//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: With Wings Wide Open. // Story: Silhouette In The Sky // by The_Dash //------------------------------// Silhouette In The Sky Chapter 3: With Wings Wide Open. “Where is the boy?” Asked a woman in a grey dress. The sounds of machines beeping echoed throughout the off white halls of the hospital. The fluorescent lights casted a dim glow over the patients, and visitors. “He’s in the waiting room over there.” Replied a short, blonde nurse sitting behind a large desk. The woman in grey nodded, turning on her heel, before making her way to the waiting room. The boy in question was a small boy with brown hair, his green eyes focused intently on the floor between his feet. The large wooden door of the waiting room slowly swung open, causing the boy to turn his gaze towards the cause of the movement. “Ah so you must be James, its nice to meet you.” The woman said with a smile, taking a seat beside James. “My name is Ms. Hallsworth, I’m with the Department of Social Services.” Ms. Hallsworth paused, staring down at James. “Do you know why I’m here James?” She asked the boy, noting his sullen demeanor, and reserved gaze. “You...you’re here because...” James began, pausing for a moment clinging tightly to a worn stuffed bear. “You’re here because Mommy and Daddy have gone away.” He finally said, his voice cracking, as he spoke. Ms. Hallsworth let a small smile grace her lips, placing a hand on the boy’s small shoulder. “Thats right, but don’t worry, we’ll find someone who’ll take good care of you.” She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the boy, and found herself wishing his situation was different. “Come on James, lets go. I’ll take you by your home to collect a few of your things.” James nodded quietly, rising from his seat to stand on the cold, sterile linoleum floor. Mommy and Daddy are gone. James found himself running the sentence through his head over and over again. He really couldn’t believe it honestly, he’d just seen them not even two hours ago, its seemed like a strange foreign memory now. “Have a good day at school sweetheart.” His mother had said, her strawberry blonde hair up in its usual curls. Her hazel eyes stared at her son, offering a kindness that only a mothers eyes could show her child. “Yeah we’ll be here to pick you up once school is done, and remember we love you.” Shouted James’ father from the driver seat. Green eyes full of wisdom, brown disheveled hair that perfectly embodied his spontaneous nature...thats was his dad...was being the keyword. James let a tear roll down his cheek as he realized the cold hard truth, his parents...were dead. ----------------------------------------------------------------- “James, James...you alright there sugarcube,” Applejack asked. She placed a hoof on the napping pegasus’ shoulder, shaking him gently, causing him to stir from his resting place beneath the shade of a large tree. His eyes slowly parted, as his subconscious reluctantly gave way. "Yeah...I'm alright Applejack, why is something wrong," He asked? A yawn escaped him as he raised his forelegs in a stretch, before smiling sleepily. It took him a moment to notice the concerned look on her face, her eyes never leaving his. "Are you okay?" James could feel his cheeks fill with heat as he blushed, trying to focus on something other Than Applejack. "Well...it's just that...well you're crying." Applejack moved a hoof to his cheek as she spoke, softly brushing away the tears from his face. "Did you have a nightmare or somethin'?" James' face had shifted from embarrassment to confusion, raising a hoof of his own to his face. He could feel the trail the tears had left on his coat, but he couldn't remember. "I...I don't know." He said after a few minutes. "I don't remember dreaming anything." Applejack let out a small sigh, before a kind smile spread across her face. "Well ah guess you should take that as a sign not to nap after lunch." Her tone was kind, she knew trying to push the issue wouldn't help. "So other than the cryin, how was your nap?" James chuckled slightly, all be it simply for Applejacks sake. He didn't want her worrying, even though his mind was raging. "Pretty good, pretty good. So did you find your friend you were talking about?" He asked. Even though his mind searched drastically for an answer, he found hiding it was surprisingly easy to do. "Oh ah found her alright, right where I thought she'd be." Applejack said, rolling her eyes. "Really? Well that's convenient." James smiled, happy to know she'd been successful in her search. "Oh yeah, she was doin' exactly what you was...taking a nap. Though her choice of nappin spots is a cloud." "Wait you mean she can sleep on clouds?" James asked suddenly, trying to imagine what a cloud would feel like. "Yeah ah mean ain't you never..." She trailed off, looking down. "Ah'm sorry James I forgot." She began to