//------------------------------// // Divergent Paths // Story: Dear Journal // by Not //------------------------------// It was warm. I liked when it was warm. I didn't need to spend anything on a room when it was warm. I couldn't decide on what to do next. Watch making was definitely not my talent. All I was really good at were my illusions, my tricks, my... my lies. Could that be my true talent? No. No! I couldn't just be a liar my whole life! That was worse than being a fake! When I was a fake a few ponies got hurt, but if all I had was lies, then what?! I settled down. The sun would be down soon, so I gathered some leaves together to make a bed for the night. I guess I could try something with toys. I liked toys. I mean... who didn't like toys? But... I had nothing else to go on. My bed was done so I settled down for the night. The sounds of the woods didn't frighten my any more. Even so far from any road, I was fine. My eyelids shut slowly. As I awoke I was sad. The half memory of what my dream had been about quickly faded, but I still felt sad. Not sad like I was going to cry, more... lonely. I decided to ignore it. After all I had to greet my new neighbors, and visit a few ponies in town today! All while keeping myself secret for just one last day. Tomorrow I'd finally be free. Tomorrow I'd surprise everypony, and hope against hope that they'd accept me. That's all I had. Hope. If I had to be sad, it would at least be better if I chose a focus for it. I chose to be sad that I would be saying goodbye to Dolce tomorrow. He did have a fun accent to fake. Also if I chose that, then I could at least have some laughter in my sadness. I got out of bed smiling, though the twinkle wasn't there in my eyes. I took a slow shower, soaking my mane and coat thoroughly. The lavender scented shampoo and the mint and rosemary conditioner smelled glorious. The dream still stayed just out of my memory's grasp as I turned off the water. I sent a small electric charge through my coat to turn the water all into gas. I liked when I learned that trick. It wasn't hard, and it was nearly instant. H2O becomes hydrogen and oxygen with a small electric charge. I put on my disguise even though I wouldn't leave my house for another half an hour. It was a just in case. As I walked downstairs I was very glad that I did. Something smelled good coming from my new kitchen. Why did something smell good from my kitchen? Everything was well sealed, wasn't it? Did one of the movers accidentally leave something open on the counter? Walking into the room would solve the mystery. Walking into the room would also cause even more confusion. “Gah! Pinkie! How did you get into my new house?” Seriously, how? “I walked in. Duh!” She said while continuing to cook. “But all the doors were locked, and so were the windows!” I was truly exasperated. “So?” She pushed the lever down on my toaster. My hoof collided with my face. “So you shouldn't of been able to get in!” “Why would that stop me?” She said while flipping a two pancakes but looking at me. Logic clearly was not applicable in this conversation. I gave up. “Just ask before you come into my house from now on, okay?” Pinkie nodded and giggled. “You want OJ?” I smiled despite myself. “Sure. What in all did you make?” “Well.” She had two plates set out. “You didn't have much, so I made toast,” the toast popped into the air at that moment, much higher than a toaster would normally launch it, and she buttered both slices before they landed on the edges of both plates. “and some pancakes.” She flipped both pancakes and having them land perfectly one on each plate. “I didn't need to make the juice, and I brought some blueberry muffins from Sugarcube Corner.” She grabbed the muffins out of a bag on the counter, and placed one on each plate. I walked from the kitchen entrance to my new table. “Sounds tasty. Now, why did you sneak into my house to make breakfast?” “You've been staying with Rarity for a few days, so I didn't want you to be lonely waking up all alone.” I had the feeling she was blushing, but her face was away from me. Maybe that's why I had that feeling. She hadn't faced directly away from me until that moment. My favorite little smirk showed up again, though I meant what I said. “Thank you, Pinkie. Thanks for thinking of me.” Pinkie bounced over to the table carrying both plates, and twin glasses of orange juice. “Well of course! I'm always there for my friends. Even the new new new ones! Like when this donkey showed up in...” She kept talking but she was speaking so fast that I couldn't really follow what she was saying. Something about a bald friend. A few seconds later she was done. “...Then he found his true love again, and now I made you breakfast.” I had grabbed a fork, and started eating by this point. “Wow, Pinkie. This is really good! What did you use on these pancakes?” “Just birch syrup, and cinnamon.” I raised an eyebrow. “Birch syrup?” She took a rather large bite. “Yeah! It's a lot like maple syrup, but instead it comes from birch trees and it costs a bit more.” We talked for a while finishing our food slowly. The muffins were amazing, and the toast was toast. What? Even the most amazing toast is still just toast. All she added to it was butter. Pretty soon she bounced away, and I had to get through the rest of my day. It took me a minute before I remembered that I had woken up sad. All it took was a surprise visit and breakfast for Pinkie to already make my day better. She was a great friend. It was on to my daily rounds after that. First on the agenda was paying back Rarity for her time, food, and space. I had to pay her back whether she wanted me to or not! It turned out the answer was not. “Oh, come now. I consider you a friend, and helping a friend for a few days doesn't require compensation.” I rolled my eyes. “I consider you a friend, and I would never give a friend anything less than what they deserve!” She sighed. “You already spent a day helping me sew, and we were going to do another soon.” It was hard convincing generosity to accept your money. “You spent