//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: A Walk Home // Story: Proxy // by Thithle Candytufth //------------------------------// The sun had begun to slide behind early evening clouds. The air was crisp and brisk. With each of the two ponies’ breaths arose a little puff of ice-tinged air that would soon be caught by the wind and dissipated behind them. The buildings tightly hugged the dirt road, their shadows nullifying the evening light. Solar Flare walked closely beside Bay Breeze. When she occasionally stepped off of the narrow path, Solar Flare would gently nudge her in the proper direction with his head. Every few steps she stretched out her meager wings to feel her surroundings or maintain balance. She held her face forward, while Solar Flare concentrated on her movements. “Well, that was nice,” Bay Breeze said, with a hesitant step. “Yeah,” Solar Flare replied, giving a gentle smile. “It’s nice meeting somepony new.” “I’m surprised, though. A Canterlot native wasting her time in little old Ponyville,” Bay Breeze said, smiling. “Oh, come on, Bay,” he said. “You and I both know that you love it here and wouldn’t live anywhere else.” “Yes, but I’m delusional,” she said, chuckling. “Why an upper-crust unicorn would spend her holiday here of all places is beyond me.” “‘Upper-crust’?” Solar Flare said, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t get that from her at all.” “Well, just because she doesn’t act it doesn’t mean she isn’t higher-class than anypony else here.” “She seemed down-to-earth, to me, if anything. I wouldn’t’ve known she was from Canterlot if you didn’t tell me.” “Yeah, I guess she was feeling humbled, what with how much hospitality Lavender’s been showing her. She’s acting like she’s known her for years.” “Yeah, I’m not surprised, though. It’s Lavender we’re talking about.” There was a silence between them. Bay Breeze had slowed her gait, and her shoulders were slightly slumped. Solar Flare yawned and stretched his neck, as if attempting to elicit a new statement from Bay Breeze. Bay Breeze took a look in his direction and squinted. She broke the silence with a heavy sigh. She pointed her head at the ground as she spoke. “Okay, Flare, this will sound odd to you.” “Oh?” Solar Flare looked at her, perplexed. “But it’s something that’s been bothering me considerably and I don’t want to keep it from you and let it get worse.” Bay Breeze’s stern face matched the intensity in her voice. “Of course. What is it?” “Do you think there’s anything… strange about Twilight Sparkle?” She adjusted her glasses with a slight shake of her head. Solar Flare rubbed his hoof against the top of his head. “She seemed nervous to me, for sure, but that’s nothing strange.” “No, it was something beyond that, I think.” “Like what?” “She just seemed like she was hiding something. Like there was something she really did not want to let us know about.” The pathway’s slope made Bay Breeze falter in her step, nearly falling onto Solar Flare. Solar Flare lifted her up softly with a nudge of his head. “I don’t think so, Bay. I think you’re looking too far into this. She just had nerves, is all.” “You’d know that better than anypony, yes. But I don’t know, some of her reactions were just too strange to toss up to nervousness. Seemed like textbook skeletons-in-the-closet to me.” “Well, maybe it was something she didn’t feel ready to talk about with us. She just met us, Bay.” Solar Flare took a step in front of her to ensure that she turned a corner. “And she was all spacey and unaware because she’s in a new place with nopony she knows, and she’s still getting her bearings.” “I truly hope you’re right.” “Why are you getting so intense about this? Even if she were hiding something, or lying to us, does that really affect anything? If we become good enough friends the truth will come out naturally.” “I’m intense because you and I both know what lies can do to a friendship, and frankly, we don’t need that.” Bay Breeze turned towards Solar Flare’s general direction. “And you are in no place to talk about the truth—” Bay Breeze gasped and put a hoof over her mouth. Both ponies had stopped moving. Solar Flare’s face was grim, his brow casting a shadow over his blue eyes. His breath was stuttering. Bay Breeze had cringed slightly and had backed up from Solar Flare’s side. Solar Flare inhaled shakily, preparing to speak. Bay Breeze flinched upon hearing him. “I thought we all had an understanding,” Solar Flare said, “we don’t talk about that.” Bay Breeze waved her forelegs nervously while backing up, nearly into the center of the road. “I’m really sorry, it’s just—” “No, it’s fine, Bay. Just… please… be more careful about—” “No, I shouldn’t’ve—” “Think about it this way. I felt terrible all of the time I kept… that… a secret from you two. And when I told you two about it, I felt so relieved and happy that I could get it off of my chest.” Bay Breeze had relaxed her stiff posture and approached Solar Flare again. “So, you’re saying she’ll tell us whatever’s on her mind once it becomes too much for her to handle?” “Well, if you put it that way—” “I swear, if she doesn’t start to loosen up, somepony’s going to get hurt.” “Is there a reason you’re getting so worked up over this?” “I’m just concerned. I’m worried for Twilight’s sake, too.” “Geez, Bay, you’ve spent maybe three hours with her. Give her time. Maybe you should loosen up a bit, too.” Bay Breeze sighed again. “You’re right.” “She just was nervous. I’m sure with time she’ll open up.” “Yes, yes. I know.” “She was just afraid of making a bad first impression.” “We all know what that’s like, right?” “I know I do.” “I was being silly. How could I jump to conclusions like that? I’m sure I didn’t bear my soul to you two when I met you, why should I expect her to do so?” “Exactly. I think Twilight’s really sweet, and I’m excited to spend more time with her.” “Well, I could tell that, Mr. Casanova.” Solar Flare blushed. “Hey! It’s common courtesy—” “I know, Flare,” Bay Breeze giggled. “Was it too much?” “Flare, if it were possible to be too polite, you’d have passed the threshold long ago.” “Aw, Bay…”