apologize, but was quickly cut off by James. "Hey you don't have to apologize Applejack, I mean I'm probably the only Pegasus you've ever known who couldn't fly." James said with an understanding tone. For all he knew he was right, and he wasn't about to make the only friend he had feel guilty. "So no worries, okay?" He smiled at her, as he stood and stretched out. "Right." Applejack replied, glad she hadn't upset James with her slip up. "Anyways ah came to tell you ah gotta get back to the orchard, but my friend Rainbow will be here to meet you soon." "Wait you're gonna leave me here?" James was a bit confused. Admittedly he wasn't the greatest with meeting ponies, or at least he had the feeling he wasn't. “Uh yeah, like ah said I need to be gettin back...so I just told her to meet you here.” Applejack asked, casting him an odd look. “Why is there somthin wrong with that?” “No, No nothing at all.” He was lying, he was nervous, and too embarrassed to admit it. “It’s just...I don’t know what she looks like.” James said, thinking after he could’ve thought up a better excuse. “Well if that’s all you're worried about then you’ll be just fine.” Applejack smiled, before stepping forward, and placing a hoof on James’ shoulder. “Believe me, you can’t miss her.” James was more than a bit uneasy about Applejack’s confidence. “Is that a good thing?” James asked, raising a hoof to scratch the back of his head. A small, nervous laugh accompanying it. Applejack laughed, as she turned to head down the path leading to Apple Acres. “Ah’ll be headin back into town later, ah’ll see you then.” She turned and started down the path, thinking to herself as she walked. Is this really a good idea, leaving James’ alone like this? Ah mean Rainbow Dash did say she’d keep an eye on him...that an if he’s gonna be needin friends to get his memories back. She paused at that thought, thinking about what Nurse Redheart had told her earlier. She thought of how Nurse Redheart had said friends would help James, how they could potentially help bring his memories back. Ah just know those two will get along, then that’ll be another friend to help James. She thought, a hidden hoof pump following the thought. James just sighed, watching Applejack walk off. “Great...” He said with a sigh, a yawn escaping him, as he flopped back onto the ground. I wonder how long I’ll be here waiting. He thought, enjoying the shade he lay under. “Eh, it’s good to be a pony.” He said to no one in particular, closing his eyes. ----------------------------------------------- “Hmmm....so thats him?” Asked a slender white alicorn, her multicolored mane flowing beautifully. “Yes, that would be him.” Replied a smaller black alicorn, her blue mane flowing just as effortlessly as her sisters. “But Luna, why would you bring a human into Equestria?” Celestia asked, looking over to her sister. “Well he’s technically not a human anymore, he’s a pegasus.” Luna said in an innocent tone. She smiled up at her sister, fully aware that her response wouldn’t suffice. “Luna you know full well what I mean, now will you give me a real answer this time?” Celestia began to slowly tap her hoof on the floor. “Well?” She asked after an extended silence. Luna gave a frustrated sigh. She knew better than any other pony that her sister wouldn’t drop the subject, not until she got an honest answer. “Celestia...uh...I mean sister.” The young princess began, turning to gaze out the magic portal Celestia and herself had been using to watch James. “James’ story is a sad one, I won’t go into any details right now, but I promise I’ll tell you everything soon.” Luna paused, sighing as she watched James, wishing she could welcome her friend to his new life. “For now, I just want you to know that...I caused this...and this is my only way of making it right.” Luna hung her head, thinking about finding James in his bathroom...dying. Before she watched his life slowly fade from him, right in front of her. “I will hold you to that sister, for now...go rest. We will speak more about this later.” Celestia said with a kind gaze. She could see the pain in her sister's eyes, and somehow knew this subject was not spoken of with ease. Luna thanked her sister with a nod, and a weak smile, before heading to her chambers. Celestia thought for a moment, watching her sister walk towards her room, waiting until she was out of sight before turning to the portal. What is my sister planning, and why bring a human here? Celestia had her gaze affixed on James. He seems harmless enough, still I will keep a watchful eye on him...until I know what’s really going on. ------------------------------------------------------------------ James gazed up through the branches of the tree he laid under, noting all the creatures that scurried through its maze of leaves and limbs. How long does it take a pony to get here? He sighed, sitting up and stretching, as he did. “Yo are you