a day teaching me, and I always pay for my lessons. Besides, I'm only good at sewing. I can't create like you can at all.” “Exactly. You learned nothing from my lessons, so I can't charge you.” I rolled my eyes. “On the contrary, you learn much more from failure than success. Also I learned something very important that I'm telling everypony at the party tomorrow.” She still held firm. “I can't take your money, and you know it.” I sighed. Half defeated. It was time for drastic measures. I looked back up at her with determination in my eyes. “I'll need a tuxedo for the party tomorrow, and I want you to design it. I will pay full price, and that is not negotiable. It should be simple, but material is key.” I grabbed a list out of my pack, and placed it in front of her. “I need it made of these materials. Do you need my measurements?” She looked torn between emotions. She wasn't done with our argument yet, but her love of fashion was calling to her. “Why this material?” The camera of my mind panned to a slanted shot of just my mouth with a cocky smirk. “It's the suit I got famous in.” As the hypothetical camera zoomed out from a window view of the room I explained my plan for the party to her, and she finished my measurements. She told me the suit would be ready in a few hours, and to come back any time to get it. I was off to see a pony about a surprise. The plan was for me to walk back to the bakery, but instead I found Pinkie hiding inside of a bush. It was a rather large bush, so I climbed in next to her. “Why are we in a bush?” “Because I'm hiding.” “Why are you hiding?” “Because pony watching is easier when no pony can see you.” What. “You're just watching ponies walk by?” She nodded. “Yep. We've probably been to loud now, and it's ruined my cover, but it was fun while it lasted.” “Pinkie...” I sighed. “You confuse and amaze me. Now I need to ask you about the party.” Her face grew slightly stern. “I'm not canceling it.” I let out a single laugh. “No. Of course not. I just need to know about the layout of the party.” Her smile returned. “Oh! Follow me!” She put a hoof around my shoulder, and in a blur we were inside of a barn at a table made of a bale of hay with a map of sorts spread out upon it. “How did...? What just...?” I looked around to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. “We were in the middle of town. How did you do that?” She looked at me confused. “Do what?” I stood there for a moment eying her in silence. “Never mind.” I thought it best not to try to understand this. It might break me. “All I really needed to know was if we would have a decent stage.” I looked at the map and saw that indeed there would be a stage. Also the size of the snack tables would probably hold enough food and drink to feed the town. “Cool. Who in all is coming to this?” “Probably the whole town.” Perfect! “Ooh. That'll make the surprise extra fun!” “You mentioned a surprise yesterday.” she leaned in a bit too close for comfort. “What is it?” I booped her nose and took a step back. “If I tell you then it won't be a surprise, now will it?” She thought about it for a moment. She had a cute thinky face. “I guess not.” I stood. “Well, do you need anything from me?” “Not until the party. Right here, tomorrow at 5, okay?” “Okay. I guess that's goodbye for today then.” I gave a slight bow before leaving. “Bye sweetie!” I stopped for a second thinking if I should say something about that, but then continued walking. I waved a hoof over my shoulder as I did. It'd surely go away tomorrow anyway. She was fun. I was amazed that it wasn't long after mid-day and I was already done with nearly everything. I gave a friendly nod to Applejack as I left the farm, and she responded in kind with one hoof on her stetson. It was a nice day for walking. Rarity was done with my tux by the time I showed up, and everything went well. After dropping it off at my home I decided to stop by the local library to get something to read. It wasn't until I had actually gotten there that I remembered the one issue with going there. I hoped against hope that Twilight wouldn't press me further about the magic field surrounding me. Calling it a dust prevention spell was only half lying... it did stop slight dust and dirt from messing up my coat, but it was still mostly just illusion. Oh well. I needed a book. I felt like having fun. I walked into the library standing tall. “I require assistance!” I said with practiced Canterlot snootiness. Spike walked up. “Um, hello.” I looked down on him, and returned to a more normal stance. “Oh good. I thought I would run into Twilight. Can you recommend a good novel?” He raised an eyebrow. “Sure. I assume you've read the Daring Do series?” I shook my head. “Never heard of it. Is it good?” He stopped instantly. “You haven't even heard of it?” I rolled my eyes slightly. “The kinds of ponies that are usually around me only read magazines if they read anything. The last five books I've read have each been over 30 years old.” As I spoke he had grabbed three of the books and returned to standing next to me. “Read these, and see me again in a week. Dr. Spike will be your guide back to proper literary health.” I was about to offer slight protest, but the small dragon was at this point ushering me out the door. “Will I see you at the party tomorrow Dr.?” He let out a laugh. “You think I'd miss one of Pinkie's parties? Of course I'll be there!” “See you then!” We both waved goodbye and I was on my way home with some books this time. I went inside, and went to my bedroom. I began reading, and was almost immediately glad that these books had been suggested. I read through the entire first book before too long, and took a break for a late dinner. The sun was long past set as I opened the next and began reading, and I placed the bookmark right before falling asleep. The heroine had been following a trail, when the path split into four directions. Two would lead her to treasure, one would lead to safety, and one lead to sure demise. I set down the book for the night, and had dreams about a jungle, and a party.