//------------------------------// // Chapter 54: When it Rains... // Story: Chaotic Harmony // by shirotora //------------------------------// Chapter specific tag: Sad... Don't hate me. September 15, 1005, I was working as fast as I could. I was trying to finish a little birthday present for Waya. It was still about a week away but I wanted to make sure it was ready. That and It had been two weeks since Pinkie and Phoenix used that potion Zecora gave them. If everything went right we would be throwing Pinkie a “congratulations on getting knocked up” party. Jynx was already at the library awaiting the results and I was eager to join her. With one last crystal shard, I was done. I closed it up and put in the box, ready for his party. Finally finished, I quickly made my way out of my home and into town grinning the whole way. Being a public building, I just walked in. My smile faded when I saw one of the worst sights one could see. Pinkie was crying. Her mane and tail didn't have there usual poofiness, and her face was buried in Phoenix's chest. Jynx looked up at me with tears of her own as she walked over and threw her forelegs around me. She leaned into my ear and whispered, “Oh Shiro, it's terrible. She's not pregnant. The doctor said that she'll never be able to conceive. She'll never be able to have a foal of her own.” That effectively killed my mood. Pinkie always wanted a foal, and now... It wasn't fair. I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. I refused to let them out. Pinkie needed her friends to be strong for her. Phoenix motioned for me to come over. “Look who's here, Sweet hart.” he said to her. She looked up at me and tried to smile, but it was even worse seeing a forced smile on her face. It was just unnatural, and should never have been necessary. “Oh, hi Shiro,” She said sadly, “I'm sorry you guys can't throw me a party now.” she reburied her face. Her eyes were the eyes of a broken soul and it tore my heart to pieces, and I wasn't the only one. As I looked around I saw all of our friends were there, and all of them were devastated by our Pinkies plight. Even the normally ridged Jet was holding onto his tears. “Hay Pinks.” I said, “I got something for you.” She looked over at me. I started spinning my paw as fast as it could go. Soon a pink blur formed around it. When I stopped a pink cloud floated up. “I can make cotton candy clouds again.” I said, “It's got chocolate raaaiiinnn.” “No thanks.” she said, “I don't really want any candy.” “Ineedtogo!” shouted Rainbow as she took off out the window. “I'll go check on her.” I said and ran out the door after her. It didn't take long to find the one cloud with a rainbow tail. I channeled my spear's magic through my amulet. It was still slow without the spear, but it was faster than before, about average cruising speed for a pegasus. “How are you holding up dash?” I said softly. “I'm not crying!” she said. “And neither am I.” I said. She looked over at me, seeing the tears on my face, and looked away again. “It's just not fair.” she said, “Pinkie's always going out of her way for everypony else. She's always making everypony else smile and laugh. But what happens when she wants something to make herself smile? Life slaps her in the face, and gives her a big fuck you!” That caught me by surprise. Dash cusses more than any of the girls (well, about as much AJ) but I rarely hear her use the F word. Still if there was a time to use it, it was now. “Mind if I sit here?” I asked. “This is a cloud and you're not a pega...” I sat beside her, “sus... right, freaky chaos powers.” “I know how you feel, Dash.” I said, “If any of us deserve a foal it's Pinkie. It's bull shit that something like this can happen to somepony as good as Pinkie.” Dash let out a little pained giggle, “What?” “That's the first time I ever heard you say “somepony”.” she said. “I said “somepony”? Really?” I asked. “Yeah.” said my little sis, “You're finally picking up the lingo. It's about time.” “Eeyup.” I said, “It was only a matter of time.” We sat there for a minute to let our tears dry up before Dash spoke up, “Come on. Pinkie needs us. Oh, and um do me a favor.” “I won't tell anyone you were crying.” I reassured her. “Thanks.” After thanking Spike for keeping Razor occupied, and turning him back into a dragon, we went home to wait for Midnight to get out of school. We walked in silence for a time. When home was in sight I noticed a familiar blue pony. “Is that Waya?” I asked. He was sitting on the front porch waiting for us. He had that fire in his eyes that I’ve come to recognize. “He wants to fight again doesn't he?” Asked Jynx. “Eeyup.” I answered, “Yo, Wolfie, did you miss getting your flank handed to you.” “No.” He said, “But I need this. One last time is all I ask.” He was serious, more serious than he had been in a very long time. I took off my amulet and handed it to Jynx, “Go inside, baby, I'll be there soon.” “Don't take it too far.” She said with a peck on the cheek and left us. “One last time you say?” I asked, “On a day like this? Do you know what happened with Pinkie” “I do.” He said, “It's complicated. I'm sorry I cannot tell you more, but this has to happen now.” “OK, then let's do this.” I said and stood up in my fighting stance. He charged. Always with the direct approach with him. I stood ready to meet his attack. To my surprise he leaped at the last moment, springing over me. Before I could turn around, he lashed out with his back hooves hitting me in the small of the back. It wasn't the first time he got the first hit, but it wasn't common. I rolled as I hit the ground and landed in a four leg stance, preparing for the follow up. It came from the right with a sweep to my back leg. I dropped my knee on his leg just before it collided. He yelped in pain and thrust out