James?” Called a cyan pegasus, that hovered above James. “When did you get here?” James asked suddenly, finding himself enchanted by the mare. “Are you Rainbow Dash?” He found himself asking, though he assumed she was, given her rainbow mane. “Oh so you’ve heard of me, what are you a fan?” She replied, posing for a moment, as she landed. “I’m the most radical, most cool, most awesome pony in all of Equestria...and yes there is a difference in awesome, radical and cool.” She said quickly, before clearing her throat to continue. “The best flier in all of ponydom...Rainbow Dash.” James stared, bewildered at her sheer awesomeness, when suddenly a thought struck him. “Wait theres a difference between awesome, cool and radical?” “Well yeah duh, of course there is.” She said with a smile. “You’re looking at the perfect combination of all three.” Rainbow was suddenly wearing a pair of, undeniably cool, sunglasses. “Oh yeah who’s the pony.” “Well its uh...its uh nice to meet you Rainbow Dash...I’m James.” James found himself slightly caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Rainbow’s sunglasses. How did she...but I was looking at her the whole time? He thought for a moment, before regaining his composure at hearing Rainbow speak. “Nice to meet you too.” She said with a smile, the sunglasses no longer anywhere to be seen. “So Aj says you’re new around here, said you wanted to be shown around. Thought you could use the RBD tour.” Rainbow said with a laugh. “Uh yeah...yeah that’s it exactly.” James said, with a nervous laugh. How does she keep doing that with the sunglasses? “Well what are we waiting for? Lets dash!” Rainbow exclaimed, soaring off towards the center of Ponyville. Rainbow had just reached town hall, when she stopped and turned around. “So Ja...uh James...where you at?” She said, surprised that the fellow pegasi was nowhere around. “What the hay?” She mumbled, speeding back towards the tree she’d found James at, only to find the brown pegasus standing there. “Wow you’re fast!” James shouted, a smile broad across his face. “Yeah I know, I’m great.” She said, taking a few moments to bask in James’ admiration. “So yeah James, why didn’t you follow me?” “Well you just kinda flew off, how was I supposed to know where you were going?” James answered, putting a hoof to his chin, as he sat down. “I mean I couldn’t see you, and I can’t really run that fast...even if my legs were healed.” James’ answer took a minute to sink in, but soon the cyan mare found herself realizing, he hadn’t even mentioned anything about flying after her. “Are your wings hurt too? I kinda just assumed you’d fly after me.” Rainbow saw the sudden change in James’ demeanor, after she’d mention him flying. “Hey are you alright?” She asked, feeling like she’d said something to upset him. “...I...I can’t fly.” He squeaked after a moment. “Excuse me, but what?” Rainbow asked suddenly, casting an odd gaze at the brown colt. “What do you mean you can’t fly, you’re like what twenty two, three maybe?” “Actually I’m twenty five.” He said before pausing. “So I’m guessing its safe to say Applejack didn’t tell you huh?” James questioned. He knew Applejack wasn’t to blame, she had seemed to be in a hurry to get home. She probably just forgot in her haste. James thought with a nod. “No, she most definitely didn’t tell me you couldn’t fly...but I mean how? Did you not go to flight camp?” “Okay look...I know this might be hard to believe...but I have no idea what you’re talking about.” James said. Noticing the confused look on her face, James decided now would be as good a time as any, to tell the cyan pegasus his story. He started at the beginning. Waking up in the forest, wandering for three days, crashing into Aj’s barn. He made sure to explain it all, just as he remembered it, before he began explaining todays earlier events. “And that’s how we now find ourselves in this current moment of time.” He said with a quick sigh of relief, all too glad his story was finished in its telling. “Amnesia huh, sounds heavy.” Rainbow commented from her perch. During his rendition of his story, Rainbow had snatched a comfy looking cloud that floated by, and now laid across it. “Yes I suppose, I don’t really know...its just like...a piece is missing. No not even that. Everything just has this sense of distant familiarity to me....you know what I mean?” James asked, not sure if Rainbow had dozed off on her cloud, or not. “I have no idea dude, sounds to me like you’re talking some pretty big egghead talk. You should go talk to Twilight, she’d probably get a kick out of it.” She said through a yawn. “But I do know one thing.” She said suddenly, holding a hoof up to the air. “Oh, and what would that be?” James asked. Admittedly he was a bit irked by the egghead comment, but he would let it slide...for now. “I;m gonna teach you how to fly...well once those cuts on your wings heal up enough.” Rainbow