//------------------------------// // Little Talks // Story: Peachy // by trinidream //------------------------------// Water Rush’s laugh, I’ll never get used to it. I was itching for a pen and paper though. I want to draw something. Also, a quick talk with Marcysia before we all sat down told me we only had one more day until the opening. She wanted balloons and confetti. She also mentioned, "You're little finish!" So, somehow I got to figure out Peachy’s little spell he showed me. How hard can that be, right? I wasn't even paying attention to the conversation. “And then, Peachy fell down the old well, and Dad had to pull him out by a rope!” Cider finished with a laugh. He did what now? “I’ll never forget the day…” She trailed off. I drank down more of my coffee, to keep from replying. Though, I rubbed my head, having a weird recollection of that memory. “Haha…” I laughed. I picked up another donut biting into it slowly as Cider opened up her mouth again. “Oh! I remember this one time he had levitated himself high into a tree, but he exhausted his magic, so he couldn't get down! He was stuck up there for hours before I found him!” She burst out laughing. I let out a snort of annoyance and then took another bite out of my donut. “Oh! Peachy, remember the balloons!” “Uhh...what balloons?” I asked, but I saw Water looking eagerly towards Cider to continue her tale. Across from me, Pillow’s expression was the same, never ending soft smile. It was unsettling, especially the way her eyes were always looking at me. “You remember, you’re just avoiding it.” She smirked. “Anyways, one day, Peachy wanted to experience flight!” Her words turned to underwater noise as my mind brought me back to one of the doodles I drew of Peachy. Him, floating in the air by a group of balloons looking frightened. A dialogue bubble next to him with words of fright and exclaiming he discovered his fear of heights. “He was so scared! I had to fly up and catch him with a big puff of cloud!” She exclaimed. “Seriously, it was like you became paralyzed. Haha!”  “It’s not that funny…” I mumbled, finishing off the donut. “Uhh...Pillow, was it? Why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?” I inquired, giving her a warm smile. Though, despite the attention being on her, she still didn’t change her expression. “Bitterness and crimes will get you nowhere in life.” Her voice was soft, quiet. “Did my recipe work out well for you?” I inhaled, trying to keep my smile genuine. Was that why her eyes haven’t left me this evening? “Y-yeah…” I stuttered. “Great…” Finally a change in expression, but it was just her closing her eyes as she smiled.  Cider seemed confused though. “Recipe?”  “It was a recipe for moon pies!” I lied as Pillow Talk opened her mouth, almost pulling a piece of paper out of her mane. “Though...um...is there another recipe you could give me?” I asked, slowly.  “Like what?” Her laugh was like a bow playing a trill on a violin. “Sun cakes?” I was hoping she got the message and her smile finally broke.  “I told you, there is no reversal.” She whispered in hush tones. “You simply have to wait.” I cast my gaze downward towards the rest of the donuts. No one else spoke until I heard Cider cough into her hoof. “Okay…I’m not stupid to know you two are speaking in code. Peachy, what did you do?” “I gave him a spell.” Pillow Talk’s words came out so fast that I didn’t even have the time to catch her. “Is the sun up in Vanhoover?” “It’s awfully cloudy there, but I did notice it getting eerie over the bay.”  I hurriedly went to the kitchen, grabbing the rest of the water from the pot, pouring it into the mug I held in my magic. The last thing I need is Cider finding out. Suddenly as I was about to throw the instant coffee in, it missed the cup somehow and it was on the floor. “Wha-” Water Rush stood there, narrowing her eyes at me, holding my cup away from me in her own magic. How did I not notice that she took it? “You can’t have another cup. You’re jumpy already.” “Jumpy?” I deadpanned. I didn’t feel jumpy. “I am not jumpy.” I shook my head, but noticed an involuntary repetitive hoof tap on the floor. “I am not.” I repeated, looking her in the eyes, but her constant stare of disapproval led me to look away again. “If you need something to calm down, drink some chamomile tea.” She stated, pushing a teabag across the table. “It’s what I would drink.” Then, she walked back to the other group of ponies after putting my mug back down on the counter. It wasn’t long until after drinking my tea that Cider and Pillow Talk decided to leave. “You’re leaving?” I asked. “Pillow Talk offered her place for me to stay while I’m in town. I mean, I don’t want to impede on your space.” She stepped forward, hugging me tightly. “It was nice seeing you. Let’s get breakfast in the morning?”  