, taking a small sheaf of papers out from under the counter and perusing them. “Stop by again tomorrow, and we’ll see about the next delivery. Does that sound good to you?”
“Sure.” Lightning nodded excitedly. “Something to look forward to each day. Guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
Lightning pushed the bead curtain aside and began to walk to the bus stop, but there came a shout from behind him.
“Lightning Strike! Where do you think you’re going?” Merlina called from just inside the doorway of the shop.
“To get a bus home?” Lightning scratched his head.
Merlina looked quizzical, as if Lightning had just told her that the sky was green. “The bus? Why? Would the motorcycle not be quicker?”
He blinked a few times. “I… get to keep it?”
“Think of it like a company vehicle,” Merlina smiled widely. “As long as you take good care of it and turn up with it for work, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be able to bring it home with you. It should make going to school a touch easier, no?”
“Woah…” Lightning still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Thanks, Ms. Moonshadow, I’ll be sure to take real good care of it.”
“I’m sure you will,” Merlina nodded. She then backed away into the shop. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lightning couldn’t believe his luck as he climbed back onto the motorcycle and put on his helmet. Two thousand dollars’ pay and a new bike, as well as the promise of more to come! He pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
Nope. He was still wide awake, the expensive bike purring beneath him and the eye pendant cool against his chest.
“Best day ever,” Lightning grinned, then opened the throttle on the bike and sped off back for home, feeling considerably happier than he had been in a long while.