looked down from her cloud perch, and smiled. “Really...you mean...I’m gonna fly?” James immediately found himself drifting off into fantasy. Thoughts of himself flying through the sky, looking down at the world why he soared high above it, he could sleep on a cloud. He couldn’t help but let out a, “yes,” as he jumped up and danced around happily. Usually Rainbow would look at anypony dancing around like that, and call them out on how uncool they were being. She however, couldn’t bring herself to ruin the moment for James, after all he’d never flown before. “Well I think I’m gonna call it a day.” Rainbow commented with a yawn. “I’ll stop by Apple Acres sometime so we can figure out when to start...Rainbow Dash’s totally rad flight camp.” She said with a smile, when she caught sight of Applejack approaching. “Howdy y’all.” Applejack called. Stopping to stand next to James. “Ah hope you two got along alright.” She said with a smile. “Yo Aj you could have told me James here couldn’t fly. I could have spent the day showing him some moves.” Rainbow called down from her resting place. “Yeah ah guess I could’ve mentioned that, but I figured it wasn’t any of my business to tell ya.” She said with a reaffirming nod. “Anyways, it seems like James told you.” “Yeah well, it still would have been nice to know.” Rainbow replied. Suddenly she sank through the cloud, twisting her body in mid-air just in time to land hooves first on the ground. “Anyways, like I just told James, I’ll stop by the orchard sometime. I can’t let a pegasus his age go on not knowing how to fly, but for today...I’m spent.” Rainbow turned from the other two, spreading her wings out. “Catch you guys later, its time to Dash.” With that Rainbow soared into the sky, leaving James and Aj behind. “Ah swear that pony never changes.” Applejack said with a chuckle. “So you ready to head back to the house?” Applejack asked, turning to look at James, who answered with a nod. James and Applejack made there way back to Apple Acres, James telling her about all that he and Rainbow discussed, and Applejack listening politely to every word. Once they reached their destination, they quickly washed up. Well after Applejack showed James where he could do so. Once done they joined the rest of the Apple clan in the kitchen. Just as the case had been with breakfast, James found himself treated to a extensive spread of apple based dishes, which he topped off with some amazing Apple family cider. James smiled and laughed with the family. He listened to Applebloom’s story of her latest escapades with the Cutie Mark Crusaders...whatever that was, as well as Granny Smith’s story of how things were in her day. Big Mac, well he didn't say much, which James thought was a recurring theme with the large, red stallion. With dinner finished James once again helped with the cleaning of the dishes, and thanked the Apple family one by one for their kindness, as he wished them good night. “Hey you alright James?” Applejack called from the doorway of his room. She had been on her way down the hall to her own, when she saw his door was open, and noticed him sitting by the window. What in tarnation is he doing? She thought, as she watched him staring up at the moon, a small smile on his lips. “Hey Applejack...can I ask you a question?” He called. “Yeah, what’s on your mind?” She asked. Stepping into the room, she sat down on the floor next to him, joining him in gazing at the moon. “You ever stare up at the moon, and wonder if somepony out there is staring at that exact same moon...just like you are?” “Well I’d say there are plenty of ponies staring up at the moon right now.” She replied. “Yeah I know.” James said with a chuckle. “You know what I think I’m gonna get some sleep, good night Applejack.” “G’night James.” Applejack said, making her way to the door. “Oh and Applejack...thank you.” Applejack just smiled. “Your welcome.” She replied, before closing his door. James sat there for a few more moments, admittedly enjoying the silence of the night, his gaze still fixed on the giant silver orb in the sky. “G’night.” He whispered, finally turning from his window, and climbing into bed. ------------------------------------------------------------- “Good night James.” Luna whispered. She was sitting on a hill, overlooking Apple Acres. From her seat she could see into James room perfectly, while still remaining hidden from his view. Sweet dreams my friend. You don’t even realize it...but seeing you like this...seeing you enjoy life again. She paused. A smile was present, as a tear rolled down her cheek. This is something that I thought I’d never see. Luna’s horn began to glow, the aura of her magic lighting James’ room with a blue hue, as his blanket covered him. She giggled softly as she watched him roll over, cuddling one of his pillows tightly, with a smile. “I’ll see you later.” She whispered, and then suddenly...she was gone.