I nodded, and then she flew out the door, following the other mare. Once she was out of earshot, I turned to Water Rush. “What am I going to do?” I could finally freak out. “She’s going to learn of the secret! Also, if there’s no counter spell, how am I going to get back? What is the price? Peachy mentioned paying a price for the dark magic.” I ranted. “If there’s a price, what if it’s…” I didn’t even want to speak of my idea. “Didn’t you just...drink chamomile tea?” “It. Did. Nothing.” I chanted, stomping my hoof. “Not only that, I have to learn Peachy’s little confetti horn trick with the fireworks for Marcysia’s opening…” I whined. “I wish Peachy could just...go and take over while I think all this over.” “Surely there has to be a way for you guys to...switch. I mean...I wouldn’t mind it.” “Of course you wouldn’t. You’re probably eager to kiss him.” I spit, but then I realized what I said. “Uh...I mean…” She was blushing, a red hue creeping onto her cheeks and ears. “You...wouldn’t be wrong.” She admitted, pawing at the floor. “I just...All night, I’ve been trying to work up the courage to ask him...where we were as friends after what transpired. Then, you asked me that question this morning...I thought you were him, but you weren’t. So...the conversation still needs to be held.” She looked up at me. “Did he say anything about me? When you were talking to him?” “Honestly, our conversation kind of went sideways…” I lifted the cup of tea, only to find it empty and then sighed out of disappointment. “I was only focused on learning the truth why I was here in the first place, and Peachy...he was angry that I passed out at all…” “Oh...I see…” It was her turn to sigh. “I understand.” The next moment we found ourselves bursting into yawns. “I’m tired…” “Yeah, I think I’m ready to turn in…” I muttered, letting another yawn escape. “Goodnight.” “Goodnight.” She replied. If it was time to go to bed, neither of us could be sure. It was like the sun had gone down again. The land shrouded in the same darkness that we woke up to. It kept going up at the most convenient of times. When Water had to leave the house for something. It was weird.  I picked up the analog clock off the floor, and then looked at the time. It was only 7:45 PM. “Is it close to night to sleep? Did we really have donuts for dinner?” I asked aloud. I was just about to walk over to the bed, to lay down, but I found the rabbit back on it, and sleeping again. “I completely forgot about you…” I said, stroking his back. “Confetti huh?” I whispered, he was so soft. “I’m...sorry I’m not him.” I slowly got on the bed, careful not to wake him. “I’ll…” I yawned again, “figure it out…” I closed my eyes and then let sleep overtake me. Or I thought it would. I must have lain there for hours, but there was nothing but agony because I couldn’t enter the dreamspace. “Is this insomnia?” I asked the room. I got out of the bed, exited the room and then went to Water Rush’s room where I heard the sounds of waves and tranquil music. I opened her door, and beside her bed was a small noise machine, a radio playing violin music and she had on a sleeping mask. No doubt she’s probably already asleep by now. It would be rude to wake her. I shut the door again, being careful not to make any noise until I heard a loud meow below me. I jumped and looked down just in time to see Ash scampering off. I must have stepped on his tail… “Sorry!” I hissed and began walking back to my room again. The night would be the perfect time to see if I could access the headspace we were in before but what would it take? Meditation? Lucid dreaming? What Peachy said earlier came back to me. He had a book on it somewhere.  My eyes landed on its location like I already knew where it was. It sat on a lone shelf on the wall, I went to grab it in magic, but as soon as I had it in the aura, I felt a sting reverberate through the horn and the book landed on the floor with a hard thump. “Ow!” I cried. I walked over, trying once again to levitate it, but it seemed like the book wasn’t having it. I decided to just carry it over to the bed by hoof, and read it. I willed light forward with my horn, like I did when I first woke up here and saw it illuminate the room again and opened the book. As soon as it was open, my eyes were closing heavily. What is this sorcery? “Did you like the book?” His voice rang out. I slowly gained the ability to see and Peachy was sitting in front of me, with an unbroken smile. “How about earlier huh? That was something. How about you pick the setting?” He offered, looking around. We were both laying in a black space. Slowly I was gaining my senses. I sat up, filling the space with the one image on my mind. Green grass formed below us and then a blue sky above us. Behind him, I made a peach tree grow and then a table with a teapot and two cups. “This will do.” I muttered. “Why didn’t you warn me about the book?” “Our conversation was kind of cut short and I hadn’t used that book since I was homesick.” He explained. Slowly, he poured himself some tea. “What flavor?” “Peach.” I smiled. “Do you know why you’re based around peaches?” “Because I was born on a peach farm that was in my family for generations.” He laughed, but he rolled his eyes, looking to the side. “Fine, why?” “I like peaches. They’re my favorite fruit besides strawberries. My favorite drink to make is peach tea...and I love a good peach pie.” I poured myself some tea, looking at him softly. “I know I keep saying I want to go home, but...I’m glad I got to meet you.” “Oh. I feel weird now…” He rubbed his hoof. “There’s a...a point where this gets mundane.” He took a sip of his tea, and I sipped mine gingerly. “How do you do the confetti spell?” “Haha! I couldn’t explain it if I wanted to.” He waved a hoof. “One day, it just happened. It was a sunny day, and I was throwing a party. Then, out of the blue, it started raining. I threw up my horn, put on a party hat and then with joy in my spirit, the happiest I’ve felt, I fired off the spell. Confetti was the only thing raining then, and the sun came out. I got my cutiemark that day…” He paused, taking another sip of his tea. “I can’t explain it better. I just have to be feeling really happy to do the spell. It comes from within me. It’s like magic.” He shrugged. “Is there any way you can...just take over?” I fidgeted with my cup. “Nope! I haven’t figured that out yet.” He put his teacup down, and reached for the teapot again. “Maybe it’ll happen come morning.” Should I bring it up? Or, let him stew in it when he talks to Water Rush? “So...you and...Water Rush?” I blurted out. I couldn’t help myself. He spit tea all over, and I chuckled. “I never would have...paired you two up.” I admitted, sipping my tea again. “I-wha-ho...her.” He sputtered, and pulled out a handkerchief out of nowhere, wiping down the table and himself. “What do you mean pair?” “Ship? Pair...uh…” I trailed off, struggling to find more words. “Anyways...how did you guys...meet?”  “Well, I arrived in town, and she was part of the welcoming party. She caught my eye. I…” He trailed off, blushing. “Marcysia actually introduced us.” He stammered out. “We clicked. She laughed at my jokes, and then after staying a few days in the local hotel, it was severely run down by the way, so she offered her home to me.” I kept my eyes on him, it was a cute story I almost didn’t catch myself. I was smiling wide like an idiot. “Why do you ask?” “She kissed me, well you.” I pointed to him. “Well, she thought it was you, but it was me…” He kept his eyes on his teacup, his face becoming increasingly red in color. Peachy was turning into tomato. “She did?” His voice was hushed, and I just barely caught that. “Yeah. Caught me by surprise.” “I missed my first kiss?!” He blurted out. Why was he so mad? “On the cheek!” I cut in. “Oh...well, then...as long as it wasn’t…” He was still blushing though. He cleared his throat. “I would like to wake up now.” “I wish we could trade places…” I whispered. “We only have a day until the grand opening…” “How...do we switch places though?” He asked. “Will it to be?” “Here’s to morning.” I smiled, raising my teacup. “-And...what it will bring.” “What if I kill you?” He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t even start…” I glared. “I’m kidding!” He beamed, raising his teacup to mine. “Kidding…” There’s nothing like your pony, who you think of as your child, joking like that...