his other leg, hitting my hip. We broke to catch a breather. Both of us were limping slightly as we circled. We both lunged at each other. I swung with my left as he dodged to his right... or so it seemed. He was suddenly on MY right, his hoof driving into the side of my head. Stars erupted in my vision as he followed up with a knee to my stomach, and a powerful uppercut that sent me sprawling. Before I could regain my senses I felt hooves pinning me down. He peered down at me with a sadistic grin. “I win.” he said, “Now I can kill you and regain my honor.” He lifted his hoof to deliver the final blow. I closed my eyes, ready for it. I heard a crunch that I thought was my skull... until I opened my eyes and saw a blue hoof beside me He laughed, “And loose the only friend I ever had.” He pulled his hoof from my chest and helped me up. “What about your revenge?” I asked. “Just beating you once was enough.” He answered, “Besides, a good friend once told me “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. I'm leaving.” “Already?” I asked, “Well OK. I'll tomorrow.” He sighed, “I mean I'm leaving Ponyville. In fact I'm leaving Equestria.” “What?” I asked, “What do you mean? Why?” “I can't tell you why, but I can say I will return.” He said, “I have some things to take care of just outside the border. I might be gone for a year or more. Twilight already knows.” “Why now?” I asked. “Let's just say I'm following the advice of a very old pegasus that isn't really a pegasus.” He answered cryptically. “Fine, but before you go I have something for you.” I ran in side and grabbed his gift ad ran back out with Jynx on my tail, “Here. It's your birthday present. Instructions are inside.” “Thank you my friend.” He said, “I'll try to come back as fast as I can.” “You better.” I told him as he turned and galloped away from Ponyville. “I'm surprised he's walking around after another beating.” Jynx called from the porch. “Actually, he beat me.” I said. “Ha! Yeah right like that'll...” She noticed the serious look on my face, “You're not joking.” “Nope.” I said with a smile, “I'm proud of the guy. He's gotten so much better then when he first got here. I'm a great teacher.” I smiled. Apparently Jynx thought I didn't get hit enough, so she fixed then by slapping me across my cheek. “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!” she yelled, “WHAT IF HE DECIDED TO KILL YOU?! Why do you never take things like this seriously?” she was mad, yeah, but there was also fear and worry in her voice, “Why do you always throw your life around like it's a big joke? One of these days you're going to realize death is nothing to joke about. What do you think will happen if you die? What will happen to us? Do you want Razor to grow up with out his father? Do you want Midnight to lose his dad only months after finally getting one? Do you want me to be a widow?” “Of course I don't want that.” I said, “I want to see Razor and Midnight graduate college, get married, have kids of there own. I want to grow old with you and spoil our grand kids so they're complete monsters when we send them back. But why should other families be torn apart when I can stop it?” “Because we need you first!” she retorted, “We're your family, not them. They can take care of themselves!” “Yeah, because they did such a good job of that before, right?” I shot back, “How many ponies died a year in Ponyville alone from predator attacks? Three or four. Since I came here how many have died in all?” “Twelve.” she said, “Most of which YOU killed!” She threw her hooves over her mouth as soon as the words left her mouth. Who ever said words can't hurt you was an idiot, “You're right.” I said coldly, “I killed more ponies than any other predator around. Maybe I should just leave then.” I turned around and started walking toward the Everfree. “Wait, Shiro.” she tried to stop me. I just ignored her and kept walking. I needed to cool off before I said or did something I would regret. I didn't get far before I started coughing violently. After the fit passed I looked down at my paw, it was covered in blood. My vision blurred, and I started to sway. I could hear Jynx saying something as the world around me darkened. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I came back to the world surrounded by the white of a hospital room. I looked over to the chair and saw Jynx looking out the window with a sad expression on her face. “What happened?” I groaned. She looked over at me with a relieved smile, “You're awake. I'm glad. I'm sorry for what I said. I...” “Don't worry about it.” I cut her off, “Couples have arguments all the time. It's actually healthy. What did the doctor say?” “Nothing yet, but he took blood from you, me, and Razor.” she answered, “I'll go see if I can get him.” She left for a couple minutes and returned with a green unicorn mare. She was levitating a clip board with what was most likely my chart on it. “Hello, Lord Tora.” she said, “I'm Dr. Cure All.” “Please, just call me Shiro.” I said. “Very well, Shiro, I have some good news and some bad news.” Said the doc, “The good news is that after testing the blood samples, we concluded that Ponies and Razor are immune to what you have.” “What I have?” I asked, “So I'm sick? With what?” “That's the bad news. It's called Naosenza. It tends to be found in big cat's of the southern rainforest. I was told you recently returned from an expedition.” Explained Dr. Cure, “It affects the feline respiratory system causing coughing, minor bleeding, discomfort, pain, and...” The look in her eyes told me what she was going to say before she even said it, “eventually death. I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do. I'd estimate you have about a year, maybe a few months more. I'm sorry.” That's how quick my whole